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| File Reference |
DP7204
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| Name |
James McSorley |
| Gender |
male |
| Address detail |
| Street |
Aughacessy, Drumlegagh, Baronscourt
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| County |
Tyrone
|
| Country |
Northern Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Limavady (Mother's Address)
|
| County |
Derry
|
| Country |
Northern Ireland
|
| Address detail |
| Street |
Knockmanny, Augher (Mother's Address)
|
| County |
Tyrone
|
| Country |
Northern Ireland
|
| Date of birth |
1895
|
| Notes |
Applicant listed as 26 at time of death in contemporary newspaper aricle
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| Date of death |
1921-07-09
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| Place |
Dunteague, Leglands, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
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| Associated files in MSPA |
2RB4009
|
| Civilian occupation |
Timber-planter, employee of David Stewart, Forester's Centre, Baronscourt, County Tyrone;
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Commandant
|
| Unit |
2 Battalion
|
| Division |
2 Northern Divison
|
| Company |
Active Service Unit
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| Brigade |
2 Brigade (Tyrone)
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
Michael Gallagher
|
| Pension Claim |
No |
| Award Pension |
No |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyDP7204 James McSorley.pdf
Scanned/digital copy2RB4009 James McSorley.pdf |
| File dates |
July 1921 - 29 April 1938
|
| Subject Information |
File relates to Hannah McSorley’s application under the Army Pensions Act 1932 in respect of her son, IRA Commandant James McSorley, who was killed on 8 July 1921 at Dunteague, Leglands, County Tyrone.
The application form was completed by James McSorley’s brother William ‘Willie’ McSorley and it was noted that the deceased was the eldest son in the family.
In a newspaper article included in file entitled ‘Crown Forces and Rebels: Sharp Encounter at Dunteague’ from July 1921, it is stated that the deceased was 26-years-old and unmarried. It further claims that James McSorley enlisted with the British Army on 1 November 1915 and served with the South Irish Horse regiment throughout World War I during which he was held in a German Prisoner of War (POW) camp for nine months. His family stated that he was in receipt of a weekly British Army pension of 12/6 at the time of his death.
The application form listed his occupation as “timber planting” in the employment of David Stewart, Foresters Centre, Baronscourt, County Tyrone. He earned 35- per week “most of which he gave to his Mother”.
It is stated on file that the applicant joined the IRA in January 1919 and was attached to the Active Service Unit (ASU) of 2 Battalion, 2 Tyrone Brigade, 2 Northern Division under the command of Michael Gallagher (MSP34REF23662).
On 8 July 1921, a group of between 30 and 40 IRA Volunteers were lying in wait at Dunteague, County Tyrone in preparation to attack Baronscourt Lodge. It is stated on file that McSorley was "accidently shot". A party of Crown Force in two Crossley tenders and a Ford car then surprised the IRA unit. McSorley was found “lying dead beside a turf stack in front of a house owned by people named McDermott”.
At the subsequent military inquiry, it was found that his death was “apparently due to a rifle bullet which entered the middle of the right breast and … (and) was fired from a considerable distance as there no exit wound”. It was noted in the newspaper article that there were no “other marks on the body, except two tattoo marks on the arm”.
The newspaper reported that the authorities had arrested William Magee, a native of Castlederg who lived with his aunt at Dunteague, and had also questioned Dr. Lagan of Omagh, County Tyrone who was found near the scene in possession of chloroform and bandages. A blood-stained basin was found in the home, beside where James McSorley’s body was discovered, suggesting that “the wounds of the dead man … were bathed and attended to.”
Dr. Lagan of Riverstown House, Omagh, County Tyrone wrote on 18 November 1933 in support of the family's application for a military service pension that he had attended James McSorley and claims that he “only lived a short time after being shot”.
The Military Service Pensions Board informed the McSorley family that their applicant “could not be considered as the latest date for making an application was 9 December 1933”. Their application form was dated 25 November 1933 but stamped that it was received on 22 December 1933.
In a follow-up typed letter from April 1938, Michael F. McGuire informed the Department of Defence that Mrs. Hannah McSorley had died 12 months previously. He asked whether the “family were eligible” for compensation from 1932 up until her death. McGuire concludes that “the McSorley family are deserving of the most consideration the Board can allow”. There is no further correspondence on file.
Archivist's Note: Cumann na mBan member Cassie McGuire (MSP34REF48159) states that she rendered first-aid to McSorley under fire from Crown Forces.
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