#OnThisDay 1920 The IRA, in their General Orders, stated that women who were convicted of being a spy would not be killed, but instead would have seven days to leave the country. Perhaps, the most famous exception to this rule was that of Mrs Lindsay in Cork who informed the British Army that there was an ambush laid for them in Dripsey. This information saw the capture and execution of seven IRA volunteers.
#OnThisDay 1893 Liam Lynch was born in Limerick. In the War of Independence Lynch was an IRA officer and later, Commander of Southern Division. During the Irish Civil War, Lynch became the Chief of Staff of the IRA. His death signalled the end of the Civil War.
#OnThisDay 1893 James Sheridan MOH, from Drogheda, died in New York. Sheridan was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Battle of Mobile Bay 1864.
His citation reads as follows:
‘Acting as captain of the after 11-inch gun, and wounded in several places, Sheridan remained at his gun until the firing had ceased and then took the place of the signal quartermaster who had been injured by a fall. Recommended for his gallantry and intelligence, Sheridan served courageously throughout this battle which resulted in the capture of the rebel ram “CSS Tennessee” and the damaging of Fort Morgan‘.
NEW PODCAST EPISODE AVAILABLE NOW: I spoke with PhD student Abbi Smithmyer (@abbi_smithy22) about the importance of ethnic identity to the soldiers of the Irish Brigade in the face of nativism in the American Civil War.
#OnThisDay 1960 An Irish UN Peacekeeping patrol were ambushed by Baluba militia at Niemba in the Congo. Nine Irishmen were killed, 8 in the ambush but Tpr. Browne escaped but was killed soon after. These were the first overseas combat deaths of @defenceforces.
The deceased are:
Lt. Kevin Gleeson, Carlow
Sgt. Hugh Gaynor, Dublin
Cpl. Peter Kelly, Dublin
Cpl. Liam Dougan, Dublin
Pte. Matthew Farrell, Dublin
Tpr. Thomas Fennell, Dublin
Tpr. Anthony Browne, Dublin
Pte. Michael McGuinn, Carlow
Pte. Gerard Killeen, Dublin
25 Balubas died.
The Irish at War 