Letter from Colonel G.A. French to Brigadier General, Queenstown (Cobh), 2 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 George Arthur French

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A letter from Colonel George Arthur French, commanding troops, Wexford, to the Brigadier General of the commanding troops in Queenstown, Cork. He reports on the armed rebellion at Enniscorthy, detailing military arrangements and events on 30th April and 1st May 1916. He also proposes some post-event arrangements regarding local community, security, etc. Sir George Arthur French (1841-1921) was born in Roscommon, Ireland. He was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and commissioned in the Royal Artillery in 1860. In 1871, at the request of the Canadian government, he was sent to Canada as a military inspector, eventually becoming head of the School of Gunnery at Kingston, Ontario. He was appointed to organize the North-West Mounted Police on its creation in 1873, and the next year he led the force on its famous march to the foothills of the Rockies. French resigned in 1876 and returned to duty in the British Army, eventually attaining the rank of major-general. The organizational skills developed in Canada were used to establish local defense forces in India and Australia. In September 1883 he was appointed Commandant of the Queensland Local Forces with the local rank of colonel, and arrived in the colony on January 4, 1884. Colonel French married Janet Clarke in 1862, daughter of the late Robert Long Innes, formerly of the 37th Regiment. Colonel French retired in 1891, and returned to England. When French retired in 1902 he received a knighthood and for the next 19 years much of his time was spent guarding the crown jewels in London, where he died on 28 July 1921.

 Wexford County Archive Wexford County Archive, WXCA/P190/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/3042 English George Arthur French 1916-05-02 Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland Brigadier General Queenstown (Cobh), County Cork, Ireland Male 1921 Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 IReport. Confidential. From Colonel G.A. French,Commanding Troops,Wexford.To Brigadier General,Commanding Queenstown Garrison,Queenstown. Wexford. May 2, 1916. Sir, With reference to the Armed rebellion at Enniscorthy,I have the honor to report as follows. On the evening of April 30, at 6 p.m. I held a conferenceat my Head Quarters to make the necessary Military arrangementsto meet with the emergency in the event either of (1) uncondit-ional surrender or (2) refusal to surrender. In both cases Lieutenant Colonel Digan, Commanding theColumn, wished to move his force by one route and not to splitit up. As I was not in possession of any accurate informationas to the numbers of the insurgents or their disposition, andas a conservative estimate of the numbers was about 600 (sixhundred), possibly more, with a considerable number of modernfirearms, I considered that Col. Digan's proposal was reasonableand I concurred therein. I recommended his concentrating hiswhole force at KILLURIN (about six miles north of Wexford), at6-30 a.m. May 1, whether it was either a case of surrender orno surrender. After this concentration I recommended in case ofattack his moving from KILLURIN eastwards over the bridge (whichtogether with the WEXFORD and FERRYCARRIG bridges I had heldwith strong military guards and barricaded since the arrival oftroops at Wexford) by KYLE X Roads, OYLGATE, COOLNABAY, DARBY'SGAP, BELL GRACE HOUSE, to ENNISCORTHY (reference 1 Ordnance map)taking up good gun positions for 4.7 and 18 Pr. guns as theInfantry advance would ensure such positions, to bring theartillery fire on ENNISCORTHY & to shell Vinegar Hill with shrapnel.His first objectives being the destruction of the Road and Railbridges (to cut rebel forces in two parts), the rebel strong holdsin the Castle and Assembly rooms at ENNISCORTHY. It was my in-tention in the event of attack to have remained with LieutenantColonol Digan throughout, and, should circumstances so warrant, to assume command myself as I had previously informed yourGeneral Staff Officer by telephone. In the event of surrender I left the advance intoENNISCORTHY in the hands of Lieutenant Colonel Digan, but re-commended his adhering to the route laid down for attach, asthat roadway was clear of trees and other barricades and ob-structions. I,however,stipulated that all the usual militaryprecausions should be taken and not to place too much relianceon freedom from attack. On April 30, as your were informed by telephone, tworebel leaders were despatched by Motor to Dublin to consultwith Pearse (their imprisoned leader). They returned hereabout 7-30 p.m. same date, and I gave them till mid-night tonotify me the decision arrived at by the rebels at ENNISCORTHY.At mid-night, April 30,May 1, a deputation arrived fromENNISCORTY (headed by Fr. Fitzhenry as head of Peace Missionbut not associated with the rebel movement in any way) bearinga despatch stating that 4 leaders would surrender, but re-questing that the rank and file should be spared. To this Ireplied that the surrender must be unconditional and the surrenderof 6 leaders (whose names I knew)would be insisted upon, andthat their followers would also be arrested either at once orrounded up later. I also stipulated that all arms and