British Soldier Describes The 1916 Easter Rising

[@baerlauchstal]

I'm an Englishman who loves Ireland. This man is from the East Midlands, and talks like my Grandad used to. Thank Christ there's peace between us now; long may it last. We need to do better at acknowledging what was done to Ireland. The moral seriousness with which so many Germans, in particular, deal with their past is something we'd do well to emulate.

[@dazza9859]

🇮🇪 🤝 🇬🇧

[@tattooface77]

Our history needs to be in the English curriculum then we have moved on a bit

[@eugenemurtagh2085]

Always best to get things out in the open so we can learn from it, the sacrifices of our forefathers.

[@patrickbrennan911]

Gent. As a rugby fan I love travelling to England. England came to play us at home when Scotland and Wales wouldn’t. Respect. 👍

[@GraemetheGuiriLordHaHa]

Rugby unites Ireland, literally. Given what the tricolour stands for, it could be the flag. Let's see what the future holds. Sensibilities on both sides to be catered to. Ireland would have been worthy world champions.

[@oclarke31]

Great interview. This man carries a lot of pain I think.

[@brianoc7926]

He carries it well though.

[@jonathancollins9431]

Fantastic video. Rare piece of history. Thank you.

[@davyholden]

Thank you pal

[@niallmcdonagh1093]

An incredible interview...in colour...of a man who fought in 1916...a verbal testament of an event commonly viewed as a stuttering black and yellow sepia pictorial relic ...in vivid colour.....astonishing!!!

[@anthonydonlan3140]

I've seen this guy talking about the black and tans, he said that his regiment had to rescue Kevin Barry from them because they were torturing him I think it was the same man.

[@seanohare5488]

Kevin Barry Irish hero

[@Sean-sn9ld]

Kevin Barry was from my home town

[@anthonydonlan3140]

He actually never fired a shot because his gun jammed.

[@conlaiarla]

Extremely interesting. Thanks for the upload.

[@davyholden]

Thank you

[@mgk7963]

Thanks Davy, another great video, really appreciate all your fine work

[@davyholden]

Thank you so much

[@tonydalton459]

The whole thing should never have happened, and would not have if the British Government had played it fair over Home Rule. We could have ended up where we are now, or maybe in a much better place, with no need for all those lives lost. A real tragedy.

[@roymunson1]

They were never gonna give it after ww1s outbreak and about 70% of the irish volunteers were conscripted and sent to the front lines in France. They had the highest fatality rate out of any of the Welsh, Irish, Scots and English. The UVF volunteers were given far more relaxed positions overall, although both sets actually fought together on a few occasions, such as the battle of the somme.

[@CriticalThinker78]

It could have been avoided indeed if the brits never came in the first place

[@alundavies1016]

I think the mistakes of “hanging on too long” to Ireland made the decisions to leave the Colonies after WW2 a little more quickly. It’s a shame that it had to take so much hatred and enmity to do the right thing.

[@carpoman]

If they have taken action after the UVF landed guns at Larne, the Volunteers and IRB would have had no reason to arm. This was only 70 years after the famine. Why would London have stopped Carson killing when they let a quarter of the island starve to death.

[@kaneclements7761]

@@CriticalThinker78 It started with the Normans. Being picky TBH.

[@martinstaunton9304]

A fascinating interview, including the Mount St. Bridge attack. From officers named, probably 2/7th Sherwood Foresters, 59th Division (sent to France early 1917).

[@gregobroin7738]

I think this man’s humanity shines through. There was a strange similarity between the young men and boys on both sides. I worked in Northumberland Rd for some years and never understood how a few rebels could pin down and hold back so many soldiers. Good to hear the perspective of someone who was there at the time.

[@AAaa-wu3el]

He is well trained to tell that his story.

[@operationcreation5583]

​@@AAaa-wu3el What are you trying to imply that he is lying about his experience?

[@AAaa-wu3el]

@@operationcreation5583 It requires special training to conduct urban fighting. His regiment wasn't "just soldiers", they knew what to do, they were kind of punishers.

