Jack Gleeson received his commission for the Irish Army in Oct 1924 and rose through the ranks over the subsequent 25 years from Lieutenant (1923), to Captain (1923), acting Commandant (1928), Commandant (1931), Major (1939), acting Colonel (1942), & Colonel (1947). His health deteriorated in 1950 following a car accident in Cork and he was subsequently diagnosed with high blood pressure and heart failure. He was in and out of St Bricin's Military Hospital over the following years - 1951 (1 admission, 26 days), 1952 (1 admission, 28 days), 1953 (3 admissions, 167 days), 1954 (1 admission 223 days), and from 1955 he spent most of his time there. He passed away on 10th April 1959, aged 60 years.
Maurice Gleeson
Mar 2020
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| Colonel John Gleeson (1898-1959) |
Colonel John Gleeson (1898 – 1959): Military Career
Additional Information
Extracted from his Personnel File held at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines - March 2000
6-10-1924: Commission as Officer in Oglach na hEireann forwarded and
acknowledged on 13-10-1924. Appointment Works Inspection from
G.O.C. the Forces, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham
3 Jan 1927: Stationed at Griffith Barracks, SCR Dublin
3-Feb-1927: Memo to G.O.C. Eastern Command: Captain John Gleeson to replace
Command Engineer Eastern Command (Acting).
signed: Major M.A. O’Connor, ACE OC
Took up duty 7-Feb-1927
June/Aug 1927: Course in Equitation and Swordsmanship – 66/100 marks.
Recommended for a further course
16 July 1928: Recommendation from M.A. O’Connor:
“I take this opportunity of again recording that this officer is worthy of
the higher rank of (of Comdt) and the position of District Engineer.
[Note: he was acting District Engineer at the time]
31 July 1928: Notice in Iris Oifiguil: Capt John Gleeson; Capt John Francis Keenan
to be acting Comdts. as from June 1928
signed: Desmond Fitzgerald
The Iris Oifiguil notice was reprinted in both the Irish Times and the
Irish Independant of 1 Aug 1928
27 March 1930 Memo: Change of Address of Comdt J. Gleeson ACE
Old Address: 20 Marino Mart, Fairview to 3 Lambay Rd Whitehall
[Note: the “20” could be mistaken for a “21”]
11 Aug 1930: Memo from QMG to OC of ACE extract:
“I cannot understand why two Comandants should be retained on
Corps HQ strength and leave the Eastern District with only a
Captain in charge”
25 Mar 1931: Review by M.A. O’Connor – “Work is at all times satisfactory. He
continues to be both keen and energetic”
Note by E.V. O’Carroll, QMG Col – “I concur with the above”
2 Oct 1931: Appointed Comdt. with effect from 1 Sept 1931
14 April 1931 Extract from annual confidential report “Comdt> J. Gleeson has been
district Engineer for over 6 years. Ability: above average”
2 Nov 1931 Memo from Adjutant-General – Appointments from 2 Nov 1931
Comdt. J. Gleeson HQ Staff to be Acting District Engineer, Curragh
District.
9 July 1932 Comdt. J. Gleeson to be Technical Officer HQ Corps of Engineers
{Note by Maurice Gleeson: There is no doubt that John Gleeson was
well considered by Major M.A. O’Connor (Director of the Corps) and
by Col. EV O’Carroll (QMG)}
31 Oct 1933 Comdt. J.Gleeson, Technical Officer HQ to be Acting District
Engineer, Curragh District – Detachment.
Resume duties of their substantive appointments (i.e. Technical
Officer HQ ACE ) with effect 1 Jan.
[ Detached from 30:10:33 to 31:12:33]
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| The Curragh Military Camp (early 1900s) |
14 April 1936: Posting effective from 14 April 1936
From O i/c Engineer Maintenance Sewrvice and Acting Command
Engineer, Eastern Command a/OC 1st Construction and Mtce. Co.
To Command Engineer, Curragh Command and OC 2bd Construction
and Mtce. Coy.
3 Feb 1937 Comdt J. Gleeson to be acting Director 4 to 17 Feb ’37 during the
absence of Comdt J. Comerford in England and France.
20 April 1938 Application for transfer. Points out that with the secondment of Major
Comerford to Dublin Corporation a vacancy exists for an Engineer
officer of Comdt. rank with residence at or near Dublin.
Interchange of duties led to inconvenience and loss because the house
built in Bray could not be tenanted all year round.
The request was denied but renew in August and consideration could
be given..
