British soldiers fought for Irish freedom

[slainte50]

In the Punjabi state area of Jullandur Pte James Daly led a mutiny against his superior officers -over 80 members of the Connaught rangers were court martialled and 14 executed.As Fenian Michael Barrett was the last person to die by public hanging in Britain James Daly was the last british soldier to die for mutiny.The national graves remembers these men as having died for Irish freedom-they were wearing british uniforms but ultimatley they loyalties were Irish.For the men who fell at the Somme who came from catholic families is there not some moral imperative to remember them also? It seems hard to recall British soldiers as Irish patriots -those who mutinied at Jullandur-and not remember those who fought alongside the men from world war 1-James Daly was one such person -others who fought in the 1914-1918 war (the Somme included)for Britain ,later died for Ireland.How do we judge these men ?:hmmm:

[Seán1798]

Good man slainte I posted the story of these men a while back. IMO it shows that hearts rather than uniforms are what count at the end of the day.


DAGSHAI ( HIMACHAL PRADESH )

BETWEEN history and amnesia, searching through the rubble of events which are neither metaphors nor memories is tough. In the sleepy hills of Solan and sweltering plains of Jalandhar the spectre of Easter Rebellion stalked frightened British minds in 1920.

The keen eyes of Barkat Masih — the fifty-something caretaker of Dagshai graveyard — are reassuring. Definite, resolute lines of his face waver and settle into a stirred expression, as he hears names of Daly, Miranda, Sears and Smyth: ‘‘Woh fauji jinhon ne baghawat ki thi (you want to know about the soldiers who rebelled)?’’

Now imagine Jalandhar cantonment in June 1920. There was ferment in the barracks as news of atrocities by British forces ‘Black and Tan’ back home filtered through soft Irish brogues. Soldiers of Ist Battalion of Connaught Rangers, also called The Devil’s Own, known for their bravery as well as obduracy, gathered in groups and mulled over the news of torture and hangings at home.

Soon, steeped in the Sinn Fein spirit, the soldiers bought lenghts of cloth from the local market and got down to stitching the Irish tricolour. On June 28, 1920, five men refused to take orders from the British officers and served a notice saying they won’t serve the King until the British forces left Ireland. About two hundred soldiers joined them later. It did not take more than three days for the British to stamp out the rebellion. The mutineers were taken prisoners in inhuman condition before they were shifted to Dagshai.

Solan smouldered as the news of mutiny soon reached another detachment of Connaught Rangers stationed there. Rumours were afoot that the British had massacared all Irish soldiers in Jalandhar. Under the command of Private James Daly about 70 Rangers refused to parade and wore Sinn Fein colours in rosettes. Private Daly, 21, of Tyrrelspass, County Westmeath, acted as their spokesman. Though they gave up arms, later one night Daly reconsidered their decision and with his companions attacked a magazine. The British retaliated. Sears and Smyth were killed in firing while others were taken prisoners. Now Royal Sussex Regiment had taken command.

Daly and his companions were arrested. Finally 88 were brought to trial. Some were acquitted, most were given prison sentences up to 15 years and 14 were condemned to death. Except Daly, sentences of others were commuted to life imprisonments. Daly faced the firing squad in Dagshai prison on November 2, 1920.

Privates Sears and Smyth were buried at Solan while John Miranda, who had died in prison, and James Daly were buried in Dagshai graveyard. Remains of Sears, Smyth and Daly were taken back to Ireland in 1970.

You wade through the waist-high grass, read every epitaph that has survived, pull out grass to peek at the stones; there is no Daly, no Miranda, only fear of snakes slithering in the grass. The Irish saga turns out to be not only a victim of history, but also of nature.

[slainte50]

Good man slainte I posted the story of these men a while back. IMO it shows that hearts rather than uniforms are what count at the end of the day.


DAGSHAI ( HIMACHAL PRADESH )

BETWEEN history and amnesia, searching through the rubble of events which are neither metaphors nor memories is tough. In the sleepy hills of Solan and sweltering plains of Jalandhar the spectre of Easter Rebellion stalked frightened British minds in 1920.

The keen eyes of Barkat Masih — the fifty-something caretaker of Dagshai graveyard — are reassuring. Definite, resolute lines of his face waver and settle into a stirred expression, as he hears names of Daly, Miranda, Sears and Smyth: ‘‘Woh fauji jinhon ne baghawat ki thi (you want to know about the soldiers who rebelled)?’’

Now imagine Jalandhar cantonment in June 1920. There was ferment in the barracks as news of atrocities by British forces ‘Black and Tan’ back home filtered through soft Irish brogues. Soldiers of Ist Battalion of Connaught Rangers, also called The Devil’s Own, known for their bravery as well as obduracy, gathered in groups and mulled over the news of torture and hangings at home.

Soon, steeped in the Sinn Fein spirit, the soldiers bought lenghts of cloth from the local market and got down to stitching the Irish tricolour. On June 28, 1920, five men refused to take orders from the British officers and served a notice saying they won’t serve the King until the British forces left Ireland. About two hundred soldiers joined them later. It did not take more than three days for the British to stamp out the rebellion. The mutineers were taken prisoners in inhuman condition before they were shifted to Dagshai.

Solan smouldered as the news of mutiny soon reached another detachment of Connaught Rangers stationed there. Rumours were afoot that the British had massacared all Irish soldiers in Jalandhar. Under the command of Private James Daly about 70 Rangers refused to parade and wore Sinn Fein colours in rosettes. Private Daly, 21, of Tyrrelspass, County Westmeath, acted as their spokesman. Though they gave up arms, later one night Daly reconsidered their decision and with his companions attacked a magazine. The British retaliated. Sears and Smyth were killed in firing while others were taken prisoners. Now Royal Sussex Regiment had taken command.

