Edward Merriman was employed at St James's Gate, Guinness as a Messenger.
Guinness Employment
In the 1901 census his father is listed as a Brewery Employee. Not sure if this is at Guinness - there doesn't appear to be a record in the Guinness database for the father (but the online Guinness database is not complete)
1901 Census Merriman Family
1911 Census Merriman Family
He didn't turn up for work during the Rising as he was taking part as a Volunteer at the Marrowbone Lane Garrison and his employment was terminated. He was amongst those investigated by William Sheehan on behalf of Guinness.
Listed as Marrinan in the Roll of Honour :
Marrowbone Lane Roll of Honour
There are 2 digital documents available to view re his pension application.
Edward Merriman Pension Application
Edward Merriman died in 1969 and is buried in Mount Jerome.
Showing posts with label Guinness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guinness. Show all posts
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Monday, 10 March 2014
Saturday, 16 November 2013
Colonel Allatt
Colonel Henry Thomas Ward Allat is another person of interest. Involved in the construction of the improvised armoured lorries used during the Easter Rising and also involved with Captain Bowen Colthurst on a raid on the Sheehy Skeffington house. He died just after the Rising but there are conflicting reports re his death.
He was Mentioned in Despatches in Jan 1917 for his work during the Easter Rising.
The 1916 Rebellion Handbook has him as Killed in Action near the South Dublin Union. Forums have him as died of wounds in Belfast. Soldiers Died in the Great War has him as Died which normally means died of natural causes/disease.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website has him attached to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (his previous regiment); his medal index card has him attached to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. He was a Draft Conducting Officer, tasked with bringing drafts of reinforcements of the Royal Irish Rifles to the theatre of operations. France in his case; his first entry to this theatre being 3rd August 1915. 3rd Royal Irish Rifles were based at Portobello Barracks at the time of the rising.
The British Medical Journal has him as died of heart failure in Belfast following his exertions during the rebellion
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...07049-0028.pdf
His death registration in Belfast gives year of birth as 1839.
He was born in Feb 1847. Baptised in London in Feb 1848. English census records have him born in France. His father was a Physician with a practice in Boulogne (and then later in Dover).
He was an Ensign in October 1866 in the 46th Regiment of Foot, a Lt in the 1871 census, a Captain in the 1881 census, a Major in the 1891 census and a Colonel in the 1901 census. In the 1911 census he was a "retired Colonel of HM Land Forces".
Allatt (written as Allett) is recorded in the 1916 Rebellion Handbook as being involved in the raid on Francis Sheehy-Skeffington's house on the Friday evening with Captain Bowen-Colthurst.
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/c...colonel-allett
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-en...-war-ala.shtml
An odd phrase appears in connection with Allatt :
The Military refused to produce others, Colonel Allett had died mysteriously in the interval, according to some he committed suicide in Belfast when Colthurst was condemned, saying, "The game is up."
He was Mentioned in Despatches in Jan 1917 for his work during the Easter Rising.
The 1916 Rebellion Handbook has him as Killed in Action near the South Dublin Union. Forums have him as died of wounds in Belfast. Soldiers Died in the Great War has him as Died which normally means died of natural causes/disease.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website has him attached to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (his previous regiment); his medal index card has him attached to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. He was a Draft Conducting Officer, tasked with bringing drafts of reinforcements of the Royal Irish Rifles to the theatre of operations. France in his case; his first entry to this theatre being 3rd August 1915. 3rd Royal Irish Rifles were based at Portobello Barracks at the time of the rising.
The British Medical Journal has him as died of heart failure in Belfast following his exertions during the rebellion
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...07049-0028.pdf
His death registration in Belfast gives year of birth as 1839.
He was born in Feb 1847. Baptised in London in Feb 1848. English census records have him born in France. His father was a Physician with a practice in Boulogne (and then later in Dover).
He was an Ensign in October 1866 in the 46th Regiment of Foot, a Lt in the 1871 census, a Captain in the 1881 census, a Major in the 1891 census and a Colonel in the 1901 census. In the 1911 census he was a "retired Colonel of HM Land Forces".
Allatt (written as Allett) is recorded in the 1916 Rebellion Handbook as being involved in the raid on Francis Sheehy-Skeffington's house on the Friday evening with Captain Bowen-Colthurst.
