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April 02, 2008
DEATH OF WOGAN BROWNE - THE FUNERAL
Reports on the funeral of Wogan Browne. Tonight Wednesday 2 April 2008 James Durney will deliver a talk for the Cill Dara Historical Society, on The Death of Wogan Browne in the Kildare Education Centre (old parochial house), Kildare Town at 8 p.m.
Tonight Wednesday 2 April 2008 James Durney will deliver a talk for the Cill Dara Historical Society, on The Death of Wogan Browne in the Kildare Education Centre (old parochial house), Kildare Town at 8 p.m.
Kildare Observer, Saturday February 18, 1922.
Murder of Lieut. Wogan Browne.
£135 MISSING.
IMPRESSIVE MILITARY FUNERAL AT NAAS.
No incident that has occurred in County Kildare within living memory has occasioned more widespread horror and condemnation than the murder and highway robbery of Lieut. J. H. Wogan Browne, R.F.A., at Kildare, in broad-day light on Friday last. All classes and Creeds united in condemning in the strongest manner possible such a terrible outrage. Lieut. Wogan Browne was a fine specimen of young manhood, who had only reached the age of 22 years at the time he was done to death while serving with his regiment in his native county of Kildare. From the details that can be gathered, it would appear the young officer was in the habit of calling at the Hibernian Bank each Friday morning for cash for the payment of his men at Kildare R.F.A. barracks. About 11.30 on that day in question he called at the bank and received a sum of about £135. He then left the bank and proceeded towards the barracks. At the corner of Infirmary road a Ford motor car stood. This had previously been hired at a local garage by three men, who had paid 15s., it appears for the use of the car, ostensibly to convey a patient from the infirmary. As Lieut. Wogan Browne approached the car he was held up by two men, who snatched the money from him and dashed for the waiting car. The lieutenant attempted to grapple with the men for the recovery of the money when, it is stated one of the men sitting in the car fired point-blank at him with a revolver. The bullet passed through his eye and he collapsed on the roadway, death being almost instantaneous. Meanwhile the driver of the motor was told by the three men to drive off as speedily as he could across Infirmary road and in the direction of Kildoon, revolvers being held to his head. He did as he was bidden, and having covered some few miles the car was stopped in Kildoon bog, the desperadoes dismounted and told him to return to Kildare, which he did. Later military police and I.R.A. united in a search for the miscreants. Several arrests were made later by the I.R. police, but so far no proceedings have been taken, although at least two of the men apprehended were detained and conveyed to Naas, where they have since been held.
Lieut. Wogan Browne was the youngest son of Colonel Wogan Browne, of Keredorn, Naas, and therefore a member of one of Kildare’s and indeed Ireland’s oldest Catholic families.
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A PROMISING ATHLETE.
Lieut. Wogan Browne was a prominent member of the Landsdowne Football Club, for which he did excellent service during the season just closing. A fast, clever, and resourceful three-quarter back, he helped materially to place his club in the proud position that it now holds in Irish Senior Rugby. He was also played for the Army in representatives matches. As an athlete Mr. Wogan Browne earned distinction. He won many prizes on the track, and was in the first class as a half mile runner.
... [in original Inquest comes next]
KILDARE’S SYMPATHY
The Coroner said he would have the vote of sympathy duly conveyed to the relatives. He had also been handed by the Rev. Fr. Waldron, C.C., a few minutes previously, a copy of the following resolution, passed at a meeting of the people of Kildare that day, expressing sympathy with the deceased:- “That we, as representing every creed and section of the community in Kildare, hereby express on their behalf our deep abhorrence of the two-fold outrage of highway robbery and murder of which our town has been made the scene, and that we beg most respectfully to convey on behalf of the people of Kildare our heartfelt sympathy with the family, relatives and brother officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the late Lieut. J. H. Wogan Browne.”
(The meeting in question was presided over by Rev. Thomas Kelly, O.C.C., and amongst the representative attendance were:- Rev. Father Waldron, Very Rev. Dean Waller, Dr. E.F. Rowan, Messrs. T. McHugh, E. Heffernan, J. Bergin, J. Cosgrove, V.S., Thomas Kelly, N Hanagan, James Nolan, P. J. Connolly, Thos. Fitzpatrick, J.J. O’ Driscoll, M.P.S.I., Chas. Heffernan, J. Forsyth, S. Bratton, C.P.S., D. Boland, C. Hackett, M. Dennehy, N. McNabb, D.J. Carbery, J. Breslin, J. Ryan, J. Byrne, P. Moore, J. Conlan).
Captain Sean Kavanagh, Liason Officer, I.R.A., said, as representing the Eastern Division, he desired with the officers present to associate himself with the expression of deep sympathy. He wished to say that everything possible was being done by them, acting with the military and Royal Irish Constabulary, and he sincerely hoped their efforts would be successful.
District-Inspector Queenan – I beg to associate myself with the sympathy expressed, and think it right to say that the local Volunteer police in the present case have done everything they possibly could and spared no pains. They gave us every assistance, and have worked with us harmoniously. He hoped their continued joint efforts would result successfully.
The senior military officer present said on behalf of their authorities he appreciated the expression of condemnation by the jury of this foul and cold-blooded murder. He was sure the military authorities appreciated also the expression from the people of Kildare, who, as well as the jury, knew this young officer. He had also to bear tribute to the help which had been given by the officers of the Provisional Government. He hoped the joint efforts of the military, the police and the I.R.A. would be successful. This was an act for which there was no excuse. It was a foul murder committed for the basest reason. It showed well for the future of their land when all came together, and when the I.R.A. and their Liason Officer for the district were working jointly with the police and military in their efforts to bring the perpetrators of this foul murder to justice.
