1
THE DEPARTMENT OF RECRUITING FOR IRELAND, 32, Nassau Street, DUBLIN 17th. January,
1916. Dear Sir Henry, A man named Fredrick Kerr came to see me
on Friday last. He is a nephew of Father Flanagan
our local Parish Priest, and is a son of the agent to
Captain Pakenham-Mahon of Strokestown. He is very anxious to obtain a Commission
in
the 4th. Connaught Rangers, but unfortunately he has had
no previous military experience. My selection board
cannot, therefore, do anything for him. He seems
quite a nice man but his parents will not allow him to
join the ranks. I wonder if you could possible do anything
for him. I am sorry to bother you about the matter,
but I promised his uncle to do anything I could for him. Yours sincerely, Cecil Stafford
Letter from Cecil Stafford, Department of Recruiting for Ireland, to Sir Henry Grattan
Bellew (1860-1942) about Frederick Kerr, a nephew of Father Flanagan, the parish priest
in Stafford's parish. Kerr is anxious to obtain a commission as an officer in the
4th Connaught Rangers as his parents will not allow him to join the ordinary ranks.
Stafford requests that Sir Henry might facilitate the request.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.