Recollections Of The Ambush.

The Pickardstown Ambush Recalled

Diversionary Attack on the R.I.C. Barracks

British Military Tactics Cause Near Catastrophe

The Forgotten Road – The Tragic Mistake.

By KATHLEEN WALSH (of Cumann Na mBan)

(An article taken from the Munster Express Christmas supplement of 1955.)

For us of the older generation, it is difficult to realise that it is almost 35 years since the climax of the local I.R.A. activities took place. It was an episode of such importance, and fraught with death, that it lives in our memory as indelibly as a mother’s death to her dearest child. Like Sean O’Deara Gleanna, we were worst in the fight, but in a matter of national import, it was an instance of “Death, where is thy sting?"

After the General Elections of December, 1918, there was a reorganisation of the Sinn Fein man and woman power. A mandate had been obtained to oppose the British Forces Government and institutions. Not content with the passive resistance campaign of the founder of Sinn Fein, Arthur Griffiths, the Irish Republican Brotherhood—the extreme section—became a part of the guerrilla forces, under the name of the Irish Republican Army, as the men who fought in Dublin in Easter Week, 1916, called themselves.

To young people, the whole set-up of the period may seem puzzling, and, indeed, it was not fixed or clear. The whole movement such as existed would not have been possible without the political victories of Daniel O'Connell, who won religious freedom first, and then provided free education through the setting up of National Schools. The next big move towards self-determination was the Land Agitation of Parnell, Davitt and Redmond. The climax was the passing of the Wyndham Act of 1903, which ousted the feudal landlordism for ever. For the first time, farmers could own their land. There only remained Home Rule, and, as the saying goes, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick." The Liberal Government caused disappointment after disappointment. Even Arthur Griffith’s policy was too slow and methodical. The “hot-bloods " demanded action!

Politics are more important than feats of arms, as the pen is mightier than the sword (Griffiths was, incidentally a compositor-printer), and so espionage is more important to success on the field than a thousand brave men.

The I.R.A. had a spy system developed a few months before the truce which brought excellent results. Postal officials, with I.R.A. sympathies, smuggled official documents out of the premises and many a life was saved. On the other hand, numerous spies were shot or brought to “an unknown destination" as a result of the “steaming of letters" in the course of the post.

Thus, in early 1921, and after this ambush, documents were dropped to the British Military in the two barracks in Waterford City —the Artillery and the Infantry— from an aeroplane every day on to the barrack square. Few could be trusted, and those who could were afraid of being “taken for a ride" - Chicago method - and then a body found next morning with a card pinned on it, “Spies, Beware! ’’

At the time of the ambush, however, the counterespionage system of the I.R.A. had not been established. Enough enquiries, too, into the habits, sentiments and antecedents of I.R.A. candidates had not been made. Loose tongues wagged, and keen ears picked up every syllable. The wonder is that there were not many more casualties. That fact, combined with ignorance of military matters, was responsible for the loss of two fine young lives and the wounding of others, in the now oft-talked-of Tramore ambush.

“WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SCRAP TONIGHT.” :

A Cèilidh was held in the Large Room, City Hall, on Wednesday night the 5th of January, 1921, the usual crowd of merry-makers being present. I was enjoying a sixteen-hand reel, and had come to the chain part in the reel, when I met Nickie Whittle, and he said a few words in the little time that the dance permitted him to remain in my presence. “We are going to have a 'scrap' on Friday night,” momentous words which heralded an event which shook us all out of our usual equilibrium and which brought suffering and death to the brave and gallant who risked all at duty's call.

Nickie told me long afterwards that on the minute I said: “Oh! but some of you may be killed.” A realisation of what a “scrap” meant was conveyed to me the minute I heard those momentous words and my heart went out in sympathy and fear for my friends, my comrades in a fight, whose fate might not be death alone, but torture too, at the hands of a dour enemy. I got afraid for them, which I suppose was the natural re-action of any normal-minded woman, or girl, as I was then, to such a not-every-day piece of news.

