1 Correct 426.1.7
400 —
7-17-6 The Irish Women's Association
(to aid Irish Regiments and Prisoners of War)
Kensington Palace,
London W. September 21st 1916 Dear Lady Clonbrock, Pte. Hore and French are
giving a very great deal of trouble. They
are excellently provided for in every way, but
they are writing innumerable begging letters.
We hold quantities of their acknwoledgments -
they are really in no need of further assistance
whatsoever, 598 Pte. James Macdonald is acknowledging
his food parcels most profusely and has also
acknowledged all a clothing parcels. I am sorry to say that the begging of our
men in Bulgaria is assuming alarming proportions,
so much so that the British officer
in charge of them has asked us not to send
them anything that they ask for over and above
their usual parcels, unless he countersigns
the application. He has been sent money and
has fitted every man out with boots. This
applies to the Prisoners in Philippopolis.
I will send a pair of boots to Macdonald at once. 2 (2) We are in constant, almost daily communication with the
R.A.C.D. about the outfit for the men in Bulgaria - so far
they will not issue it - but we are trying very hard to make them do so. I wired to Miss Hynes telling her the the 1st Battalion
in Mesopotamia have written acknowledging the things sent out
from here by your order. They took a very long time to arrive,
but they have arrived - which is really very extraordinary as
we are told on all sides that it is almost impossible for any
things to arrive with our men in Mesopotamia. However, the
Rangers have got theirs and it is rather a triumph. I do not
know whether the triumph applies to us, or to the Military
Forwarding Officer, or to the Goddess of Chance! For your private information only I may tell you that
the I. W. A. will, we have every reason to believe, stand by itself.
The powers that be are kind enough to acknowledge that
we are capable of standing on our own legs. Mother and I have been away for a fortnight but that is
not a very long time. Yours very sincerely, A. MacDonnell
Hon. Secretary