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 Peter Mc RIC |
G Company - "The Body Snatchers" |
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Posts: 467 25-Jul-2010 11:03 AM Inspector-General |
'G' Company was head quartered at the Lakeside Hotel in Killaloe, County Clare; and later also at Corofin.
The Auxiliaries commandeered the hotel from around November 27, 1920 (source - Nenagh Guardian)
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 5-Jan-2011 11:52 PM.
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Frank7372 |
Re Body Snatchers | #1 | ||
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Head Constable
Posts: 1 16-Aug-2010 12:23 AM |
Just wondering how the nickname of the company came about.
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Peter Mc RIC |
At the Lakeside Hotel | #2 | ||
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Posts: 522 22-Aug-2010 9:00 PM Inspector-General |
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 10-Nov-2010 10:25 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
The Lakeside Hotel 1920/21 | #3 | ||
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Posts: 537 8-Sep-2010 8:45 PM Inspector-General |
A photograph of the Lakeside Hotel at Killaloe, taken by an Auxiliary officer between October 1920 and February 1921. The Auxiliary flag is flying over it.
 and another image from a contemporary postcard. A good strategic location.  |
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Paddy Mayne.debcenrevisited |
#4 | |||
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District Inspector 3rd Class
Posts: 8 10-Sep-2010 10:20 PM |
Peter,
A contemporary write up on G Coy. The allegiance of the author is unknown. Auxiliaries at Killaloe – R.C.Grey Sir Hamar gGreenwood inspecting an R.I.C. Auxiliary DivisionR.C. Grey a retited
Civil Servant from England was living in Killaloe in 1920. He published
a pamphlet condemning the brutal killings of Egan, Mac Mahon, Rodgers
and Gildea by G. Company of the R.I.C. Auxiliaries in November 1920. He
subsequently recieved death threaths from the British forces in East
Clare and was forced to leave the area.
“On the Monday
afternoon I was walking across the bridge from Killaloe to Ballina –
once it was a beautiful spot, it now seems to wear an ominous and
sinister aspect – accompanied by my wife and another lady. All was
quiet, but we saw a number of the Auxiliary Police coming down from the
Lakeside Hotel towards the village of Ballina. They carried rifles and
other arms and were lead by their C.O. an officer who is distinguished
by the title of colonel. He carried a revolver and walked in a
strikingly determined manner. Orders were suddenly shouted, the troops
spread out through the village, and there was a general hold-up. The men
within sight were ordered to stop and put up their hands. No notice was
taken of me presumably because I wore rather better clothes than the
others and looked, perhaps, even less offensive ; but two men who had
passed me on the bridge, both well known in Killaloe, were ordered back
and compelled to stand facing the wall of this ill-omened bridge with
their hands up. A small boy beside me, finding himself in the war-zone
began to cry. To the credit of the officer who guarded these two men as
they stood with their hands up, let me record that he remarked to them :
“I am sorry but it is only a matter of form,” though even allowing this
it appeared to me that the formality was an unnecessarily offensive and
terrifying item of the programme. There was no shooting on that
occasion, but if anybody but the police had been armed there might well
have been. It did not strike one as an effective way of lifting the terror
of the pistol, and looked rather as though on receipt of the news from
Dublin these members of the police or perhaps their C.O. , were seeing
red.
That
night there was a good deal of shooting in Killaloe, and though nobody
was hurt the inhabitants were given a realistic object-lesson of what
was liable to take place in certain circumstances ; of what did
habitually take place elsewhere. On the following night machine-guns
were brought out and a demonstration made which continued for many hours
and which was highly successful in terrifying nervous people and
disturbing the old and the sick. I am told nobody went to bed that
night.
The colonel of
these Auxiliary Police himself went through the town on the Monday
night, pushing his revolver against men whom he met, threatening to shoot,
and insisting that all shops should be closed at seven o’clock. He gave
out that if a shot was fired in Killaloe he would have the whole place
burned down. He did not however have to be alarmed. There are no
firearms now in Killaloe except those in the possession of the police,
and they are therefore at liberty to amuse themselves without fear of
risk. Danger to the lives of the inhabitants, however, still continues. A
friend of mine, walking down the street to his house after dark some
days ago, had four revolver shots fired in front of him. This was done
by some Black and Tans, but though these men go through the town an
night singing Irish songs and jeering, shouting “God Save Ireland,” and
doing all they can to excite the people to retaliation, there is no
response. The Irish are wonderfully patient and I much fear their spirit
is being broken. The odds are too great.”
http://www.warofindependence.net/?page_id=368
"I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st. July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world." Captain Wilfred Spencer 2nd July 1916
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Peter Mc RIC |
The Bodysnatchers | #5 | ||
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Posts: 540 14-Sep-2010 7:36 PM Inspector-General |
A rare photo of the Auxiliaries, some sporting 'tropical dress' - probably taken in the hot summer of 1921.