[@operationcreation5583]

@@AAaa-wu3el I don't think the Sherwood Foresters had received any kind of special training, they were just an ordinary infantry regiment

[@franciskeogh5027]

Northumberland Rd and Mount St bridge were death traps They could have bypassed there's another bridge not far up the road.The young men were sent to their deaths by incompetent leaders

[@GAZMofBI74]

"Governments in a Capitalist society are just committees of the Rich designed to manage the affairs of the Monied classes!" (James Connoly.Scottish born Irish republican leader tied to a chair and shot by British forces in 1916). 👁😎👍🏻

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

Scottish born to 2 irish parents

[@mikephalen3162]

As an Irish-American long interested in the history of the Easter rising, I was struck by the fact that there were factions at loggerheads. One group was most concerned with Irish self-rule. The other group was the socialists, like James Connolly, who wanted that new government to represent the working class. It's sad that the future included a civil war.

[@taproot381]

Also ex British Army

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

@@mikephalen3162 well it was mostly socialists Sames connelly ran the irish volenteers Micheal Collins joined the irb based out of London Irb didn't do the easter rising micheal colins joined connelly with the irish volenteers It's not until after the Easter rising the irish volenteers and irb joined together as the ira and sided with sinn fein to fight the tans. Our founders were mostly socialist micheal collims was not a socialist but was not a founder he was a commander he became part of the ira command and defacto government after the founders were excuted which led to a capitalist society

[@zapre2284]

Hence why they are importing cheap labour from the 3rd work to suppress the Irish

[@SouthieGrunt]

My grandparents reserved their loathing for the Tans, not so much the Tommies, as I remember from my talks with them both.

[@jackspring7709]

True. In fact the tommies were well regarded and generally left the population alone, they acted more as civic guards or police men. The war was really fought between the IRA and the intelligence services, RIC, Auxiliary division of the RIC and the black and tans. The regular British army, for the most part, didn't get involved.

[@naradaian]

​@@jackspring7709for sure¿¿ Wow that's a small amount

[@mbp1646]

Thank you for posting this incredible interview. It is really interesting to hear the viewpoint of a regular British squaddie. Do you have a source for the interview. I guess it dates from the 1980s.

[@davyholden]

I believe it was recorded in the late 70’s

[@mbp1646]

@@davyholdenThat makes sense. Its a high quality recording for the 70s.

[@antseanbheanbocht4993]

​@@mbp1646 It could be from the documentary "Hang up your Brightest Colours"Made by a Welsh actor called Kenneth Griffith in 1972 about the Irish revolution. It was banned in Britain until 93 I believe. There were two dvds in the set, I didn't finish watching them both so I'm unsure if this was part of it but he definitely did interview some Ex British service men. Worth a look.

[@grainnedalton3448]

@@antseanbheanbocht4993 looks like it's from Ireland a television history a BBC production filmed in 16mm colour negative, because the interviewer is Robert Kee

[@HaroldGreb]

I've no idea why your channel, amd similar ones, have appeared on my YT recommendations. I guess the Irish would call me a Brit, I'd call myself a Yorkshireman with Irish routes i know little about. Obv the picture painted this side of the sea only paints one side of what happened so its great to find an irish historian like yourself to show the other side. I'm looking forward to learning more and love the song Grace which popped up on a YT short. Not all of us Brits are bad, its the government, not the people. I look forward to continuing my journey with you.cPeace ✝️

[@davyholden]

Thank you so much and welcome to the channel pal 😊

[@HaroldGreb]

​@@davyholdenjust smashing your podcasts at work. Half way through number 6. Loving them, but disgusting to learn what the British government did, ashamed I haven't looked into this earlier.

[@GraemetheGuiriLordHaHa]

We elect our govt. Geopolitics is a bitch. I'm an Englishman who grew up during the Troubles. One of the most breathtaking things I've seen is Her Majesty paying homage to the fallen of the Easter uprising. Never could have imagined that. May the waves roll in peace again on both our shores.

[@HaroldGreb]

@@GraemetheGuiriLordHaHa we don't elect anyone but puppets

[@johnorourke8626]

Thanks!

[@davyholden]

Thank you so much!

[@johnmccormack4498]

Fascinating, an eye witness to the birth of a nation. The ordinary British soldiers are/were mostly decent lads, no different to our own.

[@catherinecahill-x5q]

Yes, but how do you explain the bloody black and tans???

[@GraemetheGuiriLordHaHa]

When you sing Kevin Barry, never sing British soldiers tortured him. British soldiers rescued him at gunpoint from torture by the Black and Tans.

[@philiprufus4427]

@@catherinecahill-x5q War damaged homicidal maniacs some of them. How do you explain what Germany, A Highly Cultured Nation did less than twenty years later ?

[@Kyle-l8p]

​@@GraemetheGuiriLordHaHasource?

