1 Irish Prisoners, Internment Camp, Frongoch. 14th Oct. 1916. Wm. O'Brien Esq., M.P. House of Commons. Sir; We much regret the necessity which compells us to send to you
additional complaints regarding the rations supplied to us by the
authorities. In accordance with the intention to refuse the ration
of herrings as indicated in the second para. of the third item of
our letter to you dated 11th inst., the prisoners' Quarter Master
declined to take over the ration of herrings from the military
yesterday, and asked that some other food stuffs be supplied in lieu.
No other article of food would be issued in lieu; and yesterday's
(Friday 13th inst.) dinner, in consequence, cost the prisoners
£3:15:10, out of their private fund. This morning when the prisoners ration party attended the
military stores for the purpose of drawing the daily meat ration, the
prisoners Quarter Master complained to the Orderly Officer of the
day that the meat, in his opinion, was unfit for human consumption,
as the stench from it was very noticeable. The officer admitted
that the stench was bad, but that 'if it was washed with vinegar and
water the stench would disappear.' The military butcher remarked,
in the hearing of the Quarter Master, that this meat was intended for
the Guard, but that they refused it, and were supplied with sausages
in lieu. In view of the order and directions of the Orderly Officer,
the prisoners' Quarter Master had no option but to accept the meat
for the time being. On arriving in Camp, the attention of the
Head Camp Leader was drawn to the meat, and he called the doctor to
the kitchen. When he arrived in the Camp at 10 o'clock a.m. The
military staff sergeant on duty in the Camp, on becoming aware of this
notified the Adjutant, who came to the prisoners' kitchen shortly after
the doctor, and immediately tried, by his language and attitude, to
brow-beat the doctor, and was most insulting to the prisoners' Quarter 2 Master. The doctor, in view of the Adjutant's attitude, considered
it advisable to call in his assistant, who at once condemned 176 lbs.
out of a total of 268 lbs. as being utterly unfit for human
consumption - that is a proportion of nearly 2/3 of the total. The
meat was then changed. You will agree with us that this is a serious state of affairs
especially as it is the third occasion on which the meat had to be
condemned, as being utterly unfit, and we hope that you will
endeavour to seize an early opportunity of letting in the light
of public opinion on the matter. We desire to remain, Sir,
Your obedient servants, Michael Staines
Head Leader.
J.J. O'Neill (acting) Leader No 1. Room
Edward A. Miskan Leader of No 2. Room
R.J. Mulcahy Leader No 3. Room
Thos. D. Sinnott Leader No 4. Room
J.J.