The reverse of this photo is entitled "G Company Auxiliary Division (The Bodysnatchers) Killaloe", in contemporary handwritten script. A description of how this nickname came about will be added later.  kind permission of Ballyroughan
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 9-Nov-2010 9:01 AM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
txt of the bodysnatchers | #6 | ||
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Posts: 564 3-Oct-2010 8:16 PM Inspector-General |
txt to be added
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Peter Mc RIC |
Hands Up! | #7 | ||
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Posts: 565 3-Oct-2010 8:20 PM Inspector-General |
The Bodysnatchers in action at Killaloe.
 Actually a staged photo - all the men are Auxiliaries; L-R Capt JAM Faraday MC, Lt GPT Dean, Lt CRW McCammond, Rowell, Capt WG Price, Capt PB Cullinan MC. Note also the variety of pistols; a Colt 1911, a silver plated Webley and a Browning. courtesy Ballyroughan and the Irish Guards
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 10-Nov-2010 10:30 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Captain George Percival Tempest Dean | #8 | ||
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Posts: 580 12-Oct-2010 8:22 PM Inspector-General |
RIC Number 79098, Auxiliary Number 732/734. G company, Struck Off Strength (died) 1/1/21 THE LONDON GAZETTE, DECEMBER 10, 1901 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 22 JANUARY, 1915 Medal card of Dean, George Percival Tempest (Above Gazette and MIC info courtesy of IPT)
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 12-Oct-2010 8:25 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Lt Col Andrews O/C G Company | #9 | ||
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Posts: 639 10-Nov-2010 11:01 PM Inspector-General |
A photograph of Lt Col AJ Andrews DSO, MC (on the right); together with the Rev and Mrs Darcydale (sic)
 courtesy - Ballyroughan and the Irish Guards Faraday has annotated this photo as showing the Rev and Mrs Darcydale. In fact this shows Rev. Eyre William Preston Archdall, Rector at Killaloe from 1908-1922. His wife is Edith Gladys Jeannette Rose. One of their children was to fight as a Royal Marine in WW2 and ended up as Colonel of that Regiment.
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 10-Nov-2010 11:32 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Lt Col Hubert S J L Hemming DSO | #10 | ||
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Posts: 656 23-Nov-2010 11:58 PM Inspector-General |
Lt-Col Hubert S J Lamond Hemming DSO; O/C G Company from 2nd February 1921 Hemming was an extraordinary soldier and adventurer with a long period of service in Colonial Africa. Wounded three times in the Great War, and so severely that he had to relinquish his commission, he nonetheless carried on fighting the Bolsheviks in Lithuania before returning to soldier closer to home in Ireland with the Auxiliary Division and the Ulster Special Constabulary. Born 28 June 1882 and educated privately at Bedford Grammar, he was commissioned into the East Lancashire Regt (1st Battn) in 1900 and fought in the South African War until 1902, then Somaliland 1903; resigned his commission 1906; spent nine years exploring and big game hunting in the interior of Africa; and served with the Portuguese forces in the Machemba and Matuka Expedition. Joined the South African Forces Sept 1914, Capt and Adjutant Rand Rifles, Boer Rebellion and German S.W. Africa campaign; Capt & Adjutant, 3rd S. African Infantry Aug1915, Major 1915; served with S. African Forces in Egypt Dec 1915, lost right arm at Battle of Agadir; France, July 1916, battle of Somme, (again wounded); battle of Passchendale, gassed, 20 Sep 1917; wounded Gouzancourt 1918, commanded 3rd S.A.Inf. Sep - Oct 1917 and Dec 1917 – Jan1918. Lt Col 1918, commanding S. African Reserve Battn; retired, disability pay. Served as General Staff Officer 1st Grade on General Crozier's Mission in Lithuania 1919-20 (Oct 1919 - Mar 1920), operations against the Bolsheviks. MID 09/07/1915 for services in S.W. Africa with the Rand Rifles. Adventures in Portuguese East Africa The Times, September 13 1911   Auxiliary Division RIC No. 1615/1623, Hemming H.S.J. Lamond; Age 38, Date Appointed 31.1.21 (1st D.I.) Depot; G Coy 2/2/21 (O/C). Oddly his service record in the Auxiliary Register states S.O.S. (Struck off Strength) as a deserter 1.2.22. Clearly this must have been an administrative error, as he was subsequently accepted into the USC. A note in his file also adds "See File No 17741/24828 F TO Ref 002751 & Treasury Letter F6031 23/3/23". Lt-Colonel Hemming DSO at Killaloe  (courtesy Ballyroughan and the Irish Guards)
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 27-Nov-2010 5:23 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Killaloe Station | #11 | ||
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Posts: 703 28-Dec-2010 11:51 PM Inspector-General |
L-R: Unknown Cadet; Victor Stuart Gwynne, D.I. Killaloe; Sec/Ldr O.B. Swaine (sic) (Lt, M.G.C.)
