 |
| File Reference |
MSP34REF9456
|
| Name |
Thomas Loftus |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
25 South Circular Road, Kilmainham, Dublin
|
| County |
Dublin
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
46 Bulfin Road, Inchicore, Dublin
|
| County |
Dublin
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
8 Washington Park, Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham
|
| County |
Dublin
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1895-09-03
|
| Date of death |
1967-01-09
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
34B21;
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Company Officer Commanding
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
Bonniconlon Company
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas Ruane;
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8539 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Company Officer Commanding
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
Bonniconlon Company
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas Ruane;
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8539 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Vice Battalion Officer Commanding
|
| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas Ruane
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8539 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Vice Brigade Officer Commanding
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Eamon Gannon;
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8539 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Active Service Unit
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8539 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Officer Commanding
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8539 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Officer Commanding
|
| Unit |
No. 1 Active Service Unit
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Seamus Kilcullen
|
| Other Service Numbers |
8539 (Garda Síochána number)
|
| 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 |
B |
| Notes |
Awarded 6 and 5/12 years service for pension purposes in 1936
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyWMSP34REF9456THOMASLOFTUS.pdf
Scanned/digital copyW34B21THOMASLOFTUS.pdf |
| File dates |
23 December 1934 - 9 April 1986
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Thomas Loftus's receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the Irish Volunteers and IRA for part or all of the service periods between 1 April 1919 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Applicant also applied unsuccessfully for service in the periods between 1 April 1917 and 31 March 1919.
During the War of Independence Thomas Loftus served as an IRA Company Officer Commanding, Vice Battalion and Brigade Officer Commanding and Brigade Officer Commanding. As well as taking part in arms raids and a raid on an income tax office in Ballina, County Mayo, Thomas Loftus also took part in a number of IRA attacks and operations in counties Mayo and Sligo in 1920 and 1921. These included: attacks on RIC barracks in Easkey and Dromore West; attacks on members of the RIC in Ballina, Bonniconlon and Culleens; attack on Enniscrone Coastguard Station; shooting of RIC Sergeant Foody in Bonniconlon; and the seizure of steel shutters due for use at RIC barracks from Ballina Railway station.
During the Truce period Loftus took part in IRA training camps and the takeover of facilities from the RIC. He was demoted from the position of Brigade Officer Commanding following reorganisation but continued to serve as a Brigade officer. Following the outbreak of the Civil War on 28 June 1922 Thomas Loftus was appointed Officer Commanding North Mayo Brigade No. 1 Active Service Unit and took part in the fighting against National Army forces with the IRA in Ballina, Dromore West and Collooney. He was captured on 2 August 1922 at Castleconnor, County Sligo and subsequently interned until April 1924 in Mountjoy Jail, and Tintown and Hare Park internment camps. Thomas Loftus states that during his internment he was on hunger strike for 41 days.
File includes: material submitted and signed by Thomas Loftus in support of his service pension application; typed transcripts of sworn statements made before the Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 by Thomas Loftus (4 pages) on 5 February 1936 and Michael Kilroy (1 page) on 10 June 1936; material referring to Thomas Loftus's membership of the Garda Siochana during the 1930s and 1940s; typed copy letter of 2 October 1947 from Sean O Muimhneachain, Department of Finance to "Cléireach na Dála" regarding the appointment of Tomás Ó Lachtnáin (Thomas Loftus) as Captain of the Guard in the Oireachtais; and material relating to Thomas Loftus's widow and son - partly closed.
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