Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 8 December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty

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The letter is from the Dominican priest Fr. Thomas Crotty (d. 1930, born James but took the name Thomas after he joined the order) to Sir Roger Casement (1864-1916). The letter was written during Casement's eighteen month stay in Germany, where he was attempting to gain German support for an Irish rebellion against British rule. The letter refers to Casement's attempts to create an Irish Brigade of Irish-born British army soldiers who were then held as prisoners of war in German camps. It was the camp at Linberg, in the Lahn valley, that was designated for the project. Fr. Crotty was one of the priests who administered to the men in the camp at Limberg. The project was, however, largely unsuccessful and only fifty-six men signed up. The letter refers mainly to Crotty's so far unsuccessful attempts to secure funds to pay for his time administering to the Irish prisoners of war. He also mentions proposals to request that all Irish prisoners be transferred to the same camp and to a letter that he has sent, without reply, requesting permission to visit all camps with Irish prisoners. Casement was later arrested in County Kerry having returned to Ireland in a submarine to try and prevent the Easter Rising from taking place as he felt German support was insufficient. He was hanged in London in August 1916.

 National Library of Ireland Roger Casement Papers, Collection List No A15; Ms. 13,085 /20 https://letters1916.ie/item/5500 English Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty 1915-12-08 Limberg, Lahn, Germany Sir Roger Casement Zossen, Germany Male 1930 Politics Politics World War I (1914-1918)

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 Limburg a/ Lahn Germany 8. Dec. '15 R in Zossen 9 Dec/15 My Dear Sir Roger Your very kind note to hand, for which I am extremely grateful. A word to our friend Mr. Meyer, may relieve me of the necessity of accepting your generous offer. My appeal for funds was made to be able to meet the account which is due to the Missionhaus Fathers with whom I lodge. I asked or at least reminded Mr. Meyer of this in my letter to him now more than one month ago. I shall beg you to do me the favour of reminding him : he may have forgotten all about my letter owing to the vast amount of business he has in hands. I need hardly say I appreciate highly your suggestion to let you know my present needs, but I shall not encroach on your generosity while there is a hope of having a favourable reply from the Auswaertiges Amt. I propose to await a line from you, to say if you have mentioned this matter to Mr. Meyer. In case of receiving an assurance of being heard I shall await patiently. If on the other hand I get an unfavourable reply I shall write to the Ambassador to the Holy See at Lugano, through the Cardinal Nuntius of Munich, and explain the necessity of having funds to pay for lodging and travelling. Since the Prisoners were taken to the farms I have travelled much to visit them, and had always to stay with them a part of two days. I did ask for a free pass on the Railways just as other Pastors have, but I was not given that. I left my house in Rome without any money and I mean to return there in the same financial state. I merely desire that my expenses be paid, and I am sure my Superiors in Rome shall willingly suffer the loss my absence from there means to them. To put that at the lowest figure it would amount in a year to over 1000 Lire. Rumour has it that a move is being made in England to appeal to the Prussian Government for the bringing together of the Irish Prisoners of War. I hope it is not true, and; that such a report is the outcome of the imagination of some of those thinking people in the Camp here. The Nuntius agreed with me that my wish to have all the Irish brought together again, or at least to have permission to visit all the Camps where there are any Irishmen was quite just, and from political and diplomatical motives the best thing to be done. I explained how favourably impressed were the people at home when the notice appeared in the Press that Priests were sent to look after the Irishmen, and that all Irish Prisoners were to be concentrated in one Camp to have the aid of their ministration. I have a letter from an Irish Bishop who expresses him- self much pleased at what was done. His words are - "We in Ireland owe much to the Holy Father and to the Kaiser for what they have done for our countrymen". Is it not then a pity that anything should happen to inter- -fere with such an impression, as to lessen in any degree the sense of obligation which the people in Ireland feel for what has been done? In the event of the refusal of funds during my stay, I shall write to my relatives in Ireland who are blessed with much of this world's goods,and will ask them to pay for my stay as Spiritual Guide of my dear countrymen. This of course would be the last resource, & one which I should not pur- sue unless driven to extremities, for I fear though my relatives should keep the secret, yet somehow or other such things leak out, and that would not do. I regret to hear that you feel so much depressed at times. There are good times coming, and let us look forward to them with confidence. With you I pray that an end may soon come to the awful carnage that is destructing Europe. Kind regards to all the boys. I am glad to learn of their welfare. I wish you and them all the blessings and joys of Xmas Yours v. sincerely J.T Crotty O.P. P.S. I should say I have received the Papers which you Kindly sent, and handed them over for the boys. Thanks. J.T.C.O.P. Limberg, Lahn, Germany Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 6 November 1915Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 16 November 1915Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 30 November 1915Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 8 December 1915 Zossen, Germany Letter from Sir Roger Casement to Robert Monteith, 13 January 1916Letter from Sir Roger Casement, 20 December 1915Letter from Louis Hahn to Roger Casement, 19 November 1915Letter from T. A. Quinlisk to Roger Casement, 22 November 1915Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 8 December 1915Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 1 February 1916Letter from Robert Monteith to Roger Casement, 24 March 1916 Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 6 November 1915Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 16 November 1915Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 30 November 1915Letter from Fr. Thomas (James) Crotty to Sir Roger Casement, 8 December 1915