John T. Prout
Encyclopedia
John T. Prout was an Irish American
soldier. He held one of the senior commands in the Irish Army
during the Irish Civil War
(1922–23). Previously he had served in the United States Army
in the First World War and as a training officer in the guerrilla Irish Republican Army
during the Irish War of Independence
(1919–1921).
in 1880, but emigrated to the United States while still young. After the US' entry into the First World War in 1917, he enlisted with the United States 69th Infantry Regiment
. He spent five months attached to the French
command staff and was awarded the Croix de Guerre
..
After the war he returned to Ireland, where he became involved in the agitation for Irish independence and joined the IRA. He served as a training and intelligence officer to the Third Tipperary Brigade, based at Galtee Castle
.
When the IRA split over the Anglo-Irish Treaty
in 1922, he sided with the Treaty. He subsequently joined the new National Army of the Irish Free State
, where he was given the rank of Commandant General and given command of the southeast, based in Kilkenny
. The Civil War, between pro- and anti-Treaty factions, broke out in June 1922.
from anti-treaty forces after a three day battle see Irish Free State offensive
. There he recruited 200 more soldiers into the National Army, and received a large shipment of arms by sea from Dublin. His troops also had to keep order in the city in the absence of any other civil power.
Moving on from Waterford, his command proceeded to take the republican held town of Carrick on Suir, after more fighting on August 2, 1922. He went on to take Cashel
and Clonmel
. After a final stand at Redmondstown, the Anti-Treaty IRA in the south east gave up their fixed positions and took up guerrilla warfare.
The guerrilla war was not as intense in Prout's south-eastern command as elsewhere but his troops came in for considerable criticism for indiscipline and inefficiency. A National Army report of October 1922 stated, "Prout is too weak as well as too guilless to handle traiterous or semi-mutinous incompetents". In December a number of posts under Prout's command, including Carrick on Suir, surrendered to an anti Treaty column under Tom Barry
, giving up their arms and equipment. Commandant General Eamon Price, sent to investigate the incident sympathised with Prout and backed his plea for more arms and transport for his command He blamed Prout's subordinate officers for the reverse
However, in the new year, Prout organised a number of successful anti-guerrilla operations, which helped to bring the war to an end. In February 1923, he launched a sweep of the Glen of Aherlow
, killing republican commander Dinny Lacey
and capturing much of his column. In March and April, another sweep, this time of the Knockmealdown Mountains
, arrested more anti Treaty fighters, including much of their general staff and killed their Commander in Chief, Liam Lynch . Nevertheless, his command was heavily criticised by National Army QHQ until after the end of the war for its poor performance - particularly the failure to stamp out guerrilla activity in County Wexford
.
Though the Irish Civil War was marked by executions and killings of prisoners, in Prouts command there were only two judicial executions
and no other 'summary executions'. Republican Mick Sheehan commented, "we may thank Prout that there are so few"
, Commander in Chief of the Army criticised the decision, "I think that is a very regrettable matter. Major-General Prout has been made the butt of an attack by a none too sober and none too industrious section here in the country and it is a most disconcerting matter that an officer of Major-General Prout's record and service during the last 18 months or two years finds himself now demobilised."
Prout later moved back to America, settling in New York.
In 1940, he was technical advisor on the film The Fighting 69th, where he was credited as "Captain John T Prout".
An article on Irish republican activities in the US in the interwar years states, "The son of a former pro-Treaty Army General, John T. Prout did become involved in a right wing plot to carry out anti-Semitic terrorism during 1940".
His son also served in the American 69th Regiment in the Pacific theatre of World War II
.
Prout died in 1969 and is buried in Vermont
.
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
soldier. He held one of the senior commands in the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
during the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
(1922–23). Previously he had served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in the First World War and as a training officer in the guerrilla Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
(1919–1921).
First World War
Prout was born in County TipperaryCounty Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1880, but emigrated to the United States while still young. After the US' entry into the First World War in 1917, he enlisted with the United States 69th Infantry Regiment
69th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 69th Infantry Regiment was a Regular Army infantry regiment in the United States Army.-History:There have been three different lineages started under this number: The Famous 69th Infantry Regiment , and two under the Federal designation....
. He spent five months attached to the French
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
command staff and was awarded the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
..
After the war he returned to Ireland, where he became involved in the agitation for Irish independence and joined the IRA. He served as a training and intelligence officer to the Third Tipperary Brigade, based at Galtee Castle
Galtee Castle
Galtee Castle was a mansion that was situated on the foothills of the Galtee Mountains at Skeheenarinky in South Tipperary, Ireland approximately 10 km...
