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| File Reference |
DP386
|
| Name |
Patrick Gavin |
| Gender |
male |
| Maiden/Other names |
Patrick Joseph Gavin
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
103 Station Road, Haydock, St Helens, Lancashire
|
| Country |
England
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Gurteen, Mount Bellew (Family Home)
|
| County |
Galway
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
149 Station Road, Haydock, St Helens, Lancashire
|
| Country |
England
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
228 Earle Street, Earlstown, Lancashire
|
| Country |
England
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
20 Davies Avenue, Crow Lane East, Newton Lee Willows, Lancashire
|
| Country |
England
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Ballyerne, Narin, Glenties
|
| County |
Donegal
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1894
|
| Notes |
Aged 39 in 1933
|
| Notes |
Date of death not recorded on file
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
1RB344
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Manchester Battalion
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
William Walsh; Bartley Igoe; John Eggleton
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
No |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyDP386 Patrick Gavin.pdf
Scanned/digital copy1RB344 Patrick Gavin.pdf |
| File dates |
02 Febuary 1933 - 24 November 1937
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to unsuccessful application by Patrick Gavin for a wound or disease pension or gratuity under the Army Pensions Act, 1932. Subject claimed for bad health (stomach ache, weakness etc.) due to imprisonment in 1922-1923 in Ireland and 1925-1930 in England. He was informed in 1937 that there is no “evidence that you contracted any disease during your military service”. The Military Service Registration Board recognised service within the meaning of Part II of the Army Pensions Act, 1932 between 1919 and 1922 in the Manchester IRA.
Patrick Gavin claims that he enlisted in the Connaught Rangers, British Army on 01 June 1915 [during World War One] and was demobilised on 03 March 1919. During the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921), the subject states that he joined No. 1 Company, Manchester Battalion, IRA in June 1919 under the command of William Walsh (“now a monk”). An Phoblact article [1931] held on file claims that he was engaged in arms trafficking.
Reference Bartley Igoe (MSP34REF54160) states that the subject transferred to No. 5 Company (Salford) on 06 May 1920. Subject gives other OCs as John Eggleton (No. 2 Area Officer), James Kelly (Adjutant), Bartley Igoe (Quartermaster). He also names William McMahon (MSP34REF63889) as a fellow IRA member.
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War, Patrick Gavin states that his unit received orders from General Headquarters (GHQ) Dublin to raid a bank in Prestwich, England on 17 July 1922. During the operation, Bartley Igoe and Foley were captured in the aftermath. Patrick Gavin and another IRA member Breen escaped and fled to Dublin.
Subject states that he joined A Company, 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA under the command of O’Brien and took part in attacks on National forces. An Phoblact article [1931] claims that he was arrested with others on Eden Quay in September 1922 and managed to “slip their guns unnoticed in a tub of suds on the way” on the way to Dublin Castle. This could have saved their lives as “finding of arms on a captive meant death as in the case of Erskine Childers, Spooner, Fisher and others”. The same article claims that Patrick Gavin was brought to Oriel House where he was “badly beaten by the Murder Gang” who were “later responsible for the murder of Noel Lemass and others”.
Applicant states that he was interned in Wellington Barracks, Dublin and Mountjoy Prison, Dublin. The IRA prisoners OCs were Peadar McNulty (MSP34REF19310) and Rory O’Connor (DP6664). He claims that he was transferred to No. 2 Tintown camp, the Curragh, County Kildare under the command of Peter Shortall (DP6528) (OC Hut) and Peadar O’Donnell (MSP34REF60300) (OC Camp). Patrick Gavin states that he was released in December 1923 and remained active with the IRA in Dublin for about one year.
Returning to England for employment, Patrick Gavin was arrested and charged with the Prestwich bank raid. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 23 July 1925 and served time in Strangeways, Manchester and Maidstone Jail, Kent, London. He claims that two others received the same sentence of 10 years while one of the four received a life sentence. An Phoblact article [1931] claims that Bartley Igoe and Foley were released in May [1929]. Patrick Gavin was released on 24 December 1930 and says that he received £20 from Prisoners Defence League. At the time of his 1933 application, the subject wrote: “I consider I am still serving in the IRA and working for our ends”.
File includes application form; doctor’s certificate; copy of marriage certificate between Patrick Joseph Gavin and Mary Foley at Church of the English Martyrs, Short Street, Haydock, Warrington, Lancaster (08 August 1931); newspaper clipping and black and white photograph published in An Phoblacht [1931] and copy of birth certificate for unnamed child (29 September 1932). File 1RB344 contains reference form from Bartley Igoe (1933); Peadar O’Donnell (“I regret I have no recollection of any details in the case”) (1933); John Egleton (“Gone Away”) (1934) while Thomas O’Brien, Sean Prendergast and W Lang of 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA said they could not remember the applicant (1936-37).
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