Bureau of Military History content back up online

The Bureau of Military History website content from Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie) is now back up and running at http://militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/, having been unavailable for much of the last week.

From the site:

The Bureau of Military History Collection, 1913-1921 (BMH) is a collection of 1,773 witness statements; 334 sets of contemporary documents; 42 sets of photographs and 13 voice recordings that were collected by the State between 1947 and 1957, in order to gather primary source material for the revolutionary period in Ireland from 1913 to 1921. The Bureau’s official brief was ‘to assemble and co-ordinate material to form the basis for the compilation of the history of the movement for Independence from the formation of the Irish Volunteers on 25th November 1913, to the 11th July 1921’ (report of the Director, 1957).

Enjoy!

(With thanks to @dfarchives)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Military Archives releases The Collins Papers Online

From Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie):

The Collins Papers Online Release

In response to the ongoing Decade of Centenaries and increased public interest in accessing archives which chart the revolutionary period, the Military Archives is pleased to announce the online release of The Collins Papers. Over 6,000 documents dating from 1918 to early 1922, taking in the War of Independence years (1919 – 1921) and tumultuous post Truce and Treaty period are held in The Collins Papers.

The collection contains communications (despatches) mainly between I.R.A. Brigade and Battalion Officers and predominately those holding appointments in I.R.A. General Headquarters including Michael Collins, Richard Mulcahy, Cathal Brugha and Gearoid O’Sullivan. The chief creator and man behind most of the paperwork held in this collection was General Michael Collins. The collection, which has been in the custody of the Military Archives for decades, was named ‘The Collins Papers’ to signify that connection.

The paperwork links to Michael Collins’ successive G.H.Q. appointments post the third Convention of the Irish Volunteers (19th November 1917) including the periods when he was Director of Organisation, Adjutant General and Director of Intelligence. Much of the later intelligence material (post Truce and Treaty period) held in the collection can be attributed to Collins’ intelligence deputies, Frank Thornton and Liam Tobin. The collection also contains a number of files linked to Collins' ministerial position in the Department of Finance and as Teachta Dála (TD) for Armagh (1921-1922) in Dáil Eireann.

The release of these papers online marks the final stage in a very long journey which took these papers from their point of creation to eventual preservation in the Military Archives. The advent of the Collins Papers online presents new opportunities to a global audience to analyse the years preceding and encompassing the War of Independence and the post Truce and Treaty period, using the records created by I.R.A. leaders and General Headquarters staff.

More details on the collection, its archival history and contents can be found by visiting the Collection Page, which also includes a customised search tool to assist users in the navigation of the catalogue and the associated digitised collection files.

* The original announcement is at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/en/news-updates/single-view/article/the-collins-papers-online-release

(With thanks to Claire Santry via Irish Genealogy News)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Irish Times Revolution Files supplement

Today's Irish Times has a The Revolution Files supplement, documenting stories from throughout the Irish revolutionary period and across the whiole island.

The sources for the material include the Military Services Pension Collection and other materials from the Defence Forces, as held by Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie).

To read the content visit https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/century/the-revolution-files

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Latest records release from Ireland's Military Archives

The latest online records reklease from Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie):

October 2019 Release

The October 2019 release is the 8th release from the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection. This release will bring the number of individuals whose files are now available online up to 9,555 entries for individuals (representing over 28,700 files).

The files relate to claims lodged by 1,540 individuals, or by their dependants, contain new and unique information on the War of Independence and the Civil War.

Taking into account all the MSPC file series (whether available online or in the Military Archives), over 97,500 files have been processed individually by the Project team to date.

The files released in October 2019 include:

313 service pension applications lodged by women, most of them were members of Cumann na mBan. The files provide new information on the role played by women in the War of Independence and Civil War (intelligence, arms, violence).
Files relating to the Saltmills explosion in Wexford (12/10/1920).
Files relating to IRA activity in Derry and Belfast (1920-1922) and sectarian fighting in both cities.
Files relating to three Belfast Protestant IRA members including a former member of the Orange Order.
Files relating to the wounding of Church of Ireland Rev. Thomas Wilkinson (13/5/1920) by IRA members
Attempted rescue of Frank Carty from prison van in Glasgow in May 1921 (files of 18 individuals involved in the attempt)
Files relating to 45 members giving excellent overview of the structure and activity of the IRA and Cumann na mBan in Manchester.
Files relating to 9 new 1916 Rising veterans.


October 2019 Release List

NOTE: Individual applications relate to applications for service pensions, claims for gratuities or awards made by dependants, claims by veterans for wounds suffered or disablement or deterioration in health due to service in the period 1916-1923 and such related matters. All applications are made and processed under relevant legislation enacted by the Oireachtas from 1923.