.
When the IRA split over the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
in 1922, he sided with the Treaty. He subsequently joined the new National Army of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
, where he was given the rank of Commandant General and given command of the southeast, based in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
. The Civil War, between pro- and anti-Treaty factions, broke out in June 1922.
Civil War
In July 1922, with a command of 450 men, and an 18 pounder field gun, Prout re-took the city of WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
from anti-treaty forces after a three day battle see Irish Free State offensive
Irish Free State offensive
The Irish Free State offensive of July–September 1922 was the decisive military stroke of the Irish Civil War. It was carried out by the National Army of the newly created Irish Free State against anti-treaty strongholds in the south and southwest of Ireland....
. There he recruited 200 more soldiers into the National Army, and received a large shipment of arms by sea from Dublin. His troops also had to keep order in the city in the absence of any other civil power.
Moving on from Waterford, his command proceeded to take the republican held town of Carrick on Suir, after more fighting on August 2, 1922. He went on to take Cashel
Cashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
and Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
. After a final stand at Redmondstown, the Anti-Treaty IRA in the south east gave up their fixed positions and took up guerrilla warfare.
The guerrilla war was not as intense in Prout's south-eastern command as elsewhere but his troops came in for considerable criticism for indiscipline and inefficiency. A National Army report of October 1922 stated, "Prout is too weak as well as too guilless to handle traiterous or semi-mutinous incompetents". In December a number of posts under Prout's command, including Carrick on Suir, surrendered to an anti Treaty column under Tom Barry
Tom Barry
Thomas Barry was one of the most prominent guerrilla leaders in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.-Early life:...
, giving up their arms and equipment. Commandant General Eamon Price, sent to investigate the incident sympathised with Prout and backed his plea for more arms and transport for his command He blamed Prout's subordinate officers for the reverse
However, in the new year, Prout organised a number of successful anti-guerrilla operations, which helped to bring the war to an end. In February 1923, he launched a sweep of the Glen of Aherlow
Glen of Aherlow
The Glen of Aherlow is a picturesque valley nestling between Slievenamuck and the Galtee Mountains in the western part of South Tipperary in Ireland. The principal village is Lisvarrinane or more commonly spelt Lisvernane with a hamlet at Rossadrehid where Aherlow creamery was located before its...
, killing republican commander Dinny Lacey
Dinny Lacey
Dennis Lacey, better known as 'Dinny', was an Irish Republican Army officer during the Irish War of Independence and anti-Treaty IRA officer during the Irish Civil War. Lacey was born in 1890 in a village called Attybrack, near Annacarty, county Tipperary.He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and...
and capturing much of his column. In March and April, another sweep, this time of the Knockmealdown Mountains
Knockmealdown Mountains
The Knockmealdown Mountains are a mountain range located on the border of counties South Tipperary and Waterford in Ireland, running east and west between the two counties. The highest peak of the range is Knockmealdown, situated in County Waterford...
, arrested more anti Treaty fighters, including much of their general staff and killed their Commander in Chief, Liam Lynch . Nevertheless, his command was heavily criticised by National Army QHQ until after the end of the war for its poor performance - particularly the failure to stamp out guerrilla activity in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
.
Though the Irish Civil War was marked by executions and killings of prisoners, in Prouts command there were only two judicial executions
Executions during the Irish Civil War
The executions during the Irish Civil War took place during the guerrilla phase of the Irish Civil War . This phase of the war was bitter, and both sides, the government forces of the Irish Free State and the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army insurgents, used executions and terror in what...
and no other 'summary executions'. Republican Mick Sheehan commented, "we may thank Prout that there are so few"
Later life
Prout was demobilised from the National Army in June 1924, at a time when he held the rank of Major General. General Richard MulcahyRichard Mulcahy
Richard James Mulcahy was an Irish politician, army general and commander in chief, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister...
, Commander in Chief of the Army criticised the decision, "I think that is a very regrettable matter. Major-General Prout has been made the butt of an attack by a none too sober and none too industrious section here in the country and it is a most disconcerting matter that an officer of Major-General Prout's record and service during the last 18 months or two years finds himself now demobilised."
Prout later moved back to America, settling in New York.
In 1940, he was technical advisor on the film The Fighting 69th, where he was credited as "Captain John T Prout".
An article on Irish republican activities in the US in the interwar years states, "The son of a former pro-Treaty Army General, John T. Prout did become involved in a right wing plot to carry out anti-Semitic terrorism during 1940".
His son also served in the American 69th Regiment in the Pacific theatre of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Prout died in 1969 and is buried in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.