CAPT. TERENCE BYRNE
Captain Terence Byrne / Burns
Birth Registration
Census Return form 1901 places the family at Slaughter House Lane, Mountmellick
By the 1911 Census the family have moved to Pound St, Mountmellick
Soldiers Separation Allowances rates 1915
Attestation for 24903 Terence Burns into Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Notice advising Alice Burns that her son Terry is a P.O.W. at Dülmen Westphalia. Terry is a Corporal with Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Reg: 24903)
Terence Byrne (Burns) - (Captain) Born - 09/08/1898 -Stradbally Died - 30/06/1922 -Castle St, Nenagh
Shot by Anti-Treaty forces during the Battle for Nenagh
When I first heard of Terence Byrne it was within the context of The Battle of Nenagh and the incidents occurring around that time. I noted that he had taken part in the handover and occupation of Nenagh Military Barracks after Crown forces decided to leave and go home. That would have been sufficient for Terence to be remembered in the first instance and also as a casualty of the Nenagh Battle but these facts didnt get me close to what he may have been like as a person. Then I happened on a throwaway sentence in a newspaper article that referred to Terence as a veteran of the European War. My initial opinion had been that he was only a Mountmellick lad who somehow found himself occupying Nenagh Military Barracks with some others of his fellow county men. But what of the back story? I decided to dig…..here is what I found……
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…Terence was born to English born Agricultural labourer Matthew Byrne and Laundress Alice Malone on 09/08/1898. His birth was registered at Mountmellick. He was the third son in the family after brothers Patrick and Thomas. His Granny, Honora Malone helped to deliver the child. The 1901 census places the family as resident at Slaughter House Lane, Mountmellick. By the 1911 census the family have moved to Pound St, Mountmellick. It is also the first time we see the family use the alternate spelling of ‘Burns’ instead of Byrne although this may very well be down to the Enumerator.
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On 01/03/1915, the rates increased for Separation Allowances paid to dependents of soldiers at the front. That same year in 1915, Terence enlisted. The Allowance was payable in respect of dependants whether the soldier was married or not thus ensuring a loyalty of the recruit and maintaining the fabric of society at home while the soldier was away fighting. Matthew Burns was no longer working but there were still siblings dependant on a wage into the Byrne household. By this time the family had moved to Foundry Street in Mountmellick. A fixed and steady income stream into the house was surely tempting. Terence joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 05/11/1915 and was sent to the Curragh. His attestation papers record him with the surname Burns.
We know little of Terry’s army life. “Indifferent “ is how one report describes him. 'Neglect of Duty' appears a number of times. He wasn't exactly a giant of a man either with the Army recording he stood at 5' 4''. How and ever he makes enough of an impression to be promoted Corporal whilst at the Curragh Training Camp. There are references to him being a Sergeant also but I couldnt find any promotion details. He embarked for France on 03/05/1917.
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The Rebellion and subsequent executions in Dublin 1916 sent a wave of unease through the Irish Regiments on the frontline. Here they were defending the Empire while that self same Empire was executing Irishmen at home in Dublin. The food and conditions were dreadful with the Irish Regiments seemingly at the bottom of any relief or rest. November 1917 saw the British launch an offensive at Cambrai using tanks for the first time. They also used the combined forces of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Connaught Rangers. It was during this offensive that Terry was taken prisoner by the Germans at Le Quesnoy, Cambrai on 18/12/1917. He was with ‘F’ company of the RDF. At the same time a propaganda Leaflet appeared on the frontline with Terry’s name as co-signatory. The Germans were well aware of the disaffected Irish and the general mood in the Irish ranks since the rebellion. Some of the Irish Troops would be outraged at the Rebels stabbing them in the back while they were away fighting on the frontline. Others would ponder on the Brits just using the Irish as cannon-fodder and the heavy handed way they put down the rebellion and executed its leaders. Better perhaps to sit out the war behind barbed wire than risk another offensive on the Western front.
Its very probable that the Germans were revisiting the Irish Brigade scenario as set up by Roger Casement during 1915. In the meantime, Terry did a tour of some of Germany’s P.O.W. camps. The Irish Brigade had their own uniform and were held at Zossen camp but allowed privileges and separated from the general P.O.W. population. No doubt this will have been for their own safety. Red Cross records show Terry spent time at Wahn, Dülman and Schneildmühle camps but not Zossen.