The researcher must be aware that one individual has more than 1 file. Some have up to seven files, generated under different aspects of the legislation as enacted from 1923 to 1973. To improve access, individual files thus created are consolidated under the relevant name.

(Original story at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/en/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection-1916-1923/release-history/october-2019-release)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Military Archives releases 1920-1923 IRA Brigade Activity Reports

Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie) has released the IRA's Brigade Activity Reports, mainly for the years 1920-1923, during the War of Independence from the British, and the subsequent Civil War.

From the website, the following is a description of the content:

The Brigade Activity Reports provide listings of IRA operations and activities with the names of participants included. In general the files cover the period between 1 April 1920 and 11 July 1921 – the height of the War of Independence. However a small number of files contain information regarding Irish Volunteer and IRA activities going back, not only to the mobilisations at the time of the 1916 Easter Rising, but to the formation of the Irish Volunteers in late 1913 and early 1914, and forward to the end of the Civil War in 1923. The files are not a definitive listing of IRA operations during the Independence struggle. A number of IRA companies and units do not appear in the Activity File series at all. There are also inconsistencies in terms of the activities and events covered in the series as the quality and quantity of information provided both between different brigades and between individual units of particular brigades can vary somewhat.

However these files do contain a wealth of fascinating and important information relating to the IRA during the Revolutionary period. Not only in relation to the vast majority of major or high profile IRA operations and ambushes carried out between 1919 and 1921, but also to the essential support work essential to maintaining the IRA campaign such as intelligence work, the trenching and blocking of roads, scouting, carrying despatches and the caring for and storing arms. Such was the value of the series that it came to be heavily relied on by the various Referees and Advisory Committee and Board of Assessors’ members who operated the service pension legislation between 1934 and 1958. They have also been regularly referred to as tools for adjudicating service medal applications up to the present day. As an individual file series and taken in conjunction with the rest of the MSPC, they provide a formidable and essential resource for any researcher or academic interested in the revolutionary period.

(Source: http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection-1916-1923/brigade-activities/?page_id=86)

I have to say, the presentation of these is absolutely superb, with an interactive map, reports arranged by county, operations and brigades, and more. I'm going to have a busy night ahead of me...!

To access the content, visit http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection-1916-1923/brigade-activities

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Military Archives Oral History Project: Lebanon Stories - 40 Years of UNIFIL

From Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie and @defenceforces):

Lebanon Stories - 40 Years of UNIFIL is the second phase of the Military Archives Oral History Project (MAOHP) and was launched this morning. The below clip is taken from the collection.

From the video description on YouTube (https://youtu.be/qiH2hZo9k9M):

This second phase of the Military Archives Oral History Project (MAOHP) was launched this morning. It was attended by Chief of Staff Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett DSM and former UNIFIL Force Commander Major General Michael Beary (Rtd) DSM among other veteran Irish Peacekeepers, family and friends who contributed to the project.

This video features some of the collected oral histories contributed by soldiers who served with UNIFIL over the course of four decades. It also includes accounts from local Lebanese civilians who highlight the positive impact that Óglaigh na hÉireann have made to their lives and their country.

142 extracts drawn from approximately 36 hours of interviews have been selected for this release to provide a first-hand account of Irish soldiers’ experience serving with UNIFIL. These clips also explore some Lebanese experiences living and working alongside Irish battalions over the course of the last 40 years.

The MAOHP page can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/2SMJ9Ax

The Military Archives Oral History Project (MAOHP) began officially in 2015 with the aim of digitally recording memory, oral history and tradition associated with Óglaigh na hÉireann since its inception in 1922.

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Military Archives events during Dublin Festival of History

From Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie) in Dublin:

Military Archives is delighted to participate in Dublin Festival of History 2016, which is running from 23 September to 8 October 2016. Members of the public are welcome to email militaryarchives@defenceforces.ie to secure a seat at ‘History, Memory & the Archives: sources for the Revolutionary period in Military Archives’, an illustrated lecture by Commandant Stephen MacEoin, Officer in Charge, Military Archives. The event will take place in the auditorium located in the historic Guard Room, Cathal Brugha Barracks, on 3rd October at 3pm; early booking is recommended.

We are also involved in a number of outside events during the festival. Please see http://dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/calendar/category/programme-2016/events-in-libraries/ for more details.

(With thanks to Military Archives at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/en/news-events)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Beginner's Guide to British and Irish Genealogy, A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

New Military Archives search room in Dublin

This looks like it could be well worth a visit! The new Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie) search room at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin, Ireland.

The search room is open to the public Tuesdays - Thursdays from 10.00 - 12.30 hrs and 13.30 - 16.00. An appointment is needed. Further information is available at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/en/contact-details/contact-details.

