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Preparing
for an invasion
I suppose it was the reading of the security arrangements
for the arrival of President Bush that set my mind thinking
of the time when this country was on red alert about 65
years ago and we were all doing our bit to repel invading
forces from whichever direction they came.
It must be remembered that we could be invaded on two fronts,
(1) the east, south or west of Ireland and (2) across the
border from Northern Ireland. We had declared our neutrality
and hoped against hope that the Germans would respect it
and not use us for a back door into England and on the other
hand, we hoped that the British would do likewise and not
come pouring across the border to take back our ports which
they had returned to us a short time before. As it happened
both sides kept out for their own reasons and we came through
the war with comparatively little damage. The first bombs
to fall on Irish soil fell on the creamery in Campile in
south Wexford and the biggest death toll we had was when
the north strand area of Dublin was bombed in May 1941.
By the time the LSF had been formed and thousands of men
throughout the country had joined, thousands were also joining
the regular army. With the closing down of horse racing
in England, fears that the Irish sweepstakes would also
be forced to close as the races on which the sweep was run,
the Casarewitch, the Grand National and the Derby would
not take place until after the way. Then there was talk
of their off loading some of the trains arriving at Hartcourt
Street and Westland Row (the board trains) containing large
numbers of women and children from Holyhead and Fishguard.
Word from other Irish ports told of about 8,000 men (reservists
and soldiers on leave) departing from Dun Laoghaire, North
Wall, Cobh, Cork and Rosslare for Britain. All leave in
the Irish Civil Service, in the Department of Defence, and
in associated departments had been cancelled. Leave in the
principal departments of the Dublin Corporation - fire brigade,
housing, public health etc were also cut down. Rationing
was now being considered although Ireland, being mainly
an agricultural country, food supplies were not as scarce
as in other lands. This meant that hoarding was not advised
at that time although later such thins as sugar, tea, butter,
along with other imported goods were really in short supply
and along with petrol, and other imported goods was strictly
rationed.
It was at this stage that the Department set about making
it difficult for an invading army to find its way through
the country. All road signs were removed and place names
on post offices, railway stations, garda barracks, and public
buildings were removed or painted over. This removing of
road signs meant that for those who did not know the country
they were travelling in, it was easy to take a wrong turning
and add miles to our journey, especially at night time.
This was added to by the fact that locals were advised not
to tell strangers the name of the place or to direct them
if they were asking too many questions. This often caused
tempers to get frayed when the simple question of ‘which
road should I take for Carlow’ (or some other town
or village) and the answer would be ‘now where are
you from yourself’ or ‘I haven’t got an idea’.
Then there was the erection of ‘Pill Boxes’, especially
on raised position where they could cover a strength of
straight road. There was a slit across the front of the
box about six inches wide. This is to allow the barrel of
the machine gun to spray the enemy coming along the road.
Another precaution was the staking of the big field. This
was to prevent enemy aircraft have a smooth landing. In
the coastal regions the beaches of certain resorts were
booby trapped with tank traps and other methods to delay
the landing parties. In the beginning test blackouts were
held in Dublin and other cities when the drivers of cars
(those lucky enough to have petrol) were asked to drive
with only the wing lights on.
As far as the LSF were concerned, they were divided into
two classes. The LSF (Local Security Force) and the LDF
(Local Defence Force). The former had to make sure that,
in the event of an invasion, lights were out, food supplys
were out of reach of the enemy. Local people did not give
important information and that the older people were looked
after. The task of the LDF was to assist in every way the
regular army. This meant spending nights on watch when aircraft
were heard overhead. This happened several times during
the way. The sound of engines overhead always meant that
the place or planes were from the potential enemy, as the
Irish air force could not afford to use fuel at night time.
This was found out to be no invasion but some poor airman
for whom the war was over. More often than not they were
members of a bomber crew that had been hit over Liverpool
or one of the British west coast cities. In my own memory
the greatest nights activity was the night that the Germans
made the big raid on Belfast. It was a little after 13.00
hours (one o’clock) in the morning when the first sounds
of aero engines were heard. Now that I look back on it the
local group were assembled and ready to go out on their
various patrols in a very short time. That night was actually
very frightening with the hundreds of planes travelling
up the east cost of Ireland having come in over south Wexford
in order to avoid the antiaircraft fire and night fighters
over Britain. The sound of so many engines actually caused
those of us on the hill top feel the vibrations as they
passed over head. They were flying so low and the night
was clear so we could see them in the moonlight.
I often look back on those days of danger to our country
and think of the little hall in my native village with the
lads lined up from wall to wall. There was a spirit of comradeship
in the group and a sense of belonging that somehow it is
hard to find in any other company. Then there is a saying
that danger brings its own rewards.
Well, thank God we never had to find out what would have
happened if the worst had come to the worst. Most of the
younger members of the group joined the FCA at a later date
and were later still joined by their sons in the organisation.
Perhaps the trips to Courtown, Gormanston, Baldonnell, Kilkenny
and the many other camps have left memories that will never
be forgotten. At times when we go through the role of honour
and recall the names of those for whom the last Post has
sounded, and who were really good comrades, we cannot be
blamed for becoming a little sentimental.
So we end this short spell of returning to other days and
hoping that it revived memories in the lads of A, B, C and
D company’s of the old 10th Batt and that if ever good
men are needed they will be as true as the men of the FCA.
Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist
12 July 2004
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