The British commanders thus planned a major operation to capture the IRA column, mobilising about 350 troops in total, to converge on the area from several different directions. According to Tom Barry, 400 British troops came from
Cork, 200 from
Ballincollig, 300 from Kinsale and 350 from Bandon. These numbers have been contradicted by military studies, also by reports from locals in Crossbarry reporting 34 British vehicles were counted in the area as well as eye-witness evidence from Florence Begley. Later in the day about 120
Auxiliaries also left
Macroom. The British sweep was mounted early on the morning of 19 March. At Crossbarry, some of the troops descended from their lorries to proceed on foot or bicycle to try and catch the IRA unaware.
Tom Barry, only becoming aware of the danger at the last minute, resolved that his men, 104 strong, would have to fight their way out of the encirclement. Barry's calculation was that his men, who had only 40 rounds per man, could not sustain an all day fight, which they could expect if they retired before the British. Moreover, the likelihood was that the small column would be trapped if it took this course of action. However, Barry observed that one of the British columns advancing towards Crossbarry was well ahead of the other British units. If his men could break through this British force, roughly the same strength as his own force, then they could break out of the British encirclement. Barry laid out an ambush for the British at Crossbarry cross roads—his men being in position by 5:30 am. The first British lorries, about 12 vehicles according to Barry's account, came into view of the IRA at 8:00 am. When they reached Crossbarry, they were caught by surprise and hit by a
crossfire at very close range—between and . They took significant casualties and many of them fled the scene. Barry's men collected the British arms and ammunition before setting fire to the lorries. At this point, they were attacked again by another British column of about 200, coming from the southwest, but they too retreated after a stiff fire fight. The renewed fire led to the day's three IRA fatalities. Two more British units converging on the area from the southeast tried to dislodge the IRA from their ambush position, but again without success and they too fled in disorder. Taking the chance offered by his quick victory to get away, Barry then marched his men to safety in the
Gurranereigh area, while the British were still disoriented by the ambush. There was another brief exchange of fire at long range as the IRA column got away. The action had lasted for under an hour. On realising what had happened,
Major Percival of the
Essex Regiment rushed to the scene with his troops, but was only able to open a long range fire on the fleeing IRA men. He later blamed the failure of the British operation on the Auxiliary column which had gone to the wrong rendezvous point and had therefore left a gap in the encirclement. There were some further firefights along the IRA column's line of retreat at
Crowhill and
Rearour but with no further casualties on either side. Barry's account does not mention the use of the explosives, but contemporary press accounts reported that the three British lorries were destroyed by a
mine planted under the bridge at Crossbarry and detonated as they passed. ==Aftermath==