James Osmund Airy (18 May 1884 – 21 July 1920) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.
[8] Airy was temporarily promoted to major in December 1917,[9] while in March of the following year he was appointed an acting lieutenant colonel while commanding a battalion.
[11] He returned to the regiment in October 1919 and was posted to Ireland during the Irish War of Independence, where he commanded 50 men at Ballincollig.
On 18 July, they set up an ambush at Coolavokig, situated along the road between Ballyvourney and Macroom, where they laid in wait for three days.
Airy was travelling as a passenger on board a rations lorry on 21 July, when it was ambushed by thirty IRA men that had laid in wait for him.