[@GraemetheGuiriLordHaHa]

@@Kyle-l8p - In a documentary series on Ireland by the late Robert Kee. If you google 'Robert Kee documentary Ireland' each episode is on youtube. Not sure in which one in which he interviewed one of the British soldiers who'd rescued Barry from torture at gunpoint from the Black and Tans. Not one of Churchill's most illustrious episodes in forming the Black and Tans. I've also quite recently seen it somewhere else too.

[@davidchamberlain5425]

May love and peace and rightfulness Prevail🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@chrissycee90]

Absolutely fascinating Davey, you've pulled out an absolute gem here! 'There were boys on both sides.' Always a harrowing thing to hear however it's phrased.

[@Robbie7441]

Voices from history, amazing stuff.

[@Weebay_213]

History aside, I could've listened to old chap for hours

[@Thetemplarsmonk]

same here this man has a few great stories I'd say

[@Weebay_213]

@@Thetemplarsmonk last of the REAL fighting men (on both sides) pity all his stories (or maybe they been) recorded on an MP3 somewhere ☘️🔥🇮🇪

[@eamonxofarrell]

Davy, it's important to hear these voices, even if they are an emetic. I live beside Northumberland Road, and I thank God for the sacrifices of my forebears. We have lived our lives in freedom because of those great men.

[@blueeyes402]

more like freedumb you mean. 1st war was to clear Palestine of Ottoman Turks...successful. (hidden agenda) 2nd war was to 'fill' Palestine with the persecuted from Europe...successful (hidden agenda). The year 1948 itself fulfilled T/mud prophecy written over 1000 years ago. Brilliant timing; Donald Bradman eat your heart out.. 3rd war is to collapse Christian Europe including blighty and rename it as Eurabia.. That's what's happening around you although its seen as wokeness and human rights. That's why they bother China Russia and many more when they don't have the industrial means to keep troops supplied with ammunitions or underwear. They're inviting catastrophe in the name of freedom again... And if the UK/US/USSR invited France to the Yalta Conference in 1945 where the future of Europe was decided; deGaulle would not have set the human waves into Europe plan into motion. de Gaulle sold the idea as a 'balance of power' between the US and USSR; UNITING Europe with Mideast and Afr/a. That's what's taking place today while we all are looking for na...zi...s everywhere, even the baby's nappy is checked. 'Whoever writes a Nation's history steers her destiny. Historians are part of the matrix and the problem of today, all of them.

[@seanohare5488]

I agree

[@johnhiggins779]

The Brits suffered over 200 killed and injured at Mount Street bridge. There were only two volunteers in the house on the corner of Northumberland road, six men in Clanwilliam house, and four in the school.

[@judygoddard3869]

He is a pretty good example of the average British Tommy. He clearly felt sorry for the men he had to round up, and he didn’t want to take part in any executions. The vast majority of British soldiers, had they been asked, would have said “if the Irish want us out, we should leave.” But like this man says, it isn’t up to the soldier. His job is to fight the enemy. It’s hard to imagine men like him taking part in mass rape or murder, I’ll say that. The kinds of atrocities the Japanese committed in Nanking would be beyond his understanding.

[@llewev]

The people who "wanted us out" were a small band of dedicated fanatics who should have been rooted out and dealt with much more efficiently than they were. The big problem was that the majority of those fanatics were well-to-do middle class types that the British would not handle as roughly as they deserved.

[@verbalkint98]

You got your behinds handed to you ​@@llewev. Still bitter after a hundred years, says alot about you!

[@roadiemullet]

@@verbalkint98 I'm from Killarney, but I lived in Scotland for 6 years, and various cities and towns in the North and South of England on and off for 25 years. Nobody is bitter. I have never met a single person who ever thought of Ireland as an enemy nor that it should still be part of some kind of British Empire. Except on the internet of course, but who knows. This whole period is taken as a lesson in classism, something that unfortunately still plagues their politics.

[@verbalkint98]

@@roadiemullet the guy who posted is bitter! Can you not see his post or something!?

[@verbalkint98]

@@DM-ur8vc hes talking about Irish heros, calling them fanatics and that they should have been "rooted out" these people were the fathers of our nation. I will not have their memorys stained by yes, a bitter brit! You are probably a westbrit, so it makes sense!