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/c...colonel-allett
http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-en...-war-ala.shtml
An odd phrase appears in connection with Allatt :
The Military refused to produce others, Colonel Allett had died mysteriously in the interval, according to some he committed suicide in Belfast when Colthurst was condemned, saying, "The game is up."
1966 Insurrection
My aunt Molly (Mary Niland) gave me her copy of the 1966 RTV Guide, a publication listing the various radio and television shows being show in 1966 to mark the 1916 Easter Rising.
A nice write up of the planning and production that took place and a photo of the cover of the RTV Guide can be found at :
http://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/tv-eye-through-the-eyes-of-1916/
The armoured car depicted on the page is a Rolls Royce armoured car which weren't the type used on the streets of Dublin during the Rising - 7 were ferried across just after the Rising and used in post Rising mop up and Police work. It was one of the improvised armoured lorries built using Guinness lorries and railway smokeboxes that came under attack outside the GPO.
A nice write up of the planning and production that took place and a photo of the cover of the RTV Guide can be found at :
http://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/tv-eye-through-the-eyes-of-1916/
The armoured car depicted on the page is a Rolls Royce armoured car which weren't the type used on the streets of Dublin during the Rising - 7 were ferried across just after the Rising and used in post Rising mop up and Police work. It was one of the improvised armoured lorries built using Guinness lorries and railway smokeboxes that came under attack outside the GPO.
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Colonel Portal
In command of the troops that travelled to Dublin from the Curragh was Colonel B P Portal (later Brigadier General Sir Bertram Percy Portal). Colonel Portal was listed in the despatch from Sir John French. He also gets a mention in a Sherwood Forester diary.
He is one of the officers credited with the idea for the improvised armoured cars using lorries from Guinness with smoke boxes and metal plates from the railway works at Inchicore.
29th August 1885, Lt in the 17th Lancers from Royal Military College
19th February 1895, Captain in the 17th Lancers
18th March 1896, seconded for service on the Staff
4th April 1899, Supernumerary Captain to Captain
29th May 1900, Major in the 17th Lancers
1900-1902, Boer War
5th February 1904, Lt Col in the 17th Lancers. Has a DSO
2nd November 1906, Colonel in the 17th Lancers
30th October 1907, retired pay
13th December 1912, Deputy Lt in Southampton
1st May 1916, Major Salt, Staff Officer to BPP
24th January 1917, retired pay Reserve of Officers, temp Brigadier General
16th March 1932, Vice Lt Southampton
20th November 2021
Following a tip from Easter Rising author Mick O'Farrell via Twitter, I have just received a copy of "A Soldier and a Gentleman : Brigadier General Sir Bertram Portal 1866-1949".
He is one of the officers credited with the idea for the improvised armoured cars using lorries from Guinness with smoke boxes and metal plates from the railway works at Inchicore.
29th August 1885, Lt in the 17th Lancers from Royal Military College
19th February 1895, Captain in the 17th Lancers
18th March 1896, seconded for service on the Staff
4th April 1899, Supernumerary Captain to Captain
29th May 1900, Major in the 17th Lancers
1900-1902, Boer War
5th February 1904, Lt Col in the 17th Lancers. Has a DSO
2nd November 1906, Colonel in the 17th Lancers
30th October 1907, retired pay
13th December 1912, Deputy Lt in Southampton
1st May 1916, Major Salt, Staff Officer to BPP
24th January 1917, retired pay Reserve of Officers, temp Brigadier General
16th March 1932, Vice Lt Southampton
20th November 2021
Following a tip from Easter Rising author Mick O'Farrell via Twitter, I have just received a copy of "A Soldier and a Gentleman : Brigadier General Sir Bertram Portal 1866-1949".
Just reading this now and this looks to be a good read, adding more understanding re Portal's life in general and his and others roles during the Easter Rising.
Will have to add a page re Major Thomas Salt and possibly a few others.
Henry Hugh Peter Deasy
On Wednesday 26th April 1916, a Major Deasy contacted Guinness to see under what terms Guinness would allow the lorries requisitioned on the Monday to be converted to improvised armoured cars for use during the Easter Rising.
The only Major Deasy I can find is an Irishman by the name Henry Hugh Peter Deasy.
29th June 1866, born in Dublin.
