Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 4 November 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Wilfrid Spender

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Sir Wilfrid Spender (1876 - 1960) was a member of the British Army until 1913 when controversy surrounding his signature of the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant resulted in his resignation. Spender was called up for military service in 1914 and from 1915 served in the 36th (Ulster) Division. Throughout the war, Spender wrote a collection of letters to his wife Lady Lillian Spender. The letters date mainly from 1915 to 1918, when Sir Wilfrid was serving in France. The letters concern politics, the Irish question, personal life, and Wilfrid's experience of the Great War.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Letters from Sir Wilfred Spender to Lady Spender, D1633/1/1/45A-45B https://letters1916.ie/item/4137 English Wilfrid Spender 1915-11-04 Lillian Spender Male 1960 Politics Politics Personal Relations

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 D1633/1/1/45.A Nov. 4' 15 My dear little pr No papers to keep a BW happy, onlya letter, but.....Any how tho' very sleepythe b w will try to begin an answer as it ishardly bet time yet. I know Bramham garden slightly havingonly lived there for about 2 years ! I don'tremember any houses which would be calledCottages except perhaps on the E side, which surelylook out both ways on to gardens & must bevery expensive methinks. I rather think I mayhave seen them built in spite of the old timber. Its a pity good marks travel so badly by postor I'm sure you would send me a lot, &possibly I should return them or others simi-lar so perhaps it is hardly worth while. Whatdo you think? So sleepy that I went to bed after gettingso far! I have just seen Wednesday's papers. As I expected,Squiffy's gas was turned on full tap. I am preparedto sacrifice myself & to retain my office & £10000 ayear fo until the King (whom I dare to do it !) & theCountry, of whose many voices I can always take mypick, actually kick me out! As far as regards the Dardanelleswe had a Cabinet debate which was very interesting, &as there was no decision — there never is of course — Ican confidently state that the Government approved of the action taken by my somewhat headstrong & impetuousyoung friend Winston. As regards the future we couldhave gone on comfortably with our mixed responsibility& no decisions but for that sneak Carson, who ought tohave been grateful fo me for not having hanged him instead of giving the whole show away;we could always have stopped the press from stating that wehave are needlessly throwing away 2000 lives a week in theDardanelles to no end, & other unpleasant facts, & so couldhave lived on happily till the end of the war when if we aresuccessful we could get the grateful thanks of the nation, & ifnot successful the support of the Germans which we shall haveearned, for another long tenancy of our respective Cabinets includ-ing the perquisites. Redmond's lies were so blatant in comparisonthat one can almost look upon him as an honestman. He resembles Leader. I do not see how Bonar Law can remain in thecabinet after Carson's speech in spite of the pressure evidently Now 4 1915 exerted by the King and the Balfour wobblers. I think it cannot be long before there is an upheaval& hope that the nation will turn to their one strong manCarson. Meanwhile it requires all one's faith & patriotism torender service, knowing it is being exploited by the politiciansfor their own purpose. It requires We need some memberin the house to sacrifice his future & tell the straight truthabout Asquith & his colleagues, descending to personalitiesfor the sake of the country, & remembering that personalitiesare never forgiven, any more than a Doctor would beforgiven for telling the truth about another's poperation. The only man I know who can do anythingin regard to an exchange from Canadian to BritArty is Colonel Peake AAG War Office. I hardlyknow him well enough to write, but thinkyoung Huntly might see him if on leave. Iimagine from what you hint at that it would bedifficult for him to put on paper the reasons for D1633/1/1/45B Nov. 4' 15. his transfer. There is trouble in the land. This FrenchCook late of the Carlton Hotel who volunteeredto come to the A mess as he wanted toserve his country & could not be a soldier,& who accepted very low wages in consequence,found life with Army rations too dull &has vanished back to the charms of citylife in/spite of the inspiration of the Ducde Luynes. Consequently the hunt for acook male or female has begun all over again& with a particular perset the treasure iffound is likely to be expensive, but that is just what our chief does not intend to have. Contentment(but with The best only) is not a quality which lastsvery long tho' I am often amazed how often somepeople get it by bluff & strafing. Unless I hear more news of your planstomorrow's letter will go to 29 if there isone tomorrow. Perhaps it is hardly worthsending it. I have no hint as to howlong you propose to stay at Rugby. I still find a p.r a ... nuisancebut am still her onlyb W'W.BSpender Please give my love to Elsie & Co.The children are hardly likely to rememberthe one who spoilt their fine castle atBarmouth & made a bathing place whichwas not appreciated. I bet you dig out the Fordwhilstyou are at Rugby. Confess to it& that I know the wiles of a p r,better than anyone else. Boylan Smith declares that I havebeen in correspondence with Carson as Imade just the same statement last week of 4 Nov 15 forcing Greece to see that we were better asfriends than as enemies & that we were notafraid of showing what we thought of treachery.But this is not a coincidence. It is the obviouscourse for a strong nation & therefore acertainty that Carson would have chosen it. Wilfrid Spender Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 2 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 7 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 11 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender. 13 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 2 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender, 18 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, circa June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 11 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 17 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 27 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 27 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 3 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 6 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 28 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 6 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 19 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 23 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 13 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 16 December 1915Letter from Captain Wilfrid Spender to Colonel James Craig, 4 July 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 4 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 5 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 8 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to his family, 8 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 9 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 10 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 10 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 11 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 12 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 14 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to family, 14 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 15 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 16 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to family, 17 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 17 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 19 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to family, 20 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to family, 21 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, circa November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 22 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to family, 22 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 26 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender, circa November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender, circa November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 27 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 27 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 28 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to family, 27 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 29 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 30 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, circa November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, circa November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, circa November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 1 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 2 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to family, 3 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 3 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 4 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 5 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 7 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 8 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 10 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 13 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 12 December 1915Note from Wilfrid Spender, circa December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 1 April 1916Note from Wilfrid Spender, circa April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 2 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 3 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 4 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 5 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 6 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 7 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 8 April 1916Note from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, circa April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to family, 9 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 9 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 10 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 11 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 12 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 13 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 13 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 14 April 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Edward Carson, 25 November 1915Letter Wilfrid Spender to Edward Carson, 3 December 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Alberta Percival, 25 March 1922Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Ernest Clark, 28 March 1922Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Henry Wilson, 28 March 1922Letter from Wilfrid Spender to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 20 June 1922Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Henry Wilson, 22 March 1922