[@darnick54]

Very interesting…thanks for this

[@Jen999]

This was heartbreaking to listen to.. we kept thinking about all those young men sentenced to life in prison.. we wondered if any ever were set free.. thinking we were of their families as well.. The man who was speaking., we could feel his pain all these years later.. recalling this.. He tried to keep the stiff upper lip of a seasoned soldier.. he smiled and joked a bit.. in his eyes though sadness could be seen.. he felt badly for all the young men.. at which.. at that time .. he was one.. Brilliantly edited, Davy.. we were crying from the get go for all those lives..😭💜💙☘️

[@ronniemurtagh1786]

Agree with you Jen999. At one stage, I thought he was tearing up. As a proud Irishman, I see this man was a good man, caught up in something he probably didn't want to be involved in!

[@Jen999]

@@ronniemurtagh1786 Really appreciate your reply.. and that you felt as I do.. this man was very young at that time.. and I felt he did not want to kill or imprison those other young men.. seemed like he was in a wrong place at a wrong time.. you could tell he is much troubled by this still 💜💙💚🙏

[@greg_4201]

​@@ronniemurtagh1786jump off your high horse 🤦🏻‍♂️ this wasn't a case of good guys or bad guys or right or wrong... it was an evolving national emergence that had to destroy the old to bring in the new.

[@ferguskenny4578]

​@@ronniemurtagh1786same here. His memories of Pearse...I thought he was going to breakdown after recalling his last day.

[@JonWilde2105]

The trouble is that no one has an argument with England, or Wales or Scotland (well, apart from the English, Welsh and Scots). It's when Britain enters the scene that things get argumentative. The first set are national identities, the second is an imperial identity. And empires must expand. Hence we have this weird scenario where a genuinely nice Englishman found himself having to advance on Dublin...he is as confused as anyone. We need to start asking "What is in it for me?" because the guys who set policy certainly do.

[@burns8542]

They were soldiers fighting for the pound.. fighting boys and men fighting for their country who took up arms as a necessity. Not soldiers!! Heroes!!

[@johntracy1369]

Great to see people on the other side

[@HaroldGreb]

I'm slowly learning that most of the people in the world are lovely, it's the governments and people that own the governments that are the enemy and not each other. This channel has been a blessing to learn about my Irish heritage (that I know nothing about other than my mother's maiden name was Finan). If you'd told me 30 year ago if have spent the night listening to Irish history and rebel songs I'd have laughed at you, but it's been very educational

[@jamesweber3136]

Thanks Davy

[@paddyearly]

Just happened on your channel and I’d like to congratulate you on some excellent videos🙏🇨🇮

[@davyholden]

Thank you!

[@dondouglass6415]

Fascinating and so very though provoking from the perspective of both sides of the divide. Thank you and Huzzah!! 😢😮😊

[@sandradeasy7333]

Very interesting thanks

[@redtobertshateshandles]

My grandfather and his brother were boy soldiers in Ireland at this time. He had a run in with his sergeant and deserted. A French couple looked after him and he got back to England and changed his name. I wonder if he ever met this bloke.

[@NiallCorcoran-hw7iu]

What a memory he had. Would loved to have meet this guy.

[@tomhayes4782]

My Grandad of the same name as me from Limerick was in the Munster Fusiliers in WW1.. By the time he was demobbed and returned to Ireland in 1919 the uprising was all over, however when the "Free State" was formed he was "Invited" to join the Free State Army (INA as was) and ended up fighting against the irregulars (IRA) in the civil war. He became a Gard in the 20s..

[@mytravelmedia]

Stunned - interested to hear this man's story - then in the first minutes he mentions where my Grandfather was, one of the one's giving him a hard time - Northumberland Road - his description matches exactly what I was always told.

[@williamcannon7262]

Very interesting. A decent man who played his part in a great historical event

[@i-am-vonnegut]

Great?... What was great about it?

[@williamcannon7262]

@@i-am-vonnegut You are obviously a historical Dunce !

[@mulryac]

Gos bless this poor man that he had to do this for Great Britain that doesnt care for its own people now. As an Irish Republican the innocent people who were caught in the crossfire it was awful . Hopefully in the future Ireland will regain full independence and soon England from the tyranny of Britain, they are good people and our brothers next door, and they deserve their own freedom too

[@Simmo-tj6zg]

There wasn’t a great deal of support from locals after the uprising, but the executions in Kilmainham Gaol galvanised support for the uprising.

