Letter from John French to John Redmond, 15 April 1916 Letters 1916-1923 John French

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Letter from John French (1852-1925) to John Redmond (1856-1918). French is replying to Redmond to answer a complaint made by a Mr R. McGee about the refusal to give his son a commission. French informs Redmond that the decision was made 'for reasons entirely disconnected with politics'. Sir John Denton Pinkstone French, first Earl of Ypres, was a British officer. Upon the outbreak of war, French was appointed Field Marshal of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Although popular with his men, the failure of his offensives, Neuve-Chapelle and Loos, to break the German lines and his criticism of the home government led to his replacement as Field Marshal by Sir Douglas Haig (1861-1928) in late 1915. French was appointed Commander in Chief of the Home forces in January 1916. John Redmond was an MP and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He was instrumental in securing the promise of Home Rule from Asquith's liberal government. Upon the outbreak of war, Redmond addressed a group of Irish Volunteers at Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow, encouraging them to fight with the British Army to ensure the implementation of Home Rule. Redmond's words split the Irish Volunteers across the country. The Easter Rising shocked Redmond, who condemned it bitterly. Nonetheless he appealed for leniency towards those who had not been involved in planning the Rising.

 National Library of Ireland MS 15,188/7 https://letters1916.ie/item/3495 English John French 1916-04-15 G.H.Q. Home Forces, Horse Guards, S.W., England John Redmond House of Commons, London, England Male 1925 World War I (1914-1918) Politics

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 G.H.Q. Home Forces, Horse Guards, S.W. 15th April 1916. My dear Mr Redmond I have had enquiries made at the War Office in reference to Mr R.McGhee's complaint about his son having been refused a commission. It is perfectly clear that although his son passed the examination at the O.T.C., Grover Park, he was not recommended for a commission, for reasons entirely disconnected with politics; and from the information given to me,I think you may be quite satisfied that your friend is wrong in his surmise that Captain Snowden Smith was prejudiced against his son in any way. I sent over to the War Office and ascertained that Capt. The Hon. FitzRoy Hemphill's name has been noted for employment. It is scarcely necessary for me to tell you that the waiting list for all positions for which he is qualified, is a very long one; but I shall keep his name in mind, and hope I may have an opportunity of obliging you in the matter. Yours very sincerely French J.Redmond Esq, M.P. House of Commons. G.H.Q. Home Forces, Horse Guards, S.W., England Letter from John French to John Redmond, 15 April 1916 House of Commons, London, England Letter from the Home Office to Joseph Devlin, 26 July 1916Telegram from Alfred Byrne to Mrs. Walter Harris Wilson, 23 May 1916Letter from Herbert Samuel to John P. Boland, 1 August 1916Telegram from Alfred Byrne to Frank McNally, 12 July 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to John Redmond, 27 May 1916.Letter from Andrew Philip Magill to Joseph Devlin, 8 August 1916Letter from John P. Boland to Inspector General R.I.C., 11 July 1916Letter from T J Hanna to Nicolas Lamb, 6 July 1916Letter from John French to John Redmond, 15 April 1916Letter from Frongoch to William O'Brien, 14 October 1916Letter from Michael Staines to Alfred Byrne, 11 October 1916 John Redmond Letter from Stanley Owen Buckmaster to John Redmond, 15 February 1916Copy of letter from John Redmond to John Gulland, 14 December 1915Letter from David Lloyd George to John Redmond, 29 September 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to John Redmond, 27 May 1916.Letter from John Redmond to Mabel FitzGerald, 29 May 1916.Letter from Lord Buckmaster to John Redmond, 15 February 1916.Letter from Frederick Rudolph Lambart, Lord Cavan, to John Redmond, 8 February 1916.Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 19 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 29 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 29 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 30 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 30 June 1916Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 2 July 1916Letter from Edward, Prince of Wales to John Redmond, 31 January 1916Letter from John French to John Redmond, 15 April 1916Letter from Edmond Joseph Frewen to John Redmond, 25 March 1916Letter from Major-General Lovick Bransby Friend to John Redmond, 11 March 1916Letter from Stanley Owen Buckmaster to John Redmond, 15 February 1916Letter from John Redmond to Major-General L.B. Friend, 9 March 1916Letter from the Most Rev. Bernard Hackett to John Redmond, 4 October 1916Letter from Thomas Gill to John Redmond, 11 April 1916Letter from Thomas Gill to John Redmond, 12 April 1916Letter from Stephen Gwynn to John Redmond, 13 May 1916Letter from Sir Francis Hopwood to John Redmond, 2 May 1916Letter from John Redmond to Sir Francis Hopwood, 4 May 1916Letter from Colonel Sir William Hutchinson Poë to John Redmond, 22 June 1916Letter from Denis Johnston to John Redmond, 12 January 1916 Letter from Denis Johnston to John Redmond, 19 February 1916 Letter from Denis Johnston to John Redmond 2 March 1916 Letter from Denis Johnston to John Redmond, 15 June 1916Letter from Denis Johnston to John Redmond, 4 September 1916 Letter from T.J. Hanna to John Redmond, 20 June 1916Letter from John Redmond to Major General Lovick Bransby Friend, 9 March 1916Letter from Colonel Clive Wigram to John Redmond, 3 April 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to John Redmond, 21 June 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to John Redmond, 6 October 1916Letter from Lady Granard to John Redmond, 20 January 1916Letter from Lord Granard to John Redmond, 3 February 1916Letter (draft) from Lord Buckmaster to John Redmond, 15 February 1916.Letter (transcript) from Lord Cavan to John Redmond, 8 February 1916. John French Letter from John French to John Redmond, 15 April 1916Letter from the President, Royal College of Physicians to Viscount French, 7 June 1918Letter from Thomas Kirkpatrick to Sir John French, 7 June 1918Letter from the President and Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians to Sir John French, 7 June 1918