1
Gresham Hotel
Sackville St. My dear Mrs. Skeffington. I am so sorry. Prof Kettle said
that I should see you at 1pm —
It is very kind of you to see me at
all — but if I may come here tomorrow
at 12 noon — it will afford me
satisfaction to express my profound sympathy. Yours sincerely
Francis Vane
of Hutton. 16 May 1916
Note from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane (1861-1934) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946)
arranging a meeting so that Vane may express his regrets and sympathy.
Major Sir Francis Patrick Fletcher-Vane was a British officer in command of Portobello
Barracks. When he learned about the activities of Captain J.C.Bowen-Colthurst during
Easter Week he reported the matter to his superiors but, sensing a cover-up, he went
to London and reported it directly to Lord Kitchener and Maurice Bonham Carter, Private
Secretary to the Prime Minister. Although Bowen-Colthurst was court-martialled and
found guilty, Vane was 'retired' from the military for his actions.
Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), suffragette, nationalist, language teacher,
was the founder of the Irish Women’s Franchise League and a founding member of the
Irish Women Workers’ Union. She was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington who was
summarily executed on 26 April 1916. She was active during the Rising, bringing food
to the Volunteers in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before
she found out what had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't
until almost two weeks later that the full details of his execution emerged.