Scramogue Ambush

The Scramogue Ambush was an incident in Ireland's War of Independence.

The flying columns of the North and South Roscommon Irish Republican Army Brigades under Patrick Madden (O/C South Roscommon Brigade) ambushed a nine-man British Army (Ninth Lancers regiment) and Royal Ulster Constabulary (RIC) patrol in a Crossley tender at Scramogue, on March 23, 1921, (on the Strokestown-Longford road) which resulted in the death of six members of the British forces.

Two British army officers (Captain Roger Grenville Peek { [ [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=350141 CWGC record] ] } and Lt John Harold Anthony Tennant [ [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=410005 CWGC record] ] ), an RASC driver and one RIC man (Con [http://www.policememorial.org.uk/Forces/IRELAND/RIC_Roll.htm Edward Leslie] ) were killed in action. Peek, who commanded the 9th Lancers at Strokestown, County Roscommon had threatened to burn every house within five miles if one of his men were killed. In addition, after the ambush, two men in civilian clothes approached IRA commander Madden and told him that they were prisoners on the tender. Under questioning, it turned out that they were RIC men (Black and Tans) under arrest - both (Con Buchanan and Con Evans) were killed.

There were 39 men in the ambush party armed with 17 rifles, 2 or 3 revolvers and 20 shotguns. Among the IRA who took part were 'Cushy' Hughes, Frank Simons and Luke Duffy, Seán Leavy (O/C 3rd Battalion North Roscommon Brigade), Martin Fallon (O/C Flying Column North Roscommon Brigade).

Two men from the North Roscommon brigade (Pat Mullolly and Brian Nagle) who had taken part in the ambush were arrested after the ambush and the brother of one (Michael Mullolly) was shot dead in his home by RIC men.A detailed account of the action can be found in "Raids and Rallies" by Ernie O'Malley published by Anvil Books, Dublin in 1982.