Osprey - Essential Histories 065 - The Anglo-Irish War 1913-1922

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32 Essential Histories • The Anglo-Irish War British diplomat turned Irish rebel, Sir Roger Casement was executed for his part in the events of 1916. (Courtesy of National Library of Ireland. Photographic Archive) The Easter Rising It is probably a testimony to both the incompetence of the Castle and their perceived irrelevance of Pearse that the rebellion came as a surprise to both Government and the majority of Irishmen. The Royal Navy had cracked Germany's diplomatic codes early in 1915 and was well aware of Casement's movements in both the USA and Germany. One British official, Colonel Edgeworth-Johnstone, warned the Government that Sinn Féin was getting better organized and on 12 April 1916, the same day that a U-Boat left Germany carrying Casement, the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) was asked to examine the feasibility of arresting its leaders. Disturbingly, the RIC never replied to the Castle's request. On 18 April, the news of Casement's departure had reached the British along with the news that the Germans were in the act of dispatching 20,000 rifles, ten machine guns and 5,000,000 rounds of ammunition to Ireland. The Royal Navy intercepted these arms on 22 April and Casement was arrested within hours of landing. Both events were kept quiet by the Castle although rumours of
Outbreak 33 rebellion and German plots were rife. On the evening of 23 April, the Lord Lieutenant Lord Wimborne and the Chief Secretary Sir Matthew Nathan decided that in the circumstances they should arrest all of the leading Sinn Féin and Irish Volunteers leaders still at liberty. Ironically their decision came too late, as the rebels struck the next morning, on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916. The Rising began in confusion for both the Castle and the Irish Volunteers. Monday was a Bank Holiday, and also Race Day at the Fairyhouse racetrack, so the streets were largely deserted when around 1,000 men of The Four Courts, the centre of the Irish justice system. saw fighting in 1916 and again during the Irish Civil War. (Courtesy of National Library of Ireland. Photographic Archive)
Page 2 and 3: PETER COTTRELL is currently a servi
Page 4 and 5: Essential Histories The Anglo-Irish
Page 6 and 7: Contents Introduction Chronology Ba
Page 8 and 9: 8 Essential Histories • The Anglo
Page 10 and 11: 10 Essential Histories • The Angl
Page 12 and 13: Chronology 1169 Anglo-Norman invasi
Page 14 and 15: Background to war A troubled island
Page 18 and 19: Warring sides The combatants The Cr
Page 64 and 65: Portrait of a soldier David Neligan
Page 68 and 69: The world around war Civilian life
Page 80 and 81: How the war ended A brief peace The
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82 Essential Histories • The Angl
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Conclusion and consequences Coming
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Index Figures in bold refer to illu
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About Essential Histories A multi-v
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Osprey - Essential Histories 065 - The Anglo-Irish War 1913-1922

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