/root/.ssh
[root@ip-172-22-4-44 .ssh]# ssh -T hg@bitbucket.org -v
OpenSSH_6.6.1, OpenSSL 1.0.1e-fips 11 Feb 2013
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 56: Applying options for *
debug1: Connecting to bitbucket.org [104.192.143.1] port 22.
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: permanently_set_uid: 0/0
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_rsa type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_dsa type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_dsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ed25519 type -1
debug1: identity file /root/.ssh/id_ed25519-cert type -1
debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_6.6.1
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version conker_1.0.287-a1d21a7 app-126
debug1: no match: conker_1.0.287-a1d21a7 app-126
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received
debug1: kex: server->client aes128-ctr hmac-sha1 none
debug1: kex: client->server aes128-ctr hmac-sha1 none
debug1: kex: curve25519-sha256@libssh.org need=20 dh_need=20
debug1: kex: curve25519-sha256@libssh.org need=20 dh_need=20
debug1: sending SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_INIT
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_REPLY
debug1: Server host key: RSA 97:8c:1b:f2:6f:14:6b:5c:3b:ec:aa:46:46:74:7c:40
debug1: Host 'bitbucket.org' is known and matches the RSA host key.
debug1: Found key in /root/.ssh/known_hosts:2
debug1: ssh_rsa_verify: signature correct
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST sent
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received
debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey
debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
debug1: Trying private key: /root/.ssh/id_rsa
debug1: key_parse_private2: missing begin marker
debug1: key_parse_private_pem: PEM_read_PrivateKey failed
debug1: read PEM private key done: type <unknown>
Enter passphrase for key '/root/.ssh/id_rsa':
debug1: Trying private key: /root/.ssh/id_dsa
debug1: Trying private key: /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa
debug1: Trying private key: /root/.ssh/id_ed25519
debug1: No more authentication methods to try.
Permission denied (publickey).
[root@ip-172-22-4-44 .ssh]#


    include_recipe 'chef-vault'

#installation of git
package 'git' do
  action :install
end

#declare the vault
gitKey = chef_vault_item(:credentialsGit, 'git')

file "/root/.ssh/id_rsa" do
  content gitKey['git-key']
  mode 0600
  owner node['user']
  action :create
  notifies :run, 'execute[git ssh]', :immediately
end

execute 'git ssh' do
  command 'GIT_SSH_COMMAND="ssh -i /root/.ssh/id_rsa"'
  user node['user']
end

#pull down the repo
git "/home/ec2-user/spring-app" do
  repository "git@bitbucket.org:sgreen22/emrwebapp.git"
  #I've tried a variety of these using the ext helper as per a guide, but still no good.
  # repository "ext::ssh -i /root/.ssh/id_rsa -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no git@bitbucket.org %S /sgreen22/emrwebapp.git"
  # repository "ext::ssh -i /root/.ssh/id_rsa -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no git@bitbucket.org:sgreen22/emrwebapp.git"
  checkout_branch "master"
  action :sync
  # ssh_wrapper "ssh -i /home/ec2-user/.ssh/id_rsa"  #I've tried this but no effect
end