Custom House Burning - Part 1 / John Wilson

[Collins22]

Hi there,
              Fantastic work, do you have an exact date of death for Captain Wilson? Working on a project at the moment on the resting places of these men.

"Capt John Wilson, 51 Saul Road, Crumlin, who has died, was a former member of C Company 3rd Engineers, I.R.A., and of the Dublin Brigade Active Service Unit.
He was captured during the burning of the Custom House and interned. He was in later years a member of the staff of Bord na Mona.
The funeral took place after Mass in St Bernadette's Church, Clogher Road, Crumlin to Mount Jerome Cemetery.
The chief mourners were Mrs E Wilson (widow); Jack and Jerry (sons); Joan (daughter); Mrs M Quinn and Mrs Smith (sisters); Mrs McKenna (mother-in-law); George McKenna (brother-in-law); Mrs K Murphy (sister-in-law); Messrs J and M Scully (uncles); Miss Scully (aunt); Mrs M Wilson (sister-in-law).
The attendance included Mr J Carroll, T.C.; Col W Stapleton and Mrs Stapleton; Comdt T Donnelly; Comdt V Byrne; Capt W Corri agus Mrs Corri; Capt J Kerrigan; Capt D Hannon and Mrs Hannon; Capt E Breslin, Mr J Murphy and D Morrissey.
A firing party at the graveside consisted of members of the 2nd Batt Eastern Command, under Lieutenant Goggin."

Irish Independent, July 09, 1955. p. 13. Some of those mentioned were definitely at the Custom House - V Byrne, who is mentioned in the film Michael Collins (Vinny Byrne), Stapleton, Donnelly and Ned Breslin were all definitely there.

[Gary Deering]

I dont have an exact date if it was a worthwhile project I am sure I could find out.There used to be a Picture of John Wilson in the old family home in his full free state captains uniform, My Aunt & my Mother do not know where its gone !I would love to see that!

[Collins22]

Thank you for your reply, yes its a worthwhile project to me and many others putting this together, and I would be grateful as I would like to photo the grave. Pity about the photo. I am waiting on a set of photos taken of men in the civil war, the dublin guard, group shots. Your grandfather may be in them with any luck.

                 Kind Regards

                                    James Langton

[seanod]

Hi, I'll see what I can find, though the Obituaries often cite the church but not where the person is buried. My own grand-uncle Edward Dorins was buried in Deansgrange. They wanted to put him in the Republican Plot but my great-grandfather wanted him buried with the family. He was not very political and I think he regarded Edward's death as a waste. It was certainly a terrible loss for him.

[Gary Deering]

Theres a story I was told that my great aunt visited my grandmother, she had a news paper with her & asked my grandmother do you know that fella? she replied its johnny wilson,it was an article about the custom house & there was a close up of the captured men. I have seen a picture online of the men lined up but all you can see is there backs.

Also Collins 22 if you find a ref for the grave I have to go there to do something for my Dad in the next few weeks, I would be very interested in seeing the grave myself & I would be glad to take a photo for you.

[seanod]

There were a lot of pictures published in the newspapers at that time, especially in the Sunday Independent and the Freeman's Journal and some of the pictures show captive Republicans with their hands above their heads and their faces are clearly visible. Collins 22, there is a book published about the graves of interesting people in Deansgrange and my grand-uncle is in it. He was buried there because the family originally lived in Dun Laoghaire and moved to Fairview, so I presume he is the only Custom House casualty in Deansgrange. There is another book called A Guide Through Glasnevin by M.H. Gill. I haven't seen it but it might help.

[Gary Deering]

By any chance seanod would you have a copy of those pictures? if I could get my hands on them I could get my Mother or one of my Aunts to pick J.Wilson out of them.

[seanod]

I think the best picture comes from a book on the Irish Civil War by Tim Pat Coogan and George Morrison (the title is odd, because at least half of the book is concerned with the war of Independence). However, I am not completely sure where I've seen it. I will check that - unfortunately I don't have a copy of the book myself but my brother in law has and I'll be in his house next week. I'll check it and let you know. If it's the very clear one I'm thinking of, I'll borrow the book and scan that particular picture. 

[Gary Deering]

That would be great I wonder if its the same one that was in the papers years later.