Patrick Lavelle: Col Patrick Lavelle, who has died aged 85, was a member of the first Army contingent to serve with the United Nations.
In June 1958 he was one of five officers selected for service with the UN Observation Group in Lebanon formed on foot of a Security Council resolution with instructions to ensure that there was "no illegal infiltration of personnel or supply of arms or other material across the Lebanese borders".
The political consensus in Lebanon had broken down following the 1957 elections, when supporters of the pro-Western President Chamoun sought to amend the constitution to give him another term in office. Christian, Muslim and Druze factions were engaged in violent feuding, while the Lebanese army avoided direct confrontation with dissidents so as not to precipitate a complete breakdown in relations between Christians and Muslims, which would have divided the armed forces. The situation was further destabilised by persistent rumours of incursions from Syria.
The Government decision to provide observers to the unarmed UNOGIL was widely welcomed. An Irish Times leading article noted: "The Irish officers who volunteer to join the group can feel that they are doing a useful job not only for the prestige of their own country, but for the cause of peace."
The group, led by Lieut Col Justin McCarthy, attended a reception at Government Buildings to mark the mission, which was hosted by the taoiseach, Eamon de Valera, accompanied by the minister for defence, Kevin Boland.
Tropical kit was unavailable to the Defence Forces at the time, and the group was issued with heavy woollen duffle coats suitable for the winter months. Arriving at Beirut airport the officers were immediately prescribed salt tablets because of the intense heat.
They teamed up with other UN observers from Burma, Canada, India, Italy and the Scandinavian countries. Patrick Lavelle, then a commandant, was assigned to an out-station at Sidon as intelligence officer, and he recalled regularly patrolling from dawn to dusk. "The object was to get to know the area, study the topography, visit the local villages, acquire all possible information and, not least, to show the flag," he said.
He also recalled entering a rebel area in Tyre. "We were taken into a small classroom where Turkish coffee was served whilst at the same time our 'hosts' were dumping on the table and on the floor a variety of unexploded bombs and missiles with which they claimed the security forces had bombarded them. We were relieved to have been able to return to base all in one piece."
Landings by elements of the US 6th Fleet along the coast raised fears of retaliatory action by the Soviet Union in support of the United Arab Republic.
However, a diplomatic formula was worked out whereby the US forces withdrew and the UN presence in Lebanon was augmented.
But old enmities prevailed and local feuding persisted. The decision was taken to wind down the UNOGIL mission, and in November 1958 Patrick Lavelle returned to Ireland. He later served with the UN in Cyprus in 1964 and 1966.
Born on April 14th, 1920, he was one of five children of John Lavelle and his wife, Bridget (née Ryan) of Lugaphuill, Castlebar, Co Mayo.
Educated at the De La Salle College, Castlebar, he entered the Cadet School at the Curragh Training Camp in 1939. Commissioned in 1940, he joined the Cavalry Corps and was promoted to captain in 1948.
Most of his career was spent at the Curragh. He had risen to the rank of colonel when he took command of the Sixth Battalion at Custume Barracks, Athlone, in 1979. He retired from the Army in 1980.
He was in 1968 a founder member of Newbridge Credit Union, one of the biggest branches in the country, and helped in the formation of other branches in Co Kildare. A former vice-president of the Curragh Golf Club, he was club captain in 1969.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia, daughters, Breda and Sally, sons, David, Páraic, Brian, Paul and Rory.
Patrick Lavelle: born April 14th, 1920; died April 22nd, 2005