National Army Soldier Samuel Crawford

National Army Soldier Samuel Crawford (aged about 25) of 12 Mass Lane, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford (Strawhill near Monkstown)

Date of incident: 23 Dec. 1922

Sources: CE, 27 Dec. 1922; FJ, 27 Dec. 1922; Nenagh News, 30 Dec. 1922; Irish Times, 30 Dec. 1922; MSPC/2D176 (Military Archives); O’Farrell, Who’s Who, 204; O’Mahony (1986), 107; Keane (2017), 343-44, 421.

Note: Private Samuel Crawford ‘was shot dead through the heart near Monkstown on Saturday night [23 December 1922]. It appears that the deceased, with two other soldiers, all on duty, were cycling on the main road near Monkstown when they were attacked [at Strawhill] by about 15 irregulars. The deceased soldier was killed almost at the first volley, and hopelessly outnumbered, the other two, although they put up a plucky resistance, were overpowered. They were disarmed and then beaten by their assailants.’ See CE, 27 Dec. 1922. The three military cyclists had been on their way to collect the mail for Carrigaline. Crawford’s body was removed to the Mercy Hospital in Cork city. See Irish Times, 30 Dec. 1922; O’Mahony (1986), 107.

Samuel Crawford was in 1911 one of the seven children of the RIC pensioner Thomas Crawford and his wife Sarah. All seven of these children (five sons and two daughters) co-resided with their parents in that year at 12 Mass Lane in Cappoquin. Samuel (then aged 14) was the youngest of the five sons, who ranged in age from 14 to 25. Their two female siblings—Anna and Margaret—were aged 18 and 26 respectively. Their brother Samuel then worked in a local bacon factory.    

Private Crawford served in A Company of the Youghal Volunteer Reserve in the National Army. As a partial dependant of her deceased brother, his sister Annie or Anna Crawford was awarded an allowance or gratuity of £70. See MSPC/2D176 (Military Archives).