Letter from Robert Monteith to Mollie Monteith, 22 December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Robert Monteith

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Letter from Robert Monteith (1879-1956), a founder member of the Irish Volunteers, to his wife Mary Florence (Mollie) Monteith (née McEvoy, 1877-1960). In 1909 Monteith, a Protestant, and McEvoy, a Catholic widow with three children, were married against his family's wishes. In 1915 Monteith was selected by Thomas Clarke (1858–1916), a veteran of revolutionary politics, to accompany Sir Roger Casement (1864–1916), to Germany to assist with recruitment of an Irish Brigade from the Irish prisoners-of-war. In this letter Robert is missing his family in the lead up to Christmas. Robert writes that he has no news himself but asks Mollie for news of home. He reports that he is well and just waiting for further instruction. Robert tells Mollie about the snow in Berlin and asks her to past on his regards to everyone before signing off.

 Military Archives of Ireland Brother Allen Collection, IE/AL/RM/2/17 https://letters1916.ie/item/2576 English Robert Monteith 1915-12-22 Limburg, Hesse, Germany Mary Florence Monteith (née McEvoy) Male 1956 Faith Politics Personal Relations

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 Irish Brigade 22.XII.15 Mollie Sweetheart No letter met my own, God but thewriting is hard. It is so near Xmas again.You remember back when we were separated byonly a hundred odd miles - today we have toreckon in thousands, then we thought thedistance long but now it is so long that Iam prohibited from seeing you - a year ago Iwas counting the hours until you would reachLimerick - but now I cannot count the hours tillyou reach Berlin. However I do so hope thatyou will have a good time, you and all of yours. I saw (or at least I take it so) Florries name inthe Gaelic American in the last ? wereceived here In conversation with the Blair - & poor Joe have you heard from her?I hope the path is smoother than I have been ableto make yours. — Have you heard from anyof the people at home? I am going crazyfor news. You saw the photo of the A.C.O. of the1st Company of the Brigade. These are my ? one of them is a brother of John Jo. It is sucha small world ! I knew him immediately Ilaid eyes on him, he is a good chap — soare they all, another of them is brother in lawto McGuirk. They said McGuirks broth photois hanging in his room — I have no news darling - that is that I can send to you - I went to Berlin fora week end on last Saturday. I tried tothink of you meeting me at the PotsdamerBanhof as you used to meet me at Amiensin the days gone by - but no such luck— I am doing al right so you neednot worry about me, the only thing is waitingfor the word Go it will come sometime, but thewaiting, is so tedious — How are the little ones? Do theyever speak of me? Will Pat know me when Icome back - is she as as ever and ? she should be able to guess andcalculate some by now— How do you say as to the weatherover there, we have snow everywherebeautiful crispy dry snow, such as we never see in poor old Ireland — Give my best wishes to any friend of mine whom you may drop across — Now darling I will close, fondest love to you & all at home. You will be ready to meet me when my work is done, with your old sweet smile & your kiss that used to make life so worth living for me. Write me soon, a long long letter Yours only Bob Robert Monteith Letter from Robert Monteith to Mollie Monteith, 30 November 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Mollie Monteith, 25 December 1915Letter from Sir Roger Casement to Robert Monteith, 11 January 1916Letter from Sir Roger Casement to Robert Monteith, 13 January 1916Postcard from Sir Roger Casement to Robert Monteith, 23 February 1916Letter from Robert Monteith to Mollie Monteith, 22 December 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 2 November 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 5 November 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 8 November 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 11 November 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 21 November 1915Telegram from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, November 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 26 November 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 18 March 1916Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 1 February 1916Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 24 March 1916Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 11 November 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 24 January 1916Letter from Robert Monteith to 'Segt Major', 5 November 1915 Limburg, Hesse, Germany Letter from Robert Monteith to Mollie Monteith, 22 December 1915