Ирландская война за независимость: Хронология (1919–1921)

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This is a timeline of the Irish War of Independence (or the Anglo Irish War) of 1919–21. The Irish War of Independence was a guerrilla conflict and most of the fighting was conducted on a small scale by the standards of conventional warfare. Although there were some large scale encounters between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the state forces of the United Kingdom (Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC)/Auxiliary Division and Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) paramilitary units—the Black and Tans, the Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) and the regular British Army), most of the casualties were inflicted in assassinations and reprisals on either side. The war began with an unauthorised ambush by IRA volunteers Dan Breen and Seán Treacy at Soloheadbeg in 1919 and officially ended with a truce agreed in July 1921. However, violence continued, particularly in the disputed territory of Northern Ireland, until mid 1922 (see The Troubles in Northern Ireland (1920–1922)). In the rest of Ireland, the war was followed by the Irish Civil War between supporters and opponents of the Anglo Irish Treaty.

3 February 1919: Éamon de Valera (president of Sinn Féin) escaped from Lincoln Gaol, along with Seán McGarry and Seán Milroy. The escape was masterminded by Harry Boland and Michael Collins. All were members of Sinn Féin. 23 February 1919: at a Brigade meeting in Nodstown Tipperary, officers of the Third Tipperary Brigade drafted a proclamation (signed by Seumus Robinson as O/C) ordering all British military and police forces out of South Tipperary and, if they stayed they would be held to have "forfeited their lives". The leadership of the Irish Volunteers in Dublin refused to sanction the proclamation and demanded it not be publicly displayed. Despite this it was still posted in several places in Tipperary.

1 June 1919: De Valera departed for the United States. He sought to gain official recognition of the Irish Republic from the US government, to secure the support of the American people, and to raise money for Dáil Éireann and the IRA. 6 June 1919: The United States Senate passed a resolution asking for the delegation appointed by Dáil Éireann to be given a hearing at the Paris Peace Conference, and expressing sympathy with the "aspirations of the Irish people for a government of their own choice".

4 July 1919: Sinn Féin, the Irish Volunteers, Cumann na mBan and the Gaelic League were declared illegal in County Tipperary. 12 July 1919: Ulster Unionist Party leader Edward Carson warned that if any moves were made to separate Ulster from the United Kingdom he would call out the Ulster Volunteers.

4 August 1919: Two RIC officers were fatally shot by the IRA while on patrol near Ennistymon, County Clare. An IRA volunteer was wounded in the action. 20 August 1919: Motion passed by Dáil that an Oath of Allegiance (to the Republic) should be taken by all members and officials of Dáil Éireann, and all Irish Volunteers. Volunteers began taking the oath on 25 August. O'Malley (new ed. 1990) says that with this oath the Irish Volunteers became the Irish Republican Army (IRA). 23 August 1919: Francis Murphy (15), a member of Fianna Éireann, was shot dead by British soldiers who fired into his home near Ennistymon, County Clare. It was allegedly retaliation for the recent IRA ambush nearby. Although the British Army denied responsibility, an inquest found them responsible.

2 March 1920: British intelligence operative of Irish descent, John Charles Byrnes (alias "Jack Jameson"), was killed by "the Squad" in Dublin. 3 March 1920: Frank Shawe Taylor, land agent, was shot dead near Athenry, County Galway. 5 March 1920: An RIC officer (John Martin Heanue) was shot dead as he called at a village grocers shop in Bouladuff, County Tipperary. 16 March 1920: Two RIC officers were shot dead outside a church in Toomevara, County Tipperary. 19 March 1920: An RIC officer (Joseph Murtagh) was shot dead in an IRA ambush in Cork city while returning from a colleague's funeral. 22 March 1920: British soldiers singing "God Save the King" drew a hostile crowd at Portobello Bridge, Dublin. Troops from the nearby barracks arrived and opened fire, killing two civilians. 24 March 1920: British intelligence operative of Irish descent, Frederick McNutley (alias British Army RASC clerk Brian Fergus Malloy) was killed by "the Squad" in Dublin after he had tried to lead the IRA into a trap. 25 March 1920: The Black and Tans arrived in Ireland. He was tasked by the British to track down Sinn Féin funds; he had successfully confiscated over £71,000 from Sinn Féin's HQ and, by investigating banks throughout the country, was set to seize much more. 29 March 1920: Better Government of Ireland Bill was passed by 348 votes to 94 in Westminster.

3–4 April 1920: The IRA burned over 300 abandoned RIC barracks in rural areas and almost 100 income tax offices. A further 150 barracks were destroyed on the night of 5–6 April. While raiding the Excise Office in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, the IRA shot and wounded two RIC officers of a three man patrol which approached an IRA sentry post. 5 April 1920: IRA prisoners began a hunger strike in Mountjoy Prison, demanding prisoner of war status. Detective Constable Harry Kells of Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) "G" Division was assassinated in Dublin by "the Squad". 18 April 1920: The IRA attacked a group of RIC officers leaving a church in Kilmihil, County Clare. An RIC officer and an IRA volunteer were killed and several wounded. 29 April 1920: The IRA attacked Rush RIC barracks, County Dublin, fatally wounding an RIC sergeant John Brady. 9 May 1920: Some 200 IRA volunteers under Frank Aiken attacked the RIC barracks in Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. After a two hour firefight, the IRA breached the barracks wall with explosives and stormed the building. The RIC refused to surrender until the building was set alight with petrol from a potato spraying machine. 10 May 1920: Three RIC officers were killed in an IRA ambush at Ahawadda Cross, near Timoleague, County Cork. 11 May 1920: IRA volunteers destroyed the RIC barracks at Hollyford, County Tipperary. The surrendered RIC barracks at Rockbrook, Dublin was destroyed. 13 May 1920: W. J. McCabe, an employee of Laurence Ambrose Waldron (MP for County Dublin), was shot dead in Killiney. 14–15 May 1920: Every member of the Dáil (not already in prison) received a note through the post that said "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Therefore, a life for a life". 20 May 1920: Dublin dock workers refused to handle British military supplies, and were soon joined by members of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union; especially railway workers, who refused to drive trains carrying British troops. Despite hundreds of sackings, the strike continued until December. Two RIC men were killed, two were wounded, and ten more surrendered. An IRA volunteer (Capt Liam Scully) was killed. 29 May 1920: IRA volunteer Thomas Sheridan was shot dead while attempting to disarm two RIC men in Crossdoney, County Cavan. An RIC officer and another volunteer were wounded. Sheridan was one of only three IRA volunteers to be killed in County Cavan during the war.

30 August 1922: A British Lt found dead in Dublin Shot by person or persons unknown; 2 additional British soldiers killed.