Dr Carew and Captain Stanley

In a list of wounded soldiers treated at the Red Cross Hospital in Dublin Castle, mention is made of a Dr W K Carew. 

This is Dr William King Carew (1872-1956). He was later an Honorary Major, RAMC to July 1919. Dr Carew was in charge of the Red Cross Hospital in Dublin Castle during the Easter Rising. He emigrated to New Zealand about 1920 to set up a medical practice and then later worked for many years on the Fijian island of Rotuma.

Dr Carew was relieved at Dublin Castle Red Cross Hospital on the 30th April 1916 by Captain H V Stanley MBE MC, RAMC suffering exhaustion and lack of sleep. Captain Herbert Vernon Stanley was the Medical Officer at some of the executions that followed the Easter Rising.

Both were dental surgeons. Captain Stanley was born in Dublin. Dr Carew was either born in Waterford (based on the 1911 census for England where he was a visitor to a house in Wimbledon) or Kilkenny (based on some websites where he has a mention).

Captain Stanley was awarded the Military Cross. His entry in the London Gazette is on the same page as Louisa Nolan and Florence Williams Military Medals and awards for other participants in the Easter Rising. He received an MBE in 1941 and was given another award in 1948 for unknown services, having risen to the rank of Lt Colonel.

A brief mention in the British Medical Journal indicates that Dr Carew died in Jersey in 1956. The address listed ties in with medical directories on Ancestry.co.uk.

Speaking to Captain Gerard (another participant in the British Army's quelling of the Easter Rising) in the 1930's, Captain Stanley indicated that the executed rebel leaders "died like Lions". Both Captain Gerard and Captain Stanley appear to have thought well of the rebel Irish Volunteers.