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| Reference |
RO610
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| Title |
Newcastle-on-Tyne, I.R.A.
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| Scope and Content |
The file contains five documents which contain lists of members of the Newcastle-on-Tyne unit of the IRA. Three of these are lists of applicants to the Pensions Board and are dated in October and November 1939. The other two lists refer to the organisation, strength and location of the unit. One of these is a seven-page typed, unsigned and undated document which is entitled No. 3 Area (Tyneside) Britain. This list includes the information that the organisation of the Tyneside unit began in October 1919, and also contains a roll of companies, strengths and locations; only the names of the officers of each company are given. The other list is of three typed pages (also unsigned and undated) and is entitled ‘Tyneside Division I.R.A.’ This is a photocopy of an original which is on file MD/48246. This list gives a nominal roll per company of the unit, but does not include I Coy. and J Coy . These companies are listed in No. 3 Area (Tyneside) Britain.
The strengths of the companies and locations given below are a compilation based on the list entitled No. 3 Area (Tyneside) Britain, and the list entitled ‘Tyneside Division I.R.A.’. On both lists strength numbers are said to be approximate and the total unit strength given is 480 all ranks. The No. 3 Area (Tyneside) Britain list states that this strength had been reached by the end of March 1921.
Unit Strength Location
Headquarters 3
A Company 94 Jarrow & South Shields
B Company 25 Hebburn
C Company 20 Newcastle
D Company 45 Wallsend
E Company 35 Belington & Cowpen
F Company 30 Consett
G Company 50 Stockton-on-Tees & Middlesbrough
H Company 30 Chester-le-Street
I Company 30 Thornley & Wheatley Hill
J Company 25 Sunderland
Activities:
The No. 3 Area (Tyneside) Britain list includes a summary of the operations of the unit. These began in February 1921 with incendiary attacks on bonded stores, oil stores, and timber yards at Tyne Docks in which c. 20 men took part. A second series of operations, in which all companies of the unit were engaged, began on 27 March and consisted of 38 fires started in 20 different districts over three counties. These attacks, in which over 100 men were engaged, included the burning of barns, haystacks, outhouses, and sheds. In a further operation 6 men of G Company carried out a raid on a magazine at Middlesbrough. On 8 April 1921 6 men of C Company burned down the Aerodrome hangar at Gosforth and two planes were destroyed.
The next large-scale operations were carried out on 22 May 1921 after all companies had been tasked to prepare operational plans which were submitted to the Brigade Council. It is claimed that over 40 operations were successfully carried out although five members were arrested. A summary of the operations is given below.
‘A’ Company blew up the gas main at East Jarrow.
‘B’, ‘C’ & ‘D’ Companies combined and carried out the cutting down of telegraph poles along a stretch of approx. 4 miles between Hebburn, and Wallsend.
‘E’ Company set fire to the Post Office at Ashington, and also started a number of farm fires around Blyth.
‘F’ Company carried out farm fires at Chopwell, Ebchester, and South Moor; and also set fire to the railway station at Annfield Plain.
‘G’ Company blew up the water main from which the towns of Stockton, Thornaby, and Middlesbrough were supplied.
‘H’, ‘I’, and ‘J’ Companies carried out a number of farm fires at seven locations including Lanchester, Thornley & Shildon, and Penshaw.
Munitions:
The collection of arms and explosives began in March 1921, was an on-going activity of the unit, and was funded by IRA Headquarters in Dublin. Arms and explosives were purchased from seamen and ex-soldiers and there were also a number of small-scale raids carried out at Drill Halls and quarries. Munitions were sent to Ireland via Manchester and Liverpool.
NB: There is no record on the file of post-Truce events and the file states that “…later activities by individuals can be confirmed in most cases from other quarters.”
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| External document |
MA-MSPC-RO-610.pdf |
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