SANDWICHES FOR THE I.R.A. :

When the dance ended I immediately sought out Nickie for further details. Nickie came to me on the following day and told me that Captain Seamus McGrath, Captain of D. Company, told him to ask me to bring some sandwiches and a few field dressings to a certain place on the Kill St. Lawrence Road at 5.30 p.m. on Friday evening. I prepared the sandwiches on Friday morning. I had wrapped them in brown paper and was putting some field dressings in a smaller parcel when one of the field dressings fell to the ground. I stooped to pick it up and under the table, resting on a stool, half-hidden by the table cloth to my amazement, I saw a gun. My mother was standing beside the table and I asked her: “Who owns that gun?” She answered: “That's Nickie's, and he is coming back for it.” The gun disappeared as mysteriously as it had come. I wasn't supposed to be in that secret at all.

RENDEZVOUS AT KILL ST. LAWRENCE — FEARED HITCH :

About 5 p.m. I set out with my parcels. When I reached “The Green" I was overtaken by the late Sean Brett. He walked along with me and asked: “Where are you going to?" I answered: “I'm going out here to visit an old lady who is very ill. She lives in a house further on." Sean said nothing, but continued to walk beside me. The College clock chimed out and Sean said: “Time’s up. I did not reply. And still Sean walked beside me. We had arrived at the place where we had to walk away from the old Tramore Road to go to the Kill St. Lawrence Road, Sean then said to me: “I think, we are both going the same way.” I admitted my errand then and I felt glad to have Sean come with me. I was half expecting to find a policeman overtake me or meet me. I also expected him to stop and enquire for particulars about my parcels. Sean and I passed “The Folly" and went towards the appointed meeting place, but there was neither trace nor tidings of the others. The appointed place was on Bill Murphy's farm. We kept on walking for nearly half a mile and still no signs of our friends. Then Sean stopped and whistled. There was no reply. Sean whistled again—louder this time— and an answering whistle came. We retraced our steps in the direction from which the whistle came until we reached a gateway on our right hand side. Seamus and another volunteer were standing leaning on the gate, waiting for us to come along. The night was so terribly dark I was unable to recognise the second volunteer. Both Seamus and his companion had rifles flung across their chests and in the background I could plainly see a large group of men standing where they had collected, awaiting further instructions. It was an awe inspiring, never to be forgotten scene. The words of Holy Scripture flashed across my mind: “Greater love hath no man than this, that he giveth his life for his friend; no man sets out to fight for his country in the abstract sense of the word, he is not so foolish as to risk his life for a country renowned for its beautiful scenery; it is to better the conditions of, its people, or to preserve and maintain the freedom enjoyed by its people. I handed the parcel to Seamus. Sean went to join his comrades and I set out for home. On my return Journey I met Mrs. Cleary of Johnstown, who was bearing revolvers to the fighters and who also with simple faith, brought a bottle of holy water and gave Seamus and his companion, a good sprinkling. I also met Nickie, who by some accident, missed me. At his departure, I fell into a meditative mood, thought after thought were whirling through my mind. I was wondering if the Angel of Death and the Angel of Victory were hovering near.

FEINT ATTACK ON POLICE BARRACKS :

Arms were removed from the dump in the Mental Hospital by two attendants who were about to take part in the engagement, and were handed over to Captain Seamus McGrath, who distributed them to the group who had-collected in Bill Murphy’s field. The fighters left the Kill St. Lawrence Road at about 6 p.m. and walked through the fields to Castletown and then on to Pickardstown still keeping to the fields. Some went to partake in the feint attack which was made on the occupied R.I.C. Barracks at Tramore. The attack, was only a blind (and lasted for only about ten minutes), to draw the enemy to the ambush position at Pickardstown.

SIGNALS FOR HELP :

Only about forty members of the I.R.A. took part in this engagement with some from the 1st Brigade and some from the 2nd Brigade. Those from the 1st Brigade were mostly from D. Company. - 1st Battalion. Four members of the I.R.A. came from Ferrybank. Compared to the strength of the enemy, they were only a handful, but their courage and daring compensated for their deficiency in numbers. Moreover, there was a miscalculation as to the strength of the enemy in the Military Barracks in Waterford, because a reinforcement had arrived that day.

When the Barracks at Tramore was attacked, the R.I.C. within the Barracks sent up signals of distress in the form of Verey lights, which was exactly what was wanted by the attackers. The Barracks was in the charge of Sergt. Keogh and Sergt. Griffin with ten constables.

GUNMEN TAKE UP POSITION! :

Meanwhile, developments were taking place elsewhere. The I.R.A. had taken up position. Eight riflemen were posted on the Ballinattin Road as also were four shotgun men at different points. There was also a party of eight shotgun men, all behind the ditch on the Ballinattin Road, or the Shrine Road as it is now called since the beautiful substantially built shrine was erected there to the memory of those who became casualties in this and other local combats with the British forces.

