Page 54 - Bugle Autumn 2014

2 RIFLES community engagement
From right to left were the following visitors: Maura McCormack - Irish UN Living History Group, Kevin (Mac) McCormack - Irish UN Living History Group, PJ Ryan - Deputy Chairman Co Clare, Donal Keane - The son, his father was an Internee 1919 – 1922, Maj Mark Owen - 2 Rifles, Ballykinler, Patsy Toman - Co Down SDLP Councillor, Maj George McFarland - 2 Royal Irish
It is always a delight to see the number
of organisations wanting to involve the Battalion in their events form both North and the Republic of Ireland, the trick as ever is managing their expectations especially when asked to come
Battalion’s Rifleman Fund to care for the injured and their families. The CE Officer and LCpl Jennifer Wainwright (Medic) received the money on behalf of the CO and briefed the children and teachers
Kilkeel Primary School.
A small but notable group visited
Ballykinler and the Battalion in October
from the Republic of Ireland, lead by Kevin McCormack an ex serving Irish Army soldier now involved in and organisation called the Irish UN Living History Group. Their request was for Donal Keane to visit Ballykinler, which has a long military history and is where his farther was an Internee between 1919-1922. Having painfully cleared
a number of political concerns the visit finally took place and 2 RIFLES even got a mention in the local County Clare papers. By Maj MA Owen, OC HQ Coy
along with ‘our’
band. Key to many of
our success are the
Rifleman and especially
the Buglers who are
constantly delivering
bright and refreshing ideas and of course making it happen on the day. The Battalion have had a number of notable engagements and I am sure the CO will not forget an Officers Mess Dinner and a memorable Councillor from Newcastle (NI) who thought this was an opportunity to meet single females (luckily we had our wonderful WRVS lady Lou McGhie on hand, although she was unimpressed.) The Battalion had
a strong performance in the Rugby 7s at Carrickfergus having won the competition
in previous years and also assisted in the Armed Forces day in Carrickfergus with a Command post and weapons stand. The
9 Rifleman mainly form I (Sp) Company and the Signals Platoon had an enjoyable day amongst a huge crowd of visitors.
Links with the local schools have continued with the usual support to open day and pancake. Kilkeel Primary School although not local has produced serving Rifleman and hope to continue to do so. They have sent out a number of parcels to the A Company Rifleman deployed on Op HERRICK 20 and raised £2000 for the
on the forthcoming deployment to Kabul. The teachers were surprised to hear Riflemen were still deploying believing that all soldiers were leaving
Afghanistan this year. They plan to continue this for both B, C and HQ Company from August 14 and our thanks go to Joanne Cherry and all the children and staff at
Links with the local schools have continued with the usual support
Maj Mark Owen and LCpl Jennifer Wainwright at Kilkeel Primary School preparing the welfare packages for Riflemen on operations
52 SECOND BATTALION
THE RIFLES