Lance Corporal Roland Maddell

Lance Corporal Roland Maddell (aged 30) of the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment (Courtmacsherry)

Date of incident: 14 May 1921

Sources: CE, 16, 18 May 1921; CC, 18 May 1921; RIC County Inspector’s Monthly Report, Cork West Riding, May 1921 (CO 904/115, TNA); John O’Driscoll’s WS 1250, 14 (BMH); Michael Coleman’s WS 1254, 19-20 (BMH); William McCarthy’s WS 1255, 11-12 (BMH); irishmedals.org (accessed 28 July 2014); Commonwealth War Graves Commission; http://www.cairogang.com/soldiers-killed/list-1921.html; http://www.cairogang.com/soldiers-killed/maddell/maddell.html (accessed 8 Aug. 2014).  

Note: Maddell was shot dead when on 14 May 1921 the IRA attacked some British soldiers at Courtmacsherry, where a detachment of the Essex Regiment was stationed. Another soldier was wounded. Former Volunteer Michael Coleman, who directed the attack as captain of the Barryroe Company, later recalled the day: ‘On the 14th [May] I placed men in position covering the Coastguard Station in Courtmacsherry to ensure that the garrison of about sixty soldiers could not emerge. At midday I entered the village from the east, while John O’Driscoll, Con Lehane, and Dan Minihane entered from the west. The party covering the station were to open fire when we opened fire in the village. As we went down the village, we saw some British soldiers. We opened fire, killing one and wounding two. The other soldiers on the street ran for cover, and as our own covering party opened up, we got out of the village.’ See Michael Coleman’s WS 1254, 19-20 (BMH). Madell was interred in St Peter Port, the capital of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands.