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| File Reference |
MSP34REF3824
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| Name |
James Swifte |
| Gender |
male |
| Maiden/Other names |
James Swift
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Spencer Street, Castlebar (Address in 1921)
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Thomas Street, Castlebar
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
County Home, Castlebar
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
c/o Mr. James Kelly, Tucker Street, Castlebar
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Davitt's Terrace, Castlebar
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
10 Rathbawn Road, Castlebar
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1901
|
| Notes |
Exact date of birth not recorded on file
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| Date of death |
1968-11-16
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E1840; 1P123; 2APB58; 597/682
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| Civilian occupation |
Motor Driver;
Ambulance driver;
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Second Lieutenant
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
A Company (Castlebar)
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| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
James Chambers
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Active Service Unit (Castlebar Battalion)
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Patrick Jordan
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
No. 1 Active Service Unit
|
| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael Kilroy
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
Yes |
| Type of Award |
WGWound gratuity
|
| Notes |
Awarded £60 wound gratuity in 1924 under the Army Pensions Act, 1923
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
E |
| Notes |
Awarded 1 and 8/9 years service for pension purposes in 1937
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF3824 James Swifte.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E1840 James Swifte.pdf
Scanned/digital copy1P123 James Swifte.pdf
Scanned/digital copy2APB58 James Swifte.pdf
Scanned/digital copy597_682 James Swifte.pdf |
| File dates |
17 May 1923 - 16 April 1993
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to James Swfite’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the service periods between 1 April 1920 and 31 March 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 30 March 1920 and between 1 April 1923 and 30 September 1923. He was awarded 1 and 8/9 years service at Grade E under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934. James Swifte was also awarded a £60 wound gratuity under the Army Pensions Act, 1923 for an injury he received in 1921.
James Swifte (or James Swift) states that he joined the Ballinrobe Sluagh of Na Fianna Éireann in 1916 under the command of Michael Farragher. Subject claims that he transferred to the Ballinrobe Irish Volunteers around 1918 under the command of Thomas Maguire (DP54445) and took part in protecting voters during the East Mayo election campaign and arms classes.
In 1919 during the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921), James Swifte moved to Castlebar, County Mayo and was transferred to the A Company (Castlebar), 1 Battalion, West Mayo Brigade, IRA under the command of James Chambers (MSP34REF2993). States that he was engaged in arms raids; raids for income tax and rate books and dispatch work. Records on file show that James Swifte served as Second Lieutenant.
Subject then joined the Castlebar Battalion’s ‘Flying Column’ (Active Service Unit) under the command of Patrick Jordan (1D395) and lay in ambush for British forces at Glenisland. James Swifte then transferred to the No. 1 Active Service Unit, West Mayo Brigade, IRA under the command of Michael Kilroy (MSP34REF839) and lay in ambush for British forces at Islandeady and [Meeneen] Bridge; relieved Commandant Maguire at Tourmakeady; attacked an Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) patrol at Westport; lay in ambush at Brackloon, Westport and Erriff, Leenane; took over Westport town and captured two British offices at Conlon, Castlebar who were later released.
On 19 May 1921, James Swifte took part in an ambush of British forces at Kilmeena, County Mayo. During the fight, he was shot in the right foot and two of his toes were later amputated by Dr JA Madden (MSP34REF16540) in McDonnell’s home, Skirdagh.
During the Truce period, the applicant took part in IRA training camps and helped to occupy Castlebar Jail where he contracted pneumonia in March 1922.
In his military service pension application, James Swifte states that he took the anti-Treaty side in the IRA split and served under James Chambers and Mark Killilea (MSP34REF12183) during the Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923). Due to his injury, he was unable to take part in military operations but claims he aided the IRA by providing intelligence; dispatch work; obtaining keys to a Church of Ireland church which was to be used by the IRA to launch an attack on National Army troops and helped IRA Volunteer John Chambers (MSP34REF2995), who suffered from a knee injury, to move around the locality.
In his application for a wound gratuity or pension under the Army Pensions Act, 1923 an intelligence report from Lieutenant Thomas P. McSuibne (Battalion Intelligence Officer, 44 Infantry Battalion, Westport) dated 28 January 1924 suggests that Swifte was sympathetic to the pro-Treaty National Army side:
“… the Irregulars tried every scheme to get him to assist them, but he refused to have anything to do with the Irregulars, and always assisted the National Forces in every way possible…”.
James Swifte married Nora Swift (née Moran) on 1 October 1930 according to material on file.
File contains a summary of sworn evidence made by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 1 December 1936. File includes hand-written references in support of the subject’s claim from Michael Kilroy (1936) and James Chambers (1936). Representations were made by R. Walsh TD (1930-33) and Michael Moran TD (1957). File also includes medical forms; doctor’s notes and solicitor’s correspondence.
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