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| File Reference |
MSP34REF2993
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| Name |
James Chambers |
| Gender |
male |
| Maiden/Other names |
Brody
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| Address detail |
| Street |
Maryland, Castlebar
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| County |
Mayo
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1897
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| Date of death |
1977-08-19
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34C108
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| Related files |
MSP34REF2995 John Chambers (brother)
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Company Captain
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| Company |
Castlebar Company
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
John Hoban; Self
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Commandant
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| Unit |
1 Battalion
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| Brigade |
West Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
John Hoban; Tom Derrig; E Moane; Michael Kilroy
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| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
C |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF2993 James Chambers.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34C108 James Chambers.pdf |
| File dates |
7 November 1934 - 21 August 1980
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| Subject Information |
File relates to the successful pension application lodged by James Chambers on 18 February 1935 in respect of his service with the Irish Republican Army for parts and entire periods between 1 April 1919 to 30 September 1923. Applicant also claims unsuccessfully for other periods (1916-1918). He was awarded 6 and ¼ years of active service in July 1936. He maintained his rank of Battalion Commandant over the 2 critical dates (strength of 462 to 750).
Applicant claims that he joined Fianna Éireann in 1914 and helped to form two new Sluaghs in Westport and Ballinrobe. In Easter Week 1916, Chambers claims he was picked to deliver in secret a letter to the Bishop of Killala. Early activity shows that applicant was involved in an attempted rescue of prisoners from RIC (he names the prisoners as Eamon Moane TD, Tom Ketterick and Joe Ring).
He was arrested in March/April 1918 and spent an initial nine days in jail. After being called before the Court, he was sentenced to six weeks in jail.
Applicant claims he joined the Irish Volunteers at the end of 1918 and that he was appointed Captain of one of the companies (he indicates in his statement that he had been a Lieutenant in the Fianna previously) and that he was active in the Castlebar area, taking his orders from McHugh (then Vice Commandant of the Brigade).
Applicant was appointed Battalion Commandant by Tom Derrig at the end of 1920 in Ballina. He indicates that he was also a member of a local Flying Column and that he was receiving orders from M Kilroy to provide supplies for four columns (he indicates that Westport, Castlebar, Newport and Louisburgh were operating as Battalion Active Service Units at that time and that he was sent back to Castlebar for the supply job). Kilroy, in his statement, stated that James Chambers
Applicant was also linked to Local Government work at that time (April 1921 to the Truce).
Applicant claims that since his arrest, he could not stay in the family home and states that her mother was killed by the Crown Forces. He had no engagement with the Crown Forces himself apart from those house raids.
1922: Applicant actively joined the column during the Civil War, took part in the burning of the Castlebar Barracks. He indicates later in his statement that he was in charge of the column in 1922. At the end of September 1922, he was captured by the National Army troops following a leg injury. Chambers was interned in Tintown (N2 Internment Camp). He was released in December 1923.
File contains documentation relevant to the applicant’s claim: application form (dated 18 April 1935), typed sworn statement made by applicant before the Advisory Committee dated 18 April 1935 (wrongly titled as John Chambers' sworn statement; 3pp); typed sworn statements made before the Advisory Committee by Richard Walsh (dated 18 April 1935; 2pp) and by M Kilroy (dated 9 June 1936, in which John Chambers is mentioned; 3pp).
James Chambers was also awarded a 1917-1921 Service Medal with Bar for his service.
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