Letter from M.P. Kehoe to Sir Roger Casement, 10 November 1915

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from M.P. Kehoe to Sir Roger Casement, 10 November 1915

1 Hotel zur Alten Post
Bezitzer :
Ernst Bielefeld
Dampfheizung :-: Elektrisch Licht.
Weingrosshandlung
Fernruf Nr.17
Postscheckkonto
Frankfurt a. M. Nr. 8742 Limburg (Lahn), den 10th Nov 1915

To. Sir Roger Casement Dear Sir Roger, I reached Limburg safely yesterday
morning but did not start any work until this morning
when I reached Camp I found a man of my Regt. waiting
to see me. He was working with Wilson on some farm
he joined, & also another man Munsters, I think he belongs to
who was with Wilson on Farm he is waiting answer to his
letter he wrote Wilson through us & Underofficer Hahn, when
he receives his answer he will decide. The men who join
are separated from others into a Barrack where German
speaking Russians are & who have volunteered to fight
with Germany it was proposed by Authorities here &
accepted by Capt.M. because the men I am sure after
hearing what we have to say to them & the system Mr. M.
has adopted, requires consideration & he gives them
ample time , to-day one young fellow, Comm Rgt just
went to his Coy Officer & said he wanted to join Irish Bde
& was brought up to Barracks set apart for Bde. Up to now Mr. M. said after interviewing about 250 or so
he said 12 to 15 were likely candidates. It was only to-day
Barrack was set aside, & to-day first man came on his own. 2 but I got another man to join him, so I think we will
have luck, although it will be slow & tedious work.
It is an individual method Mr. M. has, & between the
number of interviews & the men I have on list from
new in Zossen & those I know myself we will see
about 70 or so per day. Besides men are returning from
farms every day since 1st Nov. I've heard that the men
must be sent back to Camp after 1st Nov. & any of those
kept at work must have special allowance.
My first day here brought luck, the first two actually
joined & three others I am sure will come too. I have got a Mantle & Sword given me here from
Authorities. The men in Camp have taken a different
attitude towards us this time, they listen attentively,
quietly & are never insulting, it is much easier to work
with them. Srgts Beverly & O'Toole wish to be
remembered to you. hoping you are quite well I remain
Your obedient servant
M.P.Kehoe 3 Kehoe
from
Limburg 6 Nov 1915.

The letter is from M.P. Kehoe, 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. Kehoe writes mainly about the attempts to convince men to join the brigade and mentions some of the men who had already joined. He describes the work as 'slow & tedious'. The project was ultimately unsuccessful and only fifty-six men signed up. 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.

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How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__5502.html)