Back to Album contains material relating to the death of Captain R G Peek, 9L in Ireland in 1921, with 8 photographs and ewspaper cuttings.
Photographs
Item 0007
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Image details
| Accession number | 912L : 2325 |
|---|---|
| Transcription |
Roscommon Messenger 36,3 Terrible Happenings at Scramogue . Party of Military and Police Ambushed . Captain Peake Shot Dead . A Lieutenant and a Soldier Also Killed , and Several Others Wounded . News reached Roscommon headquarters early on Wednesday morning that au ambush , followed with terrible results , had occurred at Soramogue , a short distance from Strokestown . A strong Crown force on lorries immediately proceeded to the reported scene of the ambush , when it was found that Capt Peake , who for a considerable perlod had been in charge of the military force stationed in the Demesne at Strokestown , a lieutenant , and one soldier had been killed , three soldiers and one policeman wounded , and two of the RI O are miss ing . It seems that the party left Strokestown for Longford on a motor lorry early in the morning , when they were ambushed at Soramogue with the terrible results stated . Oaptain Peaks since he came to Strokestown was most popular , and had frequently exerted his efforts , with the best results , to preserve the peace of the locality . Crown foroes raiding subsequently over the scene of the fatality arrested two men who were removed to Roscommon under a heavy esoort . OFFICIAL REPORT . The official report from General Headquarters , Dublic , states- " A mixed party of the 9th Lancers and R I C , totalling 9 , and travelling in a Crossley tender , were ambushed about 7 15 am yesterday at Soramogue , two miles from Strokestown . The ambushers , who numbered about 40 , opened a heavy fire at point blank range on the car as it approached & bend in the road , killing an officer and the RASO driver , and wounding four others of the small party . THEY THEN DESTROYED THE CAR , AND TOOK AWAY TWO UNWOUNDED R I C. As soon as this was reported parties of military and police at once left Longford and Strokestown for the scene , and up to 6 pm had succeeded in cap turing two armed rebels in the vicinity of the am bush . The search is continuing . The total casual ties to the Crown forces are - 1 officer and 1 other rank killed ; 1 officer died of wounds ; 3 other ranks wounded ; 1 RIO wounded , and 2 RIC missing . " Cork Constitutional 24.3 CAPTAIN KILLED IN ROSCOMMON AMBUSH . LIEUTENANT AND SOLDIERS WOUNDED The Press Association learns that a party of military and police were ambushed at seven o'clock yesterday morning at Scramoge , Strokestown , Co Roscommon . A CAPTAIN WAS KILLED CNE LIEUTENANT . AND ONE WOUNDED . and SOLDIERS AND TWO POLICE MEN ARE MISSING . THREE A local correspondent states that twe military lorries in charge of Captain Peek , 9th Lancers , were conveying prisoners to Longford when they were attacked at Sera THREE SOLDIERS POLICEMAN WERE moge . The captain and four soldiers were shot dead , and several others were wounded . The ambush was prepared at a cross - roads . flanked by a dense wood , and it is surmised the attack was made from the wood on one side and from houses on the other side . Capt . Peek was an extremely popular officer in the County Roscommon and his tragic end is much deplored at Strokestown , where all the shops were shuttered as a mark of sympathy . According to the official report , the party consisted of 9th Lancers and police , and numbered nine . About 40 attackers fired point blank as the car approached the bend killing the officer and military driver and wounding four others . The rebels destroyed the car and took away two unwounded police . The military and police captured two armed rebels . Yorks . Herald 24.3 A REBEL AMBUSH OFFICER AND A SOLDIER KILLED . TWO POLICE MISSING . A party of military and police were am bushed at seven o'clock yesterday morning at Scramoge , Strokestown , County Roscommon A captain and a military driver were killed , one policeman was wounded , and two police men are missing . A local correspondent states that two mili tary lorries in charge of Captain Week , 9th Lancers , were conveying prisoners to Long ford , when they were attacked at Scramoge . The captain and lorry driver were shot dead . and several others were wounded . The ambush was prepared at cross - roads , flanked by a dense wood , and it is surmised that the attack was made from the wood on one side and from houses on the other side . Captain Week was an extremely popular officer in County Ros common , and his tragic end is much deplored . At Strokestown all the shops were shutt ered as a mark of sympathy . According to an official report the party consisted of 9th Lancers and police , and numbered nine . About 40 attackers fired point blank as the car approached the bend , killing the officer and the military driver , and wounding four others . The rebels destroyed the car , and took away two un wounded police . military police captured two armed rebels . The NUMEROUS AMBUSHES . HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE . OFFICERS AND SOLDIER KILLED . SIX CIVILIANS SHOT NEAR CORK . soldier EIGHT MEN REPORTED KILLED IN KERRY . Reports which reached Dublin last night recorded the deaths of twenty - one wen . Two military officers and were killed in County Roscommon , a police sergeant was shot dead in County Mayo , a head constable died from wounds , six civilians were shot by Crown forces in County Cork , eight others are believed to have been killed in County Kerry , and two young men were fatally wounded while try ing to evade Crown forces . LANCERS AMBUSHED . TWO OFFICERS AND ONE MAN KILLED . TWO POLICEMEN CARRIED OFF . An official military report issued last night states : A mixed party of the 9th Lancers and R.I.C. , numbering nine , and travelling in a Crossley tender , was ambushed at 7.15 this morning at Scramogue , two miles from Strokestown , County Roscommon . The ambushers , who numbered about forty , opened very heavy fire at point - blank range on the car as it approached a bend in the road , killing an officer and the Trish Tames Тально 24.3 R.A.S.C. driver and wounding four others of the small party . They then destroyed the car , and took away the two unwounded R.I.C. As soon as the matter was reported , parties of mili tary and police at once left Long ford and Strokestown for the scene of the ambush , and up to 6 o'clock this evening had succeeded in capturing two armed rebels in the vicinity of the scene of the conflict . he Crown forces casualties were : -One officer and one other rank killed , one officer died of wounds , three other ranks wounded , one R.I.C. wounded , and two R.I.C. missing . Information reached Roscommon this morning ( telegraphs our Roscommon Correspondent yesterday ) that a patrol of cavalry stationed in Packenham Mahon demesne had been am bushed at Scramogue , near Strokestown , with fatal results to several of its members . A large force of military and police was hurried to the seene of the ambush , when it was found that Captain Peek and two members of his party had been killed , and several others wounded . The district was searched for a considerable distance around by Crown forces , when two men were arrested on suspicion of being con cerned in the ambush , and removed under heavy escort to Roscommon . Captain Peek had been in command of the force stationed in the demesne at Strokestown for a considerable period , and the judicious way in which he dealt with the people of the town made him ex tremely popular . |
