French Colonels' Cup

Officers of the 5th (Volunteer) Battalion The Royal Irish Rangers at Annual Camp 1975. Back row L to R. Capt W R Hunter, Capt R D Scott RAMC, Capt R E Cooke, Capt F C Finnegan, Lt K P McCarthy, Capt H J Briggs, Capt S J Blair. Front Row. Capt W P O'Neill, Maj D A C Smyth, Maj N P Magrane, Col Gilbert Ginsberger, Lt Col I Gailey, Colonel Robert Giroud, Maj J P Hutchison, Maj D Johnston, Maj R Colhoun.

Towards the end of 1974, the 5th (Volunteer) Battalion The Royal Irish Rangers (5(V) R IRISH) became corporate members of the Reserve Forces Association and offered to accept four allied officers and NCOs on attachment at their next annual camp. Annual camp in 1975 took place at Westdown Camp, Tilshead on Salisbury Plain. Two French army reserve officers, Lt Col Robert Giroud and Lt Col Gilbert Ginsberger, spent the whole fortnight with the battalion. Adjutant (Sergeant Major) Edmond Lhuissiere joined them for the first week only.

All three earned undying admiration for their high standards of fitness, professionalism and their superb good humour and characteristic charm. Adjutant Lhuissiere distinguished himself by being introduced to the Colonel of The Regiment as the new Pipe Major. The kilt and tunic fitted him so well that General James (Majury) was well and truly taken in!

5(V) R IRISH hoped that their hospitality matched the friendliness and kindness shown to them by the 'French Colonels'. Prior to their departure the colonels presented the Commanding Officer, Lt Col R F Sadlier TD, with a silver cup to be used as a prize in an annual competition between companies. A farewell letter to the commanding officer from the two colonels ended with the exhortation:

                    "Vive le 5eme Irish Rangers - vive le Black Bush".