irishrepublicanarmy

at first glance it could be mistaken for an alpine hunting party. they seem not to be dressed to rough it as a flying column, so it would have been a prepared photocall?

May be a red herring, but a Capt. McGrath was appointed Quartermaster to the 55th Infantry Battalion in a list issued in March 1923 (Freeman's Journal). Would he have been based at the Prison Garrison in Waterford? Bit of a stretch?

Foxglove Was just reading recently that the shirt, collar, and tie (though not everyone here has one on) were to denote respectability. Also learned the Irish for Flying Column is Colún Reatha (running column) which I think is lovely.

Foxglove yes that was my thought.

Wonder was Mr.Poole blindfolded on his way to take it ? Lots of "photoshopping" on the background...... I have a similar posed photograph from Castlecomer.

Who's who in this photo?
Th officer (I'm going by the cut of his uniform) has Flying Corps wings above his campaign ribbons. campaign ribbons are also worn my the man to his right.
By the look of cap badges (a harp surmounted by a crown) and the dark uniforms they might be members of the RIC . The presence of a khaki clad officer also makes me think of RIC Auxiliaries, aka Black and Tans.

I'm assuming he's Auxiliary - those men were recruited from ex-WWI officers including the Royal Flying Corps. Most of the others seem to be Black and Tans. So many men (mostly WWI veterans) responded to British Government appeals for recruits to bolster R.I.C. (Royal Irish Constabulary) numbers, that there was a severe shortage of uniforms. Hence the Tans mostly ended up with khaki trousers and dark tops, either R.I.C. (dark green) or British police tunics (dark blue) - and hence the nickname...

For more on this attack, and some fascinating details on participants from both sides, see this link - irishconstabulary.com/topic/755/Q-Company

Peter Mc Thank you! Absolutely fascinating, and allowed me to tag with Q Company...
With regard to the "liquid fire" spoken of on irishconstabulary.com, the Irish Times reported that:
"... A sinister feature of the attack was the use of gas bombs and of bottles containing a thick red-brown corrosive liquid, which gave off nauseous fumes and partially choked the police occupants of the hotel..."

Peter Mc Very interesting, I read the account of the attack, fascinating!

Here he is - www.theauxiliaries.com/police-advisor-office/haldane/hald...

From thepeerage dot com: Lt.-Col. Maldwyn Makgill Haldane was born on 11 January 1877. He was the son of Robert Camperdown Haldane and Emily Anderson. He married, firstly, Mabel Constance Seymour, daughter of Robert George Seymour, on 8 November 1902. He married, secondly, Katherine Baylay, daughter of Reverend Atwell Mervyn Yates Baylay, in October 1934. He died on 29 June 1940 at age 63. He was educated at St. Paul's School, London, England. He was educated at Loretto School, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. He fought in the First World War. He gained the rank of Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Scots. He was Assistant Director of Special Intelligence Services.

At The Peerage - www.thepeerage.com/p31101.htm#i311005

From the beachcombers link, I think the reason he was of interest to Beaslai and Collins was: 1914 Major, War Office (Declaration of War) Major, Head of H Branch MI5 throughout the war (under Lt. Colonel Kell) 1919 Jan 1 Lt. Colonel, 1920 Lt. Colonel, 1920, A Branch (Director of Administration) Ireland, Dublin Castle. In Police Advisor's Office in Dublin 1922 Lt. Colonel, 1922, Director Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Belfast

Wikispooks [!!] on MI5 history - wikispooks.com/wiki/MI5