Maxim MG 08/15 light machine-gun, War of Independence

Maxim MG 08/15 light machine-gun, War of Independence

While the 1916 Rising was being fought on the streets of Dublin, thousands of Irishmen were also fighting in British Army regiments in France and Belgium facing German weapons such as this Maxim MG 08/15 light machine-gun. This gun was later used by the British forces against the IRA during the War of Independence. A small number of machine guns fell into the hands of the IRA through raids, but they were still no match for British weapon capabilities.
Seán Moylan of the Cork Brigade said of the war with the British Forces that “In numbers we were about equal, but in armament we had no answer to the Lewis guns of the British, and particularly no answer to the heavy Maxim that roared continuously from the armoured car”.