The Labbacally
Ambush
Introduction from Chronology
There is an ambush by the IRA on an RIC and BA convoy at Labbacally or Labbacallee, near Glanworth, Co Cork. O’Donoghue says three members of
the Crown Forces were killed (and four wounded). O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say two BA soldiers (Private Walter Gammon and
Acting Corporal Ernst Hall of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)) were killed and
others wounded.
More Detail
The RIC and BA convoy attacked by the IRA were returning from an inquest
into the killing of Denis O’Donnell – See Nov-23-20/4.
There are a few differences in the accounts of this ambush. O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that it was carried out members of the ASU of
the Cork No. 3 Brigade, led by Tom Barry, and supported by local Volunteers
armed with shotguns. However,
O’Donoghue’s account says that it was carried out by the Castletownroche
Battalion Column, Cork No. 2 Brigade led by Thomas Barry. He makes no mention
of the Cork No. 3 column.
In the account of this ambush by Thomas Barry in his BMH statement, he
makes no mention of the ASU of the Cork No. 3 taking part in the ambush.
Similarly, William Regan, in his BMH statement, does not mention the Cork No. 3
ASU taking any part in the ambush.
William Regan was V/C of the Castletownroche
Battalion Column. (Barry does mention that the East Limerick Brigade ASU was in
the area but, unlike at the Kildorrey ambush – see
Aug-07-20/2 – the East Limerick column does not take part in this ambush.)
In his BMH statement, Thomas Barry mentions that he gave assistance to a
young BA officer in the aftermath of the ambush and, when Barry was
subsequently captured, the young lieutenant said that he had never seen Barry
before.