warlikematerial was to be surrendered, stolen and looted property re-turned without delay,and all barricades and obstacles removed.I also informed the peace deputation that in the event of thetroops being fired upon by any of the insurgents extreme measureswould be immediately adopted. The deputation stated that itwould do its best to ensure the fulfillment of unconditionalsurrender and the other conditions,but doubted whether theleaders could prevail upon their followers to give themselvesup. As however the names of most of their followers were knownto the police I did not consider their immediate surrender im-perative. The deputation informed me,however, that it would doits best in this respect and would do its best endeavour to seethat the six leaders surrendered at once. It returned toENNISCORTY about 1 a.m. May,1, and I instructed LieutenantColonel Digan to march on ENNISCORTHY on the Surrender basis. I directed him to time his march so that the troops wouldactually be marching through the town at the hour I hadarranged to make the arrests . with t T he infantry (which wereencamped & malles to the South of Wexford). I told LieutenantColonel Digan to move by rail WEXFORD to KIMURIN and I in-structed the railway authorities to this effect. On May 1, accompanied by District Inspector OHARA,R.I.C.,and Colonel Jameson Davis, Commanding National Volunteers Co.Wexford, I motore d direct to ENNISCORTHY without molestationin any way and there found that the Armoured train was at thestation ; the damage to the railway having proved triflingand easily repairable by the R.E.Detachment with the train.I commandeered the sports field for accommodation of thetroops, ascertained that the 6 rebel leaders were awaitingarrest at Assembly Rooms , but that their followers had vanished(the bulk having come in from the surrounding country) andtaken all modern rifles with them. Steps are, however, beingtaken to locate these arms and it is anticipated that a numberwill shortly be rounded up. I then awaited the arrival of thecolumn, and as soon as it had entered the town I arrested theleaders,took possession of the Assembly rooms,and collectedarms,explosives, &c. (vide list attached). By arresting theleaders whilst the troops were marching through the attentionof the crowd and sympathisers was distracted and the arrestwas quietly effected. I despatched the prisoners to Wexfordby Motors under Armed guard,and at 7-45 a.m this morning theywere railed to Waterford in charge of District InspectorO'Hara,R.I.C. The troops were well received on the whole,but it isapparent that there are large numbers of the populace withSinn Fein sympathies. The following points I wish to bring to notice :- (a) That the damage to property was not extensive,and on thewhole the insurgents were, generally speaking, well behaved.All the public houses were closed and there were only a few reports of the use of firearms,notably two cases,viz. thata firing on Dr. Furlong and the R.I.C.Barracks, one Constablewoundedbut the member of shots fired at the Barrack could nothave been numerous as evidenced by the windows and walls ofthe building. Several telegraph poles were cut down. (b) It is essential that the Echo newspaper should besuppressed. This paper is responsible for much of the SinnFein movement in the town.This I have learned by reports re-cieved from trustworthy sources. (c) There was a certain amount of looting and commandeeringof food,bedding,arms, &c. in the town, but not to any veryserious extent. There were,however, numerous cases of Motorcars, &c. being forcibly commandeered both in the town of and aradius of about 7 miles. There were also some cases of lootingcattle and sheep by the insurgents for food,notably one caseat OULART. (d) I consider that it would be advisable to retain thecolumn despactched under Lieutenant Colonel Digan within theCounty of Wexford for some time (less the 4.7 gun and armouredtrain) with its Head Quarters at ENNISCORTHY and sending outflying columns therefrom as I may direct. The present garrisonof Wexford should remain for some considerable time until thebulk of the arrests have been effected and the district hasresumed its normal peaceful state. (e) I will arrange strong patrols combined of both militaryand R.I.C. proceeding by motor from Wexford to all outlyingdisaffected areas and will in most cases accompany same myself.I intend to have all troops, both those at Wexford and Ennis-corthy, very much in evidence, and will arrange accordingly.I, of course,assume that I can instruct O.C.Troops,Enniscorthyto supply much flying columns,&c. as I consider necessary, andthat he is under my orders whilst within the County of Wexford. I have the honourto beSir,Your obedient servant, Colonel.Commanding Troops,Wexford. Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland Letter from Colonel G.A. French to Brigadier General, Queenstown (Cobh), 2 May 1916Letter from Nicholas Byrne to Colonial George Arthur French, Commanding Officer, Wexford, 18 May 1916 Queenstown (Cobh), County Cork, Ireland Letter from Colonel G.A. French to Brigadier General, Queenstown (Cobh), 2 May 1916 George Arthur French Letter from Colonel G.A. French to Brigadier General, Queenstown (Cobh), 2 May 1916Letter from Colonel G.A. French to Mayor Nicholas Byrne, 18 May 1916Letter from Nicholas Byrne to Colonial George Arthur French, Commanding Officer, Wexford, 18 May 1916