New View

H.Q. Base Camp The Troops C. Roche N.Brunicardi Laird's Story Duties UDC Letter Letters Home War Songs B.Hammond Maps Interviews Final Leaving Photo Mêlée Quiz Biography Credits E mail

The Last Salute

1. The area now occupied by Fitzgerald Camp was a military training ground in the last century for Brirish troops garrisoned in Fermoy Army Barracks, that was burned down in 1922 after the War of Independence

2. Three hangers and a garage were built with the arrival of the Royal Flying Corps.
   
   
   

   Hangers at the Aerodrome
   
   

3. The aerodrome was taken over by the Free State four days before taking over the barracks.

4. The Air Corps was stationed there for the first time in October 1922 and stayed for the duration of the Civil War.

5. In March 1924, an infantry battalion was formed in Fermoy, transferred to the Curragh and later disbanded.

6. From 1924 to 1940 the Camp was run by a caretaker.

7. In October 1940, the Camp reoccupied during the Emergency, this time by the 4th Battalion, 9th Field Battery of Artillery and the 3rd Motor Squadron.

8. The Air Corps returned to the camp in the Emergency.

9. It was during this time that the present layout of the Camp took shape.

10. In 1946 the North Cork area FCA was formed and the Fermoy Battalion set up headquarters in the camp.

11. In 1948 the first Motor Squadron arrived in the aerodrome.

12. In 1959 when the FCA was integrated with the Regular Army, the Fermoy Battalion was amalgamated into the 13th Battalionwhich took over the headquarters of the Fermoy Battalion in the aerodrome.

13. In September 1966, the aerodrome was renamed Fitzgerald camp in honour of Comdt Mick Fitzgerald, a local IRA Commander who died on hunger strike in Cork Prison.