The D'Olyly Carte Opera Company was in Dublin in 1916 and due to open at the Gaiety Theatre on the Bank Holiday Monday, 24th April 1916. A programme at the National Library of Ireland indicates that they were due to perform The Gondoliers, Iolanthe, The Mikado The Pirates of Penzance, Patience and the Yeomen of the Guard.
Amongst the group was Sir Henry Lytton and some of his experiences during the Rising appears in an online book.
Lytton was to later receive an award for his services by former Prime Minister Lloyd George (who interfered so much in Ireland).
Lytton's last performance with the D'Oyly Carte was in 1934, ironically at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Dublin after the Six Days' Insurrection
A small publication of photographs that appeared after the Easter Rising was entitled "Dublin after the Six Days' Insurrection'. The 31 photographs from the publication can be viewed online via Villanova University.
The photographer/author of this booklet was Mr T W Murphy, editor/sub-editor of The Motor News publication.
A couple of the photographs contain images of "Loyal Dublin Volunteers". These are members of the Irish Association of Volunteer Training Corps (IAVTC). Thomas William Murphy was himself a member of this civilian organisation and was the organiser/Honorary Secretary of the Dublin Motorcyclists' VTC with an address at 34, Lower Abbey St, Dublin. The Commander of the Motorcyclists VTC is given as Pack-Beresford but I've yet to find out his forename (possibly Hugh Pack Beresford as an H Pack-Beresford was mentioned in some VTC items in the newspapers in 1915)
The photographer/author of this booklet was Mr T W Murphy, editor/sub-editor of The Motor News publication.
A couple of the photographs contain images of "Loyal Dublin Volunteers". These are members of the Irish Association of Volunteer Training Corps (IAVTC). Thomas William Murphy was himself a member of this civilian organisation and was the organiser/Honorary Secretary of the Dublin Motorcyclists' VTC with an address at 34, Lower Abbey St, Dublin. The Commander of the Motorcyclists VTC is given as Pack-Beresford but I've yet to find out his forename (possibly Hugh Pack Beresford as an H Pack-Beresford was mentioned in some VTC items in the newspapers in 1915)
Murphy made a claim for property lost during the Easter Rising at 34 Lower Abbey Street.
In a couple of Easter Rising photos, members of the VTC are wearing a Police duty band on the sleeve of their left arm. This type of band can be seen more clearly in the following photograph of DMP constables. The VTC had been sworn in as Special Constables by Sir Horace Plunkett at Beggar's Bush Barracks. The VTC were stood down on May 12th 1916 (based on a letter appearing in the Irish Times addressed to R A Anderson, Hon Secretary of the IAVTC, by Colonel Edgeworth-Johnson, DMP Commissioner).
In the 1901 census and the 1911 census T W Murphy is recorded as a journalist.
Worth noting that while both Liberty Hall and Northumberland House next door are damaged, neither caught fire as a result of the shelling.
In a couple of Easter Rising photos, members of the VTC are wearing a Police duty band on the sleeve of their left arm. This type of band can be seen more clearly in the following photograph of DMP constables. The VTC had been sworn in as Special Constables by Sir Horace Plunkett at Beggar's Bush Barracks. The VTC were stood down on May 12th 1916 (based on a letter appearing in the Irish Times addressed to R A Anderson, Hon Secretary of the IAVTC, by Colonel Edgeworth-Johnson, DMP Commissioner).
2nd June 2020
@irelandincolour has a good Tweet re the colourisation of one of the images from the booklet, showing the impact of shelling from the HMY Helga and the 18pounder artillery
@irelandincolour has a good Tweet re the colourisation of one of the images from the booklet, showing the impact of shelling from the HMY Helga and the 18pounder artillery
Worth noting that while both Liberty Hall and Northumberland House next door are damaged, neither caught fire as a result of the shelling.
George Parker and 10 Rutland Square, Dublin 1916
In looking for information re Pte T Parker, 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment, and his activities during the Easter Rising, fellow Easter Rising researcher Robus from boards.ie flagged up the arrest of George Parker from 10 Rutland Square.
The address is of interest personally as my Gt Gt Grandmother gave this as her address when she married in 1877.
10 Rutland Square, also called Fowlers Hall, was a base for various Orange Lodges in the Dublin area and from approximately 1913 onwards was the HQ for an Ulster Volunteer Force spin off group called the Loyal Dublin Volunteers. In the 1930's an arms cache was found in the basement of 10 Rutland Square that has been attributed to the Loyal Dublin Volunteers.
In August 1915, 200 members of the Loyal Dublin Volunteers enrolled in the Volunteer Training Corps (a civilian, non-political organisation formed for home defence and support work who were to have a role in the Easter Rising).
It would be interesting to understand under what circumstances George Parker was arrested and how he fared being interned with Irish Volunteers.
George and family were at 10 Rutland Square in the 1901 and 1911 census.
Rutland Square gets a mention in the witness statement of Sean McLoughlin and in the difficult to read diary of J R Clark.
The address is of interest personally as my Gt Gt Grandmother gave this as her address when she married in 1877.
10 Rutland Square, also called Fowlers Hall, was a base for various Orange Lodges in the Dublin area and from approximately 1913 onwards was the HQ for an Ulster Volunteer Force spin off group called the Loyal Dublin Volunteers. In the 1930's an arms cache was found in the basement of 10 Rutland Square that has been attributed to the Loyal Dublin Volunteers.
