James Daly

Private James Joseph Daly (executed 2 November 1920, aged 22) was a member of a mutiny of the Connaught Rangers in India in 1920 in protest of the activities of the Black and Tans. He was executed in the aftermath of the mutiny.

Career

Daly joined the Connaught Rangers and was posted to India. In June 1920, he and up to 150 colleagues took up arms in protest of the activities of the Black and Tans, officially the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserve. The mutineers staged the mutiny in their base in Jullunder, Punjab. They proclaimed their hut to be known as "Liberty Hall", raised the green flag of Ireland above the hut and then attacked the armory but were captured and taken to Lucknow Prison.

Daly was shot for his role in the incident following a court martial on 2 November 1920, and he was the last member of the British armed forces to be shot for mutiny. In 1970, on the 50th anniversary of the mutiny his body was sent back to Ireland.

Legacy

Daly is remembered in a traditional Irish song known as Lay Him Away on the Hillside, the chorus of which includes the lines:

Lay him away on the hillside,

Along with the brave and the bold

Inscribe his name on the scroll of fame

In letters of purest gold...

These first four lines of the chorus became popular in "In Memoriam" notices in An Phoblacht/Republican News.