Ballinhassig Ambush, 22 Oct 1920

The facts that emerged were

• An account by IRA man Con Conway says that they planted a landmine the night before
• The ambushers numbered 30 men
• The convoy of 2 Crossley lorries was ambushed at 9.30am at Toureen, Annabeg, between Inneshannon and Ballinhassig
• The Ira took up 3 positions as above as they were expecting 4 lorries. Only 2 lorries actually arrived There were 10 men in each IRA group
• The mine that they had planted failed to detonate underthe first lorry, for whom it was intended, and it escaped but was fired after.
• A corporal dismounted from this first lorry and gave covering fire, until he was wounded in the knee.
• The first lorry escaped and proceeded to Cork for help
• The second lorry in which Lieutenant Dixon was travelling, came under heavy fire from the ambush group 2 at close range
• It careered on about 30 yards before stopping
• A short firefight resulted in Lt Dixon's death, and at that point the soldiers surrendered
• 3 soldiers died and a further number wounded, including Cpl Woodford, Cpl Decker, Private Dowse, Private Walding
• The IRA then seized all weapons -14 rifles and a revolver. They set fire to the lorry before withdrawing

The soldiers killed were

• Lt William Alfred Dixon
• Private C W Reid
• Sgt T Bennett

Other members of the patrol were

• Cpl Woodward - wounded
• Walding - wounded
• Decker - wounded
• Dowse - wounded
• Private 5998496 Albert James Taylor, 1st Btn. Essex Regiment
• Private 5998638 Richard Alfred Briggs, 1st Btn. Essex Regiment

1920 Oct 28. There was an enquiry

1920 Oct 28 . Military Court of Inquiry

Evidence was given by Private 5998496 Albert James Taylor, and by Private 5998638 Richard Alfred Briggs, both of the 1st Btn. Essex Regiment, both of whom had been involved in the ambush. The two accounts are remarkably similar in structure and content, with no reference being made to the capture and subsequent release of British soldiers, the scale of the arms and ammunition taken, or to the burning of the lorry

Evidence was next given by Doctor William Ormerod Welply, Civil Practitioner, Acting Medical Officer I/C Troops, Bandon. He examined Captain Dixon's body at the scene of the ambush and noted two gunshot wounds. The first was in the right shoulder and was considered by him as most likely caused by a rifle. He then says “The other wound was in the left nostril the direction being upwards, evidently penetrating the base of the brain – I should say that the wound had been inflicted by a bullet from a revolver, and in my opinion it was fired at close range. There was no wound of exit. The cause of death was Shock & Hemorrhage”.

The fourth witness was Lieutenant R. Curzon Hope, 1st Essex Regiment, confirmed the personal details of William Dixon, his widow and child.

After due deliberation the court gave the following verdict on 28th October 1920: That the deceased, Lieutenant Alfred William Dixon, [sic], MC, Suffolk Regiment, attached 1st Essex Regiment, died at a spot midway between Innishannon and Ballinhassig, at about 1000hrs on Friday 22nd October 1920, as a result of gunshot wounds inflicted at the aforementioned time and place, and that the said deceased met his death whilst in the execution of his duty, at the hands of some person or persons unknown. They further stated that “such person or persons aforesaid are guilty of wilful murder"

British Soldiers killed in Ireland