They came from all over Ireland. And they travelled to many parts of the world. But their starting point as comrades in arms was The Curragh, specifically the 35th Cadet Class which came together there in 1961. A book compiled last year by one of that class, Des Travers from Kilcullen, provides a fascinating insight into the subsequent lives of that group of young men to the 60th anniversary of their induction to the Cadet School of the Irish Defence Forces Military College.
It might be thought that such a book — Gá Gasced an 35ú Rang: What deeds, the 35th? — would be of interest only to those in the military, which is what I expected. But it turned out to be an extraordinarily broad reflection of life and livelihoods, personal adventures and personalities, happiness and sadnesses, and everything in between.
The idea was, as so often is the case, the result of a chat in a hotel. A conversation that 'got legs' and subsequently released a virtual flood of memories and associated memorabilia. In the nature of such things, it also probably re-connected people who had drifted somewhat apart while travelling in their own life directions. It brought, too, reflections on those of the 35ú Rang who have passed away, courtesy of family members and friends. The bitter-sweetness of recollection.
In all, there are contributions from or about 26 of those once army comrades. And while I was initially dubious about the book holding my interest despite the Kilcullen connections of Des Travers and John Martin, it turned out that each of the many chapters has hidden gems of wit, wisdom, and wry observations of life, along with humanity and respect for other people, their creeds and beliefs. And, one can't help but think, an attitude to their fellow man that was forged and cast in their training to protect and defend their own country. It is very clear in several of the stories that the same attitude has been often equally applied by members of the class to protecting people of other lands divided by war.
Gá Gasced an 35ú Rang: What deeds, the 35th? is about a group trained to be leaders of teams, but it is also very much a book of individuals and individuality. Of people as persons. And, like all of life, it includes career changes as well as documenting parts of the lives of those members of the 35ú Rang who stayed to be soldiers until retirement.
Trying to cover everything in this piece would take an essay far too long for readers to stay the course. But among the nuggets worth referring to is the gripping account of the experiences of Joe Fallon in the 1973 October War in the Middle East, where he was stationed as a UN Military Observer. Leading a convoy of vehicles through Israeli lines carrying food and water to a besieged Egyptian Army battalion involved negotiation, bluff, and the kind of stubbornness with which the Irish are so well endowed. Joe later became CEO of a charity in Ireland devoted to helping people with intellectual disability, afterwards was a member of the National Rehabilitation Board, and did a subsequent stint with the Eastern Regional Health Authority, each of which posts probably benefited from those afore-mentioned traits.
There's lots to raise a smile in this book. Such as Paddy Walshe's recollections of travelling West Cork with Mick Hartnett and Mick's pet polecat, which was partial to licking the top off pints of Guinness when they brought it into pubs. There are several accounts of members of the 35ú Rang who found themselves in other countries which they came to love, including Leo Brownen who describes his lifetime love affair with Italy and Kieran Jordan who has spent his years since 2001 walking through Europe.
There are class members who took different paths after leaving the army — Eamon Draper went on to a life in the theatre, and is still remembered by some for his performances as Willie Maloney in The Riordans ... he has also the distinction of having played in every RTE soap apart from Tolka Row — "that was before my time." Michael O'Sullivan became a noted photographer, whose first major assignment was the series of landscapes used in the Bank of Ireland Calendar of 1994. Another photographer was Paddy Walshe, who bought his first camera from the proceeds of 25 rabbit snares he had set as a 10-year-old. He subsequently became a highly skilled colour processor with a particular interest in producing specialist colour maps from NASA images of the earth, to be used inter alia by mining exploration companies. There is Mayo man Eugene Lavelle who enjoyed competitive riding with the Army Equitation School until injuries ended that. He later studied engineering and subsequently became a boat-building expert — the most rewarding part of his career, he says, has been his involvement with the RV Celtic Explorer.
George Kirwan writes about how the discovery that a friend of his was dying with cancer prompted his involvement in the Aftercare, Research and Counselling (ARC) charity, which he stayed with until 2018. The book also has one of his poems, written when he was a UN Observer, A Day Without You, which shows that while a soldier might be trained to fight, he can have as soft a heart as any of us.
Closer to home, there are three contributions from John Martin — who also wrote the foreword to this book. His poem False Dawn is set on the Western Front in 1917 and demonstrates the internal turmoil in the thoughts of soldiers at the point of potentially shooting one of their own to become 'just one more dead among the millions dead'. There's also a short story, and a factual piece from a Christmas spent in Kabul in 1988.
For his own contribution, Des Travers provides an account of his post-retirement involvement in the investigation of modern war crimes. It is — typical of the man — clearly described, considered and thoughtful, detailed in both the on-the-ground and global pictures. It is also a searing indictment of the callousness with which we as humankind can so often treat our fellows, and of the profit-only interests of the armaments industry.
Gá Gasced an 35ú Rang: What deeds, the 35th? is edited by Jane Travers and is on sale locally in Woodbine Books. It is indeed a book for everyone, and apologies that I couldn't include all of the contributors here. But every one of you held my attention. — Brian Byrne.
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