1Bt. Manchester Reg at Mourne Abbey ambush, Co Cork. Ireland. Feb. 1921.

[John O Regan]

I am researching the role played by members of the 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment in an incident during the Irish war in 1921. This was an intended ambush by I.R.A. which was interrupted by the Manchesters and resulted in six I.R.A. casualties.The Manchesters had no casualties. I am interested in obtaining any kind of information on some members involved in that operation,viz Lieutenant  F.E.Vining, Sergeants W. Pinchemain,and J.H Orgill. Privates Avison and Lucas. Many thanks in advance for any information which may be forhcoming. John O Regan

[mack]

hiya john
welcome to the forum,theres hardly anything about these men,you probably already have this bit of info,but I will post it just in case

15th feb 1921
the quartermaster major Patrick o,brien along with lieutenants j.h orgill+f.e vinning and 24 men were travelling by car to mallow for admin duties when they came across the IRA setting up a ambush by blocking the road with two carts,major o,brien divided his men into three groups and drove them into the arms of a patrol of the east lancs and irish police,they killed seven and wounded twelve more

Patrick looney died in hospital from wounds on 24th February,con mulcahey and batt riordan were later released,thomas mulcahey and Patrick roynone were found guilty by court martial and shot by firing squad on 28th april

I don't understand the politics of the time,but its always been my understanding that a military court martial was to deal with military personel and people committing acts of war against a occupying force,no military or irish policemen were killed or injured in this incident,so why did they execute the two men,what crime did they actually commit that warranted a death penalty

mack

[John O Regan]

Reply to mack, Firstly ,many thanks for your very speedy reply to my query. The political situation in Ireland  in the 1920,s was that
following the results of the 1918  General  Election a majority in Ireland voted for the Sinn Fein political party which then declared an independent Irish Republic, not recognised by the British authorities This gradually led to increasing confrontation as the British government refused to treat this as a war situation and treated it as a break down of law and order which could be dealt with by the police. However the Royal Irish Constabulary [R.I.C.] the Irish police force were unable to cope with the general unrest organised by Sinn Fein's military wing. Hence the Government brought in military units to provide back up for the R.I.C.1st Batallion Manchesters were sent to Ballincollig Barracks. in Cork and with responsibility for a wide stretch of that county [ the most hostile area] As the civilian courts were unable to cope with convicting I.R.A members the authorities  introduced courts martial to try I.R.A.arrested or captured+ Maritial Law was applied to the southern counties of Ireland.Civilians found with arms were liable to the death penalty. and regarded as waging war against His Majesty. On 15th Feb a Manchester detatchement on patrol between Cork and Mallow came across an I.R.A ambush being readied .A 2nd East Lancashires outfit  also arrived from the opposite direction. In the resultant shoot out  four I.R.A were killed and a number arrested.At a Court Martial held in Cork in March ,three I.R.A were discharged, two were found guilty of' waging war' and executed by  firing squad  one month later. J.OR