L Coy.(Aghada) 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade Cork. MA/MSPC/A/1(10) Part One
This is a work in progress and hopefully in time build up an image of life in Aghada and the surrounding area during the War of Independence / civil war. Parts One and Two are abstract from the document MA/MSPC/A/1(10). Part One gives a timeline of activities carried out by Aghada's L company during this period while Part Two will show the list of men in L Company and the actions they carried out. The picture to the right are members of the flying column of the 4th Battalion, 1st Cork Brigade 1921 with Paddy Higgins second in from the left from Aghada L Company. O'Neill, Tom. The Battle Of Clonmult. p. 64.
This Company was formed in the early months of 1917, and the usual activities such as organising drilling, Instructions in the use of arms, obstruction of British Recruiting Meetings etc. took place. It was one of the most pro-British Areas in the south of Ireland. The company covered an area of approximately 8 square miles. It was bounded on the south East from Ballycroneen Coast Guard station by the Coast Line (Cork Harbour) to the west and North West to Midleton. On this line in the Company Area were the following stations occupied by British Military and Marines: - 1. Ballycroneen 2. Ballinatray, 3. Roches Point 4. Garryfleb. 5. Fort Carlisle 6. Whitegate R.I.C Barracks. 7. East Ferry. At the Northern end Midleton Barracks, and at the Eastern end Cloyne R.I.C Barracks. During the Great War up to 1919 the Royal Dublin & Munster Fusiliers, also the American Naval Air Force were stationed at Aghada. Across the inside harbour at Cobh and Spike Island were the main body of Military. This southern area of the 4th Battalion came under their Jurisdiction, and in all their activities in other outlying Company areas they should pass through the 'L' Company area, traveling from Cobh and Spike by Motor Launches, to such point as Fort Carlisle and Aghada, and by Bridge across the river at East Ferry. The approaches to the northern end of the Company area was Midleton by Lorries etc.
A large majority of the inhabitants of the Company area were hostile, being largely made up of Protestant Landowners and 7 seaside villages. Practically every house in those villages were occupied by British Army and Naval Pensioners and at least 80% of them were hostile. In the early stages before the company were active a considerable quantity of arms and ammunition was handed in to Fort Carlisle by those ex-servicemen, which was later discovered when the Company had to raid at least 70% of the houses in the area.
Period 1st. April 1918 to 31st. March 1919
The Company activities during this period consisted mainly in organising, parades, drilling, instructions in the use of arms, collection of arms and ammunition, Sinn Fein Courts were formed and functioning in the area at the time, and everything possible done to hamper the administration of British rule in the area. The officers mainly responsible for the carrying out of the duties of the Company at that time were Patrick Higgins and Patrick V. O'Keeffe and other members who later took more prominent parts in the work.
Period 1st April 1919 to 31st March 1920
During this period the Company was re-organised into 4 Sections with Patrick Higgins Company O/C. Intensive raids for arms took place over the whole Company Area. Telegraphic Communications with the different enemy posts in the area were destroyed on several occasions. Goods consigned to the military at Fort Carlisle were seized. Mails going to and from the Military were raided on several occasions and valuable information obtained as to movements of troops, loyalists etę, The Company were also engaged in the manufacture of bombs and cartridges, and two dumps were made in the area.
Period 1st April 1920 to 31st. March 1921
During this period Patrick Higgins severed his connection with the Company and Patrick O'Keeffe was appointed O/C. The whole Company was mobolised on the 8th May in connection with the attack on Cloyne police Barracks. A section of the Cobh Company joined L Company under Patrick O'Keeffe at Saleen. They blocked the roads leading into Cloyne, and the whole party then proceeded to the Town. 'L' Company was under the direct command of Patrick O'Keeffe all armed with shot Guns and a few Rifles and Revolvers. The main body of the Company took up positions at the cross about 50 yards from the Barracks as guards for the attacking party, while the remainder were stationed at the rear of the Barracks. After the surrender of the Garrison this company removed some of the captured arms and ammunition to their area. On or about the 15th May the whole company was mobolised and March to the town of Cloyne and took part with the local company in the burning of Cloyne Court House.
The Whitegate police Barracks was evacuated early in this period and the R.I.C there transferred to Fort Carlisle with the military. After the evacuation parties of Military and R.I.C from the Fort were guarding this Barrack by night, and during the day Patrols would visit the village at different periods from the Fort a distance of about half a mile, movements of those Patrols, and after a time it was a continual watch was kept on the noted that after the Day Patrol leaving the village at 7 o’clock, the night Guards used not come on until 8. In the month of June between 7 and 8 in the evening the whole Company was mobolised armed with rifles, shot guns and revolvers. Outposts were placed around the village, all the inhabitants (who were 90% hostile) ordered indoors and the Barracks set on fire and completely destroyed. The Company had to make a hurried retreat from the village owing to the arrival of a large force of Military, who however were unable to save the Barracks.
In the month of July 1920 the District Inspector with a guard of Military returning from Fort Carlisle to Midleton were ambushed by Patrick O'Keeffe, Patrick Higgins and two other volunteers armed with Revolvers. Alter an exchange of fire the military drove away thinking there was a larger party in ambush.
In the month of August 1920 the Military from Fort Carlisle put up Proclamations in five licensed houses in whitegate, and told the owners that a fine of £10 would be put on them if those proclamations were removed either by themselves (the Owners) or the I. R. A. The evening after those proclamations were put up the Company surrounded the village under the Company 0.C Patrick O'Keeffe, captured 6 soldiers from the fort in the village, compelled them to remove the proclamations, and set fire to them in the street. The soldiers were then ordered back to the Fort.
