Custom House Burning - Part 2 (John Wilson)

[Gary Deering]

Dermo as far as I know none from the normal 1st Battalion , but the 1st ASU where there. Just checked no Downes on the ASU listing I have, I reckon  he could have been transfered into another unit ? maybe 2nd Batt ? or 5 Batt engineers ??

There was a Thomas Bates captured at the CH he lived on 28 Goldsmith Street. Doesw that name or address ring a bell? Gary

[Dermo_D]

Hi Gary,  My granddad lived at 19 Goldsmith St. but the name Thomas Bates doesn't ring a bell unfortunately. 

My granddad he served as 1st Lieut. Lewis Gun Section in G Coy, 1st Battalion Dublin City Brigade from 1918. Prior to that he served in the Kilrush Coy for about a year before coming to Dublin on the invitation of Peadar Clancy. He signed up for the Free State Army 1st Western Division in March 1922 and was killed in somewhat suspicious circumstances in Sept 1922 somewhere in Clare. 

He was a close personal friend of Peadar Clancy and Dick McKee, and was also a devout follower of Collins. He was known to Collins, but he was not a confidante of his and would not have been directly in Collins' "inner circle".  However, as an expert gunner and a skilled sniper he was, by all accounts, often called into various missions outside his Battalion and is believed to have supported various Squad and ASU missions. 

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that a section of the 1st Battalion was involved in the CH burning but as you say, maybe that was not the "normal" 1st Battalion. His Attestation Form on joining the Free State Army says he "took part in the burning of the Custom House", so I've no doubt he was there - especially given his gunnery skills and his association with Collins, the Squad and the ASU.

I guess I'll never find out for sure what his role was, but sll sorts of little snippets arise from time to time that can help to piece these things together.  I'm hoping that when the Military Archives Witness Statements come online, I'll find some mention of him on those somewhere.

Many thanks for you interest and for responding. 

Dermo

[Gary Deering]

Hi Dermo,

Thats a nice bit of research you have done. He could have been attached to the 1 st ASU ? or as you said been there for his shooting skills ? nothing is ever black or white. In the witness statement of Paddy Lawson he mentions a Johnny Williams ( I think)  of the ASU in an ambush at Cross guns bridge. My Great Uncle was Johnny Wilson of the 3rd ASU later Squad not his area but must have been him. So they did work outside there Areas when needed.

Gary

[craggagh]

Dermo D -

The Witness Statements are now online at www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

craggagh.

[Dermo_D]

Thanks Craggagh. 

I found a load of info about my grandfather by name in the witness statements. I also found some info on the 1st Battalion's role in the CH Burning. They're a great source of info and filled in a lot of the blanks for me.  Many thanks for your interest.

Regards,
Dermo

[chinapaddy]

Arrested by F Coy at Custom House Burning
http://theauxiliaries.com/INCIDENTS/custom-house/arrested/arrested.html

DI3 DMcM O'Byrne - F Coy Intelligence Officer - filled in the forms for those arrested. They were for

    John Shiley - arrested in Customs House, possession of revolver
    Cyril James Daly - arrested in Customs House
    Frank Brennan - arrested in Customs House
    Thomas Francis McKenna - arrested in Customs House
    Michael Watchorn - arrested in Customs House, possession of revolver
    John James Wilson - arrested in Customs House, possession of revolver
    Patrick Brunton - arrested in Customs House, possession of revolver
    James Thomas Shiels - arrested in Customs House, possession of revolver
    Richard Joseph Seville - arrested in Customs House
    John Foy - arrested in Customs House,
    Edward John Lane - arrested in Customs House,
    William Donigan - arrested in Customs House
    Thomas Rigney - arrested in Customs House
    Hugh William Fitzgerald - arrested in Customs House
    Christopher Fitzsymons - arrested in Customs House

[rathmore]

Lieutenant M Duffy 20.12.1920 mention on this site

http://cairogang.com

then come down the page and click on IRA men involved then click come down the page and click on Tom Duffy WS1409.

[Debsw]

My grandfather Richard Seville was one of those arrested at the custom house . He was interrogated at Dublin Castle and then held in Kilmainham Prison.
There are various accounts of the Custom House Burning   on the following website https://www.customhousecommemoration.com/