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| File Reference |
MSP34REF33764
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| Name |
Josie Gleeson |
| Gender |
female |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Bodyke
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| County |
Clare
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1895
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| Notes |
No date of death given but cheques cancelled from 30 September 1982
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34E9175;
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| Related files |
MD14059; 34SP34477 (Michael Gleeson, brother)
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Cumann na mBan |
| Rank |
Treasurer
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| Unit |
6 Battalion
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| Company |
Bodyke Company
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| Brigade |
East Clare Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Mary Quinn; Mrs Reidy
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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 2 and 23/24 years of service for pension purposes in 1951 following successful petition to have case re-opened.
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF33764 Josie Gleeson.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34E9175 Josie Gleeson.pdf |
| File dates |
14 November 1934 – 25 January 1984
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| Subject Information |
File relates to Josie Gleeson's receipt of a military service pension in respect of her service with Cumann na mBan which, following a petition in 1951 to have her case re-opened, was successful for the service periods between 1 April 1920 and 30 September 1923 during the War of Independence, Truce period and Civil War. Her first application and an appeal in 1943 were both refused.
Josie Gleeson and references state that she was associated with the Irish Volunteers from 1917. All six brothers were volunteers and four were arrested in 1918 when she visited them in Limerick and Ennis Jails. During the War of Independence her house was used regularly by Volunteers and later the Irish Republican Army (IRA) as a call house. Dispatches were regularly left there and the claimant would arrange for them to be delivered to their intended destination. Gleeson and references state that she helped members of IRA active service units prior to and following attacks including attacks on Scariff RIC Barracks (18 September 1920), Cratloe ambush (13 January 1921) and Glenwood ambush (20 January 1921). The house was frequently raided during this period. On one occasion Michael Brennan and three other officers were having a meal when the Auxiliary Police Force raided the house. The claimant successfully delayed the police until Brennan, who was wounded at the time, and the others escaped. She catered for IRA men passing through, and washed and mended their clothes. She also states she did some scouting work for them.
During the Truce period, which commenced on 12 July 1921, a branch of Cumann na mBan was formed in the area and the claimant joined and engaged in the usual activities including collecting money, sending parcels to prisoners and attending meetings. Claimant and several references state that prior to the Truce the claimant refused to pay a dog licence, as she “did not recognise the British Court”. She was arrested for non-payment in January 1922 and held in Limerick jail but was rescued after a fortnight by IRA members acting on Brigade instructions.
Following the outbreak of the Civil War on 28 June 1922, the claimant states she supplied meals to members of the active service unit and helped several IRA men on the run when they called to her house including Seán Moroney , William MacNamara and an IRA man D’Arcy who was sentenced to death but had escaped. She also sent parcels to prisoners and visited them in Ennis jail. She continued these activities until all prisoners had been released. Gleeson states that throughout much of this period she was singlehandedly taking care of the family farm, and catering for the IRA men who called, as her parents were both deceased, and her brothers were all in jail or on the run.
File includes: original handwritten material submitted and signed by Josie Gleeson in support of her application and additional handwritten and typed material in support of various appeals including a completed petition form to have her case reopened dated 15 January 1951; handwritten statements regarding claimant’s service activities from Michael Gleeson (20/12/45), Brigid P Slattery (28/12/45), Paddy Houlihan 8/1/41, M Brennan 21/4/42, Austin Brennan, Mary E Ryan, Seán Moroney; handwritten notes dated 24, 25 February 1942, relating to discussion held with unidentified verifying officer(s) regarding claimant's service and activities; typed statement regarding claimant’s service activities from T McGrath (28 January 1942); typed transcript of summary of sworn evidence given by claimant before Interviewing Officer on 29 January 1942 and on 29 January 1947 (including handwritten notes); and material relating to the settlement and closure of claimant's service pension following her death (no date given).
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