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Originally Posted by Foghladh_mhara
Well I never served in the navy but I was a fully fledged member of the FCA Which in Irish is Forsa Cosanta Aituil or the Irish Volunteer Army Reserve. Or more vernacularly known as the Fairy Cake Army, Free Clothing Association etc etc. This was back in the day before the Irish military actually had money. First day at camp and I got a breakfast of sausages, eggs, bacon, toast and tea. Second and following days I got a boiled egg. With toast. And tea. I drink coffee.
I left that camp 1 stone lighter than I went in and given that I was only 10 stone going in that says something. Granted I was pissed every night and had the best time ever. Fired off about 500 rounds from a FN semi automatic at 500 metres  and got a black eye from not holding the damn thing properly
Went home and told my dad that I was Irelands last line of defence. He looked at me and said he hoped it would never come to that.
I thought at the time that he meant that he didn't want his son to be in a position where he would have to fight, I now know that he didn't want to be in a position where I was his last line of defence.
Cheers dad |
My Grandad was not in the FCA (fools carring arms) but he gaurded the border from them pesky brits during the emergency (for ye non irish folks WW2) at that time the irish army had german style helmets which caused the brits to mistake there was an invasion going on (or so me granda says). They ate whatever they were given small ration biscutes ''tack buiscuits'' and irish stew (veggies meat boiled into a pot delicious). He also broke a finger from firing a Vickers .30 calibre machine gun from firing it wrong........
Hes an endless source of interesting stories
And I'd too like to thank him