George Levins

George Levins (1872-1957)

B Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade

George Levins was born in 1872 and resided at 5 North Temple Street Dublin. He was a member of B Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade. He mobilised on Easter Monday and while on his way to Liberty Hall he met Fred Brooks of C Coy and they in turn met D Coy and fell in behind Commandant Sean Heuston on route to the Mendicity Institution on Ushers Island. He was placed on stairs duty according to Sean Heuston’s, Sentry Duty Rota. Captain Richard Balfe in a reference for George states: “…he defended successfully a very dangerous part of this building, at one post he remained in the one place for 18 hours without relief or sustenance…”. When the Mendicity garrison surrendered on the Wednesday he was court-martialled and sentenced to death. He was handed over to Military escort for conveyance to Portland Prison on 11th of May 1916 and 7 months later he was transferred to Lewes jail in Kent.

He was released in June 1917. He rejoined the Irish Volunteers and remained on the rolls throughout the War of Independence however he had very little active service due to ill health since his release from prison. When the Civil War began in 1922 he reported for duty and was sent by his then Captain Barney Mellows to Barry’s and Hamman Hotels and took part in the fighting there defending the Irish Republic against the Free State Troops. He was a house and ship painter by trade.

George Levins died on the 19th of December 1957.

George Levins (1872-1957)

Complacht B, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath

Rugadh George Levins i 1872. Bhí cónaí air i 5 Sráid Temple, Baile Átha Cliath. Ba phéintéir tithe agus long é. Ba bhall é de Chomplacht B, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath. Shlóg sé Luan Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916 agus ar a shlí go dtí Halla na Saoirse, chas sé ar Fred Brooks ó Chomplacht C. Bhuail an bheirt acu le baicle as Complacht D agus mháirseáil siad leo, faoi cheannas an Chaptaein Seán Heuston, go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais, Oileán Uiséir. De réir Uainchláir Heuston d’Fhairtheoirí cuireadh é ar dhualgais staighre. Deir an Captaen Richard Balfe, ag tagairt do George: “…chosain sé go maith cuid an-bhaolach den fhoirgneamh seo, ag post amháin d’fhan sé in áit amháin ar feadh 18 n-uaire gan faoiseamh, gan cothú…”. Nuair a ghéill garastún Institiúid an Déirceachais, Dé Céadaoin, 26 Aibreán, cuireadh cúirt airm air agus daoradh chun báis é ach laghdaíodh an bhreith go téarma I bpríosún. Ar an 11 Bealtaine 1916 cuireadh faoi choimhdeacht mhíleata é go dtí Príosún Portland, Sasana, agus, 7 mí níos déanaí, bogadh é go dtí Príosún Lewes, Sussex Thoir, Sasana. Scaoileadh saor é i Meitheamh 1917. Chuaigh sé ar ais in Óglaigh na hÉireann agus bhí sé ar an rolla i rith Cogadh na Saoirse ach ní raibh sé ar fiannas mórán toisc drochshláinte a bheith air ó d’fhág sé an príosún. Nuair a thosaigh Cogadh na gCarad i 1922 chuaigh sé i mbun a dhualgais arís agus sheol an Captaen Barney Mellows é go dtí Óstlann Barry agus go dtí Óstlann Hamman i Sráid Uí Chonaill. Bhí baint aige ansin sa troid ag cosaint Phoblacht na hÉireann i gcoinne saighdiúirí an tSaorstáit. Cailleadh George Levins 19 Nollaig 1957.

Tagairtí:
Rolla Onóra.
Daonáireamh 1911.
Clár Ginearálta na bPríosúnach 1916.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: MSP34REF14304.