Thomas Deignan

Thomas Deignan
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Born	11 June 1897 Doongelagh, Sligo, Ireland
Died	27 August 1976 (aged 79)
Burial place	Ballyrush cemetery
Occupation	Farmer Politician Soldier
Years active	1917–1976
Spouse(s)	Annie (née Brennan)
Children	Brendan Deignan Tommy Deignan Donal Deignan Eileen White Anna Costello

Thomas (Tom) Deignan (1897 – 1976) was in later life a farmer and local politician but as a young man he was a veteran of World War I and subsequently a Commandant in the Irish Republican Army and fought in the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War.

Tom was born in Doongelagh (Killadoon) County Sligo|Co Sligo on 11^th June 1897; his parents were Thomas Deignan, a farmer, and Margaret (née Kelly). He was the fourth of their eight children. At the time of the 1911 Census the family lived at Doongelagh (Killadoon, County Sligo|Co. Sligo). The following are just a few of the more notable events in his remarkable life.

Emigrated to USA

In 1915 at the age of 18 Tom emigrated to the United States|USA and together with his three brothers Patrick, John and Hugh they resided at 198 East 76th Street, New York. Tom worked as a lift attendant and a chauffer for over a year before he voluntarily enlisted in the US Army.

World War I

69th New York Infantry Regiment

On the 9th July 1917 Tom enlisted in the famous 69th New York Infantry Regiment of the American army. Tom's unit did their basic training in the US and were attached to the 42nd Rainbow Division of the AEF (American Expeditionary Forces) and were shipped to France after a month of further training in England.

Active Service

He saw active service on the Western Front from November 1917 to March 1919. His unit were instrumental in halting the German offensive at the Second battle of the Marne. In July 1918 they successfully forced the Germans to retreat across the river at Chateau-Thierry despite suffering 1500 casualties in that engagement. Tom was wounded several times by 3rd degree burns and exposure to Mustard Gas. Despite these combat wounds Tom got through the war without any long term disabilities. One of his WWI exploits gets a mention in Francis P. Duffy|Fr. Duffys story.

US Citizenship & Return to Ireland

After the war ended in November 1918 Tom's regiment were retained for peace keeping duties and did not return to the USA until March 1919. Tom received an honorable discharge on the 22^nd March and was now a US citizen and received his passport in November 1919 whereupon he had decided to return to Ireland for 6 months as his mother was seriously ill at the time. Despite his intentions he was never to return to the USA. It was troubled times in Ireland and the Irish War of Independence|War of Independence was under way. It wasn't long before the Irish Republican Army (1919–1922)|IRA came looking for Tom with his military experience and training to help out.

Irish War of Independence

In late 1919 Tom joined Gleann Company, 5th Battalion Sligo Brigade of the Irish Republican Army|IRA. His brother John, who had also returned from the United States|USA, was a Lieutenant in the same company. Within a month he was appointed Officer in Command of the Riverstown Battalion. For the first few months the unit were primarily engaged in gathering an arsenal. Every house in the area was visited by the Irish Republican Army|IRA to retrieve whatever fire arms they could get. They also performed local policing duties as the British controlled police force the :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC were no longer trusted and were considered part of the collaborating occupying force. Tom's main goal, as O/C, at this time was to drill and train the brigade for combat.

Black & Tans / RIC

Tom orchestrated an ambush of an :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC patrol at Ballyrush in July 1920. He had 8 men a few revolvers and shotguns. They lay in wait and opened fire on the patrol. The :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC were captured dis-armed and subsequently released. A number of these :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC later resigned from the force rather than return to the peril.

On Oct 25^th 1920 Sligo Irish Republican Army|IRA Volunteers carried out an ambush on a :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC patrol in which 8 RIC men were killed. This triggered fierce reprisals in the County by the Black and Tans|Black and Tans and :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC. A number of :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC constables were particularly diligent in pinpointing homes and businesses for burning and during this time Tom's parents home and out-buildings were burned to the ground by the Black and Tans. They first burned a hay shed in which some arms and a mine were hidden causing an explosion but nobody was injured. The tans then set fire to the thatched residence but scampered away very quickly in fear of further mines.