3/D.I. Victor Stuart Gwynne, 72053. Appointed 1st October 1920. Lieut, 12/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Previously employed as a chartered accountant with Wright, Fitzsimons & Mayes, Belfast (who said accountants were boring?). Sec/Ldr Oswald Bertie Swain, 79109, Aux Div 740. Private, 9598, Scottish Rifles; Corporal, 56402, Machine Gun Corps; 2/Lt, M.G.C., Temp Lt, R.A.F. Killed on active service, 22 Sep 1940. Wing Commander Oswald Bertie Swain, killed on active service, was born in Demerara, British Guiana, 41 years ago, and educated at Horsham Grammar School and at Allan Glen's, Glasgow. He served in the Army throughout the War of 1914-18 in The Scottish Rifles, T.F., and the Machine Gun Corps. In 1922 he joined the R.A.F. with a short-service commission for which a permanent commission was substituted in 1926. He was promoted to flying officer in 1924, flight lieutenant in 1929, and squadron leader in 1936. In addition to being an armament specialist, he had qualified at the R.A.F. Staff College and as a flying instructor, and had served on armament, staff, and flying duties at various home stations and in India. In 1937 he was appointed to the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry. (Death Notice, London Times)
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 29-Dec-2010 9:09 PM.
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Dez |
Who is Cadet V. Gwynne | #12 | ||
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District Inspector 3rd Class
Posts: 13 29-Dec-2010 2:01 AM |
Hello Peter,
Ballyroughan is certainly coming through with the photographs of "G" Coy, Lt J.A.M. Faraday must have had quite a collection. I have a query on the photograph taken at Killaloe railway station, I can't find a Cadet V. Gwynne, do you know what his Aux. no. is ? S/L O.B. Swain, (without the e) Aux. no. 740 was no problem, also is there a name for the man in the middle ?
Last Edited By: Dez 29-Dec-2010 2:05 AM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 704 29-Dec-2010 8:24 PM Inspector-General |
My mistake Dez, I misread a comma; previous post now edited and updated.
I must once again thank Ballyroughan for sharing his knowledge and items from his collection, so meticulously built up over the years. Power is knowledge shared. The power of a community of practice is exponentially related to the knowledge shared by the individual members. - Reid G. SmithIf even a snippet of history could be added from every viewer of this forum it would be a powerful resource indeed. |
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Peter Mc RIC |
Then and now | #14 | ||
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Posts: 785 5-Feb-2011 10:17 PM Inspector-General |
Some photos of the Lakeside Hotel taken in November 2010
  The Lakeside Hotel was burned by Irregular Forces during the Irish Civil War, but largely rebuilt using the original walls and layout around 1924.
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 6-Feb-2011 8:18 PM.
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Peter Mc RIC |
Ready for action | #15 | ||
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Posts: 787 6-Feb-2011 8:15 PM Inspector-General |
 L-R: Cecil George C Rowell, Harry Kemp-Robinson MM MC, S/L Geoffrey B Hope, Harold Crossley, Thomas F P Briggs, William F McCrae, Harold W Millett, Richard Albert Attfield, Robert L Worsley, Frederick B Milne Elements of G Company preparing to set out on a patrol. Note the variety of dress styles, revolvers now carried at the waist, and the pump action Winchester shotgun carried by Worsley. Lt Robert Lewkenor Worsley, Queens Own Oxford Hussars. 3/D.I. 26 Aug 21. Palestine Police 21042, 30/3/22. Worsley appears to be related to the Plantagenet Blood Royal line. Note - Medals to Briggs - WWI trio, the 1914-15 Star impressed "MID. T. F. P. BRIGGS. R.N.R.", the pair impressed "LIEUT. T. F. P. BRIGGS R.N.R.". These three medals are loose. Note - Lt Harry Kemp-Robinson Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Special Reserve; MC London Gazette 26 July 1918 - "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in command of a section of tanks, which were instrumental in checking the eneny and causing many casualties. In spite of heavy shell and machine gun fire, he moved about on foot between his tanks directing them and pointing out targets. He showed a splendid example of determination and courage."
