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| File Reference |
MSP34REF23742
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| Name |
William John Junior Kelly |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
8 Charlemont Street, Dungannon
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| County |
Tyrone
|
| Country |
Northern Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Glenadush, Dungannon
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| County |
Tyrone
|
| Country |
Northern Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
7 Donaghmore Road, Dungannon
|
| County |
Tyrone
|
| Country |
Northern Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
27 Donaghmore Road, Dungannon
|
| County |
Tyrone
|
| Country |
Northern Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1896
|
| Notes |
Exact date of birth not recorded on file
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| Date of death |
1963-06-05
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34C259; DP29227
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| Related files |
MSP34REF45493 (William John Kelly, father)
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Adjutant
|
| Unit |
Dungannon Battalion
|
| Brigade |
Tyrone Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
John Shields, Albert Tally, Thomas Leonard
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Commandant
|
| Unit |
Dungannon Battalion
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| Brigade |
Tyrone Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
John Shields, Albert Tally, Thomas Leonard
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Commandant
|
| Division |
2 Northern Division
|
| Brigade |
1 Brigade (Tyrone)
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Eoin O’Duffy, Charles Daly
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
C |
| Notes |
Awarded 5 and 11/12 years for pension purposes at Grade C in 1937 under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF23742 William John Kelly.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34C259 William John Kelly.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP29227 William John Kelly.pdf |
| File dates |
23 October 1934 - 05 October 1979
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| Subject Information |
File relates to William John Kelly’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA in the service periods between 01 April 1919 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Subject unsuccessfully applied for service in the periods between 01 April 1916 and 31 March 1919. Kelly was awarded 5 and 11/12 years for pension purposes at Grade C in 1937 under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
William John Kelly Junior states that he joined the Irish Volunteers in 1915. He claims that he did guide work for Irish Volunteers from Belfast in Dungannon, County Tyrone on 22 April 1916; was mobilised in Coalisland, County Tyrone on 23 April 1916; helped to mobilise section in Dungannon on 25 April 1916 during Easter Week under the command of Henry Harte and William J Kelly Senior. In the 1917-1919 period under the command of T McGuigan (Company Captain) and John Shields (Brigade Commandant) he claims that was engaged in parades; dispatch work between Dungannon and Benburb [County Tyrone] and Irish Volunteer work at elections in East Tyrone and East Cavan.
During the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921), William John Kelly states that he was Company Adjutant of Dungannon Company, Dungannon Battalion, Tyrone Brigade, IRA under the command of John Shields (Brigade Commandant), Albert Tally (MSP34REF23621), Thomas Leonard. He claims that he was engaged in the following: being mobilising for planned raid on Broughderg Barracks; guide for IRA organiser Eamon Fleming (MSP34REF21802) (June-July 1919); raid on income tax office in Dungannon (12 May 1920); blocking roads for attack on Donaghmore Barracks (June 1920); raid for arms on Cookstown Barracks (in which three policemen were involved – Conway (principal man) from Cliffoney, County Sligo; Hartigan from Limerick or Tipperary and Leonard from Manorhamilton) (16 June 1920); burning of Castlecaulfield Barracks (July 1920) and attempted burning of Dungannon Courthouse (August 1920).
In mid-1920 or early, William John Kelly states that he was promoted to Battalion Adjutant of Dungannon Battalion, Tyrone Brigade, IRA and later to Battalion Commandant in Easter 1921. Subject states that he took part in a raid for petrol at Dungannon Railway Station (September 1920); arms raid on Dungannon Orange Hall (September 1920); burning of Belfast bread vans during Belfast Boycott; raid on train at Donaghmore for mails; raid on poteen makers; attack on police patrol at Scotch Street, Dungannon (31 October 1920) and mobilised for planned attack on police in Ann Street, Dungannon (March 1921).
In March 1921, William John Kelly states he was promoted to Brigade Commandant, 1 Brigade, 2 Northern Division, IRA under the command of Eoin O’Duffy (24E10) and Charles Daly (DP16). He claims that he took part in an a ambush of British lorry at Altmore (14 May 1921); attack and wounding of District Inspector Walshe at Dungannon with John Ogle (MSP34REF17497), Archie McDonald and Patrick Bennett (armed but did not fire) (16 May 1921); destruction of bridges (June 1921); burning of train at Kerrib (04 July 1921); burning of Belfast to Derry night mail train at Carrickmore (10 July 1921) and burning of Doon’s Creamery (11 July 1921).
During the Truce period, the subject state that he took part in IRA training camp (one week) and attended brigade and divisional meetings. William John Kelly states that he was replaced as Brigade Commandant by the Brigade Vice Commandant in about September 1921 and resigned his new position of Brigade Vice Commandant by the end of the year. Returning to the rank of private, he claims that he transported arms from Carrickmore to Dungannon in June 1922.
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War, the applicant states that he was called to Raphoe, County Donegal by Charles Daly to give an update on the situation in County Tyrone and met Daly at the Glenveagh Castle. Joining an IRA ASU under Charles Daly and Sean Lehane (MSP34REF22228), William John Kelly states that he took part in an engagement with National forces near Glenties (two National Army soliders killed) (August 1922) and capture of National Army troops at Brockagh (1 wounded). Subject joined a smaller ASU under the command of Manus Flaherty and O’Doherty and was captured at Brockagh after an engagement (07 August 1922). Applicant was interned in Drumboe [Castle] (five days); SS Lady Wicklow and Newbridge Camp, County Kildare where he claims that he was OC of G&H Blocks and took part in a 14 day hunger strike. William John Kelly states that he was released on 24 December 1923 and had to go on the run in the Six Counties for a period.
File includes a sworn statement made before the Advisory Committee by the applicant on 14 July 1936; references in support of the subject’s claim from Frank McKay (1937); Sean Corr (1937); Thomas Leonard (1937); John Ogle (1937) and John Shields [1937]; handwritten notes of discussion with D McKenna and James Strong on 30 June 1937; copy of subject’s death certificate (05 June 1965); noted on file that William John Kelly married Agnes Kelly (née Moffett) on 05 October 1918; material relating to the payment of the balance of the service pension and a funeral grant to next of kin following subject’s death on 05 June 1963 and material relating to the payment of the balance of the widows pension to next of kin following widow’s death on 08 April 1975.
File DP29227 contains letter from subject requesting a Special Allowance application form. No further information or documents on file.
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