January 1920

Jan-1920/1

According to Roskill, at the beginning of 1920, the British government faced the following problems:

(1) Ratification of the peace treaty with Germany and reparations;

(2) Making a peace treaty with Turkey;

(3) Maintain a united front with France and Italy despite cracks in this alliance;

(4) Extricating the UK from intervention in Russia;

(5) Deciding future relations with Persia;

(6) Dealing with the rise of nationalism in Egypt;

(7) Dealing with the rising revolt in Ireland;

(8) Dealing with the on-going industrial unrest in Britain and

(9) Reducing government expenditure, especially the cost of maintaining military garrisons in places like Mesopotamia.

 

Roskill (1972), pg 140

Jan-02-20/1

According to Townshend and Molyneux & Kelly, first non-Irishman (Henry Batters of Nottingham) recruited to RIC.  Another 110 followed this month. 

Abbott gives the name of the first man to be recruited to the RIC in England as William Bird but does not give a date.

 

Townshend (1975), pg 46; Abbott (2000), pg 67; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 171-172

Jan-02-20/2

Carrigtwohill RIC barracks captured by IRA men from Midleton/Cobh Battalion of Cork 1st Brigade under Battalion O/C Mick Leahy.  This was the first attack on a barracks. (There was difficulty before this date getting sanction from GHQ but this one was sanctioned.)  Tadgh Manly one of the attackers.

Writing in 1969, IRA Chief of Staff, Richard Mulcahy, stated that it was the policy of IRA GHQ to gradually lead the Irish people to gradually accept the use of violence to attain self-government.  He went on to say “the actions in Cork may be considered to be the beginning of the nation-wide offensive in reply to the suppression of Dáil Éireann”. 

See Jan-1920/6.

O’Donoghue (1986), pg67; Breen (1989), pg 106 & Hopkinson (2002), pg 109; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 68; Townshend (2014), pg 108; Borgonovo (2007), pg 4; Mitchell (1995), pg 72

Jan-02-20/3

Frederick Dumont, the American Consul in Dublin, writes to the US Secretary of State saying “Nothing occurs in Ireland that the wonderful espionage system organized by Sinn Féin does not cover. This very espionage system, supposedly unpaid, shows the hold that Sinn Féin has either through fear or affection”.

 

Mitchell (1995), pg 70

Jan-02-20/4

The RIC attempt to enforce closure orders on Nos. 6 and 76 Harcourt St. in Dublin.  However, the orders are refused.

See Jan-07-20/3.

 

O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 81

Jan-03-20/1

O’Farrell says that a J. Keane from Dromin Hill, Co. Limerick dies on this day. O’Halpin and Ó Corráin record the death of a John (Seán) Keane from Dromin Hill, Rineen, Co. Clare who was shot after the Rineen Ambush – See Sep-22 to 23-20/1 – and died on October 1st 1920.  This was almost definitely the same person.

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 110

Jan-03-20/2

6th Battalion, Mid-Clare Brigade IRA attack an RIC patrol near Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare.  A number wounded but no fatalities on either side.

 

Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 104

Jan-03-20/2

The home of the RIC County Inspector for Kildare, Kerry Supple, is attacked by members of the Naas Company of the IRA.  The house, which is mid-way between Naas and Sallins, is protected by RIC men. No casualties on either side.

 

Durney (2013), pg 89

Jan-03-20/4

Writing to Lord Londonderry, French says “Our secret service is simply non-existent. What masquerades for such is nothing but a delusion and a snare.  The DMP are absolutely demoralized and the RIC will be in the same case very soon if we do not quickly set our house in order.”

This was likely his rationale for setting up his committee on policing and intelligence   -  See Dec-07-19/1.

 

McMahon (2008), pg 29

Jan-05-20/1

Writing to the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Ian Macpherson, the Viceroy (John French), says that either a “large number of men must be arrested and deported or we must have martial law”.  See Jan-07-20/1.

He also noted that the commander of the British Army in Ireland, Lieutenant General Frederick Shaw, disliked the idea of martial law. 

Around this time, the BA in Ireland were given search and arrest powers under DORA regulation 14b by French.  The regulation was called Restriction on, or Internment of, Persons of Hostile Origin or Association.

 

Townshend (2014), pg 135; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 79

Jan-06-20/1

Attack by Longford IRA on Drumlish RIC barracks.  First barracks attack by Longford IRA led by Seán MacEoin and Seán Connolly.

 

Hopkinson (2002), pg 142; Coleman (2003), pg 118

Jan-07-20/1

BA Prepares for Mass Arrests

The GHQ of the British Army in Ireland issues instructions to its Divisional Commanders to prepare lists of the commanders, officers and prominent members of the IRA. 