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 5-Mar-2011 3:05 PM.
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Anne14 |
George P Deane | #16 | ||
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Head Constable
Posts: 14 8-Feb-2011 4:46 PM |
Death Record for George P Deane, 1st Jan 1921. I have a particular interest in this section of the forum based on my remembrance of now deceased Nan Gilligan, Trough, who when called upon to sing always sang “Youths of Killaloe”. Checking this on the internet, it’s the Ballad on Christy Moore’s website http://www.christymoore.com/lyrics_detail.php?id=205 |
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Peter Mc RIC |
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Posts: 788 9-Feb-2011 7:42 PM Inspector-General |
Anne, thank you for your efforts in ascertaining a cause of death for Dean. Very much appreciated.
You've also reminded me to enlarge on why this unit styled themselves 'The Bodysnatchers'! The ballad you refer to is of course quite well known. What is less well known is that the great uncle of Christy Moore was in the RIC. |
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redcoat |
#18 | |||
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Sergeant
Posts: 6 23-Feb-2011 8:28 PM |
I bought this group because of an interest in Finland. I was excited to find out that he had also served in the ADRIC!
JOHN MURRAY GRAHAM was born in Cambuslang, Scotland 6 May 1895, the son of Alexander and Jessie Graham. In 1914 he was serving in the 5th Battalion, Scottish Rifles, and went with the Battalion to France on 5 November 1914. Sometime in 1916 he returned to the UK and joined an Officer Cadet Unit. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th battalion Scottish Rifles, 26 April 1917. He was then seconded for service with the King's African Rifles 28 January 1918 and served in Africa until he returned to the UK at the end of the war. 20 October 1920 he enlisted in the Auxiliary Division Royal Irish Constabulary as Cadet no. 79158. The reverse of his Medal Index Card gives his address as: Aux. Div. R.I.C. Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland; the base for ‘G’ Company. 19 January 1922 he was discharged from the Auxiliaries on completion of his contract. He then took up his civilian profession as a mining-engineer working in the Sudan. After the Soviet invasion of Finland in November 1939, the British Government issued a warrant to allow the Finnish Aid Bureau to enlist British civilians for the Finnish Army. Graham returned to England and enlisted in the British Volunteer Company of the Finnish Army on 26 February 1940, as Volunteer No. 375. Taking the oath to the Finnish Government he was issued a British uniform, with British Volunteer Company badges and buttons. On his enlistment form, under military experience, he put ‘infantry officer. France 1914-16. East Africa 1916-19. Ireland 1920-22.’ He also listed that he spoke French and ‘African.’ He was appointed korpraali (corporal) in the Company. He received his Winter War Medal with Kotijoukot clasp (Home Service) on 1 February 1941. He remained with the Company when it moved to Sweden 30 June 1941 and finally flew back to the UK on the diplomatic flight on 26 April 1942. He next appears in the London Gazette, as Lieutenant J.M. Graham (late-Cameronians), stating that he had relinquished his commission on enlistment into the Royal Air Force as a Leading Aircraftsman, 8 September 1942. On 6 August 1944 he was commissioned Pilot Officer (emergency commission) and promoted to Flying Officer (Admin. and Special Duties Branch) on 6 February 1945. Unfortunately I have no idea what he got up to. As the Burma Star was also awarded for late-war service in Hong Kong, China, Malaya and Sumatra it is impossible to know where he ended up; but the lack of the Defence Medal means he must have arrived after March 1945. 10 February 1954 he relinquished his RAFVR commission with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.   1914/15 Star trio / 1939-45 Star / Burma Star / 1939-45 War Medal / Finnish Winter War Medal for Foreigners with Kotijoukot clasp Steve |
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Peter Mc RIC |
At Killaloe | #19 | ||
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Posts: 823 5-Mar-2011 12:07 AM Inspector-General |
 L-R front row - Harold Goodyer Bloodworth (Bloody), Platoon Commander Patrick Benignus Cullinan MC (Culley), Joseph Stuart Meyer Centre between Bloodworth and Cullinan - Section Leader William Dowland MC Note - Bloody is wearing RAF wings
Last Edited By: Peter Mc RIC 11-Nov-2011 1:01 AM.
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davbrid |
Bloodworth | #20 | ||
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Sergeant
Posts: 8 5-Mar-2011 11:29 AM |
What a great nom de guerre, except in this case I assume its his real name.
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