Wellington Barracks Attacked
November 9, 1922
CIVILIAN VICTIMS
From Our Reporter Dublin Wednesday. —A strong attack was made b y a large party of armed men on Wellington Barracks Jus mornnig_, and was followed by a fierce battle _between National troops stationed at the barracks and their assailants. Shortly before half-past.nine, under cover of a fog, the attackers occupied positions at several points around the _barracks, and a determined attack with ¦ machine guns, rifles, revolvers, and bombs was quickly launched.
At the time the National troops were on parade on the square. Suddenly machine gnu and revolver and rifle fire was poured into their ranks from the direction of Harold’s . Cross bridge One soldier was killed outright, and at least fifteen or twenty-were wounded. One of the latter was the barrack Sergeant-Major. Tito troops were quickly ordered to take up positions near the barrack walls, and this order was carried out in excellent fashion. Terrific tiring was their directed at the barracks from the canal on the western side, as well as from houses m many parts of the district, and it. was evident: that the attack was a carefully planned affair.
Firing of a most intense character followed between the attackers and the troops, and with each side using machine guns, a terrific din was created , while the residents in the locality were greatly alarmed, and sought shelter in various portions of their louses. Shortly after the opening or the attack the soldiers rushed out of the barracks, and some of them proceeded to the left towards Temple’s and Goodbody’s, from which .in attack was being made on the post at Eager’s garage, and the party dashed around Leonard’s -corner, towards Harold’s Cross and opened fire at Greenmount mills, from which building the attack and apparently been launched.
ARRESTS ON TRAM-CAR.
Traflic of all descriptions in the district immediately ceased. Four civilians, who were alleged to have been engaged in the attack, were arrested on a tram-car- Armoured cars quickly made their appearance in and around the barracks, but the fighting continued in the most determined and fierce fashion. Ambulances were soon busily engaged in removing the wounded to the city hospitals. After the battle had been in progress for . ah hour it was stated that large numbers of attackers had been surrounded, and that many arrests were likely to be made. It is understood that the casualties on the attackers’ side are also heavy. One civilian was shot dead. Firing was still in progress at noon and the district in which the battle is taking place is isolated from the city , so that complete details will not be “available until the evening. At noon it, was learned that the troops had captured six prisoners and a machine gun, and the total number of casualties on the National Army side were twenty. The casualties on the attackers’ side are unknown, but they have been seen removing wounded in the direction of Mount Jerome.
ATTACKED MEN UNARMED.
Detailing the attack, our special reporter in a later message says:—When the attack began, there were roughly over 100 men on parade on the barrack square. Inspection by the Officer Commanding was just finished, and the sergeant-major was calling ‘ out the names of the N.C.O. and men for quarter guard . At that time a burst of Thompson gunfire was opened ion the men on the square, most of whom were unarmed. One man was. hit in the head. The rest of the soldiers, -at the order of the Officer Commanding, threw themselves flat on the ground, and subsequently crept to cover.
The force was reorganised into smaller parties, as were also the remaining soldiers in the barrack rooms , and position were taken up to meet the attack. The fire of the attackers, who were located in positions of vantage on houses on the opposite side of the canal, was vigorously replied to.
At Portobello’ the outbreak of firing was heard , and immediately reinforcements of troops were sent to the assistance of their comrades at Wellington. The column from Portobello quickly split up into ‘ sections, and took control of the approaches to Wellington Barracks. . .The fire of” the attackers continued for an hour and a quarter, and all during the fight a concentrated fire was kept up on the attackers’ positions,by the troops.
The total number of casualties cannot yet be ascertained, but it is certain that they do not number less than 20 amongst soldiers alone. .
Major General Liam Tobin and Brigadier-General Slattery were in barracks at the time, and took command of the defensive operations.- One man, Private Thomas Murphy, of the Barrack Company, was shot dead. An apprentice who was driving through the outer gate on the South Circular Road was shot. He was in the employment of Mr. McGuirk, .butcher, of Harold’s Cross. The horse was shot dead.
There are about 15 wounded soldiers in Meath Hospital.’
The attackers sustained a number of casualties, not at present known. in detail. Several of the men were carried off through Mount Jerome Cemetery.
LITTLE GIRL SHOT
The civilian casualties include a little girl who was shot while going to school.
After the attack a number of men were seen retreating in the direction of Mount Jerome Cemetery. A gentleman who was in the’ neighbourhood of the cemetery at the time, describing the retreat to P. Press representative, said—”A party of irregulars came up the road from the direction of Harold’s Cross. They crossed the cemetery Wall again on the far side and made off through the fields towards Crumlin. I saw two irregulars who appeared to be very badly wounded. They asked if there was a gate out of the cemetery on the far side.
‘They had barely disappeared when about eight tenders ‘ full of National troops came up along the Kimmage Road. The troops went through the cemetery, searched it, and followed the retreating irregulars across the fields. Soldiers also searched the tower and grounds around Harold’s Cross Church.
“I did not see if the troops captured any of the’ irregulars, nor did I hear any “firing in the’.’ direction in which they had gone. ‘
Before the troops came on the scene I saw another party of irregulars going along Kimmage and Crumlin Road towards Crumlin. Troops in tenders also went along that road in the same direction a few minutes later.’ . _,.
ARRESTS AND CAPTURES. .
Six arrests were made and one machine gun was captured by the troops. One soldier was killed and 20 wounded, some of them seriously. A contingent of the Army Medical Corps from Beggar’s Bush Barracks set out for the Wellington Barracks immediately the attack was reported. They were’ accompanied by doctors from the’ headquarters of the medical service.
In addition to 14 wounded troops taken to Meath Hospital- a number of troops were, conveyed to the army hospital Portobollo. Barracks, by the military ambulance. Altogether there were at least, two deaths and about 25 wounded as a result of the affair. Troops on duty in the streets made a number of arrests. Ten prisoners were taken to Wellington Barrack ‘s, five of whom, it is said, were actually caught participating in the attack from Upper Clanbrassil street as it is believed the attack was delivered from Parnell Place houses, which gave the attackers a commanding view of the back square. The houses bore many traces of the fire with, which the troops replied to the attack. The attackers used machine and _Thompson guns.and rifles, and a withering fire was poured in amongst the soldiers on parade, only, a small minority of whom carried arms.- It was on this first outburst that the principal casualties resulted, including the death of Private Murphy, who was stated to have joined up the previous day.
For close on three quarters of an hour the exchange of tire continued, and when the attackers’ fire ceased it was noticed that about a dozen young men, carrying arms,-, were seen retreating across the fields towards Mount Argus and Crumlin. Some of them, who appeared to be wounded, were being carried by their comrades.. A few wounded were _stated to have fallen into the hands of the National soldiers who had sallied out from the barracks in pursuit of the fleeing attackers. The troops fired upon them with effect-near Sally’s bridge, which is at the western end of Parnell place. Harold’s Cross bridge was the _principal_, point from which the soldiers operated._^ A considerable quantity of ammunition was rushed up in this operation, judging,, by the number of empty cartridges . which were subsequently observed at the scene.
SOME OF THE VICTIMS.
In, addition to the casualties announced in previous messages, six soldiers of the National Army and one civilian were brought in ambulances to St. Vincent’s Hospital. The names are:—Nolan, Stephen street; Buckley, Co. Kilkenny; Fehely,, Chapelizod; Breslin, Peter street; Bleating, Wentworth place; Curtis, Holles street; and a civilian named Warren, of Leinster road. During the attack on the barracks two unarmed soldiers, walking along the -South Circular road, were, it is stated, fired upon and wounded. An outpost of troops occupying the roof of a house in the vicinity replied, and the attackers dispersed. .
In or about the time the attack was delivered on’ Wellington Barracks, shots were fired from the same direction at Portobello Barracks. After about a dozen discharges the fire ceased. There was no damage or casualties sustained. Troops were immediately placed, under arms with the object of resisting an attack, and afterwards proceeded to the relief of their comrades in. the South Circular road area, where they carried out a number of raids, making important captures of booty and taking some prisoners.
– Irish Examiner 1841-current, Thursday, November 09, 1922; Page: 5
Dash Through Mount Jerome Cemetery
After the attack’ a. number of men. were seen retreating in the direction of Mount Jerome Cemetery. A gentleman who was in the neighbourhood of the cemetery .at the time, describing the retreat to a representative of the Freeman’s Journal said:— . “A party of .Irregulars came up the road from the direction of Harold’s Cross. They crossed the cemetery wall and went through the cemetery and crossed the wall again on the far side and made off through the fields towards Crumlin. I saw two Irregulars, who appeared to be very badly wounded. ” They asked if there was a gate out of the cemetery on the far side. They had barely disappeared when about eight tenders full of National troops came up-along the Kimmage road.. The troops -went through the cemetery, searched it, and -followed the retreating Irregulars across the field.
RETREAT TOWARDS KIMMAGE.
The retreat was evidently continued through the grounds of Mount Argus ant: thence on to Kimmage_, where, it is believed_, the party divided up, some of them continuing away through the “Captain’s Lane” and others turning lo the right and making their escape through the Brickfields _along the ramparts to Dolphin’s Barn. Troops in armoured cars dashed -along the Kimmage road in pursuit of these men, some of whom were stated to have been carrying two Thompson guns, rifles and revolvers. Some shots were fired at them from the car, one of the priests in Mount Argus having u narrow escape from a flying bullet which entered his room in the Monastery. Patrols of soldiers on foot ‘visited shops and house._t in the vicinity, and houses in Parnell place were searched by the troops, who took one prisoner out of the house No. 27 Parnell place, and in others discovered some documents and portions of uniforms of the National Army. It is stated that Private Murphy, who was killed, had only joined, up the previous day.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT
The Army Publicity Department issued the following communique yesterday afternoon: At about 9.40 this morning an attack was made on troops who were ”paraded in tin square at Wellington Barrack!,. Machineguns and rifles’ were used in the’ attack_, which’ was directed from the opposite bank of the canal. The main attack-lasted about live minutes, but.fighting continued for some time afterwards. The troops returned the fire. ” Several patrols, on foot and in cas, went out of the barracks, taking several prisoners. The casualties were —Troops: One killed and 14 wounded. Two of the attackers were killed.”
BUGLER’S EXPERIENCE
Tile bugler on guard had a thrilling experience. When the gunfire swept the ground he saw the Regimental Sergt-Major fall, badly wounded in the ‘arm’s’ and ankle Two other men were observed by him to fall at. the same time. . .
While the bullets were whizzing over his head the bugler sounded the alarm., and then crept over to olio of his comrades lying a few yards away from him. He found that his comrade was dead. The bugler got up and made a dash for the guardroom. In his rush he fell over a wheelbarrow.
To that accident he probably owes his life, for had he been erect at that moment some of the bullets then flying would have – struck him. Reaching the guardroom in safety the bugler again ‘blew the call to arms, and it was he who sounded the “Cease fire.”
P0RT0BELL0 BARRACKS ATTACKED.
In or about the time the attack was delivered ‘on the Wellington Barracks shots were fired from the same direction at Portobello Barracks. After about a dozen discharges the fire ceased. There were no casualties sustained. The troops were immediately placed under arms, with the object of resisting the attack, and afterwards proceeded to the relief- of their comrades in the South Circular road area.
– Freemans Journal 1763-1924, Thursday, November 09, 1922