More Detail

 

Kautt (2014), pgs 31-32 and 217-222; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 85-86

Jan-07-20/2

Dublin District becomes a British Army Division under Major-General Gerald Boyd (rather than a brigade of the 5th Division). 

 More Detail

Townshend (1975), pg 52; Kautt (2014), pgs 26-30; Sheehan (2007), pg 9; Sheehan (2009), pgs 4 and 143-164

Jan-07-20/3

A large RIC and BA force arrive at 6 Harcourt St. with an order to close the building.

The manager (and sole employee), David Kelly, of Sinn Féin Bank (which occupied the ground floor) asked whether the RIC or the BA had issued the closure order.  This caused some initial confusion but they then proceeded to board up the building.  The RIC and BA then proceeded to 76 Harcourt St and boarded up that building as well.

Kelly protested the order stating that the Sinn Féin Bank was separate from Sinn Féin and operated as a properly constituted bank.  He moved the bank’s operation to 3 Harcourt St.

See Feb-27-20/2.

 

O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 83

Jan-07-20/4

The National Land Bank held its first general meeting in Dublin.  It was under the guidance of Robert Barton and four establishment figures were chosen as directors of the bank (Henry Gratten-Bellew; Erskine Childers; Edward Stephens and James MacNeill).  Loan procedures were agreed.

The following week they acquired premises (68 Lr Lesson Street).  As they were concerned that their deposits might be confiscated by the British authorities, they transferred their funds to twenty co-operative banks, mainly in the north of England.  Partly due to the arrest of Barton (see Jan-31-20/1) and partly for other reasons, the bank only opened in April 1920. Lionel Smith-Gordon was responsible for the running of the bank. 

See Jun-24-20/2.

 

O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 92-93 & 159

Jan-09-20/1

Frank Henderson, a member of the IRA’s Intelligence Department is sent to Belfast to get a photo of District Inspector William Forbes Redmond who had been installed as the new head of the G Division of the DMP (and Assistant Commissioner of the DMP on January 5th.)  He got a photo from RIC Sgt Matt McCarthy who worked in Chichester St Barracks. 

See Jan-16-20/1.

 

Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 172-173; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 85 & 108

Jan-12-20/1

Castlehacket RIC barracks, between Headford and Tuam in Co. Galway, is attacked by about 70 IRA men under the leadership of Michael Moran and Thomas Dunleavy.  Attack lasts several hours but the barracks not captured.  No fatalities on either side.  First attack on an RIC barracks in Galway. 

See Mar-26-20/3.

 

McNamara (2018), pg 120; Henry (2012), pgs 37-38

Jan-15-20/1

Local elections for city and town councils. Out of the 206 councils elected through-out Ireland, 172 had Republican majorities.

More Detail

Curran J M (1980), pg31; Macardle (1999), pg 327; Phoenix (1994), pgs 74-75; Gallagher (2003), pg 67; Grant (2018), pg 94;  Price (2012), pg 45; Ozseker (2019), pg 100; Townshend (2014), pg 121; Matthews (2004), pg 21; Mitchell (1995), pgs 123-125; Regan (2013), pg 101; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 94-96

Jan-16-20/1

Collins has another lucky escape from the DMP.

More Detail

See also Jan-20-20/2

O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 105-107

Jan-17-20/1

Collins issues a circular saying that the closing date for the Dáil Loan had been extended until May 1st. This was necessitated by the harassment which loan workers were receiving from the British authorities.

 

O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 96

Jan-17-20/2

The American Loan is launched in the United States by de Valera. $5.5m was raised in the first six months.

Mitchell (1995), pg 194; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 99-100

Jan-19-20/1

The West Clare IRA, under Sean Liddy, attack a four man RIC party at Cooraclare.  Just after the attack started, scouts signal that another RIC patrol is approaching the scene.  The RIC spot one of the scouts, Michael Darcy, running away and fire at him.  To escape, he jumps into the Cooraclare River but is drowned. 

See also Jun-21-21/5.

 

Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 106; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 119

Jan-20-20/1

RIC Constable Luke Finnegan is shot dead on his way home from the RIC Barracks in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.  The attackers are Jim Leahy, Jerry Ryan, Mick Small and Jerry McCarthy from Tipperary No. 2 Brigade, IRA.

Afterwards, RIC men damage fourteen properties belonging to local Sinn Féiners and some public property. The offices of the Tipperary Star were also attacked. This is the first instance of RIC reprisals in the Irish War of Independence. Abbott says that the RIC “reacted to the death of popular officer by smashing the windows in property owned or occupied by members of Sinn Féin”. 

There would have been no Black and Tans (i.e. British recruits to the RIC) involved in these reprisals but the RIC men were supported in their rampage by soldiers from the BA’s Sherwood Foresters Regiment.