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After the war ended, the P.O.W.s were repatriated. Some of the Irish Brigade chose to go off grid, some changed their names and remained in Germany and others decided to return home and face the consequences. The Army however were in a quandry. The offence they may have committed was ‘Desertion’ which could be disposed of by Courts martial. The offence however was time-barred as the offence dates from actual initial date of desertion. The other alternative was to try the men in the Civil Courts under the Treason Act. However the gathering of any worthwhile evidence to prove the case was problematic. Plus there was the willingness of the authorities to draw attention to the existance of an Irish Brigade. At best, some of the ringleaders were discharged for misconduct and lost out on their War Gratuity, Medals and Separation Allowances. Others could only be marked as suspicious but case not proven. In Terrys case a message put on his file commands that he not be discharged from the Army until the circumstances of his capture were fully investigated. There is no exoneration slip attached to say this was ever done. There is a note dated 04/02/1918 accepting he is officially a P.O.W. but no follow up investigation.
What did however happen was this….Terry was repatriated back to Ireland and allowed time off on furlough but had yet to be discharged. Terry however was home and once at home decided not to return to Barracks. He had been due to return to duties on 30/05/1919, instead he began teaching the basics of soldiery to the new recruits within the Volunteers. He was now officially AWOL (Absent without leave).
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Finally on 27/02/1920, the Army caught up with Terry and he was returned to the Royal Dublin Fusilier Depot at Naas. He was charged under Kings Regulations with desertion and neglecting and losing his kit. He was tried by Army Courts Martial on 13/03/1920. As a consequence he was broken to the ranks and incarcerated with hard labour for 90 days. He was also subject to stoppages of his wages until such time as the monetary value of his kit (£5-18s-8d) had been replaced. Terry was finally discharged from the Army on 12/05/1920.
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Wahn Krieg-gefangenen Lager
Schneidemühl P.O.W's
Propaganda Leaflet purported to come from Terry Burns and others. According to Red Cross Records all signatories were picked up the same day
Correspondence from Advocate General 3 section which investigated those cases where there were queries on the circumstances of being taken prisoner
27/02/1920 - Terence Burns (24903) arrested after being AWOL since 30/05/1919 and held at RDF depot, Naas
Reduced to the ranks and finally discharged after serving his sentence
Terry was still entitled to his medals
Occupiers of Nenagh Military Barracks after handover from British Military
The Moderator - 21/01/1922
On 21/01/1922, the Irish Independent published a list of political prisoners released as part of a general amnesty. It names those incarcerated at Belfast, Parkhurst and Dartmoor. Terence Byrne is to be found amomg those released from Dartmoor.
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On Valentines Day, 1922 at 13:30 hours, the Union Jack was lowered for the final time at Nenagh Military Barracks by the North Staffordshire Regiment. The garrison marched led by it’s band to Nenagh Railway Station where they took the train to Limerick and history. At 14:00 hours, elements of the IRA from Laois and North Tipperary, formed up at Courthouse Square and marched to the Barracks accompanied by large numbers of townspeople who cheered them along.
The local IRA were led by Captain Tom Walsh of Cloughjordan. The Laois men were led by Captain Terence Byrne who was second in command to Commandant Bill Hoolan. Terry was part of the 3rd Division National Free State Army. Terry formally took possession of the site on behalf of the new Irish State.
The Battle for Nenagh.....
100 IRA personnel were deployed during the Battle for Nenagh with another 75 held in reserve primarily at the Railway Station
IRA strongpoint positions at the corners of the Market Cross. Further down you can see O'Mearas Hotel porch where Hannah O'Meara was shot
General area where Terence was fatally wounded in front of the Hibernian Hotel. Anti-Treaty held the Co-Op and Post Office indicated by the red x
On the morning of the 30/06/1922, some Anti-Treaty forces in Nenagh attached to the former RIC Barracks in Barrack St, took over the Post Office and Co-Op store in Castle St. These were situated directly opposite the entrance to Peter St, and where the old steps were.
Further up the town at the Market Cross, the IRA also took possession of the Provincial Bank and Margaret Melody’s apartment on the corner of Barrack St. Later they would consolidate their positions by taking over 86 Castle St (site of the Aurora cafe). In total 100 IRA were deployed around the various strongpoints wih 75 men held in reserve, primarily at the Railway Station.
The previous night, 26 IRA personnel had also disarmed and taken as prisoners a Free State patrol who had been maintaining a routine presence on the streets of the town. These patrol duties were shared by both Freestate and Anti-Treaty forces on alternate nights.
