1
C1/27
I P 1036
PR/6/11 Address to reply to — C1036 James Fitzgerald, Irish Prisoner, (Wakefield) c/o Chief Postal Censor, London Wakefield Prison Sat. 10th June 1916 My Dearest Mother, It is strange that,
I have not had any letter from you
since the PC you sent with the clothes
I had got in all one you sent with
the money order. I have got in all,
five PCs and one letter from Bob. You
must thank him for the parcel which
I received yesterday containing biscuits.
Only for what we receive from outside we
would never be able to live here at all. Well, Mother, I have news to hand, but
I can't say that it is good news. One
hundred are leaving here this morning for
a concentration camp in North Wales (called
Frongoch). I was included with them at
first by mistake, but am still here.
Nevertheless I can't say how long more we 2
may be here. It is said a lot more are
to go to concentration camps. This means
of course that the first appeal that these men
made for release has been dismissed and
they are given one week more to make a
second and final appeal. If this appeal
fails, in all probability they will be
imprisoned for an indefinite period. I hope
so that my appeal will be taken, altho' my
hopes have been shattered a litttle. You see
it all depends on the charges which the police
of the district have manufactured against
them and I'm sure those in Q'town haven't
any qualms of conscience for me. The imprisonment is beginning to tell a
little now on us. I have lost my appetite
and feel rather melancholy now and then.
It is a long time to be imprisoned and
it has been all anxiety from the start.
It is especially distressing to see a lot
of those who were fighting escaping scot
free and innocent men being kept a
good deal longer in prison. Not of
course that I wouldn't like to see
everyone free, but it isn't fair and
shows the blundering of the Government,
or, what is a good deal more probable,
the spite which the police bear
a lot of those men and the harm which
they are undoubtedly trying to do
then. That is why I fear if such will
be my case or not. I asked you to send on some food,
as I am greatly in need of it. Yet
I never got any from you, altho' Lily and
Bob sent me some. I would like you
now to send me some money instead
say 15/-, as they would not allow us the
even pounds but keep them until our release. I saw on the Cork Exam. of the
loss of Patrick. It is a terrible blow to
us all. I pray for him every day, and
hope he is in Heaven(P G.) The weather is very cold and
dismal. I had a letter from Willie Farrell.
I hope all at home are well and that
ye received all the letters I sent.
I sent one to Patk, Lily, You and Bob
this week. No more news, so goodbye
for the present, I remain, my dearest Mother,
Your loving son, Jim P.S. Excuse writing
, it is quite dark Jim