An cOs I ac Eagarthoir—Sean (5 Dubhghusa Vol. 1., No. 12. Two Shillings Autumn 1966 An Appreciation of the late Sir Thomas Myles ridden at a hot pace to intercept By EAMON MARTIN me and to tell me that the military had raided the Home looking for Eamon Martin held the rank of Captain in the Irish me. This must have been a direct Volunteers in 1916. He was Dublin Brigade Commandant tip-off. I recall that in the Home of Fianna Eireann, arid later was appointed Chief of there were also British wounded Staff of the Fianna,. and one day I had rather a heated argument with one of them, FTER the attack on the Magazine Fort our party made its way which, of course, was rather in­ back to the Four Courts area and reported to Commandant Ned discreet on my part. However, I A Daly. While making my way to one of the houses in North Great returned to my sister’s house, and Brunswick Street, which our forces were occupying, I met Sir Thomas together we made our way to Myles, the surgeon in charge of the Richmond Hospital. He stopped another sister, who was holidaying me and started off by telling me how mad we were. He said he was a wdth her family at Bettystown. life-long Nationalist—that Home Rule had been granted and would surely be put into operation after the War, and I, of course, gave him To Belfast our side of the picture. I saw that he was really concerned and very Towards the end of the summer, distressed and I was patient with him. I reminded him that I had been military activity, in the matter at Kilcoole when he brought in the guns in his yacht. “That”, he replied of searches, ceased, and I was “was quite a different thing—I brought you those guns to show that back in Shelbourne Road. I was b - - - Carson that two could play his game.” However, I was the first attending the Richmond Hospital IRISH PRESS man to whom he had spoken who treated him in a friendly manner, regularly to have Sir Thomas Sir Thomas Myles and during that and the following days he took every opportunity to attend to my wound, which was WHEN PRESIDENT OF THE seek me out. He was isolated—confined to the Hospital area—and I still discharging. I was still a COMPANIONS OF ST. PATRICK believe, rather confused in his loyalties. While I did not know it at very sick person. One day I had decided to operate by making an the time he held a commission in the British Army with the rank of a message from a Mr. Mac A linden, Lieut. Colonel. outlet at the lower rib. At least, who said he was a friend of this is what I, with my lay mind, In the “Richnlond” Extract from a letter written by Father Albert in 1917 to “Friends” understood. I agreed but said I When Commandant Ned Daly in Lewes Prison. would first like to let Sir Thomas took over the area Myles approach­ “/ suppose you know that Eamon Martin is in America. He is much know about it. My sister saw Sir ed him and explained that his stronger and glad to get to a drier climate. Sir Thomas Myles was Thomas who immediately said hospital was, at the time, caring splendid all along and we can never forget his kindness. “If there is to be an operation for wounded British soldiers and I’ll do it”—have Adrien return he asked Ned to recognize his to Dublin”. I came back and Sir position and not take over or use Thomas said he would treat me the hospital. Ned agreed. Con­ before deciding on an operation. sequent upon this not very real­ As far as I can remember he istic acceptance, our wounded treated me by keeping the wound had to be taken to an improvised open. Every morning his chauffeur medical depot at the Father called in for me and we went to Matthew Hall. But when I was the hospital, picking up Sir badly wounded and was helped Thomas at his house in Mount as far as our barricade at North Street on the way. Brunswick Street, I was attended by a Dr. Mannix and Dr. Michael Passport for the U.S.A. Burke. The latter rushed back to One day Sir Thomas said it the hospital and told Myles that would be a good thing if I could “his friend Adrien” had been get aw^ay to a warm climate for badly wounded. Myles sent him the winter. Had I any money or back to have me brought to the was there any organisation to help me in this matter ? In a hospital. This, of course, upset Eamon Martin today, at work in his Ballsbridge office the agreement between himself round-about way he was offering and Ned Daly, and as a con­ O’Rahilly’s sister, and through Padraic O’Riain in Belfast. The to help me financially. I told him sequence Myles had a complete some influence she arranged with messenger said he wanted me to there w^as such an organisation ward cleared to which our wound­ Linden Convalescent Home to go back and stay with him at but there was the difficulty of a ed were transferred from the take me in. On the records I was his house in Belfast. Could I be passport. He said to leave that Father Matthew Hall. I think recuperating after an operation ready to return with him that to him. Here again Mrs. Sir Thomas had not quite caught for an abscess on the lung. This evening on the train, after the Humphreys and Madame my name from the beginning was Sir Thomas’ idea. races. If so, would I meet him in O’Rahilly, representing the De­ for he then and always after Jury’s Hotel. The messenger, by pendants’ Fund came to the called me “Adrien”. Eventually Tip-Off the way, was Mickey Hamill, rescue to pay my fare to New there were about twenty-five of The next morning Sir Thomas famous Belfast Celtic centre York, where I was to contact our men in this ward and we came to the Hospital dressed in forward. Devoy and be sent to California. were looked after by Sir Thomas his officer’s uniform. After he had To get a passport at this time the and Michael Burke, who succeeded finished at the hospital, he and I I went to Belfast wdiere I was applicant had to appear before a Dr. Mannix as Resident Surgeon. went to his chauffeur-driven open attended regularly by Dr. McNabb. magistrate. Sir Thomas arranged car and I was taken to the Home. Of all the kindnesses I received this, and one morning, after my To Linden It was rather amusing to me to at this time, and they were num­ application had been sent in, on For some time after the sur­ nod to the policemen on traffic erous, that showm to me by Dr. medical grounds, a Detective Serg­ render and after the executions duty as they saluted the high- McNabb and by Hugh MacAlinden, eant Fagan, of the D.M.P. called of the leaders, the military were ranking khaki-clad officer beside his lovely wife and his whole to my home and accompanied me still rounding up and one morning me. I was in the Home for a family, will always remain clearly to the Court, where he presented Sir Thomas came in and told me month or more and often took a in my memory. my case to the magistrate—Swift, to get in touch with my sister, chance to visit my sister in I believe—handing in a certificate to get her to bring my clothes, etc., Shelbourne Road. One day I was Return to Dublin from Sir Thomas. This certificate that he was going to move me sitting on the seat at Lansdowme The winter had set in and I stated that I had been a patient the next morning. He also asked Road waiting for a tram to return was not responding to treatment. of his, had an operation for an me to ask my sister to find a to the Home when Jack O’Keeffe, I had continued to lose weight abscess on the lung, was still safe hiding place for me, prefer­ who had also been wnunded in and was coughing incessantly. under his care but he deemed it ably where I could get medical the Rising and who was con­ The wound was closing, and, it essential that I get away to a attention. My sister got in touch valescing at Linden, pulled up appears, the poison was going warm climate. All I had to do with Mrs. Humphreys—the beside me on a bicycle. He had through my system. Dr. McNabb was tell the magistrate that I had (Continued on page 2) 2 An tOglach Autumn 1966 three weeks without any assistance from publicity,” wrote Piaras, “or SIR THOM AS MYLES sympathy from the influential, an Continued from page 1 Irish Volunteer Force was called into being.” It is fitting that we should here name the members of The First Provisional Committee: Eoin Mac Neill, Pres.; L. J. Kettle, Hon. Sec.; The O Rahilly and John Gore, Hon. Treasurers; Piaras Beaslai, Eamon Martin, Sean Mac Diarmada, P. H. Pearse, Tomas MacDonagh, Con Colbert, Liam Mellowes, Peadar Macken, Sir Roger Casement, Tom Kettle, M.P., Sean Fitzigbbon, Peadar White, Col.