Tom Barry (soldier)
| Tom Barry | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 July 1897 Killorglin, Kerry, Ireland |
| Died | 2 July 1980 (aged 83) Cork, Republic of Ireland |
| Allegiance |
 Ireland
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army Irish Republican Army Irish Defence Forces
|
| Rank | Commandant General |
| Unit | Irish Republican Army |
| Commands held |
Officer Commanding, 3rd (West) Cork Brigade, Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff, Irish Republican Army Operations Officer, Southern Command, Irish Defence Forces |
| Battles/wars |
World War I Irish War of Independence Irish Civil War |
Thomas (Tom) Barry (1 July 1897 – 2 July 1980) was a prominent guerrilla leader in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Irish War of Independence, when he was commander of the 3rd West Cork Flying Column.
Christened "Thomas Bernardine", Barry was born in Killorglin, County Kerry. He was the son of a Royal Irish Constabulary policeman. Four years later, Thomas Barry Senior resigned and opened a business in his hometown of Rosscarbery, County Cork. Barry was educated for a period at Mungret College, County Limerick from 25 August 1911 to 12 September 1912. The reason for his short stay is indicated by a reference from the school register of the Apostolic School, Mungret College; 'Went–Home (ran away) without knowledge of superiors – no vocation'.
In 1915, during Ireland's involvement in World War I, he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery at Cork and became a soldier in the British Army.
Barry enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery on 30 June 1915 and was sent to the military depot at Athlone for basic training. After six months he was posted to the Mesopotamian front (modern Iraq) on 21 January 1916. He fought from January 1916 in Mesopotamia (then part of the Ottoman Empire). On 1 March he was raised to the rank of corporal. In April while his brigade was attempting to break the Turkish Siege of Kut where the British after heavy losses were forced to surrender, Barry first heard of the Easter Rising. Presumably in reaction to the British response to the Rising, Barry dropped his rank in protest on 26 May and reverted to his original rank of gunner, which rank he held until the end of the war.
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Wikipedia