The Scramogue
Ambush
Introduction from Chronology
The flying columns of the North and South Roscommon Brigades under
Patrick Madden (O/C South Roscommon Brigade) ambush a nine-man Crown Forces
patrol (Ninth Lancers and RIC) in a Crossley tender at Scramogue (on the Strokestown-Longford road). This ambush results in the death of five
members of the Crown Forces.
More Detail
The
six killed included two army officers (Capt Rodger Peek and Lieut John Tennant
both from the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers), an RASC driver
(Private John Kennan) and one RIC man (Con Edward Leslie).
In
addition, after the ambush, two men in civilian clothes approached Madden and
told them that they were prisoners on the tender. Under questioning, it
turned out that they were RIC men under arrest for wrecking a church in Elphin
- both (Constable Robert Buchanan and Constable James Evans) were killed – See
Lesson (2012), pgs 150-151.
Capt
Peek, who commanded the 9th Lancers at
Strokestown, Co. Roscommon had threatened to burn every house within
five miles if one of his men were killed.
There
were 39 men in the ambush party armed with 17 rifles, 2 or 3 revolvers and 20
shotguns. Among the IRA who took part were 'Cushy' Hughes, Frank Simons
and Luke Duffy, Sean Leavy (O/C 3rd Battalion North Roscommon
Brigade), Martin Fallon (O/C Flying Column North Roscommon Brigade). The
IRA captured a substantial number of arms and ammunition.
Two
men from the North Roscommon brigade (Pat Mullolly and Brian Nagle) who had
taken part in the ambush were arrested after the ambush. Papers found on them
revealed that Pat Mullolly’s brother, Michael, was an IRA officer. The next day, Michael Mullolly was taken
out of his home by the Auxiliaries and shot dead. (See Lesson (2012), pgs 218-219
for further detail.) Six prisoners
being held in the demesne house in Strokestown were attacked and savagely
beaten by British Army soldiers on the evening of the ambush.
Both
Pat Mullolly and Nagle were charged with murder but, on May 24th,
Mullolly managed to escape from Athlone barracks. Nagle got sentenced to 15
years in prison.