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Around midday, National Army Troops led by Captain Terence Byrne arrived in a lorry from Summerhill Military Barracks. In response to the IRA attempt to take control of the town, the Freestate troops took possession of The Hibernian Hotel, The Lecture Hall and The Ormond Club. The lorry was returned to Barracks and loaded up with sandbags. Upon the lorry’s return with the sandbags, Terry stepped out to direct his men in the placing of the bags to fortify his positions. Firing broke out and Terry was left lying on the ground mortally wounded. Terry was dragged to the shelter of Charles Carroll, an auctioneer whose premises was beside the Hibernian. A doctor and priest were sent for. Dr Louis Courtenay and Father O’Donaghue arrived under the protection of white flags. Terry died about twenty minutes after being shot. The official Death Registration states he died of shock & haemorrhage caused by gunshot wounds. Terry was 22 years old. His body was to remain at Carrolls premises overnight and was removed the following day to St Mary’s R.C. where a High Mass was said.
Copy of Terrys Death Certificate. Spot the Proof-readers error in the first column
Death Registration
Terence Byrne's funeral Cortege
Terence Byrne's funeral Cortege
Grave Marker of Terry Byrne, 7 Manor Cottages, Mountmellick
After Terrys shooting, moments later a civilian, Hotel proprietress Hannah O’Meara was shot in the abdomen in the porch of her hotel. Twenty minutes later she was dead. Other casualties that day were Martin Cawley, resident at 53 Pound St who was also wounded as was a young lad named O’Donaghue who was wounded in the shoulder by a stray bullet. Sporadic firing continued for the remainder of the day and night. The townspeople were trapped in their homes with little or no food supplies. They daren't venture outside so many sat on stairwells and in the back rooms of their houses for safety. The town was effectively isolated from the rest of the country. No trains or papers could get through and people were unaware of the fighting which had commenced in the Four Courts in Dublin.
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Following a night of intermittant firing and sniping, National Army reinforcements appeared the following day from the Curragh. They brought with them an Armoured car which let rip with Lewis machine gun fire at Margaret Melody’s windows at the Market Cross. They skirted around Graces St and Gaol St to come down Peter St and lay on a heavy fusillade on the Co-Op and Post Office buildings. To no avail though as the Irregulars had abandoned their positions during the night.
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On Sunday morning, a Solemn Requiem High Mass was said at St Mary’s RC in Nenagh for Capt Terry Byrne. The church was packed with a huge congregation. At three O’clock the same day, the funeral cortege left for Mountmellick. The remains were carried on a large tender draped with the Tricolour. An armoured car and some motors followed behind. A couple of thousand mourners accompanied the coffin to the outskirts of town. They were escorted with over 200 soldiers led by Brigadier-General Hoolan, Colonel Mulcahy and Comdts O’Leary & McCurtin. Nenagh Workers band was in attendance also, sounding muffled drums and with over 200 ex-servicemen bringing up the rear.
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When the funeral cortege reached Roscrea, they were fired on by Irregulars. They had taken over the RIC barracks and were being beseiged by 30 National Troops from Nenagh. The troops accompanying the Cortege stopped to lend a hand. It was only when an accompanying armoured car returned fire on the Anti-Treaty forces that firing ceased. There had only been 5 defenders. These were taken prisoner and removed to Nenagh Military Barracks
Terry’s military funeral took place the following day, Monday, at St Joseph’s Cemetery, Mountmellick. All businesses and most houses were closed and shuttered in the town during the event. There was a large turnout of mourners. At the close of the funeral ceremony, a three volley salute was given by the military.
Terry's story unfortunately dragged on through the '20's and 30's with Alice Byrnes unsuccessful attempts to obtain a dependents pension. She was however awarded a one off gratuity of £120 for the loss of her son.
Communique from Brigadier Bill Hoolan advising of the circumstances of Terry's death
Correspondence regarding Alice Byrne's request for a Pension. Although she succeeded in obtaining a gratuity, she failed in getting a dependants Pension. Further investigation shows she referred to Terry as her eldest son and failed to mention allowances she obtained from her other sons.
Dependants Pension in respect of Sergeant Terence Byrne (24903) late of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and payable to Alice Byrne at 7 Manor Cottages, Mountmellick
Freemans Journal - 10/07/1922
Northern Whig - 11/07/1922
Cork Weekly News - 15/07/1922
Drogheda Independent - 15/07/1922
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