Sergeant Sydney Thomas Rew, 12002, 2nd Royal Scots

1890 Born London

1891 census living at 61, Grange Road, Bermondsey

1901 census living at 63, Grange Road, Bermondsey

1911 census at 105 Southwark Park Road Bermondsey

1915 May 11. Landed in France

1921 Apr 16 Killed in Ennis. The local IRA decided to attack O'Shaughnessy's Pub because it was serving drinks to British Soldiers in spite of IRA warnings. A group of about 9 IRA men went to the pub that night and found the door locked. They banged on the door, and when it was opened. When the door was opened, Paddy Con hurled a Mills grenade into the bar and the rest of the IRA group fired revolvers into the building.

Sgt Rew was killed, Constable Vanderbrugh, Mrs Danaher and Miss O'Shaughnessy were wounded.

4 buildings were destroyed in the Official Reprisals for Sgt Rew's death - Old Ground Hotel, Clare Hotel, Honan's grocery shop The IRA then burnt down a local Protestant's house, Mill View House, the next day.

1921 May 25. Hansard Debate

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, following on the assassination of Sergeant Rew, Royal Scots Regiment, at Ennis, the Clare Hotel, the Old Ground Hotel, the house of Mr. Patrick Considine, and the grocery shop of Mr. T. V. Honan, chairman of the Ennis Urban Council, were destroyed by order of the military governor; on what ground these premises were selected for destruction; whether the owners were given an opportunity of rebutting any alleged evidence against them; whether he is aware that Mr. Honan was ill in bed in hospital at the time of the murder of Sergeant Rew and had been there in bed for three weeks previously; that he is a widower with six small children, the eldest being 13 years old, and that these children are now homeless; and whether he will state what evidence there was against Mr. Honan or his children to justify this destruction of his means of livelihood?

The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood) The murder of Sergeant Rew and the subsequent events took place in a martial-law area, and I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that the premises of Mr. Honan and of Mr. Considine were selected for destruction as the owners were known to be among the chief organisers of rebel activities in Ennis. It was known at the time that Mr. Honan was in hospital and that he is a widower with several children. As regards the question of evidence, this is a matter which must be left to the judgment of the responsible officer on the spot.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY Does the right hon. Gentleman state that a man who was in hospital for weeks before this terrible murder is to be held responsible and his children rendered homeless, and does the right hon. Gentleman justify that by any sort of law of God or man?

1921 Jun 1. Probate to his brother

British Soldiers died in Ireland