20th April 1886, Lt in the 4th Royal Munster Fusiliers
10th November 1888, 2nd Lt in the 6th Lancers
29th January 1890, Lt in the 16th Lancers
17th February 1894, Captain in the 16th Lancers
1894, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
1896, exploration of Tibet
24th March 1897, resigns his Captaincy in the 16th Lancers
10th August 1897, Reserve of Officers
May 1900, note re his exploration work
August 1900, wrote article "Journeys in Central Asia"
1901, wrote "In Tibet and Chinese Turkistan" following 3 years of exploration work
1903, founded H H P Deasy and Company Ltd, importing cars
1905, completed a 1000 mile motor trial around Ireland
1905, shareholder of the London Power Omnibus Company Limited
1906, founded Deasy Motor Car Manufacturing Company Limited (in 1912 it was to become Siddeley-Deasy Motor Company Limited having been taken over by John Davenport Siddeley)
11th October 1906, resigns as Chairman of London Power Omnibus Company Limited
22nd February 1907, winding up of H H P Deasy and Company Limited
24th June 1910, H P P Deasy and Company Limited accounts/liquidation
14th March 1911, Deasy Motor Car Manufacturing Company Limited
5th May 1915, Temporary Major, 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry
The 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry was formed in August 1914 and based in the Curragh. Affiliated to 16th and 17th Lancers
18th May 1915, Temporary Major 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General
25th July 1916, relinquishes rank of Temporary Major.
4th July 1919, ceases to be employed with the Labour Corps (his Medal Index Card shows Labour Corps and makes no mention of 16th Lancers or 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry ie he served in a theatre of war with the Labour Corps. He entered France in the last days of the war - 17th October 1918).
12th September 1919, placed on the Retired list as a result of ill health
A summary of his life can be found online in a Grace's Guide relating to his work with motor cars.
26th January 1947. Died.
So far, I've found no official documentation or any publication to show that Henry Deasy was the Major Deasy who called Guinness. The idea for the improvised armoured cars originated with Colonel Portal, one of the officers in charge of the troops coming from the Curragh (including 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry) to which Deasy was attached in a Quartermaster role.
The only Major Deasy I can find is an Irishman by the name Henry Hugh Peter Deasy.
29th June 1866, born in Dublin.
20th April 1886, Lt in the 4th Royal Munster Fusiliers
10th November 1888, 2nd Lt in the 6th Lancers
29th January 1890, Lt in the 16th Lancers
17th February 1894, Captain in the 16th Lancers
1894, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
1896, exploration of Tibet
24th March 1897, resigns his Captaincy in the 16th Lancers
10th August 1897, Reserve of Officers
May 1900, note re his exploration work
August 1900, wrote article "Journeys in Central Asia"
1901, wrote "In Tibet and Chinese Turkistan" following 3 years of exploration work
1903, founded H H P Deasy and Company Ltd, importing cars
1905, completed a 1000 mile motor trial around Ireland
1905, shareholder of the London Power Omnibus Company Limited
1906, founded Deasy Motor Car Manufacturing Company Limited (in 1912 it was to become Siddeley-Deasy Motor Company Limited having been taken over by John Davenport Siddeley)
11th October 1906, resigns as Chairman of London Power Omnibus Company Limited
22nd February 1907, winding up of H H P Deasy and Company Limited
24th June 1910, H P P Deasy and Company Limited accounts/liquidation
14th March 1911, Deasy Motor Car Manufacturing Company Limited
5th May 1915, Temporary Major, 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry
The 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry was formed in August 1914 and based in the Curragh. Affiliated to 16th and 17th Lancers
18th May 1915, Temporary Major 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General
25th July 1916, relinquishes rank of Temporary Major.
4th July 1919, ceases to be employed with the Labour Corps (his Medal Index Card shows Labour Corps and makes no mention of 16th Lancers or 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry ie he served in a theatre of war with the Labour Corps. He entered France in the last days of the war - 17th October 1918).
12th September 1919, placed on the Retired list as a result of ill health
A summary of his life can be found online in a Grace's Guide relating to his work with motor cars.
26th January 1947. Died.
So far, I've found no official documentation or any publication to show that Henry Deasy was the Major Deasy who called Guinness. The idea for the improvised armoured cars originated with Colonel Portal, one of the officers in charge of the troops coming from the Curragh (including 8th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry) to which Deasy was attached in a Quartermaster role.