Four riflemen were also posted at the point (inside the ditch), where the old Tramore Road joins the main Waterford Road, and at the Metal' Bridge ten shotgun men took up position. Nearer Tramore, before one comes to the place where four roads converge on one another, one leading from the racecourse; one from the town of Tramore, one from Waterford and one from a country district. Barricades including carts, sticks and stones, were thrown across the roads and a hasty attempt to dig a trench was also made. A covering party took up position a short distance from the road block, at the Tramore side.

THE TRAGIC MISTAKE OF THE I.R.A. :

The plan was as follows: the expected relief party of military and R.I.C. were to be allowed proceed or to be more accurate, the first lorry was to be allowed proceed, as far as the Metal Bridge and when the second lorry arrived where the cottages stand now, the attack was to be made.

Those who planned the ambush, expected that the relief party would approach by the main Waterford Road, whereas the actual approach by the British was by the old Tramore Road, which had been left unguarded. The Intelligence of the enemy had been underrated and they came the very same road as the Volunteers themselves. They realised that a trap was set for them, and instead of being trapped, they were the trappers. The enemy had the advantage of trained military minds.

An enemy lorry swooped in from the Old Tramore Road, with head-lights full on, and was closely followed by another and yet another. Action joined when the lights of a fourth lorry were observed. It stopped and troops alighted and advanced on foot.

TRAPPED! MICHAEL MCGRATH KILLED :

A fierce fight ensued, which lasted for about two hours, the trapped had to fight their way out and that was no easy matter. The men on the Ballinattin road had to take on the full impact of the British forces and for a while were surrounded. It was at this stage that Mikie McGrath fell. He was killed inside the ditch below the Shrine.

The enemy had machine guns and powerful search lights; when it was only too apparent that the fortunes of war were going, altogether against them, some of the I.R.A. hid in the ditches. One lad named Kiely from the West Waterford, an attendant in the Mental Hospital, was hiding in a ditch. The British soldiers expecting men were hiding, prodded the ditches with bayonets and Kiely got the tip of a bayonet, but saved his life by not making a sound, otherwise he would have been killed. After having been shot. Michael McGrath was also bayoneted.

RETREAT OF I.R.A. :

There was nothing now left for the unfortunate I.R.A. to do but retreat from the scene of the tragedy. Some of them made off through Fenor and others through Carbally and then through Grange. They experienced great difficulty in getting home because they had to avoid the high-ways and keep to the bye-ways and the ordeal of having to pass through a more or less hostile city was no sedative after such a nerve wrecking experience.

TWO DEAD BODIES AND NICHOLAS WHITTLE, WOUNDED AND INERT :

To return to the scene of the fatal ambush. The military-were in charge of the situation. No prisoners were taken. The dead bodies of Mikie McGrath and Tom O’Brien were lying on the ground. The military were walking around and they discovered Nickie who was also lying on the ground. The officer but the point of a bayonet to his forehead with the intention of driving it in, when he said, “He is dead” The “corpse” overheard the officer say to a brother officer that they would take away the other two dead volunteers and return for himself. Then the officer and soldiers departed. Nickie somehow staggered to his feet, and by rolling on the ground and staggering he succeeded in reaching the shallow stream which runs close to the Waterford Road, where he fell and became unconscious. He remained in the stream, face upwards, for some time, but the contact with cold water helped to stop the bleeding. When he regained consciousness he endeavoured and succeeded in standing on his feet again and moved away from the scene of the ambush. He saw light shining in the window of a house and went towards it.

SEEKING SHELTER - A WOMAN WEPT :

The people had not retired for the night at all but they were too afraid to allow him remain there. He went further and sought shelter in another house, the woman of the house wept when she saw the condition he was in, but those people too, were afraid to allow him rest there. He concluded he had better go to relatives and he set out for their farm. He was within sight of the farm house when he felt unable to go any further. He saw some hay in a field which seemed a very welcome resting place. He walked into the field through an open gateway and lay down in the hay. Unconsciousness overtook him again.

When he regained consciousness, he felt so stiff he was almost unable to walk, but he managed to drag himself to his relative’s farm house where he was made very welcome. Doctor Philip Purcell told him afterwards that when he reached him, he was covered with blood and mud.

