1 Copy of reply to War Office letter 3rd, Oct, 1916.
29004/22 (C.I.) Sir Reginald Brade K.C.B. War Office National Liberal Club S.W. 5th October, 1916. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter dated 3rd inst. I am, therefore, to understand that I am at present
'no longer an officer', in spite of the fact that for an
action on the 27th April last, I was recommended for distin
guished service in the field in command of men by the Briga
dier, who was present. Moreover, for the command of the
Defences, Portobello Barracks, during the week of the Rising,
I was personally commended and thanked for this work and for
the reorganisation of these posts, by the Officer Commanding
the Troops. I beg to call the attention of the Army Council further
to the fact that in reporting the murders of Messrs. Skeffing
ton, Dickson, and McIntyre, and refusing to condone these
murders, I performed valuable service for the Honour of the
Army and for the reputation of H. M's Government in Ireland.
This personal report of mine was carried through correctly.
On the 1st May, six days after the illegal shootings, having
remonstrated with the then Commanding Officer for placing
Captain Bowen Colthurst in command of the Defences, he at the
time being under accusation of murder, I proceeded in due se
quence to report to the Irish Command, Park Gate. There
receiving no assurance that the latter officer was to be placed
under restraint, I proceeded to London and reported the facts
to the Rt. Hon ble H. J. Tennant, late Parliamentary Secretary,
W. O., (2nd May) and to the late Earl Kitchener, (3rd May).
Mr Tennant in writing thanked me for this action, and Lord 2 Kitchener, in the presence of Mr Bonham Carter, stated that
I had acted quite rightly. Lord Kitchener in my presence
dictated the telegram ordering Captain Bowen Colthurst to be
placed under arrest, which in fact was not carried out until
the 6th May - exactly ten days after the crimes had been com
mitted. At the time of the occurrence of the Rebellion I was
engaged in recruiting in Ireland, and at once volunteered my
services for the suppression of the Rising. I was gazetted
on the 31st March and posted by Garrison Order for duty during
the Rebellion 24th April. May I point out that nothing has occurred to show that
I failed in my duty as a recruiting officer and on the con
trary so far as efficency in that work is concerned, it may
be noted that at my own expense I raised 500 recruits in
London between 24th August and 5th Sept., 1914. In addition
there are the above reports proving my efficiency in the field. It is well known throughout Ireland that I did not
spare myself in attempting to allay the feeling of anger which
had arisen when the facts of the murders became known, by ren
dering every assistance in my power to the widow of the mur
dered man, and by making it known widely that the crimes were
unauthorised. In these circumstances I must, therefore, ask you to
convey to the Army Council my desire for an explanation of the
reasons which led them to relegate me to unemployment on the
30th June, seeing that then I had only recently performed
duties which earned me the recommendation of a Brigadier,
of strong commendation of the Officer Commanding at Portobel
lo Barracks and the thanks of Lord Kitchener, of Mr. Tennant,
and of the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant, Captain, late Major R.M.F.