Up to this period all the provisions for the Troops at Fort Carlisle used come from cork via steamer to Aghada Pier. The company made a few successful raids on those goods at Aghada Pier, with the result that the military for a time after sent the goods by Lorries.
Left to right Comdt. Joseph Ahern , Midleton, Vol. Richard Hegarty, Garryvoe killed at Clonmult and Capt. Paddy Higgins (formerly from L Company) wounded at Clonmult after surrendering. O'Neill, Tom. The Battle Of Clonmult. p. 64.
In the month of August 1920 the whole Company under the Company 0.C. Patrick O'Keeffe armed with rifles shotguns and revolvers laid in ambush at Whitewell from early morning until, late at night for those lorries which were due on that particular day (information received). As the Lorries did not tum up by 10 pm. the attack was called off, and the company dispersed. Six Lorries came at 11 p.m.
In the month of September 1920 and again in October 1920 an armed section of the Company in charge of John O'Shea took part in a series of raids on ships at anchor in the Harbour, when a lot of lead shell casings, used in the ships for ballast were captured. Those shells afterwards made land nines.
In the month of October 1920 the whole Company were again in ambush at Whitewell with a section of the Battalion Column under the Battalion 0.C. D. Hurley R.I.P for Lorries going from cork to Fort Carlisle. This attack had also to be called off as the Military did not turn up.
When the Battalion Column were surrounded in Cloyne three members of 'L' Company, Daniel Barry Michael Hegarty and John O'Shea armed with Revolvers were entering the town when the Military arrived. They helped in the safe get away of the Column. On the 9th December the Column came to the Aghada Company Area and remained until the 24th December. During that time the whole Company were on continuous duty with the Column catering, guarding, scouting, outposts, etc.
On the 28th December 1920 during an attack of troops at Midleton an armed section of the Company done outpost duty at East Ferry where the Cameron’s used cross the river from Cobh.
In January 1921 the whole company in charge of Patrick O'Keeffe took part in a raid on Roches Point Coast Guard stationed joining Fort Carlisle. During the raid the military at the Fort turned Search Lights on the place and opened Lewis Gun Fire on the party who got safely away with a lot of useful stuff.
At this time the Aims Fund was collected, by putting a certain levy on each person according to their means. A total of £1500 was collected in this Company Area. Several unionists refused to subscribe and about 20 horses were seized from them, They were told that their horses would be returned when they paid the levy, It was over two months beFre the last of them paid up, and during that time those horses had to be looked after by the Company and shifted from place to place, as the military were searching for them.
In February 1921 the 0.C. Patrick O'Keeffe was arrested, and James Cashman whitegate was then appointed Company 0.C. on three different nights in this month the whole company armed with rifles, shot guns and revolvers were in ambush in different parts of the Area for Night Patrols, on each occasion the attacks had to be called off.
In March 1921. After a few unsuccessful attempts on those Night Patrols, the company were again in ambush at Aghada: A large patrol of Military came on this night. The Company opened fire on them and immediately retreated. One volunteer Michael Hegarty got a wound in the Hand. At this period the Military and Tans intensified their raiding activities in this company area, and on account of the very hostile population in the area supplying information to the enemy all the officers and several Volunteers of the Company were very much wanted. Men.
Late one night in the end of March 1921 John O'Shea was surrounded in a house by a patrol of Cameron’s and Marines, who had information (later discovered) that he was there. He had an exchange of fire (Revolver) with them and got away, wounding the officer in charge.
In April 1921 an armed section of the Company in charge of John O'Shea made three sniping attacks on the East Ferry station, at this time occupied by Marines, Owing to the peculiar position of this post and the way it was guarded, it was considered by the Battalion O.C. that a successful attack could not be made on by a large party. It was a very important Post at the time. The main body of military at the other side of the River in Cobh used cross at this point. After the second sniping attack above mentioned the Garrison at the East Ferry post was doubled.
At this period the Battalion O.C appointed John O'Shea who at the time was co-operating with the adjoining Company 'B' (Midleton), in full control of this end of the company area. All roads leading from 'L' Company area were trenched by a special plan devised by John O'Shea whereby horse drawn vehicles could pass through but Lorries could not. The whole of 'L' Company were engaged in this work for a considerable time by night.
In May 1921 owing to the blocking of the roads consignment of goods were sent from Cork by Steamer to Aghada for the Troops in Fort Carlisle. Those goods were seized at Aghada Pier by 'L' Company.
In connection with the attack on the Midleton Barracks in May 1921 'L' Company were mobolised in two sections under e Edmond McCarthy and John O'Shea for outpost Duty at Aghada, and East Ferry.
In May 1921 a section of the Company in charge of Edmond McCarthy took part in a sniping attack on the Sentries at Fort Carlisle.
In the same month an armed section of the Company in change of John O’Shea done outpost duty at East Ferry station during an attack on Troops at Midleton.
In June 1921 a section of 'L' Company in charge John O'Shea blocked the two road entrances to East Ferry station in daylight, and discharged a number of shots into the station from the rear. Three Marines from the station were later captured that evening and shot.
In the last few weeks before the truce, all telephonic communications with the different enemy posts in the area were destroyed, mails were continuously raided, 2 large Unionist houses in the area about to be occupied by Military destroyed, and two spies in the Company area tried and executed.
(Hand written) In April 1921, on the orders of the Battalion O/C, a picked section of the company in charge of the section John O’Shea done continues outpost duty day and night at the east ferry river crossing and Aghada Pier. A few men from the Midleton Company were with this section on different occasions.