Letter from Seamus Fitzgerald to his mother Alice Fitzgerald, 26 May 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from Seamus Fitzgerald to his mother Alice Fitzgerald, 26 May 1916

1 Address Reply C1036 James Fitzgerald Irish prisoner (Wakefield) C/O Chief Postal Censors London P.S. Don't forget the number C1036 in the address: Jim Frid. 26th May 1916 Dear Mother,
Certain privileges just granted to us
explains this, my second letter this week. We were
allowed talk and walk in pairs at exercise today for
nearly an hour; a blessing after such isolation.
We are allowed write home as after as we wish, provided
we have stamped addressed envelopes, so I just want you to
send me some note-papers, envelopes & about 12 stamps & a puce pencil.
I'm sure you will know what to send me, for instance
about 1/2 lb butter every week; a large cake, home-made
preferably, twice a week; a piece of cooked bacon or 2
pork; some hard sweets like bullseyes; and such
like; but tinned stuff of any sort are not allowed.
If you send these as soon as possible, Mother,
it would please me greatly, for as you can
imagine, we don't get too much here. I would also like you to send one or two
volumes of Cassell's Educator, so that I can
make some use of my time here, also my prayer
book and rosary beads. I hope you sent the
Bible, for I have got nothing yet from home.
As for the clothes and boots, I have already
got a new suit and pair of boots from the
authorities, who served them out to all those in
need of them, but if you have sent them, it
doesn't matter as these ones are not as good
a fit, as my own, of course. If the censor doesn't say otherwise here,
you need not send the parcels thro' London; only
the letters need be sent thro' London,
and don't out letters in the parcels. Tell
Bob & Lil to write, and Patrick, as it is a joy
to get a letter. Mind you address them properly. Again, hoping you won't forget the to send
the parcels immediately, I will say goodbye,

with love to all at home, Lil, me,Bob & rest,
hoping and trusting God will soon bring home,
safe, to you, your Affectionate son Jim xxx
xxx P.S. Hope Tom & Michael & Eddie
Pray for me. Jim. 3 Mrs J. Fitzgerald 3 East Hill Queenstown EIreland 4 OPENED BY CENSOR
GRESHAM HOTEL DUBLIN
imprinted on the envelope
Saint Aust. Guide

A letter from Seamus Fitzgerald (1896-1972) to his mother, Alice. Seamus writes that his new privileges allow him to write more often. Prisoners are allowed to walk and talk in pairs for nearly an hour 'a blessing after such isolation'. He requests a pencil and a stamped addressed envelope (to write home), as well as 'about 1/2 lb butter every week, a large cake, home made preferable, twice a week, a piece of cooked bacon or pork, some hard sweets like bullseyes etc., and such like'. He cautions no tins are allowed and requests the food as soon as possible. He would also like some volumes of Cassell's Educator to be sent on so he can use the time profitably, as well as his prayerbook and rosary beads. He closes the letter with a warning not to put letters in parcels and sends love to all at home.Séamus Fitzgerald was an Irish business man and politician. Apprenticing at a dock yard, Fitzgerald joined the Irish Volunteers and Sinn Féin after Easter week and was subsequently arrested and interned in Frongoch camp. He would enter politics upon his release.

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How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__0699.html)