Memories of Sgt Vincent Mulvey.
The following are the memories of Sgt Vincent Mulvey. Vincent served in the 2nd Motor Squadron, from 1952 to 1973. Our thanks to Vincent for his input to our web site. Vincent live ‘s in Portarlington Co Laois and on behalf of the 2nd Cavalry Squadron Veterans Association Committee, we would like to sincerely thank him for taking the time to write his memories and to wish him and his family the best for long life and happiness.
I served in the 2nd Motor Squadron from 1952, I joined with a recruit platoon specially formed for the 2nd Motor Squadron and as far as I am aware I am the only living survivor of the 35 recruits that joined at that time. Still surviving from that era is Sgt Dan Gartland no 98598 and No 94666 Sgt Jimmy Aylward. When you joined in those years your civie clothes were taken from you and you didn’t get them back until you passed out. Recruit pay at that time was (a quid’) about €1.50 in today’s value.
My Commanding Officer in 1952 was Comdt John Larkin and he lived in Officers Married Quarters which was adjacent to the old Command Training Depot HQ. There was only one Sqn Sgt before I joined and that was Sqn Sgt Johnny O’Toole a Dublin man from Basin St, the next was Jack Tuohy a Tipperary man and he served till his sudden death with heart failure in 1972. Jack was part of the fabric of the old 2nd Motor Squadron, during the time of his death the unit was on summer camp in Waterford Barracks, The Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant in 1952 was a Cork man by the name of Sean Morrison No27740 from Bantry , when he left this post was filled by Matt Cooley up to the time I retired in 1973. The Orderly Room Sgt was a Derry man No 79278 Ned Quigley, and the fitter Sgt was No 9196 Sgt Tom McKeon from Mullingar Co Westmeath .The Training Sgt was No 64123 Sgt Tom (Stonewall) Jackson from Dublin
Other C/Os during my time Bill Barrett, Fergus McNamee, Pat (The Battler) Keogh ,Owen Quinn, John Larkin for a 2nd time,.
We had some noted Sports men during our time one been Sgt (Stonewall) Jackson who competed for a golden gloves place in Boxing 1939.
One of the forerunners to the 2nd Motor Squadron was the 4th Cavalry Squadron which had Comdt Stanley Woods , he was an unsung Motor Racing Champion in so far as he won 10 Isle Of Man TT Championships, and won 29 Grand Prix races all over Europe between 1922 and 1939 , he joined the Cavalry during the emergency as a Comdt in the 40ths during the outbreak of the 2nd World War .He died in 1993 in Castlewellen Co Down.
Our other noted All Army Cycling Champion was the late Sgt Hugh Gaynor who was later killed in action in the Niemba Ambush. The late Sgt Gaynor wrote me a letter 4 days before he died in the ambush and this letter can be seen in the Museum in the Curragh (R.I.P) Hugh. We also lost Trooper Anthony Brown and Trooper Fennel from the unit in this period may they Rest In Peace.
The vehicles we used during the 50ths were the following ; 6 x Bren gun carriers, Ford Armoured Cars ( built by Thompsons in Carlow),a US Army Willy Jeep Reg No Z21211, Ford V8 Trucks x 2, ZD 1807 – ZDs 1827, Ford Pursuit Cars known as (Bug Chasers), beaverettes, (small round a/cars) used at Airports during WW2. Motor Cycles were BSA m20Weapons Lee Enfield 303, Vickers Machine Gun, 81 mm Mortar, and the Bren Gun.
This is just a short synopsis of the time I served and many pages could be filled in relation to my time in service, to continue would take months if not years. I hope this is of some use to veterans and serving members alike of the 2nd Cavalry Squadron.
(Since this article was published we regret the loss of Sgt Dan Gartland, May He Rest In Peace.)
