On the evening of September 5th 1922 a flat bed Free State military lorry was part of a convoy which was making it's way from Clonakilty to Cork City. The convoy was carrying stores and when they made their way into the city and trundled down the Grand Parade tragedy struck.
Free State forces in Cork city 1922.
As the convoy turned the corner from Grand Parade onto South Mall the occupants of one of the lorry's were thrown from the vehicle. One of them, 17 year old Private John Harford fractured his skull and died instantly.
Today - the scene of the accident at the corner of Grand Parade/South Mall
Harford was sitting on a drum at the rear of the flat bed lorry. He was thrown from it as the vehicle rounded the corner. The others thrown onto the road from the lorry suffered injuries but survived. The incident was declared an accident and the driver was cleared of any wrong doing.
The corner of Grand Parade South Mall, early 20th Century.
John Harford came from 77 St Peters Terrace, Howth, Dublin. Before joining the Free State Army he was a merchant sailor. One of seven siblings, his widowed mother recieved a gratuity of £100 following his death in Cork City.
Home to John Horgan in Howth, Dublin.
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