Militaria Archive

Documents & Letters from the private collection of Comdt. Vincent Byrne, E Company, 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Old IRA.

Documents & Letters from the private collection of Comdt. Vincent Byrne, E Company, 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Old IRA (several of these are from the Scrapbook also featured on this site). This small collection includes: handwritten Irish War of Independence era notes from members of the Squad, Handwritten drawings of the workings of a 'Peter the Painter' Mauser C96 pistol used by Vincent Byrne when on active duty with Michael Collins Squad. Letter to Vice Commandant Vincent Byrne refusing permission for leave to marry (2 weeks before Michael Collins' Death). Also letters to Tom Keogh congratulating him on the success of the Wexford Expeditionary Force during the Irish Civil War (weeks before he was killed). Condolence letters to Tom Keogh family from General Paddy O'Daly and also from Michael Collins Sister. Numerous letters to and from The Association of the Old Brigade, Dublin I.R.A. Letters and invites to commemorative events including: 150th Anniversary of the 1798 Rising, 50th Anniversary of the 1916 Rising, Knocklong Train Rescue, 25th Anniversary of the death of Michael Collins, Signing of the Truce & more. Also includes the Latin and English translations of the Gaelic Address on parchment presented to Pope Pius XII April 1950 from the United Conference of Old Irish Republican Army Bodies in Dublin.

4th March 1949 Letter from the Knocklong Commemoration Committee to Vincent Byrne on the subject of the event in honour of the Knocklong Train rescue. An Irish War of Independence action underaken by 5 I.R.A. men including Seán Treacy and Dan Breen to rescue captured comrade Seán Hogan who was enroute from Thurles to Cork by Train. A close quarters gun battle in the train carriage and on the platform saw 2 Royal Irish Constabulary men killed and Hogan rescued. Both Treacy and Breen were wounded in this action. Vincent Byrne fought with Breen and Treacy in other War of Independence actions and so was called on for participation in this event.