The Cavalry Corps
Insignia: X
The Irish Army at it's peak fielded a force of almost 40,000 men. The following is a brief description of the support services, engineers, signals etc, that provided the Army with logistics, communications and medical services. The page is linked to the Armies Order of Battle page so that one can see the make up of the force at its peak. The services are broken down into their respective corps or branches of service, with descriptions of their establishments and functions.
| The Cavalry Corps Insignia: X |
As might be expected there were only Field Units formed in the Emergency period Cavalry Corps. All cavalry Units were organized in Squadrons and consisted of three branches.
Motor Squadrons: These light armoured units fulfilled the cavalry reconnaissance role and from 1941 were assigned as an organic part of each Brigade. Thus at its peak, each of the Brigades bar the 8th Brigade, sported in its order of battle a like numbered Motor Squadron, i.e. The 4th motor Squadron was assigned to the command of the 4th Brigade, the 6th Motor Sqn. to the 6th Bgde. And so on. The strength of a Motor Squadron was 163 men of all ranks and unit was organized as follows:
Attached to the Squadron Headquarters was a signals elements from the Field Signals Company attached to the parent brigade. There was however, now radio equipment within the squadron or its vehicles themselves.
Armoured Squadrons: First formed in late 1940, these units were equipped with armoured cars. The four Armoured Squadrons were attached variously at Command and Divisional level as can be seen from the November 1943 Order of Battle. The establishment stood at 114 men of all ranks and was organized as follows:
Cyclist Squadrons:A subject of much ridicule at the time and no doubt even now, an important element of the Emergency Cavalry Corps were the 14 Cyclist Squadrons eventually formed during the period. Allocated at Command and Divisional level, the Squadrons were a novel answer to the lack of transport in the Army. With an establishment of 118 all ranks, the unit was organized much like a rifle Company of the Infantry Corps. Each Squadron included an number of motor cycles and light lorries in the support role.
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 | The Corps of Engineers Insignia: A theodolite within a celtic torc, which has 'Innealtoiri', Irish for Engineer, inscribed on it. |
Field Units: From the outbreak of the war, the brigade was allocated an organic company of engineers. The company establishment was 218 all ranks of whom most were tradesmen. The establishment also allocated 25 lorries for transport. Each company was divided into three sections. The companies were numbered after their Brigade HQ in all cases but one. Because the 5th FE Coy. was raised as a second line unit, the FE Coy. of the 5th Brigade was the 9th FE Coy. Otherwise, the 1st Brigade commanded the 1st FE Coy, the 2nd Brigade the 2nd FE Coy., etc.
Command Units: Each of the four Commands, Eastern Western, Southern and Curragh, were provided with a Garrison Maintenance Company. These units were much smaller, having under 100 men in their establishments. They were numbered:
Some of the responsibilities of the Command units included:
Other Static Engineer Units:
Coastal Company: This unit of 232 all ranks was based at Fort Camden in Cork Harbour and had detachments at the coastal defence forts equipped with search lights around the coast. The company had 17 various search lights and their maintenance was the main task of the company.
The Survey Company was based in the Phoenix Park, Dublin with the Ordnance Survey. This unit had 65 all ranks.
The Civil Defence Fire-Fighting Company was formed in 1943 and placed under the control of the Military Director, Civil Defence
Reserve Forces: The establishments had created a large number of second line units which could be formed in time of war. Of these, only the 5th Field Engineer Company was formed, in 1940. It was based in Dublin and was placed under L.D.F. control in 1942. An Electricity Supply Company and 28 Demolition Companies were also planned but no further actions were taken in their formation.
The School and Depot of Engineering was based in the Curragh camp
The Signals Corps Insignia: Mercury, messenger of the gods, within a 12 pointed star. |
Field Units: There were 8 Field Companies formed, each of which was allocated to a Brigade HQ as it organic
communications unit. The 1st Brigade commanded the 1st Sig. Coy, the 2nd Brigade the 2nd Sig. Coy., etc.
There was in addition a Field Force Signals Company, ready to deploy with Field Forces HQ
should this be necessary. There was also an Air Corps Signals Company which handled all ground to air communications.
Command Units: Each of the four Commands, Eastern Western, Southern and Curragh, were provided with a Garrison Signals Company. They were numbered:
*All companies had on establishment 5 wireless vans and relied heavily in land line communications.
Reserve Forces: There were no second line units planned but certain officials and personnel in the civil Department of Posts and Telegraphs were granted second-line commissions in 1943-44.
