1
answered
19-1-16
can't do anything
for Gen Hammond
Doyle 8-1-16 My dear Sir Henry. May I enclose a
letter from the Revd
Father Flanaghan P.P of
Cootehall – he is most
anxious to obtain his
a commission in your
Battn for his nephew
Mr Frederick L. Kerr,
a very good sort of well educated, good
looking young man
2
desirable and presentable
in every way – Mr
Kerr was educated
at Blackrock and
Catholic University —
I am writing to you
on his behalf to know
if he wd have any
chance of obtaining
Comm. in your Battn. Father Flanagan has
supported recruiting and the army
generally. hence
my intruding &
furthermore Mr Kerr
is quite qualified
and up to the mark
and can be supported
by Sir Thomas Stafford
and many others
perhaps for Mr
James not much
writing to Father
T Flanagan P.P.
Cootehall
Boyle
3
and assist him
in anyway, I
can say that Mr
Kerr is a very nice
“gentlemanly' fellow
above the average intelligence With regards & apologies Frederick
Jennings
Letter to Sir Henry Grattan Bellew (1860-1942) enclosing a letter from Father Flanagan,
the Parish Priest of Cootehall (now lost), asking for a commission for his nephew,
Frederick Kerr, in Grattan Bellew's battalion. The writer recommends the nephew as
a 'very nice 'gentlemanly' fellow above the average intelligence.' A note from Grattan
Bellew records that he answered the letter but could do nothing for Mr. Kerr.Sir Henry
Christopher Grattan Bellew was the third baronet of Mount Bellew in County Galway.
He held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, 4th Battalion Connaught Rangers. His son,
sir Charles Christopher (1887-1948) held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, King's Royal
Rifle Corps. He was decorated with the award of the Military Cross (M.C.) in 1918.