(With thanks to @dfarchives)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Ancestry adds Irish military census and pension indexes

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added two new indexes for collections sourced from the Military Archives at Cathal Brugha barracks in Dublin (www.militaryarchives.ie). These are as follows:

Ireland, Military Service Pension Index, 1916 - 1923
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=70816

Web: Ireland, National Army Census, 1922
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=70815


The following description of the Military Service Pension Collection is taken from my new book, A Decade of Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923:

This vast collection contains supporting documentation for those making pension claims off the Irish government for any military service offered between the Easter Rising and September 1924. The recipients included members of the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, the IRA, Cumann na mBan, Fianna Éireann, the Hibernian Army and the National Army, as well as other participants, such as members of the Connaught Rangers who mutinied in India in 1920 in protest at the imposition of martial law in Ireland.

Various Army Service Pensions Acts were passed by the Dáil in 1923, 1927 and 1932, dealing with wounded service personnel and deceased participants’ dependants. The latter act significantly extended the pension provision to those who had fought for independence prior to 1921, but who had either ceased serving at that point or switched to the Anti-Treaty side. Separate Military Service Pension Acts were also passed in 1924 and 1934 for surviving claimants who had seen active service. A subsequent Act in 1949 allowed for reviews of cases previously rejected under the earlier Acts.

This section of the website also contains a vast amount of material from 1921 to 1923, including IRA nominal rolls (arranged by division), Cumann na mBan (arranged by County), and Fianna Éireann (by county).

The 1922 National Army census was recorded in November 1922 in order that the new Free State could work out how many soldiers it essentially had to pay.

Both collections are available to search for free via www.militaryarchives.ie, to which searches from Ancestry will redirect.

For more on resources to help you research your Decade of Centenaries ancestral connections, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/a-decade-of-centenaries-researching.html - the book is already available in Australia, and due out shortly in the UK, Canada, and in ebook formats.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Military Archives releases 1916 Roll of Honour and executed leaders details

Some records releases from Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie) at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin:

RELEASE OF THE ROLL OF HONOUR

Following a review of the files in the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection the total number of casualties recognised by the Department of Defence, in accordance with the provisions of the Army Pensions Acts 1923, 1927 and 1932 and the Military Service Pensions Acts 1924, 1934 and 1949 is seventy eight (78).

In summary, to be recognised as a casualty one had to be proven to be :

• A member of the Forces as set out in legislation: - the Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army, Na Fianna Eireann, the Hibernian Rifles and Cumann na mBan.
• Proven to have been on active service
• To have been killed or wounded in the course of his duty
• Death not due to any serious negligence or misconduct
• To have died within three years of having received a wound provided the death was solely due to such wound.

To view the Roll of Honour, in PDF format, visit www.militaryarchives.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/MSPC/documents-34/Roll_of_Honour_1916_Rebellion_Dead.pdf


RELEASE OF THE PARTICULARS OF THE 1916 LEADERS EXECUTED

The list shows the following particulars: name, address, organisation, rank, unit, civilian occupation, cause and place of death as well as file references in the collection.

To view the details visit www.militaryarchives.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/MSPC/documents-34/1916_Leaders_Executed.pdf.

The spot in Kilmainham Gaol where James Connolly was executed

(Incidentally, having been to Kilmainham Gaol last Sunday, where the leaders were executed, I would thoroughly recommend a visit. You might wish to turn up early though to book a tour slot, they were being snapped up fairly quickly when we arrived. I believe admission prices are also going up soon, so best to get in quick! See www.heritageireland.ie/en/kilmainhamgaol).

Note that the Military Archives reading room will be closed in March and April, as the records are being relocated into a purpose built facility on the site, which will open at the end of April. For further news on this please visit www.militaryarchives.ie/news-events/single-view/article/lunchtime-lecture-series-for-heritage-week-22-30-august-2015.

For news of the recent confirmation of further funding for the digitisation effort, see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/irelands-revolution-will-be-digitised.html

(With thanks to Military Archives)

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Ireland's revolution will be digitised

A welcome article in the Irish Times last Friday has confirmed that the Irish Government is to continue funding the digitisation of records relating to the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War until 1923.

The decision, taken by Minister for Defence Simon Coveney, will see the digitisation of the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection project until the end of the Decade of Centenaries. For more on the story visit www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/revolution-to-be-digitised-as-10m-documents-to-go-online-1.2462309.

The latest update to the project's website, comprised of some 2,839 files covering 882 veterans, has included a file showing that the father of the current Irish president Michael D. Higgins had to wait until a successful appeal in 1956 for a service pension - the full story is at www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/stories-of-the-revolution-john-higgins-had-to-wait-22-years-for-pension-1.2462086.

