rifle / Battle of Ashbourne, 1916

RIC carbine rifle. Captured from R.I.C. by Irish Volunteers at the Battle of Ashbourne, 1916. Captured from Royal Irish Constabulary by Irish Volunteer Joseph Lawless at the Battle of Ashbourne, 1916. Events detailed in his witness statement to the Bureau of Military History. A brass plaque added to the carbine's butt, witht he inscription 'This carbine is one of those captured from the R.I.C. at the Battle of Ashbourne on Friday 29th April 1916. Upon the surrender of our force on the following Sunday it was hidden by me at Newbarn and recovered after our release the following December. It was in use until the Truce of 1921. Joseph Lawless'. This carbine had been hidden with a pair of field glasses, also in the NMI collection, and his camera with which he took photographs of the Battle of Ashbourne but which was never recovered from the hiding place. Numbered R.I.C. 70(?)38. Enfield Mark II.;