pistols

Police officer casts forfeited guns into the sea: Another photo of the forfeited guns:

Thanks Wystan, for pointing to the photos in which you can actually read the captions. We'll correct the caption for this image next time we update the record.

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!

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.