End of an era as last post sounds for Western Brigade

It was a case of the last post sounding for the 4th Western Brigade last week when the brigade was disbanded during a formal ceremony in Custume Barracks on Friday afternoon. The brigade had had its headquarters in Custume Barracks for 91 years, but it ceased to exist on December 1 as the Government pushed ahead with its plans to reorganise the Defence Forces from a three-brigade structure to two brigades. A ceremonial stand down parade was held on Friday afternoon last to mark the historic occasion. The internal military parade was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sean McCann. Some 500 troops were on parade and all units in the West were represented in the ceremony. Five units of the 4th Western Brigade were disbanded at midnight on Friday, November 30. For Athlone, the reorganisation plan means that Custume Barracks will lose a Cavalry Squadron, a CIS (communications/signals) unit and the 4th Western Brigade HQ unit. The 6th Infantry Battalion will remain in Athlone. The 4th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) will be rebranded as the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment but the personnel attached to the 4FAR will be staying in Custume Barracks. The 4th Field Engineers Company will become the 2nd Field Engineer Group. The band will also be staying in Custume Barracks but will no longer be called the Band of the 4th Western Brigade. The 4th Logistical Support Battalion (LSB) has been disbanded under the restructuring plan, but elements will remain in Athlone, such as an Ordnance platoon, a transport platoon. Some uncertainty remains for troops who are to be relocated as the Department of Defence has said it will take up to 18 months for the reorganisation to be complete. A Defence Forces spokesman said last week that it is not possible at this point in time to quantify the number of personnel that may have to be mandatorily transferred from Custume Barracks but it will be a small number of personnel. See full coverage of the event with pictures in this week's Westmeath Independent.