Leaflet
Collection object
2002.0105
H. 20.8 W. 13.1
Leaflet, Treatment of Irish Prisoners in English Prison Camps, Frongoch, November 1916. Content: Satisfaction with account of conditions in Frongoch published in Cork Free Press of 11 Nov; exposures being made not in spirit of complaint, but to show people at home what captivity by the English is like; truth of previous statements re bad food and conditions, tyrannical management; present penal condition due to shielding certain men among them from siezure under Military Service Act; attempt to secure men who resided in England for the army not actuated by military motives, but to inflict special punishment on them and is preliminary to conscription in Ireland. Cases of brothers Nunan and Hugh Thornton, sentences to periods of hard labour. Shielding of men leading to punishment of whole camp. Three brothers King taken by subterfuge - camp leader given list on numbers with request that the report to doctor for weighing, Kings seized. One of them, wounded in rising, returned, to be examined again in two months. On two Nov attempt to seize Fintan & Michael Murphy, saying that wife of one of them dead, but neither was married - refusal - rollcall within cordon of fixed bayonets - failed - all men whom military could not identify (201 men) sent to south camp as punishment and deprived of association - Fintan Murphy eventually found & sent for trial - boy named Barrett seized despite protesting that he was not the person sought - hunger strike from 2 - 4 Nov, after which certified by doctor as unable to suffer further punishment and returned to main camp. On 7 Nov hundreds of soldiers in full war kit came into camp - commandant called hut leaders and threatened strict discipline - all 342 men refused to answer roll-call, and sent to south camp where locked in grain barns and 15 hut leaders in cells awaiting court martial. Few days ago main hut leader threateded with severe penalties for not identifying men wanted - replied that woulld rather be dead than inform. Statement made by authority of whole camp. One sheet folded forming four pages, last blank.