#OnThisDay 1921 In Belfast, King George V called for peace in Ireland,”I appeal to all Irishmen to stretch out the hand of forbearance & conciliation, to forgive and forget, & to join in making for the land they love a new era of peace, contentment & goodwill”.
#OnThisDay 1798 John Kelly, the Boy from Killane was taken from his sickbed, courtmartialed and sentenced to death. On the 28th, Kelly, a UI leader was hanged on Wexford Bridge, decapitated, his body thrown in the Slaney & his head mounted on a spike.
#OnThisDay 1921 The IRA attacked a four truck convoy of Auxiliaries in the Rathcoole Ambush, Cork. Using mines to disable the trucks, the IRA killed two Auxies & injured many more. However, the IRA soon had to withdraw due to a dwindling supply of ammunition.
#OnThisDay 1921 The Thompson submachine gun (Tommy Gun) was first used in combat by the IRA. Dublin ASU led by Oscar Traynor fired on a train carrying soldiers of the Royal West Kent Regiment. Three were reported to have been injured but no deaths recorded.
#OnThisDay 1864 Colonel Patrick Kelly, from Galway, the commander of the Irish Brigade was shot dead as he led his men at the Battle of Petersburg. It was said that upon his death; “strong old veteran soldiers wept like children & wrung their hands in frenzy”.
The Irish at War 