The Ambush
The IRA detonated the roadside bomb as two British lorries were passing a bridge, killing the driver of the first lorry instantly. The IRA unit then opened fire on the lorries, triggering a fire-fight of two hours. One of the Auxiliaries got away and managed to summon reinforcements.
During the fighting, four members of the IRA party worked their way around the flank of the Auxiliaries, killing their commander, Lt. Commander Worthington Craven. After his death, the remaining policemen surrendered. A total of four Auxiliaries had been killed and eight wounded.
Sean MacEoin's treatment of his prisoners was humane. He congratulated them on the fight they had put up and prevented his fighters from assaulting the Auxiliaries. He also had water brought from nearby houses for the British wounded. When he was later captured by the British, three Auxiliaries, who had been at Clonfin, testified at his court martial to his generous treatment of them at Clonfin. MacEoin's humanity delayed the IRA's getaway and they were almost caught by 14 lorries of British reinforcements as they escaped across Clonfin Wood.
The IRA captured 18 rifles, 20 revolvers ammunition, a Lewis gun and 800 rounds of ammunition.
Read more about this topic: Clonfin Ambush
Famous quotes containing the word ambush:
“War is not a life: it is a situation,
One which may neither be ignored nor accepted,
A problem to be met with ambush and stratagem,
Enveloped or scattered.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
“Some fell by laudanum, and some by steel,
And death in ambush lay in every pill.”
—Samuel, Sir Garth (16611719)