For full access to the collections from the Irish Army's Military Archive website, visit www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection/search-the-collection.

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including my recently released Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection phase 2 released

Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie) has released the second phase of its Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection (MSPC). The collection details the service given by members of the Old IRA and the original Free State Army during this period, as well as other groups, who were involved in the armed struggle that saw Ireland eventually freed from its 120 year membership of the United Kingdom, and the civil war that ensued shortly after.

From the site:

Phase 2 from the MSPC consists of files relating to 1,158 veterans of the period from Easter Week 1916 to 30 September 1923. In addition there are 77 files dealing with administration matters and the process of awarding pensions under the Act, 1934.

The full story is available at www.militaryarchives.ie/news-events/single-view/article/military-servicepensions-collection-2nd-release?cHash=72decb04c9387933dd423913bf1eac92

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And please consider purchasing the great new version of Caledonia by The Libations at 79p via www.caledonia2014.com - all profits go to help fund Scottish foodbanks

Update on Irish military service pensions records

I emailed Ireland's Military Archives (www.militaryarchives.ie) last night to ask what the latest developments are on the military service pensions collection papers being released on the website. In particular I was keen to see if any further IRA Brigade Activity files were due to be released from the Irish War of Independence. This was the response I kindly received from Mrs Cécile Gordon, duty archivist:

A second release from the MSPC is under consideration at this time. The Brigade Activity files released last January refer to events during Easter Week 1916 and the subsequent investigations carried out by the Referee and Advisory Committee in order to verify applications for pensions from veterans claiming such service. It is not planned to release other files in the series at this time due to ongoing conservation work.

It's disappointing that there will not be further releases on that front, but one of the forthcoming collections still to be put online in 2015 (as advertised on the site) is Medal Applications - see www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection/search-the-collection/individual-application/medals

(With thanks to Mrs Gordon)

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And FindmyPast - please reinstate the original Scottish census citations on your new site.

Irish Army cadets photos online

The Irish Army's archive site at www.militaryarchives.ie has placed online a series of cadet photographs from 1928 to 2013, with images of some 2700 cadets who have passed through training.

A news release detailing the collection is available at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/news-events/single-view/article/cadet-school-photo-gallery?cHash=e89bb724c2ea94ae479fe6ed6ffa0794 whilst direct access to the collection is available via http://www.militaryarchives.ie/gallery/index.php?cat=8

A directory of cadet school gradyates from 1928-1987 is also available at http://www.militaryarchives.ie/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=99

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians. And for those wishing to take Scottish ancestral research a bit further, my next Pharos course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Records, commences May 14th 2014.

First tranche of Irish Military Service Pension records online

The Military Archives website has now made available the Military Service Pensions Collection at www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection, which when complete will contain 300,000 files relating to 60,000 individuals who fought during the Easter Rising and the War of Independence from 1916-1923. This first release, comprised of 9600 files, primarily, though not exclusively, concerns the Easter Rising of 1916 itself, as well as others involved in the independence movement and Civil War. In addition are files for those who served with the Connaught Rangers in the mutiny in Solon and Jalandhar, India on 28 June 1920, and a small number of payments to folk who stored weapons for organisations involved in the struggle, though who were not members of those groups themselves.

Included are the following:

• Membership Rolls of the Irish Republican Army
• Membership Rolls of Cumann na mBan
• Membership Rolls of Fianna Eireann
• Brigade Activity Files
• Administration Files

The collection page notes the following:

Explore the many testimonies and accounts of the surviving leaders, the veterans and volunteers who took part in the historic events of the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and Civil War, along with a plethora of supporting documentation gathered from the participants through the unique collection that is the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection. For the first time, the collection is being made available on a phased basis leading to 2016.

The files were created in response to the following legislation from the Irish governments in the south of Ireland:

• The Army Pensions Acts from 1923 to 1953
• The Military Service Pensions Acts, 1924, 1934 and 1949

To search the collections, visit www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/military-service-pensions-collection/search-the-collection.

The BBC has a feature on the collection at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25752035

NB: A database listing those who received the 1916 Medal, The Service (1917-1921) Medal, The 1916 Survivor’s Medal and the Truce Anniversary Medal will be available on the site in 2015.

UPDATE: Oh - my - God! I've just made one of the biggest discoveries since I started my family history research 14 years ago. I can't elaborate just yet, as I am not sure if is a well kept secret in the family that I have just found out about, or if it is genuinely not known about. But this new collection has turned out to provide information of game changing proportions - I suspect I now know why certain people in the family emigrated! A huge thank you to Military Archives for an astonishing resource.

Chris

My latest genealogy books are Tracing Your Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records, and Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet. My next Pharos course is Scottish Research Online, which commences Feb 27th 2014, 5 weeks, price £45.99.