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Guinness Drivers
A letter to Colonel Collard, ASC, dated 16th Dec 1914 lists 16 Straker Squires, 35hp, capable of carrying 4 tons; these were the subject of an earlier request by the military (8/11/1914 and 8/12/1914) for 16 x 3 ton lorries for use in case of an emergency in Ireland only.
As at 9th May 1917, Guinness had 11 Straker Squires left (8 valued at £30 and 3 at £40) and 13 Milnes-Daimlers and appeared happy to give the military the Straker Squires but not the Milnes-Daimlers (or the steam wagons)
Guinness appeared to use a numbering system for their vehicles. A note dated 18th April 1918 has
No 2 4 ton Straker Squire valued at £20 (after recent overhaul and paint)
No 4 4 ton Straker Squires valued at £20 (after recent overhaul and paint)
No 23 4 ton Milnes Daimler valued at £87-18-11
No 28 4 ton Milnes Daimler valued at £94-13-11
3 Guinness lorries in Liverpool (no's 11, 12 and 13) had been requisitioned by the military in August 1914.
In Oct 1913, the Dublin office had a list of drivers, their numbers, date they entered service, date appointed as a driver, and wage per week. (All Straker Squires drivers I'm assuming)
8471 Ledwidge, Henry 18/10/99 14/06/09 49/-
8420 Fleming, James 1/9/99 11/10/09 37/-
7637 Dunne, John 3/9/96 8/8/10 35/-
10690 Hilton, L(onie) 10/02/04 27/12/09 32/- (served during WW1, Royal Navy)
7185 Dillon, William 23/09/95 28/7/09 33/-
7496 Prior, Daniel 8/9/98 11/10/09 33/-
Other drivers were appointed
25/04/10 x 1
13/3/11 x 2
1/11/11 x 2
24/1/12 x 2
22/3/12 x1
10/5/12 x2
13/9/12 x2
15/11/12 x 3
As at 27/1/1914 the following Milnes-Daimler drivers were working at Guinness with their join date :
F Page 8/11/13
C Frisby 8/11/13
R Moon 8/11/13
J Sassiene 12/11/13
H Francis 12/11/13
P Green 12/11/13
G Taylor 19/11/13
Guinness appears to have hired tyres from Dunlop at 1 1/4 pence per mile.
As at 9th May 1917, Guinness had 11 Straker Squires left (8 valued at £30 and 3 at £40) and 13 Milnes-Daimlers and appeared happy to give the military the Straker Squires but not the Milnes-Daimlers (or the steam wagons)
Guinness appeared to use a numbering system for their vehicles. A note dated 18th April 1918 has
No 2 4 ton Straker Squire valued at £20 (after recent overhaul and paint)
No 4 4 ton Straker Squires valued at £20 (after recent overhaul and paint)
No 23 4 ton Milnes Daimler valued at £87-18-11
No 28 4 ton Milnes Daimler valued at £94-13-11
3 Guinness lorries in Liverpool (no's 11, 12 and 13) had been requisitioned by the military in August 1914.
In Oct 1913, the Dublin office had a list of drivers, their numbers, date they entered service, date appointed as a driver, and wage per week. (All Straker Squires drivers I'm assuming)
8471 Ledwidge, Henry 18/10/99 14/06/09 49/-
8420 Fleming, James 1/9/99 11/10/09 37/-
7637 Dunne, John 3/9/96 8/8/10 35/-
10690 Hilton, L(onie) 10/02/04 27/12/09 32/- (served during WW1, Royal Navy)
7185 Dillon, William 23/09/95 28/7/09 33/-
7496 Prior, Daniel 8/9/98 11/10/09 33/-
Other drivers were appointed
25/04/10 x 1
13/3/11 x 2
1/11/11 x 2
24/1/12 x 2
22/3/12 x1
10/5/12 x2
13/9/12 x2
15/11/12 x 3
As at 27/1/1914 the following Milnes-Daimler drivers were working at Guinness with their join date :
F Page 8/11/13
C Frisby 8/11/13
R Moon 8/11/13
J Sassiene 12/11/13
H Francis 12/11/13
P Green 12/11/13
G Taylor 19/11/13
Guinness appears to have hired tyres from Dunlop at 1 1/4 pence per mile.
