dead. Two or three gunmen were shot and captured in another street.
In the afternoon we received information to the effect that the gunmen had been told to meet at Croke Park, where a football match was to be played that afternoon, in order to compare notes. I was not in on this, but saw a number of truckloads of police moving off, and was told later that, when they arrived at Croke Park, they were fired on, and of course opened fire, causing a number of casualties.
After the crowd had dispersed, the police found a considerable number of revolvers and automatic pistols on the ground.
The object of this exercise on the part of the IRA, was to eliminate Intelligence and Courts Martial officers, because the gunmen felt that the net was closing round them. So men were brought up to Dublin from other parts of the country, particularly Tipperary, in order to catch as many as possible of us unawares on a Sunday morning, when most people slept late.
As a result of all this, those of us who had survived were shut up under guard in a hotel, from where it was impracticable to do any useful work. In fact, our job had to all intents and purposes been done, and the organisation was breaking up.
So at about the New Year I applied for leave, and on the boat met General Boyd, GOC Dublin District, with whom I used to play tennis on the Castle courts. He said âWell, Jeune, I think we have broken the back of the movement now, donât you?â I replied âYes, sir, and I think six months should see it outâ, to which he answered âYes, I think you are right. Hamar Greenwood (then Colonial Secretary, and in charge of Irish affairs) says two months, but I think that is rather optimisticâ.
This, as stated, was about the New Year 1921, and by the early summer the IRA were driven into the south west corner of Ireland, and would have been quickly finished. But certain influences were to save them, as I learned later in London from a friend of mine, Jeffries, who had been in our show in Dublin. When this broke up he, with a staff officer, Cameron, were instructed to set up from London a proper secret service in Ireland, which was very successfully accomplished.
About this time De Valera came back from the USA and was captured in a raid by Lord Twining, then a young subaltern in the Worcesters, whom I met in London a few years ago, not long before his death. He told me that he did not know the identity of his prisoner, who at first would not give his correct name, but did so eventually.
Now Jeffries told me that the following took place. Army GHQ at Kilmainham wired to his London office âDe Valera captured. Cope suggests releaseâ. This telegram arrived about 7pm and Jeffries took it across to the Colonial Office, but Hamar Greenwood had left, so Jeffries took it to Lloyd-George, who rubbed his hands together, and said âWell done the military. He must on no account be releasedâ. Taking this as settled, Jeffries left, but as soon as he had gone Lloyd-George sent orders for De Valera to be released, which was done.
Later, yielding to threats from the IRA, Lloyd-George agreed to meet a delegation headed by Michael Collins, with a view to drawing up a treaty. At this time, as may well be remembered, Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson, a distinguished Ulsterman, was invited by Lloyd-George to join him and one or two other politicians in meeting the Irish delegation. He replied, saying that he had no intention of âseeing three bloody murderers dictating to three damned cowardsâ. He was murdered in Eaton Square, by two ex-soldiers, acting on orders, from the IRA.
The Treaty was signed. The IRA had won. Does history repeat itself?
C HAPTER 8
Lieutenant General A.E. Percival
Details
This account is taken from two lectures given by Percival, copies of which are not held in his private papers at the Imperial War Museum. Percival joined the Essex Regiment as a temporary second lieutenant in September
In the afternoon we received information to the effect that the gunmen had been told to meet at Croke Park, where a football match was to be played that afternoon, in order to compare notes. I was not in on this, but saw a number of truckloads of police moving off, and was told later that, when they arrived at Croke Park, they were fired on, and of course opened fire, causing a number of casualties.
After the crowd had dispersed, the police found a considerable number of revolvers and automatic pistols on the ground.
The object of this exercise on the part of the IRA, was to eliminate Intelligence and Courts Martial officers, because the gunmen felt that the net was closing round them. So men were brought up to Dublin from other parts of the country, particularly Tipperary, in order to catch as many as possible of us unawares on a Sunday morning, when most people slept late.
As a result of all this, those of us who had survived were shut up under guard in a hotel, from where it was impracticable to do any useful work. In fact, our job had to all intents and purposes been done, and the organisation was breaking up.
So at about the New Year I applied for leave, and on the boat met General Boyd, GOC Dublin District, with whom I used to play tennis on the Castle courts. He said âWell, Jeune, I think we have broken the back of the movement now, donât you?â I replied âYes, sir, and I think six months should see it outâ, to which he answered âYes, I think you are right. Hamar Greenwood (then Colonial Secretary, and in charge of Irish affairs) says two months, but I think that is rather optimisticâ.
This, as stated, was about the New Year 1921, and by the early summer the IRA were driven into the south west corner of Ireland, and would have been quickly finished. But certain influences were to save them, as I learned later in London from a friend of mine, Jeffries, who had been in our show in Dublin. When this broke up he, with a staff officer, Cameron, were instructed to set up from London a proper secret service in Ireland, which was very successfully accomplished.
About this time De Valera came back from the USA and was captured in a raid by Lord Twining, then a young subaltern in the Worcesters, whom I met in London a few years ago, not long before his death. He told me that he did not know the identity of his prisoner, who at first would not give his correct name, but did so eventually.
Now Jeffries told me that the following took place. Army GHQ at Kilmainham wired to his London office âDe Valera captured. Cope suggests releaseâ. This telegram arrived about 7pm and Jeffries took it across to the Colonial Office, but Hamar Greenwood had left, so Jeffries took it to Lloyd-George, who rubbed his hands together, and said âWell done the military. He must on no account be releasedâ. Taking this as settled, Jeffries left, but as soon as he had gone Lloyd-George sent orders for De Valera to be released, which was done.
Later, yielding to threats from the IRA, Lloyd-George agreed to meet a delegation headed by Michael Collins, with a view to drawing up a treaty. At this time, as may well be remembered, Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson, a distinguished Ulsterman, was invited by Lloyd-George to join him and one or two other politicians in meeting the Irish delegation. He replied, saying that he had no intention of âseeing three bloody murderers dictating to three damned cowardsâ. He was murdered in Eaton Square, by two ex-soldiers, acting on orders, from the IRA.
The Treaty was signed. The IRA had won. Does history repeat itself?
C HAPTER 8
Lieutenant General A.E. Percival
Details
This account is taken from two lectures given by Percival, copies of which are not held in his private papers at the Imperial War Museum. Percival joined the Essex Regiment as a temporary second lieutenant in September
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