Formal end of the 4FAR

Yesterday Tuesday 4 December (the day of St Barbara, the patron saint of the Artillery Corp), the 4 Field Artillery Regiment, who marched out of Columb Barracks Mullingar on March 28 of this year formally stood down at the scene of the battle of Ballinamuck, where the Artillery Corp got their historical figurehead, Gnr James Magee.In the company of retired members of the 4 FAR, the main guest was Cpl Billy Allen DSM, the last of three Gunners who received the DSM.At 1pm the scene was set when the regiment serving and retired, took post as two rounds from the ceremonial guns started the brief on the actual battle, and the story was told by Lt Paul O Donnell.1230 lunch in the visitors centre where the lThe last commanding officer of the 4 FAR addressed the regiment for the last time, and presented one of their shields to the visitor centre.At 2pm the regiment fell in behind the military band and regimental p ennants, and marched the short distance to the memorial.Cpl Allen DSM took his position at the memorial with CO, Lt Col Ray Yorke and Regt Sgt Major Noel O'Callaghan, and the ceremonial guns fired one round for each of the seven decades of the regiment.The highlights of each decade were read out by the Regt Adjt Capt Eoin Scanlon.The three battalion and one regimental HQ pennants were handed to the sergeant major, laid on the table covered by the regimental table cloth.As the last volley fired it signaled the end of the 4 Field Artillery Regt and the beginning of the 2 Artillery Regiment.