Nick Maxwell

Sir,—The caption on p. 37 of Ruairí Ó hAodha’s article on Mary Size (HI 27.2, March/April 2019) implies that Constance Markievicz was removed from Richmond Barracks directly to Aylesbury Prison in England. In fact, as the ‘Register of Convicts Sentenced to Penal Servitude’ (above/below) shows, she was held in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, from 7 May … Read more

Sir,—I read with interest Stuart Flinder’s sanitised life of John Nicholson (HI 27.1, Jan./Feb. 2019). I had already bought and read Mr Flinder’s book, Cult of a dark hero: Nicholson of Delhi (2018). I came across John Nicholson in Empire and sexuality by Ronald Hyam, in which he paints a picture of the ‘softer side’ … Read more

Sir,—Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc’s letter in response to Nigel Jones’s review of my book, The great cover-up (HI 27.1, March/April 2019), is a rather sad attempt at shooting the messenger. I think what he is trying to tell us is that scientists should not study history. But whether you are a scientist or a historian, … Read more

Sir,—In his otherwise extremely interesting article on H.T. Barrie MP (HI 27.2, March/April 2019), Aaron Callan states: ‘Barrie, however, went to the [1917 Irish] Convention to safeguard the Ulster Unionist position—namely that partition had already been agreed in the 1914 Act (albeit for a “temporary” six-year period)—and this was the outcome he would reaffirm’. It … Read more

Sir,—Kilmainham Gaol Museum and Down County Museum are looking for descendants and relatives of Peter Byrne, a Dublin man who was one of 2,000 prisoners interned in Ballykinlar Camp, Co. Down, between 1920 and 1921. Peter was a carpenter who lived at 1 Barrow Street, Dublin 2, with his wife Frances. He fought in the … Read more