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| File Reference |
MSP34REF1251
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| Name |
Joseph Leo Baker |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Lower Bridge Street, Westport
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| County |
Mayo
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1900
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| Notes |
Exact date of birth not recorded in file.
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| Date of death |
1988-05-04
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34C296
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Unknown
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| Unit |
2 Battalion
|
| Company |
A Company (Omagh)
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| Brigade |
2 Tyrone Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Patrick Doherty
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
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| Unit |
2 Battalion
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| Company |
A Company (Omagh)
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| Brigade |
2 Tyrone Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael McCartin
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Quartermaster
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| Unit |
3 Battalion
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| Division |
4 Western Disivision
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| Company |
A Company (Westport)
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| Brigade |
1 West Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael Kilroy
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Adjutant
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| Unit |
3 Battalion
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| Division |
4 Western Disivision
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| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael Kilroy
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Officer Commanding
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| Unit |
3 Battalion
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| Division |
4 Western Disivision
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| Company |
Active Service Unit
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| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Joseph Leo Baker (self)
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| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Date of Award |
1937-11-16
|
| Grade |
C |
| Notes |
Awarded 7 and 1/12 years military service for pension purposes in 1937.
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF1251 Joseph Leo Baker.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34C296 Joseph Leo Baker.pdf |
| File dates |
21 September 1934 - 24 November 1988
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Joseph Leo Baker’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the Irish Volunteers and IRA for part or all of the service periods between 1 April 1919 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period, and Civil War. Applicant also claimed unsuccessfully for other periods. Baker was a member of A Company (Omagh), 2 Battalion, 2 Tyrone Brigade.
During the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921) Baker states he carried dispatches, blocked roads, cut telegraph wires, burned Gortin Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) Barracks, cycled from Omagh to Clogher to attack RIC Barracks, raided houses in Westport for arms, burned Westport RIC Barracks, organised an Active Service Unit (ASU/Flying Column) in Louisburgh, took part in ambushes at Clogher, Red Bridge and Carrowkennedy and burned Drummin RIC Barracks.
During the Truce period Baker states he was in charge of a training camp, arrested military opponents and expelled RIC residents. He claims he was stationed permanently in a Barracks as the Officer Commanding of the Active Service Unit.
During the Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923) Baker took the anti-treaty side and states as Commandant of the Active Service Unit he took part in engagements at Colooney (Sligo), Boyle (Roscommon), Ballina (Mayo), Glenamoy (Mayo), Glenossoragh(?), Newport (Mayo) and Kilmilkin (Galway). Baker states he was arrested in 1923 (“five or six weeks before the cease fire) and was imprisoned in Galway Gaol and the Curragh until 12 July 1924.
File includes; letters of reference from Edward Moane (14 January 1935); Patrick Donnelly (24 January 1935); Michael McCartin (24 January 1935); M L Nolan (4 April 1935); Charles Garan (9 November 1935); William J Malone (23 January 1936); Patrick Duffy (23 January 1936); J Feehan (24 January 1936); Michael Kilroy (13 February 1936); Edward Shannon (11 February 1936); evidence of E Moane on behalf Joseph Leo Baker before the Advisory Committee (17 July 1935); evidence of Michael Kilroy on behalf of Joseph Leo Baker before the Advisory Committee (10 June 1936); letter of reference from Frank Carty (11 November 1936); handwritten statement of Baker and extracts from press clippings (25 September 1936); letter from Mary Baker, subject’s second wife reporting Baker’s death (18 May 1988); copy of death certificate of Joseph Leo Baker (26 May 1988); copy of marriage of Joseph Leo Baker and Mary O’Connell (30 May 1988).
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