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| File Reference |
MSP34REF55328
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| Name |
William Lydon |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Pearse Street, Ballina
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| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
M. B. Pollick, 271 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
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| Country |
Canada
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| Address detail |
| Street |
F. Divers, The Beeches, Newbridge
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| County |
Kildare
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Address detail |
| Street |
271 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
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| Country |
Canada
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| Date of birth |
1903
|
| Notes |
Date of death not recorded on file
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E4272
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| Civilian occupation |
Draper's Assistant;
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Volunteers |
| Rank |
Section Commander
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| Unit |
1 Battalion
|
| Company |
Ballina Company
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas Ruane; F. Flynn
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Section Commander
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| Unit |
1 Battalion
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| Company |
Ballina Company
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| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
F. Flynn; P. J. Ruttledge (Prison)
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Battalion Intelligence Officer
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| Unit |
1 Battalion
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| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
S. Kilcullen; Thomas Ruane
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| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Brigade Intelligence Officer
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| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Thomas Ruane
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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 6 and 13/24 years service for pension purposes in 1938
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF55328 William Lydon.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E4272 William Lydon.pdf |
| File dates |
15 December 1937 – 11 June 1976
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| Subject Information |
File relates to William Lydon’s receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the Irish Volunteers and IRA in the service periods between 1 April 1918 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Applicant also claimed unsuccessfully for service in the periods between 1 April 1916 and 31 March 1918.
William Lydon claims membership of the Irish Volunteers in Westport, County Mayo from 1915. He states that he was arrested in Westport and detained for about a week during 1916 – exact date not on file. He also states that he was again arrested and detained for a fortnight in early 1917 following a clash with RIC in Westport. He states that he was then transferred to Ballina where he was arrested on 12 April 1918 during an attempt to rescue Thomas Ruane from police custody. He subsequently served six months in prison in Belfast Jail.
Early in 1920 he states that he took part in an arms raid on the home of an ex-[British] soldier in Ballina during which shots were fired. He also claims to have taken part in a raid on an Income Tax office in Ballina in [April] 1920. In [June] 1920 he took part in an IRA attack on an RIC patrol in which an RIC Sergeant Armstrong was killed and in August of that year took part in the capture of Enniscrone Coastguard Station. Captured with Thomas Ruane in November 1920 he was tried and sentenced to three years imprisonment in connection with the incident involving the former soldier. He was released in December 1921 during the Truce period having been held by the British Authorities in Ballina, Ballykinlar and Galway.
Following his release William Lydon joined the IRA garrison at Ballina Workhouse and was appointed Battalion Intelligence Officer. He also claims to have taken some arms and ammunition belonging to his unnamed brother in Kiltimagh, County Mayo who was serving with the National Army – exact date unclear from file.
In September 1922, following the outbreak of the Civil War, Lydon took part in the IRA capture of Ballina. He was then sent to Glasgow, Scotland to arrange the purchase and transport to Ballina of a quantity of machine guns. These arms were intercepted at Sligo port by the National Army and William Lydon was subsequently captured on his return to Ireland and interned at Athlone until his escape in early 1923. William Lydon states that following his escape he took part in an IRA attack on a party of National Army soldiers at Cairns, County Sligo – exact date not on file – and a number of sniping attacks in Ballina and Bonniconlon. He states that he then remained on the run until 1924.
File includes: original handwritten material submitted and signed by William Lydon in support of his service pension application; handwritten statement of activities (2 pages) signed by William Lydon and verified by Tomás Ó Ruadhain (Thomas Ruane) and Denis Sheerin; representations on behalf of William Lydon from Mícheál Ó Cleirigh TD and P. A. Calleary TD; typed summary (2 pages) and transcript (14 pages) of sworn statement made by William Lydon on 21 December 1937 before the Advisory Committee, Military Service Pensions Act, 1934; handwritten notes relating to discussions held regarding claimant’s service and activities with “Messrs Kilcawley and Ruane” on 24 January and 30 November 1938; reference to the awarding of a Service (1917-1921) Medal with Bar to William Lydon; material relating to the resumption of payment of service pension to William Lydon in August 1962 following the withholding of payment from April 1949 due to the non - presentation for payment of the pension warrant issued to him for the year ended 31 March 1949; material including Power of Attorney relating to the granting by the Department of Defence of William Lydon’s request that his service pension be paid to his wife Bertha Lydon; unanswered handwritten letter/notice dated 3 June 1976 from An Runai, An Roinn Cosanta, Rannog Pinsin A3 (B), to Bertha Lydon requesting the recipient to state whether William Lydon is still alive or that payment of pension may be resumed as the latter had not completed or returned Life Certificate forms issued to him on 7 July 1966.
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