Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 28 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Francis Fletcher-Vane

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Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane (1861-1934) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946) regarding a full enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Francis Sheehy Skeffington. Vane outlines the ways in which procedure was ignored or altered following Skeffington's death and determines that this is reasoning enough for a full inquiry. Cane also mentions that he has written a letter to the Freeman's Journal regarding the rebels chivalry in South Dublin Union during the rebellion. 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.

 National Library of Ireland Sheehy Skeffington Papers, Collection List No. 47; Ms 33,608/1-3 https://letters1916.ie/item/3867 English Francis Fletcher-Vane 1916-07-28 National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London, England Hanna Sheehy Skeffington Male 1934 Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Politics Law and Judiciary

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 NATIONAL LIBERAL CLUB, WHITEHALL PLACE, S.W. Thank you so much for the Songs. I am having them type written and put into a book. 28th July 1916 My Dear Mrs Skeffington, I am right up to my neck in it now — 2 Questions to be asked on Tuesday next in the House and neither question can be answered for I have the documentary evidence. You realise of course that this is all working for the object that we all have in view. Namely a full enquiry. They are even in a worse Dilemma over me than even the infinitely cruel one of yours. Although Gotto work in together. In your poor husband's case they can say — "well very unfortunate. a " "madman at large — we did not of course" "know of it. Very lamentable et cet". All this flummary is dispelled when I put in my oar, because I make it clear that there was connivance in the murders up to the 5th May — not by the Government but by the Irish |Command, as clear as daylight. Then of course the deliberate suppression of the report of the Brigadier of the 178th Brigade on my action in the field by Sir J. Maxwell. You will hardly follow me here without some explanation. It is absolutely the universal custom in the Army that when a General Officer Commanding in the field reports to a superior office (in this case Sir. J. Maxwell) on the conduct of officers in his command, and when the Superior General is w was not present — that the report of the officer seen in command goes into the Privy Council verbatim. Now Sir J. Maxwell was not even in Ireland when the Brigadier reported on my action, and not in command. But he suppresses the report and sent a private one of his own which was adverse to me — and by that adverse one I was "relegated to unemployment." You will see the bearing of this in connection with your case if you will think it out. Sir John Maxwell did an unheard of thing in the Army, so as to prevent try to prevent, in an imbicile manner, my having the influence which naturally this report of the Brigadier would have obtained for me. He tried in fact to suggest that I was in sympathy with the rebels, by suppressing a fact which would, were had it been published, have denied the possibility of it. Of course the report has been called for, and he altogether forgot that I have enough influence, or aim, to break him if I will. Of course I have called for the report and have demanded that whan the P.M. and Lord Kitchener said on my reporting the murders, should be produced. On the whole the interest of Justice and Truth goes well —and if it goes well, in spite of the brutality and stupidity, the cause of Ireland will go well, and this is what your husband wanted !! I wrote a note to the Freemans Journal as to my experience of the chivalry of the rebels in the fight at the S.Dublin Union. I hope they will be allowed to publish it. The Inquiry must come soon, and do not forget St.W.M.Gibbon, I.S.C who can give valuable evidence. Love to Owen, tell him to be as his Father was, a Knight Errant. Yours sincerely Francis Patrick Vane of Hutton. National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London, England Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 7 June 1916Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 28 July 1916Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 20 July 1916Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 17 July 1916 Francis Fletcher-Vane Postcard from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 25 July 1916Note from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 16 May 1916Note from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 19 May 1916Note from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 21 May 1916Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 7 June 1916Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 28 July 1916Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 20 July 1916Letter from Major Francis Fletcher-Vane to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 17 July 1916Letter from Francis Fletcher-Vane to Joseph Cyrillus Walsh, 23 June 1917