13th Hussars Longford Ireland (1 Viewer)

[Cardigan600]

Yo Troopers, very surprised to find this in the local paper this week. They are closing the Longford Army Barracks next month which is in Longford Town centre, and was occupied by the British Army from 1774 until the New Irish Free State was formed. The picture shows the 13th Hussars departing from Longford in february 1922. As they left the Irish free State Army marched in led by the Forrester's Band to take over the Barracks. Commandant General Sean McKeon addressed the Troops and raised the Tricolour. An even bigger surprise is General McKeon was my Wife's Fathers cousin. At my mother-in-laws house there are photo's of him around the house, but its something that just did not register in the old brain box, that he was so important a figure in Irish History. Just outside Granard Co Longford there is a Marble Monument to Gen Sean McKeon commemorating a battle against the Infamous Black & Tans, something else that I never took much notice of, but now it has opened another can of worms as they say, so I will have to do some serious research into this and get all the photo's of one of the great Irish Freedom fighters. Granard my wife's home town, is where Kitty Kiernan Micheal Collins' girlfriend was from & both famous Irish freedom fighters. Hoping my mate trooper can come up with some more input on this, also our other Irish forum member Peter who has just joined the TA. So looks now like Jeff will be painting some Irish Free state infantry in the futurelol.
Bernard.

 

[aujj65]

Yo Troopers, very surprised to find this in the local paper this week. They are closing the Longford Army Barracks next month which is in Longford Town centre, and was occupied by the British Army from 1774 until the New Irish Free State was formed. The picture shows the 13th Hussars departing from Longford in february 1922. As they left the Irish free State Army marched in led by the Forrester's Band to take over the Barracks. Commandant General Sean McKeon addressed the Troops and raised the Tricolour. An even bigger surprise is General McKeon was my Wife's Fathers cousin. At my mother-in-laws house there are photo's of him around the house, but its something that just did not register in the old brain box, that he was so important a figure in Irish History. Just outside Granard Co Longford there is a Marble Monument to Gen Sean McKeon commemorating a battle against the Infamous Black & Tans, something else that I never took much notice of, but now it has opened another can of worms as they say, so I will have to do some serious research into this and get all the photo's of one of the great Irish Freedom fighters. Granard my wife's home town, is where Kitty Kiernan Micheal Collins' girlfriend was from & both famous Irish freedom fighters. Hoping my mate trooper can come up with some more input on this, also our other Irish forum member Peter who has just joined the TA. So looks now like Jeff will be painting some Irish Free state infantry in the futurelol.Bernard.

Hi Bernard.

Very interesting info, so you are almost famous then?

Green uniforms I take it?

Jeff

 

[Cardigan600]

Hi Bernard.

Very interesting info, so you are almost famous then?

Green uniforms I take it?

Jeff

lol, never gave that a thought, will to do some research now, trooper will let us know, think the Irish Rifles had a green uniform.
Bernard.

 

[trooper]

The Irish infantry wore green peaked caps with brown leather peak and chinstrap. Bronze badge. The tunic had a high neck and four patch pockets. It was of dark green serge for ORs, and slightly lighter whipcord for officers. Brass buttons and collar dogs. Breeches were cut cavalry style and were also of dark green. Long leather gaiters and boots were of brown leather. Webbing equipment was the British 1908 pattern and Lee Enfield no 1 rifles were carried. Officers had a brown leather waistbelt with double Sam Browne straps and ammo pouch on right side. Revolver in brown leather holster worn very low on right leg and secured by a strap around the leg. The officers uniform was also worn by the Sergeant Major and Battalion Quartermaster
Will submit picture when I can work out how to reduce image to fit Treefrog parameters.

 

[aujj65]

The Irish infantry wore green peaked caps with brown leather peak and chinstrap. Bronze badge. The tunic had a high neck and four patch pockets. It was of dark green serge for ORs, and slightly lighter whipcord for officers. Brass buttons and collar dogs. Breeches were cut cavalry style and were also of dark green. Long leather gaiters and boots were of brown leather. Webbing equipment was the British 1908 pattern and Lee Enfield no 1 rifles were carried. Officers had a brown leather waistbelt with double Sam Browne straps and ammo pouch on right side. Revolver in brown leather holster worn very low on right leg and secured by a strap around the leg. The officers uniform was also worn by the Sergeant Major and Battalion Quartermaster
Will submit picture when I can work out how to reduce image to fit Treefrog parameters.

