Raids and Rallies by Ernie O'Malley

Author:Ernie O'Malley [O'Malley, Ernie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: history, Europe, Ireland
ISBN: 9781856357159
Google: s_hCVA7pUVkC
Publisher: Mercier Press Ltd
Published: 2011-11-15T23:24:42.463949+00:00

The column now eagerly examined the Hotchkiss gun which was bolted by its upright bar to the floor of the lorry in such a way that it could be easily swivelled on a target. The upright had been frequently hit in the recent firing. There were metal strips of ammunition to supply the gun, in a case. None of the men present knew how to work the gun but admiring eyes gave it a toll of tribute. The capture of what was now a white elephant would give them prestige, and as other machine guns had been captured previously Pat Madden felt that they would soon receive instructions in its use. There were a number of Lee Enfields and Webleys to add to the column’s meagre equipment. It had indeed been dangerous for it to operate in such an open county as Roscommon with a preponderance of shotguns.

The most curious object of interest to the IRA was a heavy stock whip which carried a long lash. That whip was a cause of talk and speculation. Was it to be used on prisoners or what was its purpose, the men asked, as they fingered the strong lash.

The lorry was sprinkled with petrol from tin cans which it carried, and it was set on fire by the roadside. Pat Madden ordered the men to move off at once. The British wounded could see the direction which their victors were about to take, but there was no time to circumvent their observation. At any moment now an extended line of Lancers might come charging across the low long ground beneath them. The lorry which had gone back with police would already have brought information about the ambush to Strokestown House, but apart from this possible use of cavalrymen the column commander was easier in his mind about the inthrust of other reinforcements. By this time the roads in a wide circle would have been thoroughly blockaded so that obstructions would keep back incoming military and police. That time interval would give the Volunteers an additional chance of reaching those secure places which they had already decided to make for. They would now have until perhaps early evening to put a good distance between them and the road bend.

Men from some local companies and from the Kilgeffin company were sent home but others remained on to scout, while Fianna boys who had turned up to help were searching the rising ground, moving in front of the climbing men. The North Roscommon men went to their own areas, but the column, with the men from Curraghroe, climbed up the slope towards Slieve Bawn. The mountain bulked in the low water-basin for it was the highest point between the Partry mountains beyond Lough Mask, fifty miles to the west, and Slieve na Callaigh away to the east. In the extreme west this rise of ground would be an insignificant hill, but here in Roscommon it looked down on the plains beneath and, as is usual in

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.