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66th Infantry Battalion UNIFIL
The 66th Battalions (2nd Chawk) return to Ireland coincided with the People In Need day at home. Brian Mitchell organised and ran the first ever IrishBatt "Radio-Thon". He did a 24 hour sponsored Radio Broadcast on Radio Scorpion, and organised various events around the A.O. The event was a great success, $5,000 was raised for the People In Need Trust.
Buss Tumelty and Henry Brady at a memorial in Brashit Camp, dedicated to the memory of C Company Personnel who died while serving with U.N.I.F.I.L.
A View of the Checkpoint at Post 6-8 in the Village of Shaqra. You can see on either side of the road that there is a lot of greenery, this is typical of a Winter Trip, in the summer time, all this growth burns off, because of the sun.
The 66th Battalion was a winter trip. Here we can see Henry Brady writing his letter to Santa Clause, in eager anticipation...
Brian Quinn at the controls of a Panhard A.P.C. (Armoured Personnel Carrier) at the gates of Post 6-9b. All Irish UN Posts had a designation that started with the number "6". Battalions from different countries would have a different number to indicate where they were from.
Photo taken in the canteen in Brashit Camp, home to "C" Company HeadQuartes and shows Henry Brady and ??? Rigney.
The big card game is on, and this table is surrounded by sharks... On the left is Henry Brady, with John "Skinny" Mullen beside him. On the right is Billy "Ninja" Nevin... I'll see your 3 matchsticks and raise you two...
During the tour of duty of the 66th Battalion a new vehicle arrived for the first time into IrishBatt. The SISU Armoured Personnel Carriers were a huge leap forward from the ageing Panhard fleet that had been crawling over the hills of South Lebanon since the Irish first arrived. This picture was taken at the Blessing of the vehicles at Camp Shamrock. L-R: Paul Clarke, Alan Fergus, Paul Benson, Tom Davis, Gerry "Fish" Kelly & Mick Strick.
The Crew of "UNIFIL 4421" in front of their vehicle. L-R: Paul Clarke, Alan Fergus & Fish Kelly.
The Arrival of the SISU Armoured Personnel Carriers (A.P.C.s) was a major step forward for the Irish Serving with UNIFIL. They replaced the ageing Panhard Fleet (Seen above). The new vehicles were Safer, Faster, More reliable and equally important, more comfortable to travel in.
Christmas Eve in South Lebanon. Along with many important humanitarian services provided by UNIFIL, a good relationship with the local population is essential, and what better way to do it, than to hold a Christmas Party for the kids from the surrounding area. Henry Brady and Bullet Nally organise the last of the party goers into the Canteen at Brashit Camp.
Christmas Day in Lebanon, and the opportunity for some to relax and have a drink with friends to celebrate.
25th of January, and look at the sky in the background.. Its Blue.. Something you wouldnt see in Ireland even in July. Brian Quinn is on Duty outside 6-42 in Brashit Village.
Some of the posts in "The Leb" were within what was known as "The Enclave". This was an area that was within Israel's self declared Security Zone. 6-28a was on of these posts. and here we see Henry Brady coming down from the Observation Post at 6-28a.
Another picture of Henry at post 6-28a, this time in the daylight. Behind him is the generator shed. This post had no local electricity supply, so all power came from the genny's, which ran from dusk until dawn 7 days a week. The noise was incessant, but essential.
This photo was taken outside the gates at 6-9b. A UN Post located South of Brashit. Marie is the lady in the photograph and she worked as a "Mingi" woman. One of very few women who worked selling everything from clothes to cameras in South Lebanon. In fact, the Track Suit that Henry Brady is wearing, he bought from her... I dont know Henry, but I think you were caught... Also in the picture is Spud Murphy.
ok, so the sun dosent always shine in Lebanon.. In fact, the Lebanese winter isnt terribly different from the Irish one. Long periods of heavy rain, even snow occasionally. In the bad weather, Checkpoint Duty can become a much harder job than in the summer sun.
Just inside the Main Gate at Brashit camp, there was a Bunker, which doubled as the Guard Room. Needless to say, in the winter time, it became pretty cold in there. What you are looking at here is a couple of guys trying to keep themselves warm over a Mingi Heater. These heaters ran on standard Diesel, put out good heat, and stank like hell. L-R: Henry Brady and Paul Bynes.
