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In Fermoy, Ireland |
Trooper Patrick Mullins19th November 1942 - 14th September 1961
 Trooper Patrick Mullins
 Looking towards Boher and the Galtee Mountains
He was the youngest in the family of five children, (Margaret, Mary, Denis,
Thomas, Nelly and Pat.), born to Ned and Catherine Mullins. His school
years were spent in Kilbehenny National School.
 Mullins Home, Boher
Active in sports he won both a medal for Hurling and Football during his
School years. Having left school at an early age Patrick found employment
as a farm labourer on a neighbouring farm, which was owned by Mr. Jack Brien.
Farming in those days with little or no mechanisation, involved a lot of hard
work, but this was not to be the life for Patrick.
 Kilbehenny National School
He had decided to join the Army. Perhaps this decision was due in part to the
fact, that his father was a member of the Reserve Defence Forces, and had been
awarded the
Emergency Service Medal 1939 - 1946.
On the 9th May 1960, Patrick Mullins enlisted in the Army in Collins Barracks,
Cork, and became 810552 Recruit Mullins. P. His recruit training commenced at
the Command Training Depot in Collins Barracks Cork, under the watchful eye of
his instructors, Sgt. Cusack, Corporal Joe Hunt and Corporal John Sisk.
Upon completion of his recruit training on the 1st October 1960, he was posted
to the 1st Motor Squadron in the Aerodrome, Fermoy (later to be re-named
Fitzgerald Camp).
Also posted to the 1st Motor Squadron from the same Recruit Platoon were
John O'Mahony, Pat Crofton, Mick Casey, Jimmy Burke and John Clifford.
Almost immediately Pat commenced a Motor Cycle course which lasted approx 3
months, finishing in February of 1961. Shortly after that Pat volunteered,
and put forward his name, for service with the United Nations in The Congo.
The Congo Mission was established initially on the 27th.July 1960, when
the Belgian Congo became an independent Republic on 30 June 1960. Twelve
days later, the Congolese Government requested military assistance from
the United Nations to maintain territorial integrity. The Irish government
agreed to a request from the Secretary General for a force of Irish troops
to serve with the UN Force in the Congo, and so the Defence Forces' involvement
in Africa began when they sent a battalion to ONUC.
(The acronym derives from the French, Operation des Nations Units au Congo).
 Armoured Car in the Congo
The 16th June 1961 saw Pat Mullins, along with other members of the 2nd
Armoured Car Group 35th Infantry Battalion depart for U.N. service in the
Congo.
On the 14th September 1961 an armoured car, which was under the
command of Comdt. Pat Cahalane was ambushed and hit by an enemy shell.
Also in the armoured car that day were Sgt.Timothy Carey (27) of Fermoy,
Corporal Michael Nolan (22), Knockadoo, Colbinstown, Co., Wicklow and
Trooper Patrick Mullins (19) of Boher, Kilbehenny, Co. Limerick.
The armoured car was out on patrol to check the Irish guarding the Radio
Station when they were hit.
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Paudie McGrath if you would like a larger print of these photos. |