On Tuesday April 19^th 1921 intelligence was received that a contingent of soldiers and :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC were returning from a meeting in Dublin Castle by train. A unit of local Irish Republican Army|IRA volunteers including Tom and lead by Liam Pilkington|Commandment Billy Pilkington boarded the train at Ballysadare|Ballisodare. The British soldiers were dis-armed and allowed to go free however two of the RIC men were singled out as they were identified as particularly vicious in the recent reprisals. They were taken from the train and executed. In a witness statement given to the military archives in 1953 Tom stated “They were carrying large envelopes from the Castle which contained descriptions of some of our men who were wanted by the police. These descriptions were very accurate”

In Culfadda near Ballymote, on the 1^st of June 1921 , while trying to meet with the local Battalion leader to plan an operation in the area Tom was shot at and apprehended by a troop of British soldiers. He was recognized as a wanted man but as luck would have it there were no :simple:Royal_Irish_Constabulary|RIC or Black and Tans|Black & Tans on hand so they were unable to associate him with any specific engagement. He was brutally interrogated for several days and then transferred to Sligo Gaol on the 5th of June. During this transfer an attempt was made to ambush it and rescue him by a unit of local Irish Republican Army|IRA volunteers however they did not prevail and Tom was delivered to the gaol. At this time there were about 160 prisoners incarcerated and amongst them were Frank O'Beirne and Charles Gildea. These men had already been sentenced and knew their fate. Fearful of recognition by one of the freed soldiers from the Ballysadare|Ballisodare shooting Tom and the afore mentioned O'Beirne and Gildea decided that escape was the only option.

With the help of a warder, J. Henry, who was sympathetic to the cause they took impressions of the cell and some outer door keys. These were given to a local unit on the outside who were able to create copies and smuggle them back into the gaol. The escape was carefully planned in unison with Liam Pilkington|Commandment Billy Pilkington who arranged for an armed unit to cover off the front of the gaol hidden by hay carts. This was to prevent the military from getting out or any other reinforcements from getting in. There were 9 attempted mobilizations in all but each of these endeavors had to be called off at the last minute. Despite this nothing was ever suspected by the British. After a month the call to action finally came. Tom and his comrades got out of their cell, the friendly warder who was guarding the corridor was tied up and gagged in order to remove suspicion of his involvement. They made their way between 2 sentry towers to the hangman's yard. A rope ladder had been thrown over the wall by the Volunteers on the outside. All 3 were able to climb over where they were met and given bicycles. From there they cycled to a safe house Clarkes of Tirrearagh and returned to life on the run.

Irish Civil War

Tom took the anti-treaty side in this terrible conflict that divided the nation.

Siege of Taunagh

A troop of Free state soldiers were garrisoned at Taunagh national school. Tom and his comrades initiated a siege of the school in which they successfully forced the unit to flee. However during this conflict Tom was injured and lost 3 fingers off his right hand. He was removed for medical treatment. During his return journey from hospital the car he was travelling in came under attack at Taylor's Cross, Coola. One of the occupants, Tom Sheerin, was shot and later died from the injury sustained in this attack.

Internment

By late 1923 Tom was interned in the Curragh by the Irish Free State|Free State Government under W. T. Cosgrave along with 12,000 other anti-treaty soldiers. He was released in 1924.

After the Conflicts & Political Career

Marriage

For a time after the conflicts Tom sold insurance. In 1931 he married Annie Brennan who was also a member of Cumann na mBan during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. They settled in Ardvarney, Riverstown, Co.Sligo where he farmed a small holding. They had 5 children.

Local Politics

In 1952 Tom stood as a Fianna Fail candidate in the Sligo County Council election. He topped the poll, reached the quota and was elected on the first count. He successfully contested 3 more elections and was a serving elected councillor until his death in 1976.

Funeral

Tom is buried in Ballyrush cemetery alongside his wife Annie. At his funeral there was a three-volley salute, a guard of honor provided by surviving IRA comrades and an oration by Judge B. Brennan.

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