1 You have no doubt
heard that many
of our reserves have
gone to other Units
& that the 5th
RIR - a well
Known Orange
lodge! - is to
act as drafter
for the Nationalist Brigade!
Please do not answer. Spender
Redmond's speech
in the trenches 25 Nov 1915 Dear Sir Edward I am moved to write by Redmond's latest
& not least wicked speech. I will deal only with that part of it
in which he refers to the Dubliners & the Ulster Division fighting side
by side. If anything could be more likely to stir up trouble between
them than a speech like that I should not like to discover it. I hear
the 107th Bde at the front has done very well & like good soldiers they
can carry along very well with those S Irishmen - none too many-
who have ththad the pluck to fight. If however, this fine toleration
is to be used to their detriment it is asking a little too much. We have in the place of the 107th Bde 3 4 battalions of which 3 are
largely Lancashire Irishmen. I have had to use all the influence I have
with our lads to prevent a row, & there will I think be one "now" or
at Xmas, & I'm not altogether inclined to prevent it. The worst
of it is, that some of the big Generals are already talking of the
success of the experiment & the solution of the Irish question-this
was mentioned in quite good faith at a Divisional Commanders'
Conference! When a General says that the Ulster rebels took the appointment
of 3 successive R C Staff officers to their Dir' Staff like a child to
sweets, I feel inclined to let myself go. I am sure none of these 3
officers are in any conspiracy - they are all good chaps- I am
now not equally certain of those officers who made the appointments. i do not know whether you could take some steps to take
the wind out of the nationalist sails & at the same time inspire
our men, by writing to the papers saying that you know the 2
Ulstermen will continue to
show the utmost toleration to their Nationalist comrades who have
proud themselves worthy sons of the Empire by joining the colours,
&that they need not fear that the Country will take a false view
of their attitude in this respect. If this is made clear one would
of course do all one could to prevent trouble, but otherwise I think
an eyeopener for us silly Englishmen may do good. The 107th Bde has done so well-so I hear- & our regular
brigade have not proved so wonderful an example, that I think Gen'
Nugent is now anxious to get them back at the end of their 2 months
away. I hope they -the Brigade- won't try to prevent it as they were very sore when
they left. General Hacket Pain is still with us but expects to leave any
day, & I sincerely hope one of our own COs may succeed him, as it is
very disheartening for a first class man like Hessey to see a youngster
brought in from outside over his head. Unluckily Gen' Nugent does not
think Irishmen are good in command of their own countrymen, but
prefers a mixture I think. I have seen several reports on our battalions attached to the Divisions at the
front, & in all cases except the 107 Bde- which has since retrieved itself-
they have been of the most favourable character. Our former Artillery are now coming out to join us & we
are now in the new corps at any rate for the time. We still
get a turn at the trenches & I hope to get up again next week. I wish to Heavens you would boot out the whole Govern-
ment- the Censor may not like this officially!- & take charge.
The gunrunning would not be 1 year later if it had been under you.
Believe me Yours sincerely Wilfrid. B. Spender