1921 Mar 1. P Coy formed. M L Cope appears to be the first Coy Commander (He was in ADRIC from 27 Jan 1921 till 3 Feb 1921, so was Coy Commander only in name)
1921 April . P Coy came to Tubbercurry, Co Sligo. They took over a business premises close to the RIC barracks - Howley's Drapery Store. A full front page advertisement in the April 30th and May 7th issues of the Sligo Champion announced a "Clearance Sale of Large Drapery Stock" in a hotel in Tubbercurry starting on May 9th. The stock was from Howley's -"Commandeered by Crown Forces".
Capt. E W Johnston(e) was the CO at one time. One local IRA leader, Martin. Brennan, later described them as being a "damn decent crowd". A lot of the Auxiliaries were" decent men" according to Michael Walsh who recounted the story of the Auxiliary officer who at the fair of Tubbercurry saw a fine horse for sale. "Would you let me ride him?" he asked the vendor. "Why wouldn't I?" replied the farmer and the Auxiliary took the horse for a ride. When he returned he bought the horse on the spot and had it sent back to his home in England. From "Sligo 1914-1921 A chronicle of conflict - by Michael Farry"
1921 Apr 21 Bolam and Bales had travelled to Belfast on escort duty, thy were among a party of 12 from Sligo on this duty that day. They were ambushed in Belfast at 9pm at the junction of Donegal Place and Fountain Lane. Bolam died at the scene and Bales in hospital the next day
1921 May 6. The Dublin to Sligo train was ambushed at Seefin level crossing between Kilfree Junction and Ballymote at 7.30 pm to raid the mails. A man with a red flag stopped the train. There were 30 to 40 volunteers armed with 10/15 rifles and various other firearms. Marren and McGowan stood on the line and stopped the train. IRA men came out behind the train and began to go through the carriages. However there were a number of Auxiliary police on board and they opened fire on the attackers. The IRA claim that 11 Auxiliaries and 2 police surrendered and arms, ammunition and despatches were taken. The County Inspector's report says 5 temporary cadets returning to Tubbercurry and one Ballymote constable were deprived of their arms. The Freeman's Journal reported "It is stated that the Auxiliaries thanked the Republicans on parting for the courteous treatment they received and that the latter expressed a wish to meet them in an open fight soon".
1921 May 6. R B Bettson promoted 2nd in Command of P Coy
1921 May 15. E W Johnstone was fired on by the IRA at Gleneask when he was on his way from Easkey to Tubbercurry. His car was hit five times but he escaped injury.I cannot verify this action from "Sligo 1914-1921 A chronicle of conflict - by Michael Farry"
1921 May 24. Rev. Michael Henry, "The Doc Henry" was said to be very friendly with the IRA. His house was raided by the Tubbercurry Auxiliaries on a number of occasions. However the second in command of the Auxiliaries in Tubbercurry, a man nicknamed "Tiny" because of his great height, had served with "The Doc' in Salonica during the war and had become good friends - per se, this appears to refer to Tiny King who was in command D Coy of the Auxiliaries at Galway at that time, but King did not serve in Salonika. There is another King that I need to check. As a result Fr Henry was made an honorary member of the Auxiliaries Mess in Tubbercurry and often joined the Auxiliaries there for a drink. After such a night Captain E W Johnstone often drove him to his home. From "Sligo 1914-1921 A chronicle of conflict - by Michael Farry" The Company 2 I.C. who was present on a raid, during which Fr. Henry's home was visited, upon seeing Fr. Henry he recognised him at once, as they had served together in Salonika during the late War and had become good friends. The "P" Company 2 I.C. was Lt. R.B. Bottson, and he had served in the East Surrey Regt.
1921 May 23 Monday was Market Day in Tubbercurry. About four o'clock a number of Auxiliaries arrived and arrested a number of young men, who were lined up in front of Howley's premises then occupied by the Auxiliaries. Auxiliaries operating in the Curry area often raided the house of John Durcan who was active in the IRA.
1921 May 23. A small group of IRA men under Thomas Brehony of Keash took up ambush position in a small wood near the caves of Keash. Four men armed with rifles were supported by others who were to signal the approach of the enemy. At around 3.30 pm a Ford car and three Crossley tenders were seen from a distance as they came down the hills raising dust as they came. There were 13 Auxiliaries and 13 RIC in the convoy. As the last lorry passed the ambush position fire was opened on it. Because of the heavy dust the other vehicles went on a considerable distance before realising that their comrades were being attacked. One constable was shot in the leg and another sustained severe wounds
1921 Jun 4. On Monday June 4th a large scale action by the British took place in south Sligo. Military from Tubbercurry, Sligo and Boyle were involved. "There were oceans of soldiers on foot", said Tom Deignan, Commandant of the Riverstown battalion of the IRA. The search started at 2 pm and at about 9 pm Deignan and John Kennedy, the Brigade engineer, were in a bog at Culfadda where they were arrested and Deignan was recognised as a wanted man.
1921 Dec 9 . Reginald Bernard Bettson appointed Commander of P Coy