Constable James Briggs, 70463. Killed in Ireland 3rd June 1921, aged 29 years
James Briggs joined the RIC on 25 Feb 1920. Prior to this he had served with the 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers (Corporal 14429) where he won the MM in August 1917 at Frezenburg for taking control of a unit when his commander was fatally wounded. He received the DCM in October 1918...
He was known as 'Jock' to his comrades in the RIC and was killed when on a cycle patrol near Borrisokane in County Tipperary. The 12 man patrol was making its way from Borrisokane to Cloughjordan on their way to Petty Sessions, with 16 other police following behind in cars. Mid way, at Kallagbeg (Kylebeg) Cross, the parols were ambushed.
Briggs was killed instantly. Constables John Cantlon 52669 and William Walsh 55430, both of Roscrea Barracks; and Constable Martin Feeney 65453 of Borrisokane Barracks, were to die of wounds the next day. Four more police (a Sergeant and three Constables) were seriously wounded. Cantlon was a married man from Carlow, Feeney from Roscommon. Walsh was also married and from Queen's County (Laois).
Here follows a poignant poem taken from his memoriam card:
This was the famous 'Modreeny Ambush' which was undertaken by the North Tipperary Flying Column.
James Briggs joined the RIC on 25 Feb 1920. Prior to this he had served with the 2nd Battalion The Royal Scots Fusiliers (Corporal 14429) where he won the MM in August 1917 at Frezenburg for taking control of a unit when his commander was fatally wounded. He received the DCM in October 1918...
for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations east of Ypres. On the 5th October 1918 he located a machine gun post by a daylight patrol and during the night raided it, capturing two heavy and one light machine gun.
He was known as 'Jock' to his comrades in the RIC and was killed when on a cycle patrol near Borrisokane in County Tipperary. The 12 man patrol was making its way from Borrisokane to Cloughjordan on their way to Petty Sessions, with 16 other police following behind in cars. Mid way, at Kallagbeg (Kylebeg) Cross, the parols were ambushed.
Briggs was killed instantly. Constables John Cantlon 52669 and William Walsh 55430, both of Roscrea Barracks; and Constable Martin Feeney 65453 of Borrisokane Barracks, were to die of wounds the next day. Four more police (a Sergeant and three Constables) were seriously wounded. Cantlon was a married man from Carlow, Feeney from Roscommon. Walsh was also married and from Queen's County (Laois).
Here follows a poignant poem taken from his memoriam card:
"Oh! why was he taken, so young and so fair,
When the earth held so many, it surely could spare?
Hard, hard was the blow that compelled us to part,
With one so loving, so dear to our hearts.
Friends may forget him, his mother will never;
He will live in my heart till life's journey is done.
Lord, teach me to live that when my life is ended,
I'll be met at the gates by my dear hero son."
This was the famous 'Modreeny Ambush' which was undertaken by the North Tipperary Flying Column.