This is the sign post that stood outside Brashit Camp, also known as "Connaught Camp". Because of a shortage of paints and other materials, instead of creating a new sign for each Battalion that served there, the numbers were simply changed. Looking at it, you can see the second "6" looks a little suspect.
One thing that really helps to boost morale while serving Overseas, is a good sing-a-long. Even the best musicians need to practice...
L-R: Harry McQuad, Paul Clarke, George O'Dowd, Spud Murphy, Ray Duff & Mick Strick at Naqoura.
Recipients of the UNIFIL Medal serving with the 66th Infantry Battalion are: L-R: Mick O'Connor, Noel Gavin, Vincent Gaffey, Billy Nevin, Henry Brady and Tom Curley & Noel Digan.
This picture shows UN Post 6-9b. This position was locatedon a hilltop South of Brashit Village. The importance of this post was two-fold. Firstly it had a commanding view of the surrounding area, Secondly, where you can see "UN" is actually a set of two water towers. These towers supplied water to a number of local villages. Having a presence there ensured that they didnt get demolished.
Another view of 6-9b, this time from inside the compound. The occasion is the presenting on the UNIFIL Medals and Numerals to some members of "C" Company who were unable to attend the main Parade held at Camp Shamrock in Tibnin. Joe Gaffney is the man doing the honours and is being assisted by Doc Docherty. On Parade are L-R: Henry Brady, Billy Nevin, Noel Gavin, Mick O'Connor, Noel Digan and Tom Curley.
In the kitchen. Noel Digan is on the left, with Henry Brady in the middle. On the right is "Fadi". Fadi was a local boy from Brashit Village. he used to help out with the cleaning and cooking at Post 6-9b. Most evenings on his way home, he would bring bags of laundry from the post, which his mother would wash and dry for the troops.
Pa Joyce on the left, Spud Murphy in the middle and Henry Brady in the canteen in Brashit Camp.
John Moylan on the Left with Brian Quinn. Both of "C" Company with the 66th Irish Battalion, UNIFIL.
Here we see "Brashit Compound". Its basically a man-made mound of earth, on top of a hill, with a view for miles around. The Compound had a Main Battle Tank (M.B.T.) as part of its armament, alond with the defensive gun positions you can see at the corners. The reason for the dart "Arc" around the top of the picture, is that it was taken through the eye-piece of a set of very powerful Binoculars.
This photo was taken outside UN Post 6-42 in Brashit Village and shows Paddy McDonagh beside his UN Jeep.
Now these are Binoculars.. Brian Quinn of "C" Company on duty on the roof of Post 6-16, Brashit Camp.
Henry Brady relaxing in "C" Company Canteen. While it would have been nice to have "The Fleadh Cowboys" etc. entertaining us, no such luck. This was just a poster that someone had brough out to Lebanon with them to decorate the place...
One thing the Irish know how to do, when the time comes, is to enjoy ourselves. Saint Patrick's Day is one such opportunity. On the pitch in "Total", there were all sorts of festivities, including a Donkey Derby, with Camels.... Or is that a Camel Derby..... Anyway, everyone enjoyed themselves....
Any Time, Any Place, Any Where.... The Tea has to be had.
What we are looking at here are called T-Walls, they are concrete, and used to protect accomodation huts etc. At one stage, someone got the bright idea of marking up their Battalion on one of them. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but of course it meant that every subsequent Battalion had to somewhere find the paint and the time to mark themselves up as well... Henry Brady doesn't look too impressed at the prospect of adding the 66th Bn to the list.
Brian Mitchell "On Air" in Radio Scorpion. During the 66th Bn's tour of Duty, the Irish had access to the Norwegians radio Station (Radio Scorpion), located across the road from Camp Shamrock, in Tibnin. At Christmas, Brian gave away over £2500 worth of prizes to members of the 66th, that he had got sponsored by various Irish business before leaving for Lebanon. Irishbatt later received radio broadcasting equipment sponsored by RTE. The new station was to be known as 2FM-Lebanon.
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