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Hi Gary,  My granddad lived at 19 Goldsmith St. but the name Thomas Bates doesn't ring a bell unfortunately. 

My granddad he served as 1st Lieut. Lewis Gun Section in G Coy, 1st Battalion Dublin City Brigade from 1918. Prior to that he served in the Kilrush Coy for about a year before coming to Dublin on the invitation of Peadar Clancy. He signed up for the Free State Army 1st Western Division in March 1922 and was killed in somewhat suspicious circumstances in Sept 1922 somewhere in Clare. 

He was a close personal friend of Peadar Clancy and Dick McKee, and was also a devout follower of Collins. He was known to Collins, but he was not a confidante of his and would not have been directly in Collins' "inner circle".  However, as an expert gunner and a skilled sniper he was, by all accounts, often called into various missions outside his Battalion and is believed to have supported various Squad and ASU missions. 

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that a section of the 1st Battalion was involved in the CH burning but as you say, maybe that was not the "normal" 1st Battalion. His Attestation Form on joining the Free State Army says he "took part in the burning of the Custom House", so I've no doubt he was there - especially given his gunnery skills and his association with Collins, the Squad and the ASU.

I guess I'll never find out for sure what his role was, but sll sorts of little snippets arise from time to time that can help to piece these things together.  I'm hoping that when the Military Archives Witness Statements come online, I'll find some mention of him on those somewhere.

Many thanks for you interest and for responding. 

Dermo

Just found this thread - great info.  I'm wondering if anybody got the full list of those taken prisoner?  If so is Michael Downes on the list?  He was my grandfather who served in G Company, 1st Battalion and was involved in the burning of the Custom House.

Thanks