The Ordnance Service/Corps Insignia: An array of ancient weaphons on a battle shield. |
Going by the title at first of Ordnance Service, this service became a Corps in 1942. It fielded no Field units itself but attached personnel to units of most other Corps with the purpose of servicing weaphons.
There was formed a Garrison Ordnance Company for each of the Commands, numbered as follows:It also operated a number of depots including; weaphons depot, ammunition depot; optical depot. It was responsibility for producing explosives, mines and grenades.
 | Supply and Transport Service/Corps Insignia: Celtic chariot before a castle, surrounded by sheaves of wheat. |
The Supply and Transport Service was allocated Corps status in 1942.
Field Units:There were formed seven Field Companies for service with each Brigade. An 8th F S&T Coy. formed but disbanded in 1942. The company establishment was 267 all ranks. Provision was made for a reinforcement of 160 more from the L.D.F. if necessary. Company structure was as follows:
The establishment vehicle strength was just over 200 and was capable of lifting the brigade 'marching' strength. It included tankers and light cars but in practice, it is unlikely that the numbers of vehicles was ever sufficient.
The 1st Brigade commanded the 1st S&T. Coy, the 2nd Brigade the 2nd S&T. Coy., etc.
Command Units:
There existed in the Curragh and Eastern Commands the 1st and 2nd Supply Companies respectively. These included among their ranks many butchers and bakers who ran army food services.
Each Command had control of a Garrison S & T company.
Other Units:
There were also, a staff for a Field Forces S & T Coy. This would no doubt have served the HQ field Forces had it been necessary.
There was also a Horse Transport S & T Coy in the Eastern Command area. Its strength stood at 290 all ranks.
Reserve Forces:
The establishments provided for four bus companies with 213 all ranks and 100 buses each. These were never raised however. Second line commissions of the rank of Major were given to the controllers of the two main railway companies in the country.
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 | The Army Medical Service Insignia: A serpent entwined on a staff, enclosed in a wreath. based on a biblical symbol of healing. |
Field Units: The AMS formed 8 Field Ambulances during the Emergency period. Each Field Ambulance contained a HQ and three companies, containing 235 all ranks. The 1st Brigade commanded the 1st Field Ambulance, the 2nd Brigade the 2nd Field Ambulance., etc.
Command Units: Each of the Commands was provided with a hospital Company, with Eastern command having an extra one. These were as follows:
Reserves: The reserve establishment provided for the following:
The number of personnel in the second line units numbered 855 in 1944. Despite this, Red Cross volunteers were slated to be allocated to the medical services in the event of war.
 | The Military Police Service Insignia: The letters 'P A' in Gaelic script, standing for Poilini and Airm, enclosed in a sunburst. |
Field Units: This service formed 8 Field Companies, each of 73 all ranks. It should be noted that almost all the privates in the MPS had Acting Corporal rank. Each company had 3 sections, two lorried and one motorcycle. The 1st Brigade commanded the 1st M.P. Coy, the 2nd Brigade the 2nd M.P. Coy., etc.
Command Units: Each Command had under its command a Garrison Military Police Company. These slightly larger units included the local Command Detention Barracks staff, except in Eastern Command where a separate No. 2 Detention Barracks staff carried out this function. The companies were allocated as follows:
Other Units: The MPS provided four internment camp staff units. They were tasked with the running of the IRA and
Foreign Belligerents Internment Camps in the Curragh and later Gormanstown. The personnel for one of these units came from No. 4 MP Coy.
If it had been required, there was provision for the setting up of a POW Camp staff also.
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 | The Construction Corps Insignia: Circular stone wall bearing roof timbers. Recalls the legend of 'An Goban Saor'. |
| This was formed in 1940 partially to provide a manpower resource to back up the Corps of Engineers and also as a social Service. The ranks of the Corps, which was actually non combatant, was filled for the most part with young unemployed men and youths. Initially the Corps formed five Battalions allocated as follows in November 1943: |
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Subsequently, this structure was changed to two depots in Naas and Collins Barracks Cork, with 10 works companies for carrying duties. Each of these companies had an establishment of 244 all ranks. The staff of the depots included Medical officers, a Dentist and a Schoolmaster.
More information will be included in this site elsewhere.
Sources:
The Irish Sword, No. 75/76, Vol. XIX, 1993, the Journal of the Military History Society of Ireland.
The Call to Arms, A Historical Record of Ireland's Defence Forces, Abbey Publications, 1945
Defence Forces General Reports, 1940-1945, Military Archives, Cahal Brugha Barracks, Dublin
John P. Duggan, A History of the Irish Army, 1991
Donal McCarron, Step Together, IAP, 1999
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