Guinness Lorries WW1 and Tan War
The first use of motor vehicles by Guinness lasted from 1899 to 1903. Motors then came back into use in 1909 with the purchase of a number of Straker Squires. 1 driver (a Mr Crouch) transferred to Guinness with the purchase of the lorrries. As at 27/1/1914, 7 Milnes Daimler drivers were working for Guinness (starting 8/11/1913). Henry Ledwidge transferred from the Engineering Dept at Guinness in June 1909 as the first Guinness driver on probation. Ledwidge, Foreman Driver, died in 1917 and there is a note re a patent of his re "Improvements in couplings for road vehicles"
From the Guinness archives :
On the 6th March 1915, Captain A E Beattie, Army Service Corps, inspected 2 Leyland cars and the Commer car and took them over on behalf of the War Office.
The 'cars' were :
Leyland 5 ton lorry. Chassis no 1069(or W69)/1352. Manufactured Nov 1913; purchased from Leyland Nov 1913 for £884-0-0. Guinnessdepreciation value £645-4-9; price offered by Captain Beattie £602
Leyland 4 ton lorry. Chassis no X373/1353. Manufactured Nov 1913; purchased from Leyland Nov 1913 for £809-0-0
Guinness depreciation value £590-11-2; price offered by Captain Beattie £560. Described as lorry, no sides.
Com(m)er 5 1/2 (6?) ton lorry. Chassis no KC519. Manufactured Oct 1913; purchased Oct 1913 from Messrs Thompson Motor Co, Dublin. for £792. Guinness depreciation value £578-0-2; price offered by Captain Beattie £560. Described as lorry, no sides.
3 lorries had earlier been taken from the Liverpool depot but no details available other than cars numbered 11, 12 and 18.
An inventory taken at the date, showed 27 cars in Dublin :
14 Straker Squires 4 ton cars
4 Milnes Daimler 4 ton cars
3 Milnes Daimler 5 ton cars
2 Milnes Daimler 6 ton cars
1 Leyland 4 ton car
1 Leyland 5 ton car
1 Steam Leyland 6 ton car
1 Commer 6 ton car
with a note that cars on order which may be commandeered in factory - 2 Foden Steam Cars expected in middle of April and 6 Foden Steam Cars expected sometime in July. A 9th May 1917 inventory of the steam wagons lists 1 Leyland steam wagon and 6 Foden Steam Wagons plus 11 Straker Squires and 13 Milnes Daimlers. The Straker Squires were offered to the military as the Guinness petrol allowance wasn't enough for the business (2244 gallons per month) and they didn't want to hand over the steam wagons.
There had been communications between the Army Service Corps and Guinness since the early days of the war. Guinness provided the list of their drivers and their sizes so that uniforms could be made and kept on hand should they need to be taken into the army. Arrangements were made in conjunction with Colonel Collard in Dec 1914/Jan 1915 re "providing motor lorries day or night in the event of a national emergency".
14 petrol lorries and 3 Foden steam wagons from Guinness were taken by the military on the first day of the Easter Rising (24th April 1916). All but 2 lorries were returned on the 15th May - the 2 kept behind with their drivers (Joseph Armstrong and Daniel Prior) were working for the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) unit stationed at Portobello Barracks. Total mileage of 3800 is recorded for the vehicles; 104 gallons of petrol and 65 bags of coal were handed to the military. 33 Guinness drivers received a letter from General Maxwell and a £15 bonus each from Guinness. Armstrong and Prior also received a note of thanks from Major Balch, RAMC.
A note from the Wednesday of the Rising, states that Major Deasy rang on that day (26th April 1916) enquiring about what would be the terms under which motor cars could be converted into armoured cars. Consent was given by A E Guinness on the condition that the cars were returned in a fit state and this was telephoned to Major Deasy in the afternoon.
Some of the Straker Squire and Milnes Daimler lorries were commandered by 615 MT Company ASC from 17th April 1918 to 12th June 1918 and there are details of the wear and tear, missing items and repairs undertaken on their return to Guinness.
There was an attempt to use Guinness lorries in the construction of Baldonnel aerodrome for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 due to shortages of vehicles but this was resisted. The Irish Automobile Club had been looking to use a Guinness lorry from June 1915 as part of an effort to train/test motor drivers for the army.