Jan 1939 Service Record of Comdt. John Gleeson:
Ranks: Lieut. 12.2.’23. Capt: 18.4.’23. a/Comdt: 1.6.’28. Comdt.: 1.9.31
Courses; 1927 Equitation and swordsmanship – 66/100
1934 Command and Staff – result: Pass
Confidential Reports:
Year Rating Reporting Officer
27/28 Favourable Major O’Connor
28/29 Favourable Major O’Connor
29/30 Favourable Major O’Connor
31/32 Above Average Major O’Connor
32/33 Above Average Col O Connell
33 Satisfactory Major O’Connor
34 Satisfactory Major O’Connor
35 Satisfactory Col McGaurin
36 Satisfactory Maj.Gen McSweeney and
37 Satisfactory Col McGaurin
Age 40 7/12
Seniority: 21 Comandants
21 April 1939 Extract from Iris Oifigiuil:
To be Major: Comdt John Gleeson
29 Sept 1939 OC Depot and School Corps of Engineers.
Around this time he sat on several interview boards for Volunteers
to commissioned rank.
Major Kineen now Director of Engineering.
20 Feb 1940 Posting: OC Depot and School ACE and Command Engineer and
OC No1 Mtce. Coy.
to be acting Director of Engineering.
2 April 1942 Appointed A/Colonel
1944 1944 Confidential Report: Col W.S Egan suggests that he had reached his ceiling.
15 Mar 1947 Promoted full Colonel effective 1 April 1942
Confidential Reports for 1946,47,48,49,50 [“a loyal and efficient
officer with an excellent knowledge of his duties” – P.A.Mulcahy]
4 Oct 1952 Admitted to Bricin’s Hospital from 3/10/52 for about 2 months
24 Sept 1953 Admitted again to St Bricin’s Hospital.
1953 Confidential Report – “Health not Satisfactory”
1 June 1954 Examined by Medical Board – found hypertension with cardiac
enlargement and unfit for future service.
Minister agrees that DFR regarding compulsory retirement may
be waived up to 14 Sept 1954 because of possible “serious
repercussions to the officers health”.
The above as a result of Comdt. V.J. Doherty memo stating
“that retirement would be most detrimental to his chances of
survival if he were informed of the termination of his service”
Retained in service until 9 Oct 1954.
Informed by Lt/Col Nolan`
Extracts from the Medical File of Colonel John Gleeson
DoB. 18 June 1898 at Stratford on Slaney, Co. Wicklow
15 Mar 1954 Proceedings of Medical Board
Patient complains of occasional bouts of Dyspnoea; insomnia;
chronic cough; with blood-stained sputum and malaise.
Doctors found congestion at left base with some cardiac
enlargement. B.P. 180/120
Ineffectivity File
Admission to Cork Military Hospital as a result of car accident
2/2/1950 to 6/2/1950
Admission to St. Bricin’s 11/5/51
9 March 1954 Col J.Gleeson notified that he will have completed 365 days of
ineffectivity so his pay will be subject to a stoppage of 50% .
3 Sept 1954 Mr McGartoil (?) D/Finance agrees that Col J.Gleeson may be
retained in service up to 9 Oct 1954 when he will have had 548
days of ineffectivity.
Placed 50% stoppage of pay for period 10 April ’54 to 9 Oct ‘54
Ineffectivity Chart
Nature From To No of Days
Mil Hosp Cork 2-2-50 6-2-50 5
Sick Leave 7-2-50 13-2-50 7
Sick in Qrs. 15-1-51 21-1-51 7
Sick in Qrs 11-5-51 16-5-51 6
St Bricins 17-5-51 11-6-51 26
Sick Leave 12-6-51 6-7-51 25
Sick in Qrs. 11-2-52 17-2-52 7
St Bricins 3-10-52 30-10-52 28
Sick Leave 31-10-52 27-11-52 28
St Bricins 29-1-53 2-3-53 33
St Bricins 13-4-53 15-6-53 61
Sick Leave 16-6-53 13-7-53 28
St Bricins 24-9-53 5-12-53 73
St Bricins 1-3-54 9-10-54 223
Total 548
16 Nov ’55 Back in St Bricins Hospital as a retiree.
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| St Bricin's Military Hospital, Arbour Hill, Dublin |
Name is Donard de Cogan (donarddecogan@gmail.com). My late fater, Maurice F. Cogan was Executive Officer to your grand-dad. He declared that Col. Gleeson was the most admirable officer he ever encountered. Maurice was also an artist who painted many military portraits. I cannot read the signature on the portrait at the top of your contribution. It certainly looks like Maurice's style. Please communicate directly when I can provide further details.
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