Westmeath claimants among latest Military Service Pensions Collection release

There are 23 Westmeath names among the latest tranche of military service pension applications (1916-23) released by the Irish Military Archives this week.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney TD, launched the new collection of digitised files on Tuesday morning.

This is the 12th release in the series since 2016, and relates to claims lodged by 1,424 individuals/veterans or their dependants, and contains new information on the War of Independence and the Civil War. The documents provide significant insights into post-conflict lives.

Taking into account all MSPC file series, approximately 111,680 files have now been catalogued and made available for online viewing.

The bulk of the newly-released files concern women applicants (1,099) under the 1934 Military Service Pensions Act, the vast majority of which were unsuccessful.

Two of the successful applicants were from Westmeath – Mary Ginnell and Rose Maguire (née Ginnell) of Rosmead, Delvin. They were active in Cumann na mBan during the War of Independence and Civil War periods, and were nieces of the Westmeath MP and later TD, Laurence Ginnell.

In 1956, Rose Maguire, then 63 years old, was granted one and a half years’ service for pension purposes relating to her service between April 1920 and July 1921. Alongside her sister Mary, she prepared first aid outfits; did despatch work; looked after, fed and billeted at her home IRA officers and men; took care and charge of documents, weapons and ammunition.

She also provided the use of her family home as an IRA headquarters and meeting place for the local Brigade officers, and went through enemy lines to warn IRA officers and men of attempted British roundups. Her sister, Mary, was granted a similar pension.

However, the Ginnell women were among the more fortunate of the female applicants. Many others, like Elizabeth Hughes of the Corner House, Kinnegad (also featured in the latest release), had their applications rejected.

Ms Hughes claimed a pension for the entire period 1916 to 1923, and told pensions adjudicators that she carried verbal messages during Easter week 1916, and ensured that IRA men in Athboy, Co. Meath avoided capture by being apprehended herself. As a result, she was “mistreated” by Crown forces and her property destroyed. However, that Ms Hughes cited no date for this activity appears to have militated against her.

In stark contrast is the case of Patrick Fitzsimons (1893-1961) of Cummerstown, Collinstown, who was granted three and 13/36 years of active service for pension purposes under the 1934 act – effectively all of the service he claimed.

Mr Fitzsimons joined the Irish Volunteers during 1917 and at the height of the War of Independence, made buckshot and refilled gun cartridges, raided offices of the Crown, transported guns and took part in the burning of Collinstown RIC barracks, during which he suffered burns. “The other chap lit the match though I had said not to, and there was an explosion which shut in the window and we were caught in the fire. My topcoat was burned, and my hair etc,” he said.

Mr Fitzsimons was involved in the attack on Castlepollard RIC barracks in July 1921, hours before the Truce came into effect. He took the anti-Treaty side during the Civil War, and was involved in the Barbavilla ambush outside Collinstown. Captured by the National Army, he was interned in Tintown camp at the Curragh.

“This man had very little fighting, but it appeared to us that if the district had been more active he would have done his share,” the army pensions board said, before sanctioning his full pension.

Also featured in the latest is Edward ‘Ned’ Connell of Tullystown, Castletown, Finea. Mr Connell unsuccessfully applied for a pension for War of Independence service with the IRA’s Finea unit, which was attached to Seán Mac Eoin’s Longford Brigade. Among the activities he claimed involvement in was a raid for arms on the home of John Hand, Bigwood, Castletown Finea.

While Connell and four other IRA men approached the house, Hand shot at them and Connell was wounded in the right thigh and groin. He was treated in Granard Workhouse, but had to leave to avoid arrest and ended up laid up in a bog hut for seven months while IRA comrades treated his wounds. He was awarded a £50 wound gratuity in 1924, but failed to qualify for a pension or special allowance.

Meanwhile, another Westmeath female applicant – Mary Josephine Mallon (née Brady), who ran Streete Post Office during the 1940s – was denied a pension despite a detailed testimony claiming extensive service with Cumann na mBan in Longford.

The list of claimants in the latest Military Service Pensions Collection can be found here, while the database can be searched here.