William Wilson

William Wilson (1891-1956)

Swords Coy, 5th Batt. Dublin Brigade (known as Fingal Brigade)

William Wilson was born in 1891 and resided at Balheary Swords Co. Dublin. He was a member of the Swords Coy 5^th Batt. Dublin Brigade. He mobilised on Easter Monday with the Swords Coy of the 5^th Batt. and they proceeded to Finglas where they dug trenches just South of the Village on the East side of the Dublin Road where the ground is raised to overlook the Main Dublin Road. In the middle of the night under cover of darkness a cycling column of 20 men stole along the Tolka river towards Blanchardstown, the object of the raid was to destroy the railway at Ashtown and thereby check the free entry of troop trains from the Curragh to the City. On Tuesday morning William was one of the party sent to the G.P.O. along with his 2 brothers James and Peter and his cousin also named Peter. From the G.P.O. they were sent to the Mendicity Institution in charge of Commandant Sean Heuston. When the surrender came of the Wednesday he was taken prisoner and lodged in Arbour Hill before being taken to Richmond Barracks for court-martial. He was sentenced to death commuted to 3 years and on the 19^th May 1916 he was handed over to Military escort for conveyance to Portland Prison.

He was released in June 1917. He rejoined his Company and continued active service up to the Truce. He later joined the National Forces. William was a cousin of Peter Wilson who was shot dead at the surrender of the Mendicity Institution.

William Wilson died on the 30^th of October 1956 he is buried in St. Columbas Cemetery Swords.

William Wilson (1891-1956)

Complacht Shoird, 5ú Cathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath.

Rugadh William Wilson i 1891. Bhí cónaí air i mBaile Anraí, Sord, Co Átha Cliath. Bhí sé ina bhall de Chomplacht Shoird, 5ú Cathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath d’Óglaigh na hÉireann. Shlóg sé maidin Luan na Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, in éineacht lena Chomplacht. Chuaigh siad go dtí Fionnghlas, áit ar thochail siad trinsí laisteas den bhaile ar an taobh thoir de Bhóthar Bhaile Átha Cliath mar a bhí an talamh ardaithe os cionn an phríomhbhóthair. I lár agus faoi choim na hoíche chuaigh fiche fear i gcolún rothaíochta ar bhruach na Tulchann i dtreo Baile Bhlainséir. Ba í aidhm an ruathair seo ná an            t-iarnród ag Baile an Ásaigh a loit chun stop a chur ar saoriontrála traenacha trúpaí ón gCurrach go dtí an phríomhchathair. Ar maidin Dé Luain, 24 Aibreán, bhí Liam i measc baicle a sheoladh go dtí Ard-Oifig an Phoist (AOP). Bhí a bheirt dheartháir, Séamus agus Peadar, agus a chol ceathrar, Peadar eile, in éineacht leis. Seoladh iad ón AOP go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais a bhí i lámha Sheáin Heuston agus fir ón gCéad Chathlán. Ghéill an Garastún ar an gCéadaoin. Maraíodh col ceathrar William, Peadar Wilson, ag an ngéilleadh. Tógadh William ina phríosúnach agus cuireadh é i gCnoc an Arbhair sular sheoladh é go dtí Dún Richmond i gcomhair cúirte airm. Daoradh chun báis é ach laghdaíodh an bhreith go 3 bhliain i dteannta daoroibre. Ar 19 Bealtaine cuireadh é go dtí Príosún Portland, Sasana, faoi choimhdeacht mhíleata. Scaoileadh saor é i Meitheamh 1917. Chuaigh sé ar ais lena Chomplacht agus bhí sé gníomhach i gCogadh na Saoirse go dtí an Sos Cogaidh. Níos déanaí bhí sé ina bhall d’Arm an tSaorstáit. Fuair William Wilson bás, 30 Deireadh Fómhair 1956, agus tá sé curtha i reilig Naomh Columba, Sord.

Tagairtí:

Rolla Onóra.
Daonáireamh 1911.
Clár Ginearálta na bPríosúnach 1916.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: 24SP3195.