Owen D Is the Naval and Military Press article and source on the Irish soldiers still available? I was unable to trace it from your link.
Ronnie , do a search on "irish soldiers" on their website, book comes up 16 quid. ISBN: 1843423855 Or paste this into Search... LIST OF PERSONNEL OF THE IRISH DEFENCE FORCES DISMISSED FOR DESERTION DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
"This list sounds positively Stalinist, I'm quite shocked by it if it really worked like that. I could almost understand a bollocking or some sort of punishment for the actual act of desertion but the lifetime 'branding' of the men seems exceptionally Harsh." I agree, it does seem harsh at this removal. However you must put yourself in the mindset of the time. Ireland was not long free from its colonisers and, too many, part of the country was still occupied by a foriegn invader. Churchill was talking of re-invading in order to take over the ports againand a major point of concern was the threat of German invasion. The desertion of up to 5000 soldiers to a potential invader at this time seriously undermined the states abilty to defend itself. The information that they could supply to the British army authorities would be invaluable.
Maybe for the immediate 'emergency' I could possibly see some of that, but I'd refer back to my "for decades afterwards?" of four years ago. The lifetime categorisation That was surely pure politics & vindictiveness.
A recent book which is a good read "Guarding Neutral Ireland"http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-films-tv-radio/25009-%22guarding-neutral-ireland%22.html gives a good insight into the times of "The Emergency" , Robert Fisk's "In Time of War" is also well worth a look. Huge regrets for not being able to afford a hardback edition when I was a student in the early 80's.
I have to agree, Fisk is invaluable - my paperback copy is well thumbed now! (second most useful I've found is Erno Stefan's classic Spies in Ireland) The information that they could supply to the British army authorities would be invaluable. I'm afraid the British wouldn't have anything to learn - remember Gen Franklyn chaired a covert "officers' conference" monthly (or every two months) just outside Dublin. It was somewhat less than a full "military convention" for obvious reasons - it had to be concealed from Anglophobes like Gen. Hugo MacNeill! - but there was considerable information sharing between the IDF and BTNI.
I have some information on my website regarding this subject on my website. It includes information about "Plan Kathleen" and I have recently been able to include a picture of the headstone of a man buried in Dublin who was killed whilst working at R.A.F. Ballyhalbert in Northern Ireland. You may find this of interest.
I have some information on my website regarding this subject on my website. It includes information about "Plan Kathleen" and I have recently been able to include a picture of the headstone of a man buried in Dublin who was killed whilst working at R.A.F. Ballyhalbert in Northern Ireland. You may find this of interest. Interesting stuff. I will look in more detail later. Which section is Plan Kathleen in?