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| File Reference |
MSP34REF2194
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| Name |
Cornelius Rahilly |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Liscreagh, Millstreet (Address in 1921)
|
| County |
Cork
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Rathcoole, Banteer, Mallow
|
| County |
Cork
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1895-02-15
|
| Date of death |
1973-10-08
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34E3758; DP3835; 1RB1636; L2241
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Millstreet Battalion
|
| Company |
Dooneen Company
|
| Brigade |
2 Cork Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Cornelius Meaney; J Corkery
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
B Company (Dooneen)
|
| Brigade |
4 Cork Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Cornelius Meaney; J Corkery
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
Yes |
| Type of Award |
SPASpecial Allowance (DP file)
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
Yes |
| Grade |
E |
| Notes |
Awarded 4 and 2/3 years service for pension purposes at Grade E in 1938 under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF2194 Cornelius Rahilly.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E3758 Cornelius Rahilly.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP3835 Cornelius Rahilly.pdf
Scanned/digital copy1RB1636 Cornelius Rahilly.pdf
Scanned/digital copyL2241 Cornelius Rahilly.pdf |
| File dates |
02 July 1926 - 10 February 1981
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Cornelius Rahilly’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA in the service periods between 01 April 1920 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. He unsuccessfully applied for service in the periods between 01 April 1916 and 31 March 1920. Rahilly was awarded 4 and 2/3 years service for pension purposes at Grade E in 1938 under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
Cornelius Rahilly states that he joined the 2 Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, British Army and fought in Mons, Belgium during the First World War. Subject claims that he was captured by German forces in August 1914 and joined Roger Casement’s (1D475) “Irish Brigade” while a Prisoner of War (POW) in 1915 under the command of Captain [Robert] Monteith (MSP34REF56789). He states that he started work for German secret service agents in late 1918 through his contact with Michael O’Toole (MSP34REF913) under the command of Herr Lathí (Unter den Linden, Berlin) and Herr Kellermann (Charlottenburg). Subject was based in Berlin and was witness to armed battles between government troops and Communist revolutionaries. He made plans to pass himself off as a British Prisoner of War (POW) and return to Ireland via England. In late 1918, Cornelius Rahilly states that was he arrested by Dutch authorities in The Hague (as part of the plan) and was initially interned in a camp at Bergen in Holland. Applicant was handed over to British authorities where he told him that he had been a member of the Casement Bridge. He was transported on the ship “Colleen Bawn” to England and imprisoned in Harwich for a few weeks in March 1919. Subject was released ‘unconditionally’, sailed back to Dublin where he had planned to visit people but decided to travel to Cork instead as he was being trailed by detectives. Cornelius Rahilly received a telegraph to report back to the Royal Irish Regiment in Clonmel Military Barracks where he was asked questions regarding his decision to join the Casement Brigade. Subject refused, was detained for one week and was released after being discharged for ‘misconduct’.
Cornelius Rahilly states that he joined Dooneen Company, Millstreet Battalion, 2 Cork Brigade, IRA in May 1919 and claims to have acted as First Lieutenant, Company Quartermaster, Company Adjutant and Company Intelligence Officer at different periods – not corroborated. His company was re-organised as B Company (Dooneen), 1 Battalion, 4 Cork Brigade, IRA under the command of Cornelius Meaney and J Corkery.
During the War of Independence (January 1919 - July 1921), the applicant states that he was engaged in general IRA activity and operations including: arms raids; drilling his company twice a week; escorting civilian prisoners who had been arrested for robbery of bank official at Ballydaly, were convicted by IRA court and deported to England; acting as intelligence officer; organising work; in charge of guard over Brigade Active Service Unit (ASU); outpost duty during planned ambush of British forces on Rathcoole Road; ambush of British forces in Millstreet when Patrick McCarthy (1D170) was killed (20 November 1920); procuring useful information from friendly policeman and going on the run after name was found on a list captured by British forces.
During the Truce period, the subject states that he joined the Battalion ASU in mid July 1921 and was Battalion Signalling Officer. He claims that he was in charge of IRA training camps, attended an Officers Training Camp at Quinlan for one week and taught IRA men in morse code and tapping wires. He did garrison duty from early 1922 in Buttevant Barracks and Ballyvournery Barracks (4-5 months).
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War, Cornelius Rahilly states that he was attached to 4 Cork Brigade, IRA under the command of Sean Moylan (MSP34REF49). Subject states that he took part in the burning of Buttevant Barracks; was stationed in the post office in Buttevant; was sent to Kilmallock [County Limerick] to fix communication lines by laying a field telephone where he came under fire, was hit by a bullet on his forehead and knocked unconscious. After resting for a few days, Cornelius Rahilly states that he was active with his signalling unit in Clonmel [County Tipperary], County Waterford and came under fire again while laying a field telephone at New Ross, County Wexford. Subject claims that the IRA forces became disorganised and he was ordered to return home.
Applicant was captured on 20 July 1922 in Millstreet and interned in Cork Jail where he took part in short hunger strike. Subject was transferred with other sick and ill prisoners to Newbridge camp, County Kildare where he spent three months in hospital. Subject was released in until late April 1923 under doctor’s orders.
File includes references in support of the subject’s claim from Cornelius Meany [1934]; two pages from The Kerryman newspaper with account by subject of his experience with Casement’s Brigade in Germany and photograph of applicant (07 March 1936); typed copy of sworn statement and summary of evidence given by the applicant in front of the Advisory Committee on 22 October 1937; notes of handwritten discussion with verifying officers Captain P O’Brien and Mr E Murphy on 23 June 1938; material relating to payment of unemployment assistance to subject and his employment as temporary auxiliary postman and with Cork County Council Roads Department (1938); 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 08 October 1973; noted that Cornelius Rahilly married Mary Rahilly (née Murphy) on 02 September 1925 and material relating to the payment of the balance of the widows allowance to next of kin following widow’s death on 04 January 1981.
File DP3835 is subject’s unsuccessful application for a wound or disease pension or a gratuity under the Army Pensions Act, 1932. He was informed in 1936 that “the disabilities in respect of which you claim are not attributable to military service”. Subject claimed for irregular heart and rheumatism as a result of bad conditions and hunger-strike during internment during the Civil War. He also claims that he came under fire in a confined space while imprisoned in September 1922. File includes application form; doctor’s notes and Service Certificate. File 1RB1636 contains completed reference forms from Sean Moylan TD (1933), Matthew Kelleher (1933) and Cornelius Meaney (1933). File also contains material relating to Cornelius Rahilly’s successful application for a Special Allowance. File includes application form and signed handwritten reports from Social Welfare investigating officers regarding applicant’s financial circumstances (1965-1971) (closed).
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