no direct field of fire into the troops who were hidden under the train. MacEllistrim called on the survivors to surrender and when they refused, the IRA began to move in to finish off those who kept shooting, by throwing hand grenades under the train. Just as they were doing so, another train pulled into the junction, carrying another party of British troops. The IRA column had used most of its ammunition and was forced to retreat, escaping toward the hills in the south. Casualties The British Army reported that seven soldiers were killed outright and that two more were fatally wounded. There were a further twelve non-fatal injuries among the troops. The IRA however thought there were far more British casualties. One of the attackers recalled, "twelve coffins left Killarney later and that wasn't all". Tom McEllistrim reported to his superiors that as many as 25 British soldiers had been killed. Allman and another IRA guerrilla, Lt Jimmy Baily, were killed in the ambush. One civilian was killed outright and two mortally wounded, with two others (a father and daughter) seriously wounded. In the immediate aftermath of the ambush, McEllistrim shot dead a suspected spy whom his men had captured. See also Upton train ambush References External links An account of the Headford Ambush The Irish Board of Military History, signed account of the Ambush Conflicts in 1921 Military actions and engagements during the Irish War of Independence History of County Kerry 1921 in Ireland British Army in the Irish War of Independence March 1921 events Ambushes in Europe