Colonel James Mortell, late of Charleville

with the Eastern Command and Defence Forces Headquarters.

Colonel Mortell was the first man to be seen raising the National Flag on the new Irish television service when Telefís Eireann was screened on New Year’s Eve 1961.

He was the lieutenant in charge of the flag ceremony in the barracks for the specially filmed version of the National Anthem that was broadcast on the opening night, and which was subsequently broadcast at the close of transmission each night until 1966.

He had a distinguished career as an army officer having served overseas with the United Nations in the Congo as Platoon Commander of A Company 39 Infantry Battalion in 1963, as the Assistant Operations Officer 9 Infantry Group UNFICYP in Cyprus in 1967-1968, with UNTSO in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War, with the OSCE in Vienna and with UNIKOM in Kuwait. He was a member of the eight officer Defence Forces reconnaissance party that visited Lebanon in preparation for Ireland’s deployment to UNIFIL in May 1978, and subsequently served with the 64th Infantry Battalion.

Back home in Ireland, he was Officer Commanding 27 Infantry Battalion, 8 Infantry Battalion FCA and served as a Staff Officer with Eastern Command Infantry Forces, thus maintaining his strong links with the North Eastern area of the Eastern Command. He was the first School Commandant of the United Nations Training School Ireland when it was established 25 years ago.

An accomplished and pragmatic administrator, his was the advice that was sought by all when he served in ‘A’ Administration Section of the Adjutant General’s Branch. It was given willingly, was always relevant and placed the welfare of the soldier at its centre.

Predeceased by his daughter Erika, Colonel Mortell is survived by his sons David and Alan and their mother, Jennifer, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, brothers Michael, Philip and Brendan, relatives and a wide circle of Defence Forces colleagues and friends.

Ar dheis lamh Dé go raibh a anam