#OnThisDay 1857 During the Indian Revolt three Irish men were awarded Victoria Crosses.
Pvt James Byrne (Left), Dublin saved a wounded officer under heavy fire
Pte James Pearson (Middle), Laois attacked 3 enemy & rescued a wounded man
Cpl Michael Sleavon (Right), Fermanagh dug a sap under continuous heavy enemy fire.
#OnThisDay 1914 Cumann na mBan was established in Wynn’s Hotel, Dublin. Their chief aims were to:
Advance the cause of Irish liberty
Organise Irish women in the furtherance of that objective
To assist in arming and equipping a body of Irish men for the defence of Ireland
To form a fund for these purposes to be called the ‘Defence of Ireland Fund’.
The first provisional committee of Cumann na mBan included Agnes MacNeill, Nancy O’Rahilly, Mary Colum, Jenny Wyse Power, Louise Gavan Duffy and Elizabeth Bloxham. The role they played was vital in achieving Irish independence.
#OnThisDay 1879 Lt Walter Hamilton from Inistioge, Kilkenny led two cavalry squadrons against 5000 enemy troops in Afghanistan. When his superior officer fell, Hamilton took charge, cheered his men to take revenge, saved the life of an ally & scattered the enemy.
Hamilton lost his life soon after in Kabul.
#OnThisDay 1922 RIC & Ulster ‘Specials’ murdered 6 Catholics in Belfast. They smashed ex-sailor Joe Walsh’s head in with a sledgehammer & shot dead his 7 year old son (both in pic). His 2 year old daughter & 14 year old son were also hit but also survived.
Others who were killed included :
Wounded in the same incident were:
The Irish at War 