[@mrmouse7642]

My Grampie's brother was in the Robin Hoods (7th Bn Notts & Derby Rgt/Sherwood Foresters) and sent to Ireland, same battalion as this man, I suspect. He survived Ireland but was "missing" presumed dead later in France in 1917. I have his medals - for France - I believe nothing for Ireland, as you might expect. Terrible times and likely not what he joined up to do, fighting his own countrymen.

[@johnorourke8626]

Fair play Davy, you stick to the facts and it's important to get both sides, sure the squaddies were ignorant to the Irish independence movement, lambs to slaughter We can forgive, but never forget

[@barryohara2099]

You can tell this old bhoy felt and knew that what british were doing was totally wrong and had no business being in ireland 1st place .. can tell old guy is nice old man and had sympathy for the cause of irish people

[@ronaldgayler3643]

At the same time our betters executed over three hundred western front British soldiers. Refusing to go over the top, suffering from shell shock, sometimes after years in the trenches. The ordinary bloke is nothing to them.

[@Twirlyhead]

Right in the middle of World War 1 and the Republicans were being encouraged by The Kaiser's Germany. Lots of aspects to this tragedy but never enough said about that. Germany loved it.

[@bogbay]

Interestingly, the Germans also supplied Carson with weapons in 1912 which he used to arm the UVF and threaten insurrection against the Crown if the Home Rule Bill was enacted. The Kaiser was a non-sectarian pot-stirrer but he wasn't very good at it either way.

[@chrisfleming8908]

It would be great if both sides of the divide could get together and sought this evil out that we have 100 years later

[@chad_8110]

Whats that terrible prison he's referring to at the end?

[@comanchio1976]

Dartmoor

[@glapots]

Really interesting to hear the British soldier perspective

[@seamusdoherty]

What year was this ?

[@saydvoncripps]

Here's the truth. Politicians and those who want to be leaders are not like ordinary people. They think they evolved from a better class of monkeys than we ordinary folk did. They do things that kill people, they order things that result in death and misery. Things I just couldn't do, and no ordinary person could. I could no more enact a law or give an order that would harm someone if I tried. But I was in the British army. Why? Cos my home life was bad, cos I thought one day my dad would kill me and being working class, what choice did I have to get out? And in the army I met a lot who joined for the same reason. And those who thought they were better than us used us. I knew the catholics in the North were treated differently. I knew that while we had the race relations board forbidding us to treat an immigrant differently, it was seemingly OK to treat Irish catholics like second class citizens. And I know it, because as a working class londoner, I was treated second class and still damn well am. I've always liked the Irish. I had a step grandmother who came from Dublin and we made each other laugh until we cried at times. I loved her. Im a republican and I really really hate the British government, I hate the class system. I'd leave if there was somewhere i could go where I wouldn't be blamed for what they do and have done, a country with a government who don't find whipping up anti English sentiment to cover for their own mistakes or inefficiencies. Those bastards are just as bad when they make a scape goat out of me. I feel this man's pain. I really do.

[@joekavanagh7171]

Maxwell the murderer was the person most responsible for the Irish independence movement.

[@seanohare5488]

Looks like it it was drawn out in days 2 therer 3 there

[@nthmost]

Jaysus. My great-grandfather was sentenced in the wake of his involvement in 1916. Just thinking about what this man is saying towards the end there and what my sinseanathair would have understood about the situation.

[@anthonynewey3821]

It was also very stupid . Public support for the rising was lukewarm until the executions which changed everything .

[@bogbay]

The idea of lukewarm support has been promoted but it's is hard to quantify. Clearly, people don't go from lukewarm to a sentiment which allows a full war of independence less than four years later if there wasn't a large well of latent grievance waiting to be tapped. Certainly, the majority didn't expect or want a rebellion. Times were hard enough and many had sons and husbands dead or about to die in WW1

[@JAMESMcGeown-v7k]

The one time that man showed emotion was talking about the executions He knew that was wrong

[@kevinmason5140]

My father was in the 1916 uprising and was wounded in the arm . I was born in England, but I still see the utter horror of it all when both sides were only young boys . Neither knew fully what was going on. !!! I am glad that we have peace once again, and I hope that one day, England will see the light and give ALL of Ireland back to the rightful owners.

[@RaymondEno]

Long live Michael Coollins.even the brit Alex Ferguson admired him also Churchill and Birkenhead 7:17

[@JoeOMalley-py8wq]

Very interesting interview , but it was the establishment that were bloody minded the ordinary soldier had little or no choice . The Black