Two military pennants unveiled at Custume Barracks

Two military pennants (unit designation flags) were unveiled in Custume Barracks last week during a ceremony in which the overseas tradition of soldiers in the 4th Western Brigade was honoured. The ceremony took place in the NCO's Mess last Thursday afternoon where the two pennants were unveiled by Officer Commanding the 6th Infantry Battalion and Custume Barracks Lt Col Joe Scanlon and Mess President CS Tom Hand. The pennant of A Company 35th Infantry Battalion ONUC Congo, which was involved in The Siege of Jadotville in 1961, was donated by the family of the late Company Commander Comdt Pat Quinlan (later Col). The frame also contained brassard and ID discs donated by Sgt Walter Hegarty, medals donated by Cpl John Gorman and a beret donated by CQ John Foley. The second pennant, which was the flag of No 1 Platoon, A Company, 8 Infantry Group UNFICYP, which served in Cyprus from April until September 1967, was donated by retired Comdt Joe Fallon, former Platoon Commander of the unit. Opening his speech with a quote from JFK last week, Lt Col Joe Scanlon said: "'From Cork to the Congo, from Germany to the Gaza Strip, from this legislative assembly to the United Nations, Ireland is sending its most talented men to do the world's most important work, the work of peace.' It is hard to imagine that President JF Kennedy did not have the men of A Company 35th Infantry Battalion in mind when he spoke these words to the joint sitting of the Oireachtas in 1963." He said a monument to the troops of A Company 35th Infantry Battalion had been unveiled in Custume Barracks in November 2006 and he accepted the honour of unveiling the pennants with the utmost humility. Lt Col Scanlon said: "The presentation of this memorabilia to the Garrison NCO's Mess strengthens the bonds even further between A Company 35th Infantry Battalion and Custume Barracks and the prominence of the display, we hope, indicates to you the respect and admiration we have for you." He added that while A Company 35th Infantry Battalion may grab all the headlines, it did not denigrate the sacrifices that all soldiers serving overseas and their families make. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Comdt Joe Fallon, in his absence, for the kind donation of the No 1 Platoon A Company 8th Infantry Group UNFICYP pennant and to thank the members of the platoon who are gathered here today for their services to their country and to peace. The majority of No 1 Platoon came from Custume Barracks and it is appropriate that the pennant be placed on permanent display in the NCO's Mess," said Lt Col Scanlon. He also paid tribute to all those who had passed away in the intervening years. "Displays such as these two pennants and the other memorabilia on display in the UN Bay and in the messes are a living history and will be a reminder to future generations of soldiers of the noble history which all of us play a small, but significant, part in," he said. Fr PJ Somers then blessed the two pennants before Comdt Pat Quinlan, son of the late Col Pat Quinlan, spoke on behalf of the Quinlan family. He said: "Looking around the mess one can see the proud tradition it has in remembering its members and their dedicated service to the Defence Forces. I know my father would have been very proud of this day. It is very fitting that the pennant finds it resting place here as it is from this barracks and the units therein that many of those brave soldiers departed with A Company of the 35th Infantry Battalion for service with the United Nations in the cause of peace in the Congo." He said he knew from speaking with his father that he was very proud of his company. "Proud and honoured at the bravery, loyalty and courage displayed by the company during the very difficult period of service in the Congo in 1961 at Jadotville and indeed the other difficult engagements and actions in which A Company were very much involved in during their tour of duty," he said. He said the loyalty within the company continued to this day and he welcomed Brig Gen Tom Quinlan, the members and families of A Company and, in particular, the representatives of A Company whose commitment over the last number of years had resulted in a number of ceremonies and unveilings in support of A Company. He apologised on behalf of his brother Leo, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to work commitments, but said he was represented by his eldest son Mark and his wife Sheila. While Comdt Joe Fallon was unable to attend the ceremony, Barrack Sgt Major John Touhey read a letter on his behalf. BSM Touhey explained that Comdt Fallon was out of the country and had seriously considered cancelling his trip abroad when he realised it clashed with the date of the ceremony. Comdt Fallon said he deeply appreciated the invite to the ceremony and regretted his absence. He said he would have loved the opportunity to return to Custume Barracks, especially when he would have been able to meet with former members of the platoon and their families. He added, however, that he hoped to have an opportunity in the coming months to visit Custume Barracks and see the pennant in its new appropriate home.