123
800Years IrishPolitical, Literary&MilitaryHistory - 15thApril2014
343 AnEmergency - SeirbhisNaisuintaServiceMedal
awarded to “An Forsa Cosanta Aitiuil” - the Local Defence Force, with one
bar, ribbon and clasp, together with it’s original box andCompliments slip.
Agood clean example.
€100 - 150
342 JosephO’Connor
His 1916medal, it’sminiature, Emergency26thBattalianmedalwith
twobars, aminiatureWarof Independencemedalwith ‘Comrac’ bar
and an addressedbox.
JosephO’Connor joined the IrishVolunteers in 1913, being appoint-
ed Lieutenant in 1914 and by 1916 he was a captain in command of
ACompany, 3rdBattalion, DublinBrigade under Éamon deValera.
Hewas active in the training and arming of theVolunteers andwas
present at the landingof guns atHowth in July1914.
When thevice-commandant failed to show for the1916EasterRising
deValeramadeO’Connorhis second in command.O’Connor fought
with his company and de Valera at Boland’sMill until they became
the last battalion to surrender.
He was imprisoned at Frongoch internment camp inWales but was
released towards the endof 1916. Returning toDublinO’Connor re-
joined the Volunteers and by the end of the IrishWar of Independ-
encehewasCommandantof the3rdBattalion,DublinBrigade ‘Dev’s
Own’.
Following the signing of the Treaty in 1921, O’Connor took theAn-
ti-Treaty sideandwaselected to the IRAExecutive. Hewasamember
of the IrishRepublicanArmy’s ‘BannedConvention’ in 1922 and in
theBattleofDublinduring the IrishCivilWarheheld theFiannaHQ
inYorkStreet near St Stephen’sGreen.
InOctober1922O’Connorwas capturedbyFreeState forces`. Initial-
ly held at Griffith Barracks, he was subsequently sent to Hare Park
InternmentCamp in theCurragh.
In October 1923 O’Connor was sent to Mountjoy Prison where he
went onhunger strike. Transferred toKilmainhamPrisonhe finally
ended his hunger strike after 40 days. He was eventually released in
February1924.
After the CivilWar, O’Connor became active in Sinn Fein and later
accepted de Valera’s invitation to join the National Executive of Fi-
annaFail.
At the outbreakof the SecondWorldWar,O’Connor suggested tode
Valera that abattalionof ex IRAmenbe raised toassist in thedefence
of Ireland. The 26th Battalionwas formed inDublin andO’Connor
became itsBattalion2 i/c. until its standdown inDecember 1945.
JosephO’Connor died in1959.
€1500 - 2500
