Military Service Pensions Collection

 

 

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File Reference MSP34REF59400
Name Mary Berry
Gender female
Maiden/Other names Duffy
Address detail
Street Lanmore, Liscarney, Westport
County Mayo
Country Ireland
Date of birth 1868-05-16
Date of death 1954-06-10
Associated files in MSPA 34E4917; DP17340
Easter rising service No
Organisation Cumann na mBan
Unit 3 Battalion
Company Aughahawer branch
Brigade West Mayo Brigade
Commanding Officer(s) Mrs Michael Kilroy; Ed Moane
Pension Claim Yes
Award Pension Yes
Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 Yes
Type of Award SPASpecial Allowance (DP file)
Notes Awarded £57:00:00 per annum in 1949.
Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 No
Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 Yes
Grade E
Notes Awarded 2 and 1/2 years service for pension purposes in November 1940.
Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 No
Digital file Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF59400 Mary Berry.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E4917 Mary Berry.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP17340 Mary Berry.pdf
File dates 15 June 1940 - 13 June 1956
Subject Information Files relate to Mary Berry’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of her service in Cumann na mBan during the period 1 April 1920 to 30 September 1923. Berry was not successful in her claim for recognition during the service period 1 April 1916 to 31 March 1920. Based on her interview with the Military Service Pensions Board in consideration of her case for a military service pension and details contained in a handwritten statement, Berry is mainly associated with being a member of Cumann na mBan in Westport from 1917. Her personal circumstances are laid out and recall that Berry was a widow with six children and living on a farm. It is further noted that three sons were in the I.R.A and one son was ‘on the run’ for much of the period under discussion. Her activities from 1 April 1920 are mainly cited as sewing, washing and cooking for ‘Ned Moane’s’ column. It is also noted that Berry looked after an arms dump located on her land. Berry attended to the sick and wounded, including men called Thomas Ketterick ‘a bullet wound in the knee’ (Berry), John Duffy, Pat Duffy, J.R. Gibbons and Christopher Macken. During the Truce period, she notes that she accompanied William Joyce and John Berry who were wounded in a bomb explosion in Westport and placed both men under the care of DR. Meade of St Vincent’s hospital. During the Civil War, it is noted that Berry performed similar tasks and assisted ‘Kilroy’s’ column (Michael Kilroy). The summary of the interview contains a note by the interviewer/assessor, ‘this old lady appears to have been first class worker for the men on the run in her district’. File includes: pension application prepared and submitted by Berry; typed summary of sworn evidence given by Berry to the Military Service Pensions Board in connection with her pension application in 1940. Also held on file is paperwork charting the management of service pension payments paid to Berry until 1954. DP17340 file relates to Mary Berry’s unsuccessful application for a Special Allowance under the Army Pensions Acts 1943/1946. Subject was awarded £57:00:00 per annum in 1949. DP17340 file includes; social welfare reports (10 May 1948 – 23 November 1954); means assessments; correspondence; memoranda.