Respect.
In 1916 the First World War was well on its to slaughtering, injuring and traumatising hundreds of thousands of young men from all over Europe. Ireland had sent its sons of orange and green to that battlefield to fight in a common purpose. Inevitably prisoners were taken. Roger Casement, an Irish rebel, who would later be hanged, was on the Germans side. He wanted to recruit an Irish Brigade. He had permission to recruit from captured British soldiers of an Irish nationalist persuasion. If the Irish POWs agreed to go home to Ireland and fight the British then they would be released. Few accepted this offer. He tempted them with money and extra food. Of a possible 2500 prisoners only 53 took him up on his offer.
As an ex prisoner I can imagine the temptation to get out, to be free, to go home, by just saying you give up what you believe in. I can’t imagine the awful conditions that the prisoners were held in but no doubt they were difficult. One simple decision to get away from all that. And take your chances back home.
There is one quote by Irish POWs that says, “In addition to being Irish Catholics we have the honour to be British soldiers”. I have to pay respect to these men for their courage and integrity at a time when the world had gone mad. And that respect extends to all those men from all over Ireland who died in that Great War.
James.