THE FUNERAL.
On Tuesday morning at 11.30 the funeral of the murdered officer took place to the New Cemetery, Naas, after Mass at the Curragh. The cortege pulled up at the military barracks, Naas, where it reformed. A firing party from the deceased officer’s regiment, the R.F.A., marched at the head of the funeral procession with arms reversed. Next came the band of the K.S.L.I. from the Curragh, playing the solemn strains of the Dead March in Sam (and later near the cemetery, Bethoven’s funeral march). Then came a gun carriage drawn by eight horses with outriders bearing the coffin draped in the Union Jack. Placed on the coffin were the dead officer’s sword and cap. Behind came his charger lead by a trooper. The top boots of the deceased were fixed in the stirrups reversed. Next followed Colonel Wogan Browne, father of the deceased, with two other relatives. After this in the procession marched a detachment of the men of the R.F.A., carrying twenty-four beautiful wreaths and behind a number of buglers followed by some hundred of the county gentry, officers and men of the deceased’s regiment and thousands of townspeople of every class and creed. The spectacle was the most impressive one ever seen in Naas, where military funerals have often passed through the streets, but nothing even remotely approaching in impressiveness and size this demonstration of grief for a young townsman, than whom we understand no more popular officer has ever served his country. For the first time in the history of relations between the military and the people of the country for the past few years was seen a complete co-mingling of the old and the new forces, police and the general public. All business and private houses were closed and shuttered as the procession passed through the town. The 1st Eastern Division I.R.A. was represented by the following members of the Staff of the 7th Brigade:- Brigade Commandant T. Lawler, Adjutant P. Tuile, Quartermaster Kelly, Brigade Engineer P. Lawler, the Brigade I.O. Capt. Sean Kavanagh, Liason Officer, Brigade Police Officer McKenna, and the local Battalion Police Officer. The prayers at the graveside, where there was a huge gathering were recited by Rev. M. Norris, P.P. assisted by Rev. Fr. Doyle, C.C.; Rev. Fr. Tierney C.C., and Rev. Fr. Kelly O.C.C., Kildare.
The remains having been deposited in the grave, the Last Post was sounded and three volleys were fired over the grave by the firing party. So huge was the throng at the cemetery that entrance had to be regulated by the Brigade Police Officer and his men, assisted by members of the military police. Three representatives of the Lansdowne Football Club attended the funeral and marched in the procession.
LIST OF WREATHS.
Amongst the many beautiful wreaths laid upon the grave were the following:-
“Dearest Jack, with his father’s love; “Jack, with deep sympathy, from Frank and Fred”; “Dearest Jack, with love from his three sister, Molly, Judith and Claire”; “From Lieut-Col and Mrs. A.J. Wogan Browne and Miss Wogan Browne, with very deepest sympathy”.; “In loving memory of dear Uncle Jack, from Betty, Joan, John, Barry and Mary”.; “With deepest sympathy from all at Killashee”.; “With deepesty sympathy from Miss de Robeek”.; With deepest sympathy from Mrs. James Robertson and family”.; “In proud memory and in deep sympathy from Col. Commandant and Mrs W.B.R. Sandys and Miss Sandys”.; “With deepest sympathy from Colonel and Mrs. W.J. Honner”.; “With deepest sympathy from the Officer, R.A. Kildare”.; “With deepest sympathy from the Officers 4th Brigade, R.H.A., Kildare”.; With deepest sympathy from the people of Kildare Town”.; “With deepesty sympathy from Officers 36th Brigade, R.F.A., Newbridge”.; “With deepest sympathy from the Officer, N.C.O.’s and Men 18th Battery R.F.A., Kildare”.; “With deepest sympathy from the Junior N.C.O.’s and Men 17th Battery, R.F.A. Kildare”.; “With deepest sympathy from the junior N.C.O.’s, R.A., Newbridge”.; “With deepest sympathy from W.O.’s, Staff-Sergts. And Sergts. R.A. Mess, Newbridge”.; “With deepest sympathy from N.C.O.’s 71st Brigade R.F.A..; “With deepest sympathy from the N.C.O.’s and Men 142nd Battery, R.F.A.”.; “With deepest sympathy from the Sergeants, Royal Artillery, Kildare”.; “With deepest sympathy from John J. Moriarty”: “With sincere sympathy from T. L. Harrington”: “With love and deepest sympathy from all at Carrig, Queenstown.
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Dear Sir, - I should like to thank all the inhabitants of Kildare for the beautiful wreath they so kindly sent for the funeral to-day. I should also like to thank you all again for the resolution which was passed on Saturday, and which was received with much pride and gratification by the relatives as well as by all of us.
Yours truly,
W. SANDYS, Colonel-Commandant,
C.R.A., 5th Division.
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31. Fitzwilliam Square Dublin,
20th February, 1922.
Colonel Wogan Browne greatly appreciates the resolution passed at the meeting of the Naas Urban Council on the 14th inst., and desires to send his heartfelt thanks for the expression of deep sympathy from him and his family which they have sent him in the name of the people of Naas on the sorrowful occasion of his dear son’s death.
Reports on the funeral of Wogan Browne. Tonight Wednesday 2 April 2008 James Durney will deliver a talk for the Cill Dara Historical Society, on The Death of Wogan Browne in the Kildare Education Centre (old parochial house), Kildare Town at 8 p.m.
[complied and edited by Mario Corrigan; typed and edited by Breid Kelly]
Posted by mariocorrigan at April 2, 2008 12:10 PM