Burgery ambush
Ambush during the Irish War of Independence
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The Burgery ambush was an ambush carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 18–19 March 1921, during the Irish War of Independence.[1] It took place near Dungarvan, County Waterford.
| Burgery ambush | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Irish War of Independence | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Irish Republican Army(Déise Brigade) |
 Royal Irish Constabulary(Reserve Force) | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
George Oliver Plunkett |
Captain DV Thomas | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| ~20 |
14 (initially) 50 (subsequently) | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 2 killed |
2 killed 2 captured | ||||
Ambush
On the night of 18–19 March 1921, IRA volunteers of the West Waterford flying column ambushed a British military convoy at the Burgery, about a mile and a half northeast of Dungarvan. The convoy included Black and Tans and a Royal Irish Constabulary Sergeant, named Michael Hickey.[2] In overall command of the IRA unit was IRA GHQ Officer George Plunkett. Also present were West Waterford Brigade Commandant Pax Whelan, ASU leader George Lennon, and Mick Mansfield. A British Crossley tender was set on fire and prisoners taken by the IRA, including Sergeant Hickey. Hickey was later killed by an IRA firing squad[3] with a sign reading "police spy" affixed to his tunic. He was later buried in an unmarked grave.[2] Other prisoners including Captain DV Thomas, the commander of the British garrison, were released.[4]
After the ambush, a group of volunteers under Plunkett returned to search for any armaments left behind by the British forces. Crown forces who were now searching the area engaged the IRA party; IRA volunteers Seán Fitzgerald and Pat Keating were shot dead.[5] A member of the Black and Tans, Constable Sydney R. Redman[3] was shot dead during the return fire.