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| File Reference |
MSP34REF42625
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| Name |
William John Senior Kelly |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Scotch Street, Dungannon
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| County |
Tyrone
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| Country |
Northern Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
1 Charlemont Street, Dungannon
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| County |
Tyrone
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| Country |
Northern Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1861-03-03
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| Date of death |
1951-04-12
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E8269; DP17729
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| Related files |
No. 226 - Bureau of Military History (BMH) Witness Statement (WS) - William John Kelly Senior
MSP34REF23742 (William John Kelly Junior, son)
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Private
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| Unit |
2 Battalion
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| Division |
2 Northern Division
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| Company |
Dungannon Company
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| Brigade |
1 Brigade (Tyrone)
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Albert Tally, Thomas Leonard
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| 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 |
E |
| Notes |
Awarded 4 and 5/12 years’ service for pension purposes in 1943 at Grade E under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF42625 William John Kelly.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E8269 William John Kelly.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP17729 William John Kelly.pdf |
| File dates |
04 February 1935 – 02 August 1951
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| Subject Information |
File relates to William John Kelly Senior’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA in the service periods between 01 April 1920 and 11 July 1921 during the War of Independence. Subject unsuccessfully applied for service in the periods between 01 April 1916 and 31 March 1920. Kelly was awarded 4 and 5/12 years’ service for pension purposes in 1943 at Grade E under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
William John Kelly Senior, of Dungannon, County Tyrone states that he joined the [Irish Republican Brotherhood] in circa 1878 under the command of John Daly, Limerick and Michael Davitt. He was a friend and comrade of Tom Clarke (1D447) and travelled with him to New York, United States of America (USA) where they were both active with Clan na Gael. References Kathleen Clarke (MSP34REF61087) and Denis McCullough (MSP34REF55173) state that the subject volunteered for “service in England” on the “dynamite campaign” in circa 1883 but was turned down due to his young age.
In the run up to the 1916 Rising, William John Kelly Senior states that he was attached to F Company, 2 Battalion, Tyrone Brigade, Irish Volunteers under the command of James McElvogue and James Tomony (Tomany). He claims that he helped to transport arms from Belfast to Coalisland with James Tomony (20-21 April 1916); escorting Irish Volunteers from Belfast Company under the command of Peter Burns (MSP34REF6061) en route to Coalisland (22 April 1916) and was awaiting instructions in Donaghmore Signal Cabin (22-23 April 1916). Subject states that he was mobilised on 23 April 1916 at Donaghmore, County Tyrone; stored five rifles seized by Volunteers at St Patrick’s Hal, Dungannon; was demobilised following countermanding order; was sent to Coalisland, County Tyrone with James McElvogue to give orders for Belfast men to return home; mobilised on 25th and marched under arms to Carrickmore (14 miles) but disbanded following orders from Dr Patrick McCartan (MSP34REF56175). William John Kelly Senior states that he was arrested on 05 May 1916 and interned in Derry Jail; Lewis Jail [England] and Frongach [Wales] until 24 December 1916.
In the 1917-1919 period under the command of James McElvogue, Thomas Kelly and John Shields, the subject states that he took part in the East Tyrone by-election; allowed his house in Scotch Street to be used for election work; canvassing house to house for election with Countess Markievicz and forming new Irish Volunteer companies in Dungannon and Donaghmore with Eamon Fleming.
During the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921), William John Kelly Senior states that he took part in a raid on revenue offices in Dungannon (04 June 1920); organising work for attack on Cookstown Barracks (16 April 1920) and organising work for ambush of police on Scotch Street, Dungannon (31 October 1920). It is claimed on file that he stored the arms used in the Scotch Street attack and that his home was raided later that same day by police who did not discover any weapons. It is further stated that the police attacked his home that same evening with hand grenades and rifle fire. Subject was attached to Dungannon Company, 2 Battalion, 1 Brigade (Tyrone), 2 Northern Division, IRA under the command of Albert Tally (MSP34REF23621) and Thomas Leonard. Applicant claims that he was arrested at home on 03 January 1921 and detained in Derry Jail and Ballykinlar Camp [County Down] until August 1921.
Although he did not claim for Truce period or Civil War service in his application form references on file state that he stored arms from December 1921 to May 1922 when they were handed out to IRA men for attack on Specials houses at Castlecaulfield (one IRA and one Special killed) and did IRA organising work with Patrick Kane (MSP34REF42626), A McDonald and [Sean] McConville (MSP34REF15435) in County Tyrone in 1923 period.
File includes handwritten letter from Joseph Carbary, Donaghmore, County Tyrone to Frank Aiken in which he refers to possible pension applicants from individuals in Donaghmore who “although … engaged in some activities … transferred their allegiance from the Republican ideals and became members of the AOH [Ancient Order of Hibernians] and assisted the society in legal proceedings against us and deprived us of the use of the hall” (16 February 1935); references in support of the subject’s claim from Joseph Carbary (1935), James McElvogue (1935), Kathleen Clarke (1939), Denis McCullough (1939), Seamus Tomony (1939), Eoin O’Duffy (1939), Richard Mulcahy TD (1940); handwritten letter from Kathleen Clarke to Eamon ? (1937); typed statement and summary of sworn evidence given by the applicant before the Advisory Committee on 09 July 1937; handwritten notes of discussion with IRA verifying officers Kelly, McKenna and Corr (25 January 1939; 15 October 1940); representations by [son] WJ Kelly (1942 x2) and Albert Tally (1942); letter from WJ Kelly Junior asking for 10 military service pension applications to be sent to a list of people including the subject (1935); material relating to the payment of the balance of the service pension and funeral grant to next of kin following subject’s death on 12 April 1951 and copy of death certificate of William John Kelly (90) who died of “senility” (1951).
File DP17729 relates to subject’s unsuccessful application for a Special Allowance. Subject was informed that his yearly means exceeded the appropriate annual sum which in his case was £97.10.0. File include application form; copy of marriage certificate of William John Kelly and Margaret Flanagan at St Patrick’s Church, Dungannon, County Tyrone on 23 April 1877; signed handwritten report from Social Welfare investigating officers regarding applicant’s financial circumstances (1948) and copy of baptismal certificate of William John Kelly on 03 March 1861.
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