Tribute to an Irish Hero

If you want to know who taught the notorious NKVD and Israeli Defence Forces how to deal viciously with occupied peoples look no further than England’s Black and Tans irregular army and auxiliaries (1919 ~ 1921).

At a meeting in Listowel, Co Kerry on 19th June, English Army officer Colonel Gerald Bryce Ferguson Smyth told (Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) officers:

Police and military will patrol the country roads at least five nights a week. They are not to confine themselves to the main roads but make across the country, lie in ambush, take cover behind fences near roads, and when civilians are seen approaching shout: ‘Hands up!’ Should the order be not obeyed, shoot, and shoot with effect. If the persons approaching carry their hands in their pockets or are in any way suspicious looking, shoot them down. You may make mistakes occasionally and innocent persons may be shot, but that cannot be helped and you are bound to get the right persons sometimes. The more you shoot the better I will like you; and I assure you that no policeman will get into trouble for shooting any man and I will guarantee that your names will not be given at the inquest.

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Patrick later emigrated to the United States where he worked on the construction of New York’s subway system. He served in the U.S 69th Regiment, National Guard. According to Soviet archives (Fond 545. Opus 6. 442 Record). Paddy gave his address as The Irish Workers Club, 242 Windsor Place, Brooklyn, New York.

In 1936 Patrick (Paddy) enlisted in the Moscow-backed International Brigade. There were said to be 40,000 volunteers. Filled with idealism there was strong support for both the Moscow backed Republicans and Reich-supported forces of General Francisco Franco. Patrick’s commander Frank Ryan served as an Abwehr (Reich Intelligence) agent. Ryan died in war-stricken Berlin.

!!!!c_d09c08a70e84e3c907ad605fa1524ff3The Spanish Civil War Paddy saw Paddy fighting on several fronts. During this time he formed a friendship with Ernest Hemingway, the legendary American war correspondent. In defence of the Republican Valencia to Madrid supply route, the Battle of the Jarama Valley was one of the bloodiest battles of Spain’s Civil War. The attrition rate was higher than was the killing fields of Ypres.

A Nationalist force of 40,000 men, including men from the Army of Africa, crossed the Jarama River on February 11 1937. On February 12, at what became known as Suicide Hill, the Republicans suffered heavy casualties. Coming under heavy fire, the British now down to 160 men out of the original 600, established defensive positions along a sunken road. Of the 263 men who went into action that day only 150 survived. One soldier remarked afterwards: “The battalion was named after Abraham Lincoln because he too was assassinated.”

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One of the survivors was Paddy McLaughlin. The Irish patriot went on to enlist in the British Royal Air Force. Working on Hurricanes and Spitfires Paddy he earned his wings as an aircraft flier-fitter. When asked why he fought on the British side he replied that “sometimes there was a need to make a pact with the devil.”

I last saw Paddy on a stairway of a church meeting hall where I was to address a public meeting. As I descended the stairway the visitor beamed with happiness. Despite his prodigal son’s ‘failings’ he was delighted at the chance meeting. Presuming his intention to disrupt my meeting there was a furious confrontation. It was the first time and possibly the only time in his life that my father retreated. He must have felt humiliated.

Too late to make amends I realised that my father had made a simple mistake. He had not come to disrupt my meeting, but had simply got his dates wrong. He had turned up one week early to attend a meeting of his own.
On this day, the National Day of a United Ireland, I unreservedly apologise to my father. We both wanted a better world; he tried to do it his ways as I try to do it mine. Whatever our political differences I salute one of the world’s most heroic fighters; a father who cannot be bettered. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, Dad.

Battle doesn’t determine who is right, only who is left. We destroyed fascists, not fascism; men, not ideas. Our triumphs did not serve as evidence that democracy is best for the world any more than Russian victories proved that communism is an ideal system for all mankind. Only through our peacetime efforts to abolish war and bring a larger measure of freedom and security to all peoples can we reveal to others that we are any better than our defeated opponents.” ~ Peter Bowman ‘Beach Red’

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