Today in Irish History, November 28 1920 – The Kilmichael ambush – #Kilmichael100 Tom Barry's IRA column wiped out a patrol of Auxiliaries. A vicious close quarter fight ad this article discusses. https://t.co/yH6CA2iA6e

(Excuse the typo above!) Tom Barry, beyond the legend, was quite a contradictory character. He was the son of a policeman, who joined the British Army in WWI (when he served in the Royal Artillery in Mesopotamia (Iraq) against the Ottoman Turks.

It was pointed out by @swgannon here yesterday that when he returned to Ireland in 1919, he attempted to join the Imperial Civil Service, but failed the exam. He also attended the first Armistice Day commemorations in Cork in which the Union flag was raised.

But at some point he had a change of heart and approached the local IRA (Cork 3 Batt) to join them. Naturally they, led by Tom Hales at the time, were suspicious of him. But they allowed him in for his military training in order to train their men.

However Hales was arrested and Barry got on better with his replacement Charlie Hurley. Barry was involved in the Toureen ambush in October 1920 but not in command. Kilmichael was his first large action as column leader.