Brigid Lyons Thornton 24SP13615 is one of the most well-known women of the Irish Revolutionary period. She was extraordinary in a multitude of ways, not only participating in the 1916 Rising, War of Independence and Civil War but simultaneously studying medicine and becoming a doctor. She was the first female commissioned officer in the National Army as First Lieutenant, Medical Officer and remained the only commissioned woman until 1981. She was the only woman to have been awarded a pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924.
Military Service
Lyons was born in 1896 in Northyard, Scramogue, County Roscommon. At eight years old she went to live with her uncle Frank McGuinness in Longford who funded her education. The McGuinness family were dedicated Republicans. Lyons herself joined Cumann na mBan in 1915 at University College Galway. On Easter Monday 1916 after hearing news of the Rising taking place in Dublin Lyons, her uncle and some others travelled to Dublin. Another of her uncles, Joe McGuinness, was stationed at the Four Courts and Lyons joined him there. She and other women made food for the volunteers and tended the wounded. After the call to surrender Lyons and the other women were arrested and brought to Richmond Barracks then transferred to Kilmainham Gaol. Lyons was held for a number of days during which time some of the leaders of the Easter Rising were executed. This experience further intensified Lyon’s Republican convictions.
In her Affidavit Lyons states following her participation in the Rising she was involved in the formation of Cumann na mBan branches in Galway, gave first aid lectures and assisted in the South Longford and Clare Elections. During the War of Independence Lyons carried out first aid lectures in Dublin, delivered dispatches, collected funds, purchased arms and ammunition in Dublin and transported them to Longford Active Service Unit (Flying Column), attended to sick and wounded volunteers and was engaged in intelligence work with Michael Collins that included smuggling messages in and out of Mountjoy Prison between Collins and Sean MacEoin. In the period following the Truce Lyons states she completed her studies and worked in General Headquarters (GHQ). She states she enlisted in the National Army on 13 November 1922 and served throughout the Civil War until her demobilisation on 31 January 1924.She provided medical assistance in Talbot House and the O’Connell Street area during the Battle of Dublin and also attended to injured and sick Cumann na mBan members imprisoned in Kilmainham Goal. This was a difficult period for Lyons as it brought her in contact with former allies.
Contention
A copy of a Seanad debate is included in Brigid Lyons’ file owing to its relevance to her case. In it ‘Colonel Moore’ (i.e. Maurice George Moore) proposes an amendment to Section 1 of the Military Service Pensions Bill to specify when passed the Act will apply to “either sex.” The President (WT Cosgrave) states “I do not think that it is necessary” as he claims no woman meets all the requirements for qualification for military service under the provisions of the act. He does mention “one person that I know is qualified in one respect, and I do not think she is qualified in the other respect.” This ‘person’ is of course Brigid Lyons and he refers to her qualification in regards the stipulation that an applicant must have been a member of the National Army which Lyons was, however Cosgrave believes she cannot qualify under the other stipulation that a claimant must have rendered service in the Óglaigh na hÉireann/Irish Volunteers/Irish Citizen’s Army/Fianna Éireann or the Hibernian Rifles. As Lyons was a member of Cumman na mBan and it is not included in the qualifying organisations he has a point – “we have had only one lady doctor, and that lady is not qualified by reason of pre-truce service.” However Moore points out that “Volunteer” is not interpreted in the Act leaving it open to potentially include male or female participants. Moore also indicates the repeated use of the pronoun ‘he’ which suggests female participants were never intended to be included in the parameters of the Act. An Cathaoirleach (James Campbell, Lord Glenavy) points to British Military Acts where he thinks “one would not” interpret soldier to mean male or female. Moore repeatedly argues in favour of adding that “persons” includes both sexes despite the protestations from the president that there are no women to whom the act will fully apply and enable qualification thus amending the act is essentially moot. Moore also emphasises that he is not advocating in favour of any individual case but rather the overall inclusions of women in the scope of the legislation. When the Cathaoirleach explains to Moore that even were the amendment passed it would still not enable women to qualify as they would still not meet the requisite provisions Moore proposes a change to said provisions – this seemingly interrupts the session as following this proposal the transcripts reads ‘SEANAD RESUMES’. Moore’s suggested amendments are ultimately rejected.
Despite the certainty of both An Cathaoirleach and WT Cosgrave that no woman would qualify under the 1924 Act the assessors eventually conclude that Lyons is entitled to a pension. This is after further considerable debate. It is confirmed on a Minute Sheet in Lyons’ file that Lyons could be eligible for a Certificate of Military Service but that as she is the first such case in which assessors have declared “a lady eligible” three factors “require careful consideration”…
The first question is ’Does the Military Service Pensions Act contemplate the grant of a pension to a lady in any circumstances whatsoever?’ – Ironically had Moore’s proposed amendment definitively including “either sex” been approved this would not have been in question at all. The second question is linked to the; ‘If so, was the grant of a commission to a woman intra vires [within the powers] having regard to the terms of the Defence Forces (temporary) Provisions Act 1923.’ This question demonstrates assessors concern regarding this decision’s impact on 1923 legislation i.e. possibly opening up the need to reconsider wound pension applications from female volunteers not intended to be covered by the 1923 Act. Margaret Skinnider MSP34REF19910 case is referenced in response to these first two questions as she applied under the 1923 Act for a Wound Pension (1P724) in relation to gunshot wounds she received to her shoulder and back on the 27 April 1916 at Harcourt Street. Skinnider was a Private in the Irish Citizen Army, despite this it is decided that Skinnider’s claim cannot be considered in light of her sex as “the Army Pensions Act is only applicable to soldiers as generally understood in the masculine sense.” This was the initial precedent set but Lyons’ claim for a full military pension brought this decision and future judgements regarding female volunteers into question again. (Skinnider was eventually awarded a wound pension following appeals but not until 1938).
The final question is handwritten ‘was the lady a member of the Volunteers and if so what rank?’ – the question of rank frequently crops up in standard pension claims as establishing rank can be tricky so it is not surprising that this would be a concern in a more unprecedented case like Lyons.
In response to these questions opinion differs among assessors. S Fahy, the Army Finance Officer, is of the opinion that women need not be included however Seoirse MacNiocáill (George Nicolls) disagrees and points out that “under the constitution equality of sex is provided for.” In the end Minister for Defence Peter Hughes judges in Lyons’ favour.
Progress
Although a controversial issue at the time, Lyons’ successful award of a Military Service Pension set down a strong precedent for future legislation. Her case brought the question of female volunteers and their involvement in the Revolutionary period to the forefront of political debate, essentially highlighting the invaluable role female volunteers played. The Military Service Pensions Act, 1934 finally recognised Cumann na mBan as an organisation included in “the Forces” to which membership was required to qualify for a pension. Of course this did not eradicate all issues female volunteer’s had when seeking recognition for their service but it was a big step in the right direction.
Whilst applying for her pension Lyons was abroad recuperating from an operation to treat her tuberculosis. She was first in Nice, France and later travelled to a clinic Switzerland. It was here that she met her husband Edward Thornton who was also recovering from tuberculosis. While there Lyons also spent a considerable amount of time learning more about TB and its treatment, even attending medical lectures. She returned to Ireland with this knowledge and specialised in paediatrics eventually basing herself at Carnegie Welfare Centre on Lord Edward Street, Dublin and making significant contributions to medical care in childhood in Ireland.
Lyons died in April 1987 at the age of ninety one. She was buried in Toomore graveyard, county Mayo with military honours.
Files Referenced:
Other sources consulted:
https://www.womensmuseumofireland.ie/exhibits/brigid-lyons-thornton
Military Service Pensions Collection 