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| File Reference |
MSP34REF12003
|
| Name |
James Hughes |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
New Antrim Street, Castlebar
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Mental Hospital, Castlebar
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
St Mary’s Hospital, Castlebar
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1899
|
| Notes |
Date of birth given variously as between 1899 and 1905 on file
|
| Date of death |
1963-08-04
|
| Place |
St Mary’s Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34D892; DP4568; 1RB2210;
|
| Civilian occupation |
Apprentice Tailor to Thomas Hughes, New Antrim Street, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland;
Tailor;
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Private
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
Castlebar Company
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Patrick Jordan; John Chambers;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
First Lieutenant
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
Castlebar No 2 Company
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
P Horkan;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Active Service Unit
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael Kilroy;
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Company Officer Commanding
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
Castlebar No 2 Company
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
James Chambers; Thomas Mullins; [B J Cannon];
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
D |
| Notes |
Awarded 5 and 1/3 years service for pension purposes in 1937
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copy34D892 James Hughes.pdf
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF12003 James Hughes.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP4568 James Hughes.pdf
Scanned/digital copy1RB2210 James Hughes.pdf |
| File dates |
29 March 1933 – 8 January 1965
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to James Hughes’ receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA in the service periods between 1 April 1920 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Applicant also claimed unsuccessfully for service in the periods between 1 April 1916 and 31 March 1920. File also relates to subject's unsuccessful application under the Army Pensions Act, 1932.
Subject and references state that James Hughes joined Na Fianna Éireann in Castlebar in 1915, stood to at the time of the 1916 Easter Rising and transferred to the Irish Volunteers in 1918. During 1918 James Hughes took part in anti-Conscription activity and election work. During the War of Independence James Hughes: took part in raids for arms; assisted in the seizure of rate books, income tax documents and legal documents from solicitors offices; the capture of two British intelligence officers – date not on file; joined the West Mayo Brigade Active Service Unit in early 1921; mobilised for attacks in 1920 and 1921 at Glenisland, Westport and Islandeady which did not come off; and took part in engagements with British forces at Kilmeena and Skirdagh in May 1921.
During the Truce period James Hughes took part in IRA training camps, the taking over of Castlebar Barracks and Jail and was appointed Company Officer Commanding.
Following the outbreak of the Civil War James Hughes took part in the evacuation and burning of Castlebar Barracks. He was captured by National Army forces at Glenhest in late July/early August 1922 and was interned in Westport, Castlebar, Athlone and the Curragh. James Hughes escaped with Thomas Mullins after ten months internment – exact date not on file – but was recaptured a week later at Celbridge. He states that he was then held in Naas, Keogh Barracks and Gormanstown until being released in late November 1923. He also states that he was on hunger strike for an unspecified period of time while in Gormanstown.
File includes: material submitted by James Hughes in support of his application; statement regarding subject’s service from Michael Kilroy; statement (28 November 1936) from [A Sheridan], District Mental Hospital, Castlebar certifying that James Hughes had been a patient there since 5 September 1934, setting out his condition and stating that it may be attributed to his service; transcript with notes, additions and corrections (9 pages) of sworn statement made by James Hughes, assisted by James Chambers, on 1 December 1936 before the Advisory Committee, Military Service; summary of subject’s evidence dated 1 December 1936; notes dated 16 March 1937 relating to discussion held with “Messrs Kilroy [and] Moane” regarding subject’s service; standard form Referee R.15 dated 30 November 1936 and 18 March 1937 showing details of subject’s rank and unit strength as of 11 July 1921 and 1 July 1922 from records supplied by [West Mayo IRA] Brigade Committee with notes/comments regarding records and information concerned; correspondence (25 March – 7 April 1937) involving J A Tierney, Honorary Secretary, Castlebar Battalion, Old IRA Association, and the Secretary, Office of the Referee, [Military Service Pensions Act, 1934] regarding whether the pension grade D awarded to James Hughes for the second critical date (1 July 1922) will cover the entirety of the pension grant of 5 and 1/3 years service; correspondence (16 January 1940 – 24 September 1941) involving officials of the Department of Defence, Michael Moran & Co., solicitors, Castlebar, County Mayo acting on behalf of subject’s father Thomas Hughes, and the Office of the Wards of Court, regarding the appointment of Thomas Hughes as Committee to the estate of James Hughes and his request to have James Hughes’ military service pension paid to Thomas Hughes as Committee to James Hughes; Wards of Court Report - setting out the situation and circumstances of James Hughes, his father Thomas Hughes and sister Cecilia Hughes and setting out twelve (12) Directions in the case and the Order from the High Court confirming the Report and approving the Directions on 12 December 1940; material(3 October 1941 January 1942 – 9 July 1962) relating to the payment and administration of subject's military service pension; correspondence and related documentation (13 October 1948 – 30 June 1954) involving Michael Moran & Co., solicitiors, John A Maher, solicitor, and officials of the Department of Defence, relating to the appointment of Jane Fitzgerald as Committee to the estate of James Hughes following the death of the previous Committee Thomas Hughes in [June 1948] and including High Court Order dated 16 November 1949 appointing Jane Fitzgerald as Committee; material relating to the settlement and closure of James Hughes’ military service pension following his death on 4 August 1963; material relating to subject's unsuccessful Army Pensions Act application including medical certificate, employer's reference and statements from Michael Kilroy and James Chambers; misfiled documents in relation to the payment from public monies to Eugene Davis, 8 Rosary Gardens, Library Road, Dún Laoighaire (34D517) and Dominick Molloy, Breaffy, Ballina, County Mayo dated 31 March-7 May 1943 and 31 March – 6 May 1943 respectively.
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