Operation Order issued by Major-General John J. Prout, Officer Commander, Waterford Command, Emmet Barracks, Clonmel – to all units of the National Forces about to take part in this operation in the early hours of the morning of April 10, 1923.
(The O/C Clogheen garrison, received copy.)
Map Ref: Templemore and Tipperary sheet 22. Reliable information to hand. Important Irregular leaders are at present in South Tipperary or Waterford.
Objective:
It is the intention of the G.O.C. to surround that area and capture, if possible, or at least harass the enemy. All farm houses, out-houses, woods, mountains and likely hiding places will be thoroughly searched. Starting points and objectives, at conclusion, giving right and left flank Units or otherwise, columns from Clonmel, Tipperary, Cahir, Mitchelstown, Clogheen, Carrick-on-Suir and Dungarvan will take part.
No. X column from Clogheen under Captain Tom Taylor and one officer, together with sixty other ranks, will proceed at 04.00 hours from Clogheen and reach the village of Newcastle, Clonmel, not later than daybreak tomorrow, April 10, 1923.
At dawn you will drive out from Newcastle in a south-easterly direction with your troops in well extended formation. Search all farmsteads and other likely places across the Knockmealdown Mountains and foothills, holding a well extended line across the mountain, Ballymacarbery, Mount Melleray right and left respectively, where you will link up with a column from Dungarvan operating in a north-westerly direction.
[N.B. This order was issued in the ‘early hours of the morning’ of 10th April, 1923, the day Liam Lynch was shot.]