MOVED TO MENTAL HOSPITAL :

The Brigade O/C, Paddy Paul, had Nickie removed to the Mental Hospital for safety later that day, where he was well looked after. The Mental Hospital did not prove the safe refuge it was thought to be however. An I.R.A. agent in Waterford Jail had intelligence conveyed to the Brigade I.O., Mr. Denis Madden, to the effect that the Military knew where the wounded man was and were about to make a raid to arrest him. The Brigade O/C. Paddy Paul, had Nickie straight-away removed to a farm house at Callaghane, near Dunmore East, where he found refuge and safety. To mislead the R.I.C. and Military, it was announced that Nickie was dead. In fact, that announcement was made the day after the ambush, but the enemy were not deceived for long. At Mass in my parish church, which was also Nickie's, I heard him prayed for. I prayed most sincerely for the repose of his soul, because I too, thought him dead.

SOUL PRAYED FOR IN CHURCHES, BUT STILL ALJVE :

On Monday a knock came to our hall door. When I answered it. I found Sean Quilter there, and I was greeted with the glad tidings, “Nickie is not dead at all, he is badly wounded, and is in the Mental Hospital for safety." I had to promise Sean, faithfully, that I would tell no one and I didn’t.

To return to Mikie McGrath. He had returned home from work earlier than usual on January 7th. He informed his sister that he wasn’t having any tea but would have some sandwiches to take with him. Naturally, his sister questioned him and wanted to know where he was going to. He replied that she would know later. Then he put on his Russian boots and went out. About midnight, the Misses McGrath heard great hammering at a door nearby, where a member of the R.I.C. lived. The policeman was being roused from his sleep and they suspected something unusual had happened. They hastened to Mikie's bedroom and found that the bed had not been slept in.

All sorts of rumours were in circulation in the City on Saturday following the ambush and the sisters were hoping for the best. They thought that perhaps their brother was unable to return to Waterford and might have found shelter in some friendly house in the country. Their hopes were blighted about midday when a member of the R.I.C. called and asked one of the sisters to come to the Infantry Barracks to identity her dead brother.

THE WOMEN SUFFERED TOO :

Michael McGrath was a young man of fine physique and handsome features. In temperament, he was light-hearted, but beneath that light-heartedness there was great sincerity and strength of character. Joining the Sinn Fein Movement after the 1916 Rising, he became one of its leaders in the Ballytruckle area. He was attached to the D. Company, 1st Battalion, East Waterford Brigade and as a soldier he showed great earnestness, taking part in all Company activities. He was one of the picked men selected to go into action against the British at Pickardstown.

Many a mother arose at dead of night and went to her son's bedroom to see if he was there or if the bed had been slept in at all. If she found her son was not there, there was nothing she could do but return to her own room and tell her beads while watching and waiting for her son's return. The women suffered too!

OFFICER SAID HE SAW THREE DEAD :

An inquest was held on the Saturday after the ambush. A Military officer swore that at 12.30 a.m. on the morning of the 8th inst., he was in charge of a mixed party of police and military which was ambushed near Tramore. Witness left the rere with a party of men and attacked the ambushing party. After the engagement witness saw three dead.

Another witness swore that he was medical officer in charge of Waterford Military Hospital. He examined the body of one of the deceased and found that he was suffering from, a large lacerated wound on the right side of the head, causing fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain.

The wound could have been caused by gunshot. Death would be instantaneous. He examined the body of the other man and found a puncture wound between the sixth and seventh ribs of the left side. It was one and a half inches long. Also another wound in the back between the fifth and sixth ribs, extending to the spine on the left side. This was two inches long and one inch wide. In my opinion, this was due to a gunshot wound passing through the heart and lungs and that this was the cause of death. The wounds were due to the same bullet entering the body.

INQUEST VERDICT :

The court returned a verdict that Michael McGrath's death was caused by a gunshot wound in the head, and laceration of the brain and that no blame what so ever was attached to the Military or any member in the matter thereof.

In the second case, a verdict was given that there was no evidence to show who the man was or where he resided. He died as a result of a gunshot wound through the head. A similar rider as to non-responsibility of the Military was returned.

