1
Bureau de Secours
Aux
Prisonniers de Guerre
British Section
British Legation
Berne 21 August 1916 Dear Sir We beg to enclose card just received from
Pte. J. Connolly and also previous cards expressing
his gratitude for the bread — unfortunately your
subscription for his supply ended on June 7th last
but we hope that you will now kindly renew the
same & have written to that effect to him as well. With compliments,
Yours faithfully Bureau de secours
aux
prisonniers de guerre
Section Anglaise.
BERNE P.S. If you cannot undertake the supply anymore,
kindly return his last card (only) & much oblige
This letter was received by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers County Kildare Committee and
forwarded by Lady Mayo to Lady Clonbrock in her letter of 1 September, 1916, which
also survives.
The writer says that he has a number of cards from Connolly expressing gratitude for
bread. However the R.D.F. 'subscription' for bread in this case has ended and the
writer wants to know if it is being renewed.
Connolly was a Connaught Ranger and when Lady Mayo realised this she referred his
case back to Lady Clonbrock.
Lady Mayo, Geraldine Sarah Bourke (née Ponsonby), Countess of Mayo, (1863-1944), was
a committee member in The Royal Dublin Fusiliers' County Kildare Committee. The Committee
dealt with parcels for RDF prisoners of war abroad.
Lady Clonbrock, Augusta Caroline Dillon (née Crofton) (1839-1928), wife of Luke Gerald
Dillon, 4th Baron Clonbrock, (1834-1917) was one of a number of ladies who were members
of the Irish Womens Association. Formed in London in the Spring of 1915, the IWA's
purpose was to provide food and comforts for prisoners of war belonging to Irish Regiments.