Writing in the Daily Chronicle about the reprisals, Lloyd George wrote: “Nobody can fail to deplore such occurrences but equally obviously no one can wonder at them.  Indeed it is obvious that if these murderous clubs pursue their course much longer, we may see counter clubs springing up and the lives of prominent Sinn Féiners becoming as unsafe as prominent officials.”  Comment:  Llyod George’s comments can be seen, at best, as ambivalent.  At worse, especially coming from a man holding such a prominent position, they can be seen as incitement.

 

Abbott (2000), pgs 51-52; Macardle (1999), pg 353; Henry (2012), pgs 36-37; Abbott (2019), pgs 63-64 & 218; Leeson (2012), pgs 170-171 & 174; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 119; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pg 180

Jan-20-20/2

The DMP, led by Deputy Inspector Forbes Redmond, raid Cullenswood House, 4 Oakley Road, Ranelagh in Dublin.  This was where IRA Chief of Staff, Richard Mulcahy, lives and had his main office. 

Both Mulcahy and Collins have a narrow escape. DMP Detective Jim McNamara told Tom Cullen of the raid. He sped to Cullenswood House along with Frank Thornton to warn Collins and Mulcahy.

Information about Cullenswood House had probably been given to the DMP by British spy Jameson.

For Redmond’s fate – See Jan-21-20/1 and for Jameson’s – See Mar-02-20/4

 

Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pg 177; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 107

Jan-20-20/3

Joseph McLaughlin, of the BA’s Army Service Corps, dies in a motor traffic accident in Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 552

Jan-20-20/4

BA soldier, James Thresh, drowns in Buncrana, Co. Donegal.

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 553

Jan-21-20/1

Shooting of William Redmond

The Assistant Commissioner of the DMP, William Forbes Redmond (who was also Head of DMP’s 'G' Intelligence Division and who had been brought to Dublin from Belfast in December 1919 with the specific brief to “take care of political crime”) is shot dead by Squad member Paddy [O’]Daly outside the Standard Hotel in Harcourt St. assisted by Tom Keogh.   Joe Dolan, a member of Collins’s IRA Intelligence Department, was also involved. 

 

More Detail

Townshend (1975), pg 42; Abbott (2000), pgs 52-56 & Hopkinson (2002), pg 26-27; O’Farrell (1997), pg 28 & 89; Coogan (1990), pg 129; Price (2017), pg 106; O’Halpin (1987), pg 199; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pgs 177-179; Kautt (2014), pg 24; Sheehan (2007), pg 8; McMahon (2008), pg 31

Jan-21-20/2

British Government makes a slight change to the policy it had decided of arresting and interning IRA men (See Jan-07-20/1) by saying that it was to be done under the Competent Military Authority under Defence of the Realm Regulation 55 – this did not require a warrant to be signed by the Chief Secretary (thus putting the politicians at one remove from the policy). 

The date for the arrests to take place was changed from the night of the 23rd/24th to the night of the 30th/31st. 

In the BA’s official History of the 5th Division, they point out that the BA was handicapped by a lack of intelligence as “reliance had to be placed, almost entirely, on the information in the hands of the police. The rebels realised this well; hence their attacks on the RIC.”  They go on to conclude that “The collection of useful military intelligence, therefore, was extremely slow and laborious.”

 

Kautt (2014), pg 33; Sheehan (2009), pgs 21-22

Jan-21 to 23-20/1

Public meetings of Commission of Inquiry into the Industry and Resources of Ireland, which was set up by Dáil, are held over three days in Cork.  The first meeting is held in City Hall.  Crown Forces stop these meetings but the Commission managed to hold their meetings by frequently moving the venue.

At one meeting, Figgis is about to be hung out of hand by a drunken BA officer.  A BA army sergeant is actually bringing a rope when Figgis is saved by Maurice Moore (a member of the Commission and an ex-Colonel in the BA’s Connaught Rangers).

The Commission moves onto Limerick where it continues to be harassed by Crown Forces.  After these public meetings, the Commission decides to restrict its work to private consultations with interested parties including county councils. 

See Jul-21-20/5 for what occurred at its meeting with Leitrim County Council.

 

Figgis (1927), pgs 278-279; Mitchell (1995), pgs 82-83; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 101-102

Jan-23-20/1

In an interview with a journalist from the Paris newspaper Le Journal, French (Lord Lieutenant of Ireland), says that principal reason for the troubles was that, for the past five years, emigration had stopped. He continues “In this country there are from one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand young men from eighteen to twenty years of age who in normal times would have emigrated.

O’Sullivan Greene adds “In addition, with no conscription in Ireland, fewer of those young men had been used as cannon fodder for generals like Lord French during the war”.

 

Macardle (1999), pg 333; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 109

Jan-23-20/2

Unsuccessful IRA attack on Murroe RIC barracks in Limerick carried out by 3rd Battalion Mid-Limerick brigade with help from the 2nd Battalion.