In August 1915, 200 members of the Loyal Dublin Volunteers enrolled in the Volunteer Training Corps (a civilian, non-political organisation formed for home defence and support work who were to have a role in the Easter Rising).
It would be interesting to understand under what circumstances George Parker was arrested and how he fared being interned with Irish Volunteers.
George and family were at 10 Rutland Square in the 1901 and 1911 census.
Rutland Square gets a mention in the witness statement of Sean McLoughlin and in the difficult to read diary of J R Clark.
Friday, 25 January 2013
Conscripted Irish Volunteers
Following the Easter Rising and the imprisonment of Irish Volunteers in Fron Goch and prisons around the UK (Wakefield, Stafford, Dartmoor), attempts were made by the authorities to find out who was eligible for conscription into the Army.
In his witness statement, Seamus Ua Caomhanaigh mentions the Nunan brothers being conscripted along with Pat and George King and Hughie Thornton. Mention is made of them being treated as Conscientious Objectors.
The Conscientious Objector label gets a mention in Ernest Nunans' army file (number 11/6151, 9th Battn London Regiment) but not in the file of his brother John/Sean (number 6256/323184, 6th Battn London Regt). Both appear to have refused to sign attestation papers or to have had medicals; both sentenced to terms in military prisons for refusing to obey lawful orders. Both released 1917. Ernest was charged at Marylebone Police Court under Section 15 of the Reserve Forces Act.
Hugh Thornton (number 32285, 65th Training Battalion) received a military prison sentence for refusing to obey a lawful order. He refused to sign forms and also refused to wear khaki uniform. Conscripted 13/9/1916; discharged 21/12/1916. Thornton gave his home address as that of the Kimmage Garrison while his fathers address was Edgehill. Liverpool. He became Vice O/C 3rd Cork Brigade and was killed in the Civil War. His brother Frank served with Michael Collin's Squad.
In his witness statement, Seamus Ua Caomhanaigh mentions the Nunan brothers being conscripted along with Pat and George King and Hughie Thornton. Mention is made of them being treated as Conscientious Objectors.
The Conscientious Objector label gets a mention in Ernest Nunans' army file (number 11/6151, 9th Battn London Regiment) but not in the file of his brother John/Sean (number 6256/323184, 6th Battn London Regt). Both appear to have refused to sign attestation papers or to have had medicals; both sentenced to terms in military prisons for refusing to obey lawful orders. Both released 1917. Ernest was charged at Marylebone Police Court under Section 15 of the Reserve Forces Act.
Hugh Thornton (number 32285, 65th Training Battalion) received a military prison sentence for refusing to obey a lawful order. He refused to sign forms and also refused to wear khaki uniform. Conscripted 13/9/1916; discharged 21/12/1916. Thornton gave his home address as that of the Kimmage Garrison while his fathers address was Edgehill. Liverpool. He became Vice O/C 3rd Cork Brigade and was killed in the Civil War. His brother Frank served with Michael Collin's Squad.
Thursday, 24 January 2013
German PoWs in Ireland 1914-1915
Templemore
Richmond Barracks in Templemore, Co Tipperary seems to have been used to hold about 2300 German (and possibly Austrian) prisoners of war from the early days of WW1 through to about March 1915. The prisoners were then moved to Lancashire, England on the pre-text that there were problems with the sanitation at the barracks. It subsequently appears that the authorities were concerned with attempts by local Irish Volunteers to make contact with the prisoners.
There isn't a lot of information about the PoWs time at Richmond.
The UK National Archives mentions that :
Berthold Hilscher, Adjutant in the Reserve Regiment 211, interned in Templemore, Ireland: notification of promotion to rank of lieutenant; transfer to officers' camp.
http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0116.pdf#page=5
http://www.garda.ie/Documents/User/col_yr_bk_english.pdf
Oldcastle, Co Meath
Oldcastle appears to have been used as an internment centre for German and Austrian civilians though there is some mention of German soldiers being there. Again, information is hard to come by.
http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0161.pdf#page=12
http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0215.pdf#page=7
http://newsandsport.ie/leads/read/items/oldcastles-wartime-role-to-be-explored
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Oldcastle/
Mountjoy Prison
It would appear that a number of Germans were held in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin for some reason. Possibly to do with contact with Irish Volunteers (this is pure speculation on my part at this stage and needs further investigation) :
http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0942.pdf#page=2
Easter Rising - Pte T Parker
One of the names that appears in the list of those arrested after the Easter Rising and imprisoned is Parker T, 12 Hollaf Row, Dublin (Pte 2nd Leinster Regiment).
I think Hollaf Row is Holles Row and that this is possibly the 1911 census entry for Pte T(homas) Parker and family.
No other information forthcoming at the moment.
There is a story that a soldier in Enniscorthy joined the rising there. The only reference I can find so far is the name Miley Wilde in a witness statement. So far, no more details on this chap.
I think Hollaf Row is Holles Row and that this is possibly the 1911 census entry for Pte T(homas) Parker and family.
No other information forthcoming at the moment.
There is a story that a soldier in Enniscorthy joined the rising there. The only reference I can find so far is the name Miley Wilde in a witness statement. So far, no more details on this chap.
Mount St Bridge 1916
The following photo is prompted by a discussion on Flickr re a similar photo held by the National Library of Ireland.
The photo comes from the excellent book "The Easter Rebellion" by Max Caulfield :
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