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1921-60

Civilian John Spiers

Civilian John Spiers (aged about 58) of 3 Clarence Terrace, St Luke’s, Cork city (Upton train ambush)

Date of incident: 15 Feb. 1921

Sources: Death Certificate, 15 Feb. 1921; CE, 16, 17, 18 Feb., 31 March 1921; CC, 16 Feb., 31 March 1921; FJ, 16 Feb., 3 June 1921; CCE, 19, 26 Feb. 1921; IT, 21 Feb. 1921, 31 March 1921; CWN, 26 Feb. 1921; Florence O’Donoghue Papers, MS 31,301/1, 3 (NLI); Military Inquests, WO 35/159B/12 (TNA); Malicious Injury Claims, Box 16/76, Cork County Secretary Files (CCCA); Frank Neville’s WS 443, 12-14 (BMH); Deasy (1973), 222-23; http://www.theirishstory.com/2011/02/15/today-in-irish-history-–-the-upton-ambush-february-15-1921/#.U-2IrBbOTHg (accessed 14 Aug. 2014). See esp. CWN, 26 Feb. 1921.

 

Note: A commercial agent or traveller, a native of County Derry, and a widower, Spiers was one of eight civilians who were killed or died of their wounds in the Upton train ambush on 15 February 1921. He died at Upton station of gunshot wounds. His death certificate indicates that he was 55 years old, but he appears from the 1911 census to have been about 58 at death. He worked for Messrs Warden and Co., tea merchants. His funeral was held at St Luke’s Church, and his remains were interred in Douglas Cemetery. In 1911 he was raising three young daughters (aged 1 to 12) with the aid of a nursemaid and a housemaid. His three daughters had now lost both parents.

The Irish Revolution Project

Scoil na Staire /Tíreolaíocht

University College Cork, Cork,

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