1
2 South Circular Road
Portobello 22 May 1916 My dear Mrs. Skeffington I have written to Sir Powerscourt
and said that we could go down
tomorrow at 11-12 o clock.
Will you let me introduce Sir Basil
Clarke. Who knew your late husband
and who would like to express his
sorrow to you. I hope you are feeling better today
My love to Owen and Betty Yours sincerely
Francis Vane of Hutton
Note from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane (1861-1934) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946)
regarding the return of Francis' belongings. Vane writes that he will take Hanna down
the following day to collect her husband's belongings.
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.