Daly and his companions were arrested. Finally 88 were brought to trial. Some were acquitted, most were given prison sentences up to 15 years and 14 were condemned to death. Except Daly, sentences of others were commuted to life imprisonments. Daly faced the firing squad in Dagshai prison on November 2, 1920.

Privates Sears and Smyth were buried at Solan while John Miranda, who had died in prison, and James Daly were buried in Dagshai graveyard. Remains of Sears, Smyth and Daly were taken back to Ireland in 1970.

You wade through the waist-high grass, read every epitaph that has survived, pull out grass to peek at the stones; there is no Daly, no Miranda, only fear of snakes slithering in the grass. The Irish saga turns out to be not only a victim of history, but also of nature.

Missed that post Sean its informative historically and for those of us who read our history its a great piece -its history and in history I believe we can find our futures .:):)

[Foyleview]

In the Punjabi state area of Jullandur Pte James Daly led a mutiny against his superior officers -over 80 members of the Connaught rangers were court martialled and 14 executed.As Fenian Michael Barrett was the last person to die by public hanging in Britain James Daly was the last british soldier to die for mutiny.The national graves remembers these men as having died for Irish freedom-they were wearing british uniforms but ultimatley they loyalties were Irish.For the men who fell at the Somme who came from catholic families is there not some moral imperative to remember them also? It seems hard to recall British soldiers as Irish patriots -those who mutinied at Jullandur-and not remember those who fought alongside the men from world war 1-James Daly was one such person -others who fought in the 1914-1918 war (the Somme included)for Britain ,later died for Ireland.How do we judge these men ?:hmmm:

I started a thread on Irish heros in the history section to gather together this type of historical knowledge.

[Raffles]

Good man slainte I posted the story of these men a while back. IMO it shows that hearts rather than uniforms are what count at the end of the day.


DAGSHAI ( HIMACHAL PRADESH )

BETWEEN history and amnesia, searching through the rubble of events which are neither metaphors nor memories is tough. In the sleepy hills of Solan and sweltering plains of Jalandhar the spectre of Easter Rebellion stalked frightened British minds in 1920.

The keen eyes of Barkat Masih — the fifty-something caretaker of Dagshai graveyard — are reassuring. Definite, resolute lines of his face waver and settle into a stirred expression, as he hears names of Daly, Miranda, Sears and Smyth: ‘‘Woh fauji jinhon ne baghawat ki thi (you want to know about the soldiers who rebelled)?’’

Now imagine Jalandhar cantonment in June 1920. There was ferment in the barracks as news of atrocities by British forces ‘Black and Tan’ back home filtered through soft Irish brogues. Soldiers of Ist Battalion of Connaught Rangers, also called The Devil’s Own, known for their bravery as well as obduracy, gathered in groups and mulled over the news of torture and hangings at home.

Soon, steeped in the Sinn Fein spirit, the soldiers bought lenghts of cloth from the local market and got down to stitching the Irish tricolour. On June 28, 1920, five men refused to take orders from the British officers and served a notice saying they won’t serve the King until the British forces left Ireland. About two hundred soldiers joined them later. It did not take more than three days for the British to stamp out the rebellion. The mutineers were taken prisoners in inhuman condition before they were shifted to Dagshai.

Solan smouldered as the news of mutiny soon reached another detachment of Connaught Rangers stationed there. Rumours were afoot that the British had massacared all Irish soldiers in Jalandhar. Under the command of Private James Daly about 70 Rangers refused to parade and wore Sinn Fein colours in rosettes. Private Daly, 21, of Tyrrelspass, County Westmeath, acted as their spokesman. Though they gave up arms, later one night Daly reconsidered their decision and with his companions attacked a magazine. The British retaliated. Sears and Smyth were killed in firing while others were taken prisoners. Now Royal Sussex Regiment had taken command.

Daly and his companions were arrested. Finally 88 were brought to trial. Some were acquitted, most were given prison sentences up to 15 years and 14 were condemned to death. Except Daly, sentences of others were commuted to life imprisonments. Daly faced the firing squad in Dagshai prison on November 2, 1920.

Privates Sears and Smyth were buried at Solan while John Miranda, who had died in prison, and James Daly were buried in Dagshai graveyard. Remains of Sears, Smyth and Daly were taken back to Ireland in 1970.

You wade through the waist-high grass, read every epitaph that has survived, pull out grass to peek at the stones; there is no Daly, no Miranda, only fear of snakes slithering in the grass. The Irish saga turns out to be not only a victim of history, but also of nature.

Any more resources on this Sean, Please?:)

[Seán1798]

Any more resources on this Sean, Please?:)

Here's a few links that give a bit more info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Connaught_Rangers#Mutiny_in_India.2C_1920
http://www.nga.ie/indian_mutiny1.htm
http://www.irlandinit-hd.de/sub_misc/raj.htm
http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.britisles.ireland.wem.general/950/mb.ashx
http://www.triskelle.eu/lyrics/connaughtrangers.php?index=080.010.020.030

[Seán1798]

Missed that post Sean its informative historically and for those of us who read our history its a great piece -its history and in history I believe we can find our futures .:):)

I'd say you're right 100% and if we don't do that sure we can just keep going round in circles ;)

[Raffles]

Here's a few links that give a bit more info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Connaught_Rangers#Mutiny_in_India.2C_1920
http://www.nga.ie/indian_mutiny1.htm
http://www.irlandinit-hd.de/sub_misc/raj.htm
http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.britisles.ireland.wem.general/950/mb.ashx
http://www.triskelle.eu/lyrics/connaughtrangers.php?index=080.010.020.030

Go raibh maith agat:)

[Red Revolutionary]

They are no less heros.