History on 'The Glorious 17th' to be launched later this week

Some 300 photos associated with the 17th Infantry Battalion, which had its HQ in Connolly Barracks, Longford, are included (with captions) in a new book being launched next week.

‘The Glorious 17th Infantry Battalion and Reserve Defence Force in Counties Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon and West Cavan’ by journalist and former member of E Company Paul Williams, will be presented to the public at an event in Longford Library on Friday June 20 (7.30pm).

Paul says anyone who served, or had family serving in the famous Unit, will find something of interest in the book.

A Company was in County Longford, B Company was based in Granard, and spilled over the boundaries of Westmeath and Cavan. C Company was based in the Strokestown area of Roscommon. D Company was based in Ballyconnell, County Cavan, and E Company was based around Roscommon Town, until it reverted to 16th Infantry Battalion in 1979. F Company had its HQ in Mohill, County Leitrim up to 1979, when it replaced Roscommon as E Company.

The history covers two earlier versions of the 17th, the first based in Kilkenny, Kerry, and Westmeath during the Civil War and its aftermath. The second one was based in Donegal during the Emergency from 1940-1946.

The Glorious 17th returned for a third time in 1959, for the following 45 years thousands of young men, and from 1990 young women, from across the counties mentioned above would learn a wide range of skills, which they took with them into their future careers.

It has been remarkable that few if any of those youngsters that spent time in the FCA have come to the notice of the authorities in any jurisdiction in which they in later life lived and worked.

Each Company is documented, with lists of personnel; their triumphs and tragedies are highlighted.

Included in the narrative is a short account of the men from this area that soldiered at Jadotville in September 1961, many of whom served at some time with the 17th Battalion as training officers, instructors or drivers. One, Comdt Joe Leech, was commanding officer of the Battalion from 1979 to 1983.

The book also looks briefly at the units that succeeded the 17th Battalion, the 56th Reserve Infantry Battalion and 54th Reserve Cavalry Squadron.

The book costs €25, you can contact the author on 086 3706562, and hufarel@gmail.com.