Also in the Guinness archive is a pamphlet labelled "War Department Scheme for Motor Lorries" which appears to be pre WW1. Drawings are also stored. The Guinness lorries of 1914 didn't meet the specifications of the scheme.
So far, the only registrations I've found in any of the Guinness documents are RI 2585, RI 2588 and RI 2589 which were 3 of the lorries taken in April 1918.
From the Guinness archives :
On the 6th March 1915, Captain A E Beattie, Army Service Corps, inspected 2 Leyland cars and the Commer car and took them over on behalf of the War Office.
The 'cars' were :
Leyland 5 ton lorry. Chassis no 1069(or W69)/1352. Manufactured Nov 1913; purchased from Leyland Nov 1913 for £884-0-0. Guinnessdepreciation value £645-4-9; price offered by Captain Beattie £602
Leyland 4 ton lorry. Chassis no X373/1353. Manufactured Nov 1913; purchased from Leyland Nov 1913 for £809-0-0
Guinness depreciation value £590-11-2; price offered by Captain Beattie £560. Described as lorry, no sides.
Com(m)er 5 1/2 (6?) ton lorry. Chassis no KC519. Manufactured Oct 1913; purchased Oct 1913 from Messrs Thompson Motor Co, Dublin. for £792. Guinness depreciation value £578-0-2; price offered by Captain Beattie £560. Described as lorry, no sides.
3 lorries had earlier been taken from the Liverpool depot but no details available other than cars numbered 11, 12 and 18.
An inventory taken at the date, showed 27 cars in Dublin :
14 Straker Squires 4 ton cars
4 Milnes Daimler 4 ton cars
3 Milnes Daimler 5 ton cars
2 Milnes Daimler 6 ton cars
1 Leyland 4 ton car
1 Leyland 5 ton car
1 Steam Leyland 6 ton car
1 Commer 6 ton car
with a note that cars on order which may be commandeered in factory - 2 Foden Steam Cars expected in middle of April and 6 Foden Steam Cars expected sometime in July. A 9th May 1917 inventory of the steam wagons lists 1 Leyland steam wagon and 6 Foden Steam Wagons plus 11 Straker Squires and 13 Milnes Daimlers. The Straker Squires were offered to the military as the Guinness petrol allowance wasn't enough for the business (2244 gallons per month) and they didn't want to hand over the steam wagons.
There had been communications between the Army Service Corps and Guinness since the early days of the war. Guinness provided the list of their drivers and their sizes so that uniforms could be made and kept on hand should they need to be taken into the army. Arrangements were made in conjunction with Colonel Collard in Dec 1914/Jan 1915 re "providing motor lorries day or night in the event of a national emergency".
14 petrol lorries and 3 Foden steam wagons from Guinness were taken by the military on the first day of the Easter Rising (24th April 1916). All but 2 lorries were returned on the 15th May - the 2 kept behind with their drivers (Joseph Armstrong and Daniel Prior) were working for the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) unit stationed at Portobello Barracks. Total mileage of 3800 is recorded for the vehicles; 104 gallons of petrol and 65 bags of coal were handed to the military. 33 Guinness drivers received a letter from General Maxwell and a £15 bonus each from Guinness. Armstrong and Prior also received a note of thanks from Major Balch, RAMC.
A note from the Wednesday of the Rising, states that Major Deasy rang on that day (26th April 1916) enquiring about what would be the terms under which motor cars could be converted into armoured cars. Consent was given by A E Guinness on the condition that the cars were returned in a fit state and this was telephoned to Major Deasy in the afternoon.
Some of the Straker Squire and Milnes Daimler lorries were commandered by 615 MT Company ASC from 17th April 1918 to 12th June 1918 and there are details of the wear and tear, missing items and repairs undertaken on their return to Guinness.
There was an attempt to use Guinness lorries in the construction of Baldonnel aerodrome for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 due to shortages of vehicles but this was resisted. The Irish Automobile Club had been looking to use a Guinness lorry from June 1915 as part of an effort to train/test motor drivers for the army.
Also in the Guinness archive is a pamphlet labelled "War Department Scheme for Motor Lorries" which appears to be pre WW1. Drawings are also stored. The Guinness lorries of 1914 didn't meet the specifications of the scheme.
So far, the only registrations I've found in any of the Guinness documents are RI 2585, RI 2588 and RI 2589 which were 3 of the lorries taken in April 1918.
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