Lives of the First World War

known November 1920

27/10/1920 Captain Alan C Lendrum of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was resident magistrate in Doonbeg County Clare; his car was ambushed by four I.R.A. Volunteers who intended taking Lendrum’s car and any guns he had with him. The ambush went wrong and Lendrum was shot and wounded, the I.R.A. Volunteers then shot and killed the wounded Captain. The story was told and repeated in all the national papers at the time that the I.R.A. Volunteers had not shot Lendrum but had buried him up to his neck on a local beach at low tide and attempted to kill him by drowning, the first attempt failed so the I.R.A. Volunteers dug him up and buried him nearer the sea. The story was untrue, the inquest and Landrum’s death certificate found he had died of gunshot wounds. This story of the drowning is repeated in The Black and Tans by Richard Bennett. Lendrum was the son of George and Netta Lendrum, of Corkil, Kilskeery and had received the Military Cross for his services in WW1, he was 34 years old when he died. He is buried in Kilskerry Church of Ireland churchyard.

Created by: , Guy74824