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| File Reference |
MSP34REF9121
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| Name |
James Lucas |
| Gender |
male |
| Maiden/Other names |
Jimmy
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| Address detail |
| Street |
Derrycastle, Killaloe
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| County |
Clare
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| Country |
Ireland
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| Date of birth |
1894-09-30
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| Date of death |
1961-10-13
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| Associated files in MSPA |
34SP9992; DP28126
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| Related files |
MSP34REF10997 (Bella Lucas, sister)
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| Civilian occupation |
Farmer;
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| Easter rising service |
No |
| Organisation |
Irish Republican Army |
| Rank |
Private
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| Unit |
3 Battalion
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| Company |
B Company (Ballina)
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| Brigade |
1 Tipperary Brigade
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| Commanding Officer(s) |
James O'Sullivan; James Larkin; Patrick McDonnell; Michael Kennedy
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| Pension Claim |
Yes |
| Award Pension |
Yes |
| Army Pensions Act 1923/1953 |
Yes |
| Type of Award |
SPASpecial Allowance (DP file)
|
| Notes |
Awarded a Special Allowance under the Army Pensions Act
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| Military Service Pensions Acts 1924 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1934 |
No |
| Military Service Pensions Acts 1949 |
No |
| Digital file |
Scanned/digital copyMSP34REF9121 James Lucas.pdf
Scanned/digital copy34SP9992 James Lucas.pdf
Scanned/digital copyDP28126 James Lucas.pdf |
| File dates |
28 March 1935 - 15 July 1963
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| Subject Information |
File relates to James Lucas’s unsuccessful application for a military service pension. Applicant claimed membership of the Irish Volunteers and the IRA from April 1916 until January 1924. File also includes material relating to the applicant’s successful application for a Service (1917-1921) Medal which was issued in May 1947.
From 1916-1919, James Lucas states that he helped to stop a dance organised for British Army soldiers and sailors; helped to “release” comrades that were arrested in August 1916; took part in the 1917 East Clare by-election; took ammunition from the British Army in McKeogh’s Yard, Ballina, County Tipperary; stole two large ‘Duck guns’ in 1918 from the home of General Spaight in Derrycastle, County Tipperary which were later used on the IRA attack on Portroe RIC Barracks in 1921.
Attached to B Company (Ballina), 3 Battalion, 1 Tipperary Brigade, IRA, it is stated that the applicant took part in a number of IRA operations and general activity during the War of Independence (January 1919 – July 1921) including: cutting telegraph wires; guard duty at Sinn Féin courts; arms training; transporting rifles and grenades to Ballina; blocking roads; destroying Dunally bridge; dispatch work; trenching-roads; knocking down trees; raiding Portroe Post Office; dismantling railway line at Birdhill, Ballina and burning down [Derrypark] RIC Barracks.
On 27 June 1921, the applicant’s claims that his home and its contents were burnt down by ‘Auxiliaries’ (Auxiliary Police Force) who were stationed in Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, County Clare.
During the Truce period, James Lucas states that he attended training camps in Derrycastle and Killaloe State Quarries.
Taking the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War (June 1922 – May 1923), the applicant claims that he helped to capture a Free State officer in Mullingar, County Westmeath; blew up Crowe’s Lough (July 1922); captured O’Brien’s Bridge Barracks (July 1922); took part in ambushes of National Army troops at Bushfield (August 1922) and Boher (September 1922); attacked Killaloe Barracks; took part in ambushes of National Army troops at Kilcommon and Upperchurch (January 1923); blew up a bridge at Kilmastulla (January 1923); took part in ambush of National Troops at Moneygall ambush (February 1923); attacked trains at Roscrea and Cloughjordan (February 1923); burning down Rapla House (February 1923); attacked a train at Castleconnell and stripped a Civic Guard (no date).
James Lucas states that he was arrested by National forces on 24 March 1923 and was imprisoned in Nenagh, County Tipperary; Limerick and Mountjoy prison, Dublin until his release in January 1924.
File includes signed handwritten and typed statements regarding subject's service from Piaras MacLucais (1935); Patrick Hogan (Undated); Patrick Sheehy (Undated; 1947); James O’Sullivan (Undated; 1957); Patrick McDonnell (Undated; 1956); Patrick F. O’Brien (1940); Martin Grace (1956); Matthew Vaughan (1957); Michael Johnson (1957); James Larkin (1957); Thomas Burke (1957) and Michael Kennedy (1957). Representations were made on behalf of James Lucas by Mrs. M.B. Ryan TD (1956). File includes an original hand-written letter to J. Lucas, B Company from Headquarters, 3 Battalion, 1 Tipperary Brigade dated 26 August 1921 with a request for hacksaw blades. File further includes an original copy of a Public Safety (Emergency Powers) No. 2 Act, 1923 notice addressed to James Lucas, Derrycastle, Killaloe dated 9 August 1923 and signed by Richard Mulcahy, Minister for Defence.
File contains material relating the successful application of James Lucas for a Special Allowance under the Army Pensions Acts including: completed application form; Award Certificates; doctor’s notes; medical reports; copy of applicant’s death certificate (1961) and signed handwritten reports from Social Welfare investigating officers regarding applicant’s financial circumstances (1956-1961) – some closed.
ARCHIVIST’S NOTE:
Applicant’s sister Bella Lucas (MSP34REF10997) was active with Cumann na mBan. Bella Lucas married an IRA Volunteer named Percy Lucas.
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