 

O’Callaghan (2018), pg 79; Corbett (2008), pgs 55-56

Jan-24-20/1

In an IRA attack on Baltinglass RIC barracks, Co. Wicklow, Constable James Malynn is badly wounded.  He is to die from his wounds on December 1st.

Abbott (2000), pgs 55-56; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 246; Kautt (2014), pg 28

Jan-27-20/1

The London Times reports a statement from the Catholic bishops saying that “The one true way to terminate our historic troubles and establish friendly relations between Ireland and England … is to allow an undivided Ireland to choose her own form of government”.

 

Mitchell (1995), pg 173

Jan-28-20/1

O’Farrell says that M. Counihane from Bodyke, Co. Clare dies on this day.  However, a number of other sources say that Martin Counihan was killed by the IRA at Bodyke, Co. Clare in October 1920 – See Oct-28-20/3. (Almost definitely the same person.)

 

O’Farrell (1997), pg 105

Jan-29-20/1

Ardmore RIC barracks in Co. Waterford attacked by about 50 men from the local IRA battalion under James Mansfield.  The IRA failed to take the barracks and there are no casualties on either side.

 

McCarthy (2015), pg 67

Jan-30-20/1

Mass Arrest of Suspected Republicans by Crown Forces

A policy of the mass arrest of republicans is instituted by Dublin Castle on the night of 30th/31st with many raids on houses by Crown Forces.

The British captured 58 people including Robert Barton. Most were subsequently deported to England for internment.  (The volume of the official BA Record of the Rebellion dealing with intelligence says that there were 60 arrests.

More Detail

 

Townshend (1975), pg 59; Hopkinson (2002), pg 28; Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pg 180; Mitchell (1995), pg 63; Kautt (2014), pgs 34-35 & 40-41; Hart (2002), pg 20; O’Sullivan Grenne (2020), pg 110

Jan-30-20/1

Thomas Kelly is elected as Dublin Lord Mayor

Molyneux and Kelly (2020), pg 180

Jan-31-20/1

Tomas MacCurtain elected as Lord Mayor of Cork City

O'Kelly in The Kerryman (1955), pg 32

Jan-31-20/2

Macardle says a policeman is shot and a civilian shot dead during disturbances in Limerick.  O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that the civilian was Richard O’Dwyer who was shot in the head in his bar during shots being exchanged between IRA and British soldiers. [O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say it happened on February 2nd.]

Another civilian, Lena Johnson, is also shot during these disturbances and dies on February 3rd.

 

Macardle (1999), pgs 329-330; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 120

Jan-31-21/3

RIC patrol disarmed at Aghern (outside Fermoy, Co. Cork).

 

O’Donoghue (1986), pg 68

Jan-1920/2

Tom Morris, an ex-British Army soldier who had joined the IRA, is appointed chief organiser by IRA GHQ for Derry and Tyrone.  He immediately set about upgrading IRA companies in south Derry and north Tyrone.

 

Grant (2018), pg 90

Jan-1920/3

Major Arthur E Percival is appointed Intelligence Officer of the 1st Essex Regiment in South Cork based in Kinsale.

 

Townshend (1975), pg 51

Jan-1920/4

A British Army spy or deserter, John Gibbs, is captured by the IRA and shot dead near Tydavet, Co. Monaghan.

 

O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 119-120

Jan-1920/5

During January, there were over 1,000 raids by Crown Forces and 220 arrests. 

The British Army, using RIC intelligence, started carrying out widespread raids using Defence of the Realm Regulation 55. The British Army obtained substantial documents on IRA strength during these raids.  Mitchell indicates that one motivation for this policy was to disrupt the operation of the Dáil Loan.

Among those arrested during this period are William Cosgrave, Ernst Blythe and Robert Barton as well as four other TDs. 

By April 14th 1920, 317 were arrested and 250 interned, many of whom were deported. 27 of those arrested were IRA brigade or battalion commandants. 7 TDs were also arrested.    However, this policy of mass arrest was to run into trouble for the British due to the prisoners going on hunger strike – See, for example, Apr-05-20/1.

 

Macardle (1999), pg 330; Townshend (2014), pg 136; Mitchell (1995), pgs 127-128

Jan-1920/6

Ernie O’Malley was subsequently to say “In January 1920 the fashion for attacking [RIC] barracks spread as suddenly and unaccountably as fashions in women’s clothing”.

 

Coleman (2003), pg 118

Jan-1920/7

At the end of January, Frank Carty of the Sligo IRA leads a raid on the house of Charles Graham in south Sligo and seizes a small number of arms.  (Carty leads another raid the following month but gets captured a few days after it.)

 

Farry (2012), pg 51

 

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