#OnThisDay 1854 The Light Brigade charged Russian positions at the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. Of the 674 men that took part, 114 were Irish. 21 Irishmen died, 16 were wounded & 7 were taken prisoner. More than 30,000 Irishmen served in the Crimea.
#OnThisDay 1920 Black and Tans burst into the home of Tom Egan, a local publican in Cashla, Galway&shot him dead. This was in response to the killing of ex-High Sheriff of Galway & Land agent Frank Shawe-Taylor near Egan’s pub. Egan had no hand in Shaw’s death but was killed anyway for withholding information and not leaving the house with the masked men.
#OnThisDay 1915 US Marine Daniel Daly led his 35 men against & defeated an enemy of 400 at the Battle of Fort Dipitie, Haiti. For this, Daly would receive his second Medal of Honor (one of only two Marines to receive the MOH twice for separate actions). His first was during the Boxer Rebellion, China in 1900 when he singlehandedly held off 200 enemy who were attempting to take his position.
#OnThisDay 1943 MV Kerlogue, an Irish merchant vessel carrying coal was attacked by RAF planes 130 miles south of Ireland, despite flying the tricolour. The ships captain was badly injured but survived. In December Kerlogue saved 168 German sailors at sea.
#OnThisDay 1641 Rory O’More’s plan to attack Dublin Castle failed. The night before Sir Felim O’Neill & allies captured several forts in Ulster & rumours of a massacre spread. The 1641 Rebellion, one of the most destructive wars in Irish history had begun.
