Madam, – Mark Hennessy’s article (Weekend Review, November 6th) and Anthony Jordan’s letter (November 10th) regarding deserters from the Army during the second World War reminded me of something that happened in the early 1950s when I was a corporal in the FCA.
I was in camp in Gormanston and among the other NCOs was a corporal who never stopped boasting of how he had served in the British army and about all the courses he had undergone and the profound depth of his military knowledge. He was quite a pain and was heartily disliked by the rest of us. A few months afterwards he was entering Collins Barracks, Dublin, going to weeknight training. The PA (military policeman) at the gate called him over and said “Isn’t your name F***n?” The corporal answered in the affirmative. The PA said, “You deserted from the 5th Battalion in 1942”, and promptly arrested him. He was thrown out of the FCA, much to the delight of those who had met him. – Yours, etc,