This page is dedicated to my dad, Cpl. Paddy Percival who sadly passed away on 21st September 2013, aged 70. Below you will find some information on his military career including his deployment to the Congo with the United Nations (UN) in 1963.
Paddy was born on 25th March 1943 in Co. Kildare. He enlisted in the Irish Defence Forces on 25th November 1961, aged 18 years. He would go on to serve his country for 26 years, obtaining the rank of Corporal following completion of his Potential NCO’s course.
As part of the United Nations Operations in the Congo (ONUC), Paddy aged 20, was deployed to the Congo as a Private in No. 2 Rifle Platoon with A Company 39th Infantry Battalion from April 1963 to October 1963. He was very proud to represent his country and the United Nations (UN).
LA54 – Rare Irish Army Payment book for Soldiers from 1965.
Here you can see Paddy’s weekly earnings according to the first entry on the 15th October 1965 was £7. 2s 4d. (This is the old Irish currency of Pounds, Shillings & Pence) The Soldiers LA 54 also records the Soldiers Military Unit each week. This is very useful as it records the movements of the Soldier. For example, you can see that according to the entries, Paddy is attached to Plunkett Barracks in the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare on October 15th 1965. By 3rd December 1965, he was attached/moved to Devoy Barracks, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Here you can see Paddy is attached/moved to McKee Barracks, Co. Dublin on 4th November 1966 for approximately six weeks. He was perhaps undertaking a course at the time.
Here you can see Paddy finishes in McKee Barracks 16th December 1966 and returns to Devoy Barracks, Naas, Co. Kildare on 21st December 1966.
Each Soldiers Pay Book contained a summary of the Geneva Conventions, 1949. The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties and three additional protocols that establish the standards of international law for humanitarian treatment in war. The singular term Geneva Convention usually denotes the agreements of 1949, negotiated in the aftermath of the Second World War (1939–1945), which updated the terms of the two 1929 treaties, and added two new conventions.
This Army Pay Book ( LA 54) from 1967 shows that Paddy’s is stationed at Devoy Barracks, Naas, Co. Kildare. It also states his Rank, Religion and weekly payment of £10 7s 3d which includes a Marriage Allotment of £3. 13s which was a compulsory payment made to a Soldiers wife . In 1965 Paddy’s weekly earnings was £7 2s 4d. It also records his Next of Kin, as his wife, Esther Percival who was residing at a house on the Dublin Road, Naas, Co. Kildare. Paddy’s wife was working as a House Keeper for a Miss Braithwaite at the time.
By 1968 Paddy qualified as a Cook from the Army Apprentice School, Devoy Barracks, Naas, Co. Kildare after almost 3 years. Above is a reference letter from the Adjutant of the Army Apprentice School, Captain Con. Costello dated 19th January 1968. He describes Paddy as a conscientious, hard-working, clean and reliable Soldier.
Con Costello who sadly passed away on 6th October 2006 retired a Lieutenant Colonel. He was the first Officer to command the first ever class at the Army Apprentice School. He was also a well known, Historian and Author. His weekly column Looking Back in the Leinster Leader was published every week for 24 years. My dad spoke positively about him and he is remembered fondly by all those who encountered him.
LA 89 – The Defence Forces Certificate of Service
This document (LA 89) is given to Soldiers when they discharge from the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF). Essentially it acts as a record of service and a reference for future employment. It was also used when Soldiers transferred from the the PDF to the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF).
Sun of the Croft Poetry & Writing 