Attack at Headford
Railway Junction (near
Killarney, Co Kerry)
Introduction from Chronology
There is an attack by Kerry No. 2 Brigade ASU (under Dan Allman
and Tom McEllistrim) on British troops at Headford
Railway Junction near Killarney.
This attack results in the death of eight BA soldiers, three civilians
and two IRA men.
More Detail
The
Column was moving into position when the train from Kenmare arrived
early. This train was carrying a ration party of about thirty Royal
Fusiliers on their way back to Killarney - they were transferring at
Headford. There were also a large
number of civilians on the train coming, many coming from the fair in Kenmare.
Most
of the column was on high ground overlooking the station. However, a number of the column were hiding
in the toilets and when, one of the Fusiliers (Lieut Cecil Adams) came into the
toilets, he was shot by Dan Allman thus giving away the presence of the
column. General firing
ensued. Another train arrived carrying
15 BA soldiers (also Royal Fusiliers).
They stopped short of the station and approached the station in extended
formation. With their arrival, the IRA
withdrew.
In
the gunfight one civilian (Sean Breen from Killarney) was killed at the scene
and two civilians (Michael Cagney from Ballybane, Co. Cork and Patrick
O’Donnoghue from Killarney) subsequently died from their wounds. Several other
civilians were wounded. Two IRA men (Dan
Allman and Jim Baily) were killed.
Allman was O/C of the recently established ASU of the Kerry No. 2
Brigade of the IRA. Baily was a Lieutenant in the Ballymacelligot Battalion,
Kerry No. 2 Brigade. Eight British Army
soldiers were killed: Lieutenant Cecil
Adams; Sgt George Brundish; Lance Corporal Edward Chandler; Private Arthur
George; Private Frederick West; Private Francis Woods; Private George Young and
Corporal Rupert Greenwood. They were all
members of the BA’s Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
Like
the ambush at Upton Railway Station (see Feb-15-21/2) it would seem that ambush was undertaken
by the IRA with little regard for likelihood of civilian injuries and
fatalities.
The
Memorial at Headford Junction
Inscription on Memorial at Headford
Junction
As with the memorial at Upton Junction,
no mention is made on the Headford Junction memorial of the civilian fatalities
(or, more understandably, the Crown Forces fatalities).