James Seafield-Grant MC

Died

25 February 1921

Age

Rank

Auxiliary Commandant

Force

Royal Irish Constabulary

Cause

Homicide - Shot

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Shot and fatally wounded while commanding his men when their patrol was ambushed in Coolavokig, near Ballyvourney, County Cork.

Roll of Honour Citation

Shot and fatally wounded while commanding his men when their patrol was ambushed in Coolavokig, near Ballyvourney, County Cork.

Circumstances

On the morning of 25th February 1921 Major James Seafield Grant, Commander of J Company led a column comprised on 39 Auxiliaries and a Sergeant plus 6 Constables. This activity was a regular, almost predictable occurrence aimed at conducting disruption raids to arrest rebels. The column was ambushed some 7 miles from Macroom at Coolavohig. Upon the ambush being launched the front vehicle, that Grant was traveling in, was immediately disabled when the radiator was shot. Grant alighted and begin engaging the attackers and directed his men to return fire. He sustained fatal injuries during the attack, his body was recovered to his room within Macroom Castle and later conveyed back to England for burial.

As the Commander of J Company, Major Seafield-Grant was leading a column of thirty-nine Auxiliaries, a Sergeant and six Constables, in what was a regular, almost predictable occurrence aimed at conducting disruption raids to arrest rebels, when the column was ambushed some seven miles from Macroom at Coolavokig, near Ballyvourney, County Cork. The front vehicle, in which Seafield-Grant was traveling, was immediately disabled when the radiator was shot. Grant alighted and began engaging the attackers and directed his men to return fire. He sustained fatal injuries during the attack, which lasted close to four hours. His body was recovered to his room within Macroom Castle and later conveyed back to England for burial. Two other officers were fatally wounded. Constable Arthur William Cane died the following day and Temporary Cadet Cleve Lindsey Soady died on 1st March.