Originally Posted by HarryPalmer

Callsign Hades By Patrick Bury

In summer 2006 Helmand Province erupted into violence as NATO forces struggled to crush Taliban strongholds. For six weeks the Royal Irish Regiment and the Paras defended Sangin in the face of ever-mounting attacks. At this point young officer Patrick Bury was learning the trade of the infantry in the Brecon Beacons.
Paddy had always wanted to be a soldier - a desire fraught with the contradictions of a complex history overridden by a 'warrior calling'. When he arrived in Afghanistan with 1st Royal Irish, he was surrounded by men oozing bloody combat experience. This was not Sandhurst. It was extreme violence and killing. Hades Four One was his callsign and the infantry mantra rang in his ears: 'To close and kill the enemy, in all weather conditions, in all terrain, by day or night.' Over six months, Paddy and his company dealt with over a hundred IEDs, of which 60 exploded on them, killing his comrades in the most vicious of ways and fuelling a sense of ever-growing dissatisfaction in the young captain.
This powerful and thoughful first-hand account about the 'eternal truths of military life' places the reader in Paddy's boots, sharing every thought, ache, smell and taste of life on the frontline in Afghanistan. He describes modern warfare in a way that creates an understanding of the myriad complexities soldiers are faced with, the conditions in which they operate and the moral and emotional challenges they endure.

Callsign Hades | Book by Patrick Bury - Simon & Schuster UK

Excellent book.

Capt Bury's name also crops up in Irish author, Richard Doherty's book on the Royal Irish Battlegroup's tour in 2008. One of the casually mentioned facts though nonetheless significant to me was at one stage of this tour, the Ranger Company's three platoon commanders were from the ROI - Paddy from Wicklow, Peter from Mayo and Pete from Kildare. Puts this religious and political bollox into perspective does it not?

A very good post

I served in a Welsh regiment. we had a number of Irish lads, both North and south, and good lads they were too; however the one of all of them and to be feared was the Regimental Sergeant Major, He was about five foot four, he put the fear of God into all of us. He came from Co Mayo.

Neither us the Welsh, nor the Irish lads with us ever quite forgive Co Mayo!

During 2 tours of the Province, I had the privilege of serving with a number of men from south of the border. One of my CSMs was such a man. He went on to become a WO1 (RSM). I firmly believe that HMF is unique in terms of its historic acceptence of soldiers from other nations. It matters not a jot where you come from, but how well you can do the job and earn the respect of the people around you.

As an aside, does anyone know of any Brits serving in the Irish Defence Forces? Didn't there used to be a requirement to speak Gaelic?

Sorry lads, you are the sons of a nation who wanted no part of being British. I. Not sure I could agree with you now taking the Queens shilling, or to be more precise the British taxpayers jobs.

As you make your bed, so do you lie in it.

Originally Posted by Barry_Buttplug

Sorry lads, you are the sons of a nation who wanted no part of being British. I. Not sure I could agree with you now taking the Queens shilling, or to be more precise the British taxpayers jobs.

As you make your bed, so do you lie in it.

Barry, Read ' Sabretache' Irish Battalions hand back colours to King George 5th at Windsor in 1922, and reconsider your thoughts perhaps?

Originally Posted by jonny3979

During 2 tours of the Province, I had the privilege of serving with a number of men from south of the border. One of my CSMs was such a man. He went on to become a WO1 (RSM). I firmly believe that HMF is unique in terms of its historic acceptence of soldiers from other nations. It matters not a jot where you come from, but how well you can do the job and earn the respect of the people around you.

As an aside, does anyone know of any Brits serving in the Irish Defence Forces? Didn't there used to be a requirement to speak Gaelic?

Lad I went to sea cadets with joined Irish navy many moons ago. IIRC his family had only tenuious links with the state. His reason for going was wanting better chance of promotion? Don't know what happened though.

BTW were gaelic speakers deployed to some boarder checkpoints uin the 80's?

Originally Posted by overopensights

Barry, Read ' Sabretache' Irish Battalions hand back colours to King George 5th at Windsor in 1922, and reconsider your thoughts perhaps?

I knew (roughly) of these events...

However, the same occurred with the Indian army, and on several other occasions. This happens if you decide to break away.

But just as I assume Irishmen would be annoyed if Britain decided to put British judges in Irish courts, then Englishmen have the right to be annoyed at Irishmen serving their crown.

Personally I would invoke a simple rule in this current downsizing of the British army - all those who are not British leave first.

(Barry Buttplug)
I can see exactly what you mean; however a quality soldier can come from anyplace, take the Fijans, a percentage of whom go into the SAS. Would you out them too?

In a company of about 130 men there were always about four that we could well have done without.
As long as the 'deciding' who goes is done at 'company level' and not MOD, then the mix would be right.

My personal feelings are at present, that none should go! We need them all.

Originally Posted by overopensights

(Barry Buttplug)
I can see exactly what you mean; however a quality soldier can come from anyplace, take the Fijans, a percentage of whom go into the SAS. Would you out them too?

In a company of about 130 men there were always about four that we could well have done without.
As long as the 'deciding' who goes is done at 'company level' and not MOD, then the mix would be right.

My personal feelings are at present, that none should go! We need them all.

I fully agree. However, I really feel that if the full accountability and impact of our actions as individuals and as nations was considered, the world would be a better place. Any country deciding to change it's allegiances should fully accept all of the consequences of the decision - not cherry pick them.

I am always incensed that 60 years after Indians demanded the right to live a life free of British control, millions of them now live in the UK - under the very control that they protested against.

I have no doubts that the chap in question is an excellent officer and a great fellow, however he should accept the consequences of a decision made by his forefathers. He can serve in the Irish army just as effectively, and there are many British candidates for his job.

Good soldiers (and officers) are made, not found. We shouldn't be making them from foreigners.