A member of C Company in the 3rd Dublin Battalion of the Irish Volunteers, Gerard Crofts joined the GPO garrison upon the outbreak of the Easter Rising. He was one of a party led by James Brennan-Whitmore which was sent to the Imperial Hotel and adjoining buildings in an attempt to take control of the North Earl Street area. Crofts was promoted to lieutenant during the week and, after coming under heavy fire from British artillery, the party was split into three and evacuated, with Crofts leading one group towards North Cumberland Street where they were captured. A noted singer, he took charge of the choir whilst interned in Dartmoor and Lewes Prisons before his release in advance of the general amnesty in June 1917. Although poor health prevented him from fully participating in the War of Independence, Crofts played an active role in fund-raising and organisation for Sinn Féin and was imprisoned in 1920, taking part in a hunger strike before his eventual release.
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