Oh yes!!

Jeff

 

[trooper]

Hopefully this picture will attach, although knowing my technical expertise I am not going to bet on it.

 

[Cardigan600]

The Irish infantry wore green peaked caps with brown leather peak and chinstrap. Bronze badge. The tunic had a high neck and four patch pockets. It was of dark green serge for ORs, and slightly lighter whipcord for officers. Brass buttons and collar dogs. Breeches were cut cavalry style and were also of dark green. Long leather gaiters and boots were of brown leather. Webbing equipment was the British 1908 pattern and Lee Enfield no 1 rifles were carried. Officers had a brown leather waistbelt with double Sam Browne straps and ammo pouch on right side. Revolver in brown leather holster worn very low on right leg and secured by a strap around the leg. The officers uniform was also worn by the Sergeant Major and Battalion Quartermaster
Will submit picture when I can work out how to reduce image to fit Treefrog parameters.

Yo trooper, thanks mate, I see Britains made them in the 1950s but they always go for a decent price. I have often thought of going for some Irish Regiments for the lad, after all both his Grandparents are Irish, so if anyone has any to sell or swap give us a shout please.
Bernard.

 

[trooper]

If you are going to go for Irish regiments Bernard, then try the full dress uniforms of the 1930s, unusual and colourful as well. There is even a hussar style with unusual braiding.

 

[Cardigan600]

If you are going to go for Irish regiments Bernard, then try the full dress uniforms of the 1930s, unusual and colourful as well. There is even a hussar style with unusual braiding.

Yo trooper thanks again, now I will have to start trying to find out what the uniforms were like. Also one of my neighbours has relatives in Longford Barracks so going to try and get them to get me an invite before it closes, I will just pull rank once they know its Lord Cardigan it should be a breeze, also noticed when passing the Barracks they have a Tank mounted in there think its a Churchill, going to see if I can get that on a trailer before they notice its gone missing lol.
Bernard.

 

[Molloy]

He, he, always nice to see something from close to home Bernard!

Glum news indeed about the closure of Connolly Barracks in Longford though - I'm peripherally aware that it's a move which has led to a significant level of unease and dissatisfaction amongst serving members of the Defence Forces and dependents, etc. based in the town.

I'd echo your thoughts about the "gate guardian" at the front gates of the barracks. I've family connections in Sligo, so have passed by the site on the journey over there quite a bit – like yourself I’ve always wondered about the provenance of that AFV.

If you can wangle a chance to visit the barracks at all before final closure, definitely go for it. With your background I think you’d be just the man to try and put a positive ID on it.

The Cavalry Corps of the Irish Army definitely do not currently employ any main battle tanks as such – their role is orientated more toward armoured reconnaissance with vehicles like the Scorpion Light Tank and the Panhard armoured car, as well as assisting with the provision of a mechanised infantry element on overseas deployments using the Mowag Piranha infantry fighting vehicle series.

As far as I’m aware, the two principal examples of main battle tanks historically procured and used by the Army are the Churchill and the Comet, the latter remaining in service up until the 1970’s. By what I can recall of the particular vehicle at Longford, I’d definitely agree that a Churchill would seem the most likely candidate. Looking forward to seeing if that can be confirmed though.

With regard to General McKeon, funnily enough, I've just noticed that his personal papers are held by UCD Archives - had a tour of their facilities on campus only a fortnight ago as part of an archives module I'm taking this semester; it really is a very small country.

*Edited to add* My mistake - have just done some further digging, and according to this:

http://www.esatclear.ie/~curragh/tanks.htm

it's actually an example of a Comet at Longford!
Cheers,

Molloy.

 

[Wraith]

Oh yes!!

Jeff

Oh no.....

 

[Cardigan600]

Yo Troopers, went up to take some photo's today of the Battle between the IRA, and the Auxiliaries. The Auxiliaries ex soldiers were even more ruthless than the Infamous Black & Tans, and randomly shot dead many innocent woman & children, even King george V told the British government they were totally out of control and to withdraw them, they were making a show of the great British Empire. This monument was erected to the men who fought at Clonfin and ambushed the mighty British Army. I suppose you guys in the states can relate to this throwing the British out of the States.
Bernard.