Judge Law Smith and his Chauffeur

In the foregound of the above photo is the remains of the O'Rahilly's car.

In the background is a car with the registration TI 334. This is a Limerick registration but finding the name of the owner was proving difficult as the online versions of the Irish Motor Directory only goes up to 1915 and the Limerick list only goes up to TI 296.

(I generally use the Lennon Wylie page for the 1915 Motor Directory as it covers all counties but there are Limerick specific versions available to view online too).

Looking through the Rebellion Claims Committee, I thought that the car might belong to the Thompson Motor Company as the claim for the 15HP Landaulette damage description seemed quite close to the damage seen on the car and the car looks similar to a Napier Landaulette. No registration number is mentioned in the claim.

I am grateful to input from members of the Facebook group "Irish Vehicle Registrations Past & Present" who were able to identify the owner from the registration number as Limerick County Court official Judge  Law Smith. 

It appears the Judge Phillip Henry Law Smith had a claim into the Rebellion Claims Committee for a Sunbeam Landaulette and Chauffeurs uniform. Again, no registration number is mentioned in the claim.

There is a note in the claim to the effect that the Chauffeurs outfit was damaged as a result of his confinement in the GPO during the Rising and that the Chauffeur was arrested by the military after the Rising as a Sinn Feiner until his identity was ascertained.

Michael Staines witness statement indicates that the Chauffeur was detained and that he was one of the men who carried James Connolly's stretcher when the GPO was evacuated.

Father Patrick Doyle's witness statement suggests that the Chauffeur stayed with the Volunteers and fought with them in the GPO.

Luke Kennedy's witness statement suggests that the car was used during the Rising in an attempt to collect chemicals and that the car was driven by the chauffeur.

None of the witness statements or the claim form give the name of the Chauffeur. However, a 1916 Roll of Honour website lists M Keilly of 22 Ailesbury Road (the address of Judge Law Smith), a Chauffeur as being detained in Richmond Barracks and transferred to Knutsford Prison on 30th April 1916. The 1916 Rebellion Handbook lists Reilly M of 22 Ailesbury Road, Chauffeur as being detained in Richmond Barracks and transferred to Knutsford on the 20th April.

A Martin Reilly is listed as being released between 13th and 22nd May 1916. Nothing so far to confirm that Martin Reilly was the chauffeur.

1901 Census for Philip Henry Law Smith

1911 Census for Philip Henry Law Smith

Philip Henry Law Smith died 5th January 1920 and is buried in Bath, England.