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| Reference |
A67
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| Title |
Carlow Brigade, 3 Eastern Division
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| Scope and Content |
File relates to the submission of documentation regarding the activities of Carlow Brigade to the Referee under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 by the Carlow Brigade Committee.
The file contains material in type, copy type and manuscript and correspondence, mainly between the Brigade Secretary and the Secretary to the Office of the Referee. There are three sketch maps found and are associated with relevant records. The records are generated and presented by battalions and subsequently what appear to be “minor activities” in most case are submitted by some of the companies.
File includes: document in copy type headed “Activities in Carlow” listing 8 incidents listing 8 operations between 3 September 1920 and 5 June 1921, including attacks on RIC at Tullow (3 incidents), wounding of Police Sergeant (RIC) in Carlow, shooting dead of Constable (RIC) in Killeshin, attack on Bagnelstown Barracks and wounding of an RIC Sergeant at Borris (p5). A handwritten memorandum notes that the “we (Office of the Referee) asked the Brigade Committee to amplify descriptions of major engagements but they have not done so…” (p104 dated 29 August 1941). The same memorandum notes that the “old records” received in 1938 are “more complete in as much as operations of each battalion are indicated”.
Records submitted by Carlow Brigade Officers on 24 February 1938: listings of activities of the brigade’s 6 battalions (typed and submitted in sequence), a very brief description of the activity is provided, as well as date (only month and year) and the name and address of persons engaged. Covers:
. 1 Battalion, with 35 operations listed from April 1920 to May 1921, mostly at the following locations: Carlow, Tullow, Bagenalstown, Castledermot (Co Kildare), Milford, Leighlinbridge, Fenagh and Muinebeag.
. 2 Battalion, with 5 operations listed from June 1920 to January 1921, at the following locations: Colbinstown (Co Kildare), Baltinglass (Co Wicklow), Irongrange Bridge (Co Wicklow) and Rathornan Bridge (Co Carlow).
. 3 Battalion: 11 operations listed from September 1920 to April 1921, at the following locations: Tullow, Carlow, Grangeford, Castledermot, Aughavannagh (Military Barracks), Hackettstown and Muinebeag.
. 4 Battalion: 12 operations listed from April 1920 to August 1920, at the following locations: Killedmond, Glynn, Borris, Muinebeag.
. 5 Battalion: 12 operations listed from April 1920 to May 1921, at the following locations: Athy (Co Kildare), Carlow, Castledermot, Belan (Co Kildare), Moone (Co Kildare), Hobardstown (Co Kildare), Coolrake (Co Kildare), Timolin (Co Kildare), Luggacurren (Laois).
. 6 Battalion: 24 operations listed from April 1920 to June 1921at the following locations: Ballytore (Co Kildare), Colbinstown (Co Kildare), Dunlavin (Co Wicklow), Kildoon (Co Kildare), Monasterevan (Co Kildare), Nurney, Kilcullen (Co Kildare), Suncroft (Co Kildare), Kildangan (Co Kildare).
Some activities listed do not involve exchange of fire or contact with enemy forces, for instance, raids on Excise offices, burning of abandoned RIC barracks, burning of courthouses, raids for arms, making munitions, raids on mails and widespread destruction of bridges. The records also show attempted (or contemplated) ambushes or attempted attacks on installations or enemy forces and the manpower resources listed as being involved reported throughout the area of operations of the 6 Battalions.
File also includes: additional records regarding the activities of A Company 1 Battalion accompanied by a certificate relating to the records is signed by Michael Behan, Chairman, Daniel Byrne and Michael Ryan of the Brigade Committee (p43), dated received on 11 August 1941. Those records contain details of operations and activities as listed in the 1 Battalion record with a further breakdown of the persons involved in support, outposts or on attacking party, for example (p44 to p56).
File also include:
Additional evidence filed as from 5 Battalion contains letter in manuscript from C. Murphy of the Battalion Pensions Committee, dated 11 November 1940 in which he recounts his difficulty in securing information for the office of the Referee and includes as attachments details of an operation involving an exchange of fire while named volunteers were protecting the house of Commandant E. Dundon- (see 24SP10548-Dundon Edward)- (during period commencing 1 April 1920) and details of two engagements (by 4 Battalion) at Borris with sketch map of the towns Main Street (p57 to p62).
Additional evidence from 3 Battalion consists of two sketches. One (p64) is entitled ‘Sniping at Police Barracks at Tullow-May 1921’ and shows the area and the two positions from which the sniping took place. The individuals involved are named. The second sketch is an outline of the “Hold up of police patrol “at Tullow in September 1920. The positions of forces are depicted during the operation and those veterans taking part are named. (p65).
Memorandum in manuscript submitted and signed by Michael Fitzpatrick of Clonee, Fenagh recounts his activities in the Ballon area, including standing for the local elections in June 1920 on an “IRA Ticket” (p66 to p68). The record for “J” Company (Myshall) 3 Battalion mentions the guarding of Simons Donnelly after his escape from Kilmainham and the shooting of an ex British soldier Michael Hackett in Bagnelstown as a spy. (p69 to p71) . Also contains: The record of “A” Company (Dunlavin) 6 Battalion which lists 22 members by address as participants in the minor activities listed (p72-74) and should be associated with documents at p81 to p85 where are named the members who took part in engagements at Ballytore in July 1922. The activities of “E” Company 6 Battalion are signed by Richard Keating, Dunlavin (p75 to p80).
The records of “G” and “F” Companies (Monasterevin) of 6 Battalion are in manuscript and include the names and addresses-with the notation of “In army” in relevant cases-entered under each activity listed and include the capture of Monasterevin barracks from Free State Forces (National Army), garrison duty therein, engagement with Free State Forces at Ballytore in July 1922 and destruction of trains at Kildare Station, for example(p86-103).
A typed document shows the name and address of battalion Secretaries for the 6 battalions: James Rice (1 Battalion), Michael Lawler (2 Battalion), Patrick J Byrne, Sean Hynes, Chris Murphy, William Byrne (p106).
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| External document |
A67 Carlow Brigade.pdf
A67 Carlow Brigade-062.pdf
PC-39_LinkedtoA67.pdf |
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