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| File Reference |
MSP34REF56735
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| Name |
Bernard Gildea |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Enniscrone
|
| County |
Sligo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Garda Sícohána, Lahardane, Ballina
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Claggan, Ballycroy, Westport
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1899-11-08
|
| Date of death |
1976-12-20
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34E8612
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Private
|
| Unit |
5 Battalion (Corballa)
|
| Company |
Enniscrone Company
|
| Brigade |
2 Brigade (North Mayo)
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Anthony Clarke; Matthew Kilcawley
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8371 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Active Service Unit
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Matthew Kilcawley
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8371 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| 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 |
E |
| Notes |
Awarded 4 and 5/6 years service for pension purposes in 1944
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF56735 Bernard Gildea.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E8612 Bernard Gildea.pdf |
| File dates |
7 April 1938 - 8 February 2002
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Bernard Gildea’s 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 1919 and 31 March 1920.
Bernard Gildea states that he enlisted with the British Navy on 6 January 1917. References on file state that while on his holidays in Ireland in 1918, he gave “a good deal of his time to training the local Volunteer Company in the use of arms”. It is further claimed that Bernard Gildea deserted from the British Navy in September 1919, was arrested but deserted again about May 1920.
The applicant claims that he drilled his IRA Company - B (Enniscrone) - and three others companies A (Buncraney), C (Easkey) and D (Corembla) of the 5 Battalion, 2 Brigade (North Mayo).
Attached to B Company (Enniscrone), 5 Battalion, 2 Brigade (North Mayo), IRA, it is stated that the applicant took part in a number of IRA operations and general activity during the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921) including: up to 40 arms-raids on private homes; joining the Brigade Active Service Unit (ASU) in March 1921; an attack on Easkey RIC Barrack; an attack on Easkey Courthouse; a raid on Dromore West Post Office; unarmed scout duty during an ambush of a cycling patrol at Culleens, County Sligo and fight during subsequent retreat; an attack on Enniscrone Coastguard Station and a raid on the home of a suspected spy Mrs. Concannon and having her “removed from (the) area”.
During the Truce period, Bernard Gildea states that he attended IRA training camps at [Rahamish]; Keenagh [County Mayo] and Bangor-Erris Lodge [County Mayo] before going into Castlebar Military Barracks.
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923), Bernard Gildea states that he was sent to Collooney [County Sligo] under the command of Dr. Madden (MSP34REF16540); then to Tubbercurry [County Sligo] and then to the Ox Mountains [County Sligo] with a Flying Column (Active Service Unit) under the command of Seamus Kilcullen (MSP34REF9301); took part in an attack on National Army troops at Ballina [County Mayo]; the capture of a Free State Army outpost at Bunree [County Mayo]; an ambush of National Army troops at Bonniconlon [County Mayo] and retreating fight at Drumsheen [County Mayo]; was wounded at Boughollagh [Bohola] between Swinford and Foxford in County Mayo and laid up for five weeks and took part in a final ambush at Corballa, County Sligo.
The applicant states that he returned home in December 1923. Bernard Gildea enlisted with An Garda Síochána (no. 8371) on 22 September 1933. Material on shows that Bernard Gildea married Elizabeth Gildea (née McMillan) on 29 April 1937.
File includes a signed handwritten statement regarding subject's service from M. Kilcawley [Matthew Kilcawley]. File further contains a typed summary and sworn statement made by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 3 April 1940.
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