Most volunteers attended training camps in the Irish republic (a few went to the Middle East for specialist training).

Training Officers in the early days worked with clothes pegs,mouse traps and solder as I imagine DH will know what I speak of. These were very unreliable, many families were told their loves ones went to America and England as they had become compromised which wasn't unusual rather than breaking the truth to them.

Causalities were commonplace at such camps, due to working with unproven techniques, antiquated material and basic nativity.

A Swiss company produced a parking meter timer for the American market which was on a keyring, once these became a reliable alternative the British government bought the company over and closed it down !

All a long time ago and thankfully now history.