A few words about Tom O’Brien. On the night of the fatal ambush, he and some companions, fully armed, came to the home of Mrs. Foristal nee Cawley, at Carrickavantry, near Tramore, arriving there at about eight o'clock. Tom, who was only about twenty-five years of age, was in no way depressed; or worried about the coming adventure. Mrs. Foristal, who was Captain of the Tramore branch of Cumann na mBan, was not at home, but her mother and sister attended to the needs of the party. They enjoyed their tea and then waited patiently for others to join them. The others came along at about ten o'clock. It was late when they departed but before doing so, they promised to return to visit the family, if they escaped. Some did return a few days later but it was only to take away two wreaths, which had been left there, one for the grave of Tom O’Brien and the other for the grave of Mikie McGrath.

MILITARY REQUIRED DR. PHILLIP PURCELL'S CERTIFICATE :

Mrs. Foristal or Bridie Cawley, as she was known then, was suffering from influenza. The morning after the ambush, two members of the R.I.C. called at Mr. Lodge’s premises to know if Bridie had come to work that morning. They were informed that she was ill and that Dr. Nicholas Purcell was attending her. The policemen then called on Doctor Purcell to ascertain if that was correct. The doctor called to see Bridie and told her that they (the R.I.C.) wanted to know her whereabouts last night. He was treating the matter as a joke but Bridie had to get a medical certificate to show that she had been ill for some time previously.

Michael Wylie, a native of Waterford City and member of D. Company, was badly wounded in the ambush. His comrades carried him to a farm house where he rested and was cared for until he too, when intelligence was conveyed to the I.O. to the effect that the hospital was about to be raided, was removed to the Mental Hospital for safety.

FUNERALS OF FALLEN :

The funeral of Michael McGrath brought forth remarkable manifestations of sympathy in Waterford. On Sunday his remains were removed to St. John's Church. A party of military, fully armed, were on duty in front of the sacred edifice. The church was thronged with people all the afternoon and evening and on Sunday night. On Monday, the funeral was accompanied by an armoured car and a lorry load of soldiers. The officer in charge of the 'British troops issued an order preventing more than forty persons from following the remains to their last resting place. However, a good proportion of the crowd eventually attended the final obsequies by travelling by devious routes to the place of interment. On reaching Carbally Cemetery, machine guns were placed in position, overlooking the grave, by the British officer in charge, while armed troops stood at the ready around the cemetery. Thus was Michael McGrath laid to rest in the peaceful cemetery at Carbally.

NO NAME ON PLATE :

Tom O'Brien was laid to rest at Ballygunner cemetery and only a limited number were allowed to attend. After the burial service had been read, a military officer advanced to the graveside and stated that he had instructions from his authorities to inspect the coffin to see if the name of the deceased was inscribed on it. The officer then removed the colours from the coffin and found that no name was inscribed on the breast plate. After saluting the remains in military fashion, the officer withdrew. Tom O'Brien's relatives thought it wiser not to openly claim the remains, they owned a farm at Dunhill and were afraid of reprisals.

I.R.A. INQUIRY INTO AMBUSH :

A court enquiry was held some months later at 'Dunphys’ of Ballylaneen into the preparation and conduct of this ambush, it was presided over by a staff officer of the 1st Southern Division. Some members of the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade attended, including Seamus McGrath, Pat Carroll and Billy Keane. Five men had to make themselves as comfortable as possible in one bed. Pat Carroll made the others laugh by saying: “Lad, I haven't enough room to close my eyes." The Column from West Waterford kept guard for the duration of the enquiry. The result of the Court of Enquiry was never made known.

BOOST TO MORALE :

Though not a success from a military point of view, the ambush proved to be a great boost to the morale of the Brigade. Volunteers began to clamour for action and insisted on more activities against the British. Men anxious to do their "bit” transferred from less active Companies. In the 1st Brigade, the transfers were to D. company, which was considered the most active. In January, 1921, fifteen volunteers transferred from one Company to D. Company. Increased activity; was attempted in March, 1921.

I’ll conclude by writing a verse of poetry written by the poetress, Ethna Carberry, which was most appropriate at that time:

O Ireland, Mother Ireland.

You love them still the best.

The fearless brave, who fighting fall,

Upon your hapless breast.

The objects of the ambush were:

(01) - To put the No. 1 Brigade on the active list;

(02) - To relieve enemy pressure on adjoining counties;

(03) - To gain experience and to further harass the enemy;

(04) - To obtain, if possible, badly needed arms and ammunition;

(05) - To improve training and pave the way for further attacks.