Nick Maxwell The origins of the British Relief Association By Norbert Götz The obituary of Lionel de Rothschild (1808–1879) in The Times of London failed to point out the active part the baron played in organising British relief during the Great Irish Famine. This criticism was voiced by John B. Standish Haly, the former secretary of the … Read more
By Shaun R. McCann Blood is indeed a precious fluid that has intrigued man for millennia. Initially believed to contain the soul, memory or bravery, its place in Christian religion was preserved by the words of Christ at the Last Supper: ‘… after the same manner also He took the cup, when He supped saying, … Read more
By James K. Meighan Convicted of sabotage and conspiracy at the Rivonia trials in South Africa, on 20 April 1964 Nelson Mandela, while awaiting a potential sentence of death, proclaimed from the dock his respect for and belief in the Magna Carta by observing that the charter was ‘held in veneration by democrats’ worldwide. The … Read more
By D.M. Leeson Between 1920 and 1921, thousands of mostly British ex-servicemen joined the Royal Irish Constabulary to work as militarized police in Ireland, where they soon became known as Black and Tans. Since 2010, a curious misconception has arisen about these British police recruits: that they formed a separate force called the ‘Royal Irish … Read more
Sir,—My mother, Mrs Gladys Giltrap (née Kingston) was born on 14 August 1922. She has just turned 100 and remains in excellent health. She was born at 3 Marino Street, Bantry, to Jane Kingston (née Young) and George Kingston. Mum tells the story that when she was about three days old her mother was nursing … Read more