Cork Shootings - 28 Feb 1921

6 IRA volunteers were executed at Cork Gaol on the morning of 28 Feb 1921.There were a series of retaliations later that day, which could have been the work of just a few individuals working outside the system, as nothing appears in any accounts about these deaths. The total distance on foot between the first and the last of the killings would have been about 2 miles

Between 6.30pm and 8.30pm a number of British soldiers were shot or wounded. I cannot find anyone claiming responsibility for these killing, one report suggests Frank Busteed, and it is certainly possible that he did it. The way the attacks were carried out suggests one man (or group) did the lot, moving through the city.

In "Execution" Frank Busteed says that his area that night was Hayes Lane, a small lovers lane near the barracks. He carried a Webly .45, and was accompanied by a young IRA volunteer from the city, who carried a torch to shine on any soldier they saw. The first couple they came to, the Volunteer shone his torch, and there was the Volunteer's sister with a soldier - that saved that soldier. The next soldier was not so lucky, the Volunteers hand hold the torch was shaking and he could not hold the beam steady on the soldier - Busteed had to shoot the soldier 4 times. They moved on, found another soldier and girl, and the soldier was shot. By now the other soldiers in the lane had started to run - Busteed pursued them, firing as he went. He says he wounded two of them, but that those men reached the barracks

The following British Soldiers were killed on the streets of Cork on the night of the Monday the 28th of February 1921. The deaths took place after the execution of six IRA Volunteers that morning. The timing of the shootings seems to have been

The first shootings were in a small lane near an Army Barracks, in the area shown on the map above. Hayes Lane connects Mayfield to Montenotte.

Wise appears to have been shot in the centre of Patrick St, he ran a short distance and collapsed in the ruins of Cash's Drapery Store, Conkleys Lane. He was wounded in the thigh and taken dangerously wounded to Mercy Infirmary

Fifteen minutes later, two soldiers were shot near the junction of Cork's main thoroughfare Patrick’s Street and Academy Street.

One soldier was found seriously wounded at the corner of Patrick St and Grand Parade

Along the South Mall where another soldier was shot dead.

2 soldiers were found seriously wounded between Princes St and Marlborough St

A soldier was fired at while walking with a girl on a footpath near the Blind Asylum and fell wounded. Probably Beattie from place

Soon after this a soldier was fired at on the cross roads beyond the Workhouse. He was talking to a girl and fell wounded. Probably Hodnett. Hodnett was shot shot four times as he walked along Douglas Road. It appears to have been about 8.30

The wounded have been listed as

Private V (Victor?) Price, 2nd South Staffs Regiment, shot in ear and chest in Cork aged 19 found shot in a Chemist shop

Private F S Bettasworth/Bettesworth/Beatresworth/Bottesworth, 2nd Hampshire Regiment, taken out of an instrument shop and shot in hip in Cork aged 21

Private G (George?) Rollason, 2nd South Staffs Regiment shot arm and thigh in Cork aged 22 with Price in Chemist shop

Private E Hill, shot in arm 2nd South Staffs Regiment aged 18 slightly wounded in Cork

Bandsman F Clewley, 2nd South Staffs Regiment

7683137 Lance Corporal R A Pike (Richard Alfred), Military Foot Police shot and wounded in the left buttock at 19:05 while on patrol with another Military Policeman on King Street, Cork aged 24 years and 1 month. Taken to the Central Military Hospital, wound not serious.

British soldiers died in Ireland