 |
| File Reference |
24SP3679
|
| Name |
John Neary |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Bangor Erris
|
| County |
Mayo
|
| Country |
Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
148, 8 Avenue, New York City
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
115 Vermilyea Avenue, New York
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
454 West 22 Street, New York
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
565 West 175 Street, New York
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
72 Elwood Street, New York
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
75 Seaman Avenue, New York
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
2766 Edgehill Avenue, Riverdale 63, New York
|
| Country |
United States of America
|
| Date of birth |
1900
|
| Notes |
Date of death not recorded on file and according to material on file pension warrants sent to John Neary were not cashed from September 1977 onwards.
|
| Associated files in MSPA |
24C106
|
| Related files |
SDR2621 subject's National Army officers' service number
|
| Civilian occupation |
Farmer;
Cattle Dealer;
|
| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Unknown
|
| Unit |
Active Service Unit
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| Commanding Officer(s) |
Eamon Gannon;
|
| National Army Service Number |
SDR2621
|
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Company Officer Commanding
|
| Unit |
6 Battalion
|
| Company |
C Company
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| National Army Service Number |
SDR2621
|
| Organisation |
Óglaigh na hÉireann/National Forces |
| Rank |
Brigade Officer Commanding
|
| Brigade |
North Mayo Brigade
|
| National Army Service Number |
SDR2621
|
| Organisation |
Óglaigh na hÉireann/National Forces |
| Rank |
Commandant
|
| National Army Service Number |
SDR2621
|
| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
Yes |
| Grade |
C |
| Notes |
Awarded 5 years service for pension purposes in 1926
|
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copy24SP3679 John Neary.pdf
Scanned/digital copy24C106 John Neary.pdf |
| File dates |
23 December 1924 - 13 July 1978
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to John Neary's receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the IRA and National Forces in the service periods between 1 April 1921 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 1917 and 31 March 1921.
John Neary claims membership of the Irish Volunteers and IRA from 1917 onwards. According to subject and references on file between 1917 and 1921 John Neary was involved in organisational work, took part in raids for arms and mail, served as Clerk of the Bangor-Erris Parish (Republican) Court and Belmullet Sub District (Republican) Court, took part in the burning of Bangor Erris RIC Barracks in August 1920 and the shooting of RIC Sergeant Armstrong in Ballina also in 1920 - exact date not on file. It is stated that he joined the North Mayo Brigade IRA Active Service Unit (ASU) on its formation and served with it until the Truce (11 July 1921). No details on file of any actions/activities with this ASU. It is also stated on file by references that Neary's home was the target of a number of raids and attacks by British forces, in which his brother was badly beaten, and as a result of which his parents suffered ill-health.
During the Truce period Neary went back to his local IRA company area. In April 1922 he joined the National Army and served as a Brigade Officer Commanding during the Civil War. He was serving at Commandant rank on 1 February 1924 and following the reorganisation of the Defence Forces in February 1924 he was demoted to Captain rank. He resigned from the Defence Forces on 21 March 1924. According to reports included or cited on file from Defence Forces Intelligence and Staff Duties branches, John Neary's resignation was as a consequence of his involvement in the "Army Crisis" (Army Mutiny) for which he had been reported by Major-General [Sean] MacEoin and "...was one of the most important members of the Irish Republican Army Organisation [IRAO] in the Western Command Area."
File includes: original signed handwritten and typed material submitted by or on behalf of John Neary in support of his application; material relating to subject's National Army and Defence Forces service record; signed handwritten statements regarding subject's service from Mícheál Ó Máille (Michael O'Malley) Garda Síochána Michael M. Deane, John J. Mullen, Michael Henry and [Gerard Fitzgerald]; representations on behalf of John Neary from R. Ua Maolcatha (Richard Mulcahy) and Professor M. Tierney TD; undated unsigned handwritten notes of evidence given by John Neary before the [Board of Assessors, Military Service Pensions Act, 1924]; signed typed partially torn report dated 16 June 1926 from "An t-Oifigeach i/c Rannog a "D", [Bureau An Fheasa], Ceann Ceathruna Generalta, Geata na Pairce, Baile Atha Cliath" to the Army Finance Officer regarding John Neary's membership of the IRAO and his believed hostility towards the Government; photostat of letter from the Foreign Collection Division to the Foreign Department of the Manufacturers Trust Company regarding the sinking of the S/S Ville d'Arlon on 14 November 1940 en-route to England and the loss of all mail on board forwarded by John Neary as proof of the loss of post sent by him to the Department of Defence in respect of his Military Service Pensions; copy letters dated 28 February and 9 May 1978 from Finance Branch, Department of Defence to John Neary informing him that his pension is being withheld until a reply is received from him as pension warrants from September 1977 onwards have not been presented by him for payment.
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