Capt J L Hardy - F Coy Auxiliaries, 1920, 1921

[corisande]

In researching Bloody Sunday murders, and those who where on the list, but escaped escaped death that morning, I have been building a page on

Capt Jocelyn Lee Hardy, Intelligence officer Dublin Castle, click for page

I have managed to fill in much of his pre-Ireland army record, but although he certainly was an intelligence officer and was on the hit list on 21 Nov, I have found very few references to him

1.1920 Nov 20 Killings of Conor Clune, Paeder Clancy, and Dick McKee, He is almost certainly responsible for their deaths

2. 1921 Feb 9. Shooting of James Murphy and Patrick Kennedy. F Coy of the Auxiliaries was responsible for their deaths, However he would appear not to have been involved in this, unless anyone has evidence that he was

3. 1921 Feb 10. Simon Donnolly, V/C 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade IRA was arrested in Dame St., Dublin and interrogated by Capt Hardy. (Donnelly in The Kerryman (1955), pgs 164-168)

4. Hardy was once tailed by Joe Dolan of the Squad across the Irish Sea while on leave, but Dolan lost him at Euston station remarking that he (Hardy) was moving a lot quicker than usual, perhaps tipped off and armed in the event of assassination. There were other plans formulated to dispatch Hoppy Hardy but as he always attended Dublin heavily escorted, this was deemed impossible.

I have not been able to find any other direct references to events that he was involved in. Given his high profile and the fact that Collins knew exactly who he was, there must be other references to him

Can anyone help with more information on Hardy or on F Coy of the Auxiliaries.

 

[Gary Deering]

This might seem crazy, but I have managed to trace some people using Facebook, what I did was look for the surname in the area of the UK I suspected they where in & sent a PM.It took me a few trys but I managed to make contact with a branch of the family that we had lost touch with since 1946/47.Maybe worth a go as I think 1 in 3 people in Ireland uses FB.You maybe able to contact a granson or grandaughter of the people you are looking for ie The Ciaro gang.

[corisande]

Thanks Gary

I have managed to get a few of the Irish Brigade descendants through facebook. The problem in finding people in either Cairo Gang or Irish Brigade is that I have nothing to go on, genealogically. In other words I have no idea who their grandfather was.

But if I get a name  like Delamore or Angliss or Bagallay I can use Facebook, (or Genes or Ancestry) to try to get family

Anyway you have inspired me to return and have another go on Facebook 

[striker]

Hi all, Striker here.

From my grandfather's (Patrick Lawson) witness statement, he had a brief encounter with a Capt Hardy from Dublin Castle on November 23rd 1920. In a nutshell (without retyping the statement), he was a Second Lieutenant with F Company, 1 Battalion, Dublin Brigade. He was in Lourdes House (Street unknown - though probably North Dublin Inner City) when he and a number of other volunteers were counting monies collected in Croke Park on 'Bloody Sunday'. Between 7.15 and 8pm (approx), the premises was raided by Tans and Auxiliaries and all present were arrested. A Capt Hardy interrogated those present and a Major King was in charge of the British Raiding Party. Hardy roughed up my grandfather, tying to get any information out of him, but to no avail. The IRA captives were taken to Dublin Castle for further interrogation and my grandfather was moved to Beggars Bush and eventually to Arbour Hill before he was released in February 1921.

From his statement, it seems that Hardy was probably out for 'Blood' following the 'Bloody Sunday' killings.

On a side note, my grandfather held the company roll (a copybook containing everyone's address, employment and what weapons each held). It happened that he wasn't searched and he destroyed the roll once he was in Dublin Castle by eating the written pages and flushing the rest down the toilet. He was helped by a PJ Ryan, the Company Intelligence Officer.

Hope this helps.

Striker

[corisande]

Striker,

Thanks again for that information - you certainly are busy posting tonight 

[strathmore]

Hi Striker, came across your postings re Paddy Lawson. Paddy Lawson is also my  Grandfather I would be interested in hearing from you.


Thanks
strathmore

[Striker69]

Hi Strathmore

Striker69 formerly Striker willing to exchange information on Patrick Lawson.

[ailbhe]

Striker, Do you know anything about P.J. Ryan? The P.J. (Paddy) I'm looking for worked in CIE. Inchicore. My uncle Joseph Traynor was shot dead on Bloody Sunday. He went to the match with P.J. Ryan. Joseph was buried by his comrades in F.Com.  the only other reference I have to his membership   is his name on a Mount Argus Mass list for deceased members of F.Coy.

[Striker69]

Hi

Reference PJ Ryan. My grandfather's (Patrick Lawson) witness statement names a PJ Ryan on two separate occasions. I can send you a PM later if you wish of the exact text.

Striker69