Captured Reports of Dublin Ambushes
February 2, 1921
The following are extracts from a letter dated 2nd February, to the Sinn Fein Adjutant General and signed Acting Brigade Adjutant.
They describe an attack on a lorry of Crown forces at Terenure: – “On Saturday 29th. I mobilised twenty men and two officers at Mound Argus for armed patrol work. Of the total strength three men acted as cycle scouts unarmed. Two were armed with grenades only (two apiece). The remaining 17 carried heavy revolvers and automatic pistols. The area of patrol extended over the battalion area south of the Grand Canal. At 8.20p,m a cyclist reported a lorry standing 500 yards up the road. I took the cyclist’s machine to scout, and found the lorry 200 years up outside the police station. the second lieutenant was of opinion that the point was unsuitable for attack, as there was no cover for the number of men (ten) there. I was considering the advisability of withdrawing when the engine started. I ran back and ordered the men to the corner. There was a certain slowness on the part of some, I can only presume from hearing the discussion on the point of attack. The second lieutenant could not draw the safety pins from his bombs. The other man threw his bomb and reports that he got it in. Some of our men opened an ineffective fire at the tops of houses while the attach was on: otherwise their conduct was reasonable. About 100 yards on the cityside of the corner the remainder, under the first-lieutenant, held a very good position. They opened fire at the lorry passing. Each man emptied his weapon. One bomb was seen to explode at the rear of the lorry. Here three men with automatics fired five rounds. One man had a misfire at the start. No 2 a jam after two shots, No. 3 a jam after three shots. The rifle fire in reply was from only two or three men. The patrol retreated across the country to Crumlin road.
– Extract from – Evening Echo 1896-current, Tuesday, March 22, 1921