Veterans march together to remember fallen comrades

Veteran soldiers from the North and the Republic have marched together at the first inspection on a UK parade ground by a representative of the Irish Defence Force, it emerged today.

Former Quarter Master General Paddy Nowlan of the Irish Defence Force inspected more than 200 old soldiers at the Combined Old Soldiers Day at St Patrick’s Barracks, Ballymena, this weekend.

It was the first time a representative of the Irish Defence Force had carried out an inspection on a parade square within the United Kingdom,

General Nowlan was joined by General Sir Roger Wheeler GCB CBE for the parade.

Former soldiers from the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Royal Ulster Rifles, Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Ulster Defence Regiment were joined by Irish Army veterans from United Nations campaigns.

The Irish United Nations Veterans Association and the Irish Lebanon Veterans Association marched onto the parade square along with the standards of other famous Irish regiments.

Paddy Horohan, from Kilkenny, of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association said it was fantastic to parade on a British parade square for the first time.

“The atmosphere was brilliant and we were so well received.

“We are all from different regiments and backgrounds but we have one thing in common. We are all Irish soldiers.”

Martin Vance, a D-Day veteran from east Belfast and prisoner of war in Korea, said the parade was extremely important.

“It isn’t just about meeting old soldiers. It’s about remembering those who never reached old age and died so young.

“Of those there are so many,” the Royal Ulster Rifles veteran said.

Retired Major Roy Bonar MBE of the Ulster Defence Regiment said the event had nothing to do with politics.

“As former soldiers we are above politics, we have an esprit de corps that surpasses everything else.

“To be with these gentlemen who made such a difference in Lebanon is truly wonderful,” he said.

The United Nations and Lebanon Associations presented a medal which they had received on St Patrick’s Day in Beirut to the Royal Irish Regiment museum.

Kevin McCormack, an Irish Lebanon veteran from Co Clare said: “We were presented the medal by the Lebanese government to recognise our efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.

“It is only right that it is placed in the Royal Irish Regiment museum which pays tribute to the courageous deeds of Irishmen over the last 300 years.”