Private ‘Rip-it-up-Rip’

The camp was not without its characters and another regular worked in the kitchen occasionally sweeping the floor. He was a tall, thin, gaunt guy, about 35 years old and was from Cabra West, known as the Wild West in Dublin. His name was Rip (not Van Winkle) and he spent most of his time ‘out of it’ as he had a drink problem. He’d go around the camp shouting:
“Rip it up Rip! Rip it up!”

He was musically talented and would put one hand over his heart and the other hand in the air singing with gusto:

Take these chains from my heart and set me free
You’ve grown cold and no longer care for me
All my faith in you is gone but the heartaches linger on
Take these chains from my heart and set me free[1]

Rip was a nice harmless man and probably couldn’t get a girlfriend, as he was no oil painting and wasn’t exactly at the top of his profession, in other words ‘he wasn’t a very good catch’. The Army probably kept him because he’d have nowhere else to go and no one to look after him, and would end up on the streets. Rip was always friendly and smiling and was as Happy as Larry as he wandered and sometimes staggered around the camp, even on wet miserable days singing his song.
/…/ During the summer the Brigade Commander would make an official visit to the Camp. Before his arrival everything was polished and white washed, and all the embarrassments were swept under the carpet including ‘Rip it up Rip’ and his kin who were sent on an enforced holiday.

[1] Take These Chains From My Heart - Hank Williams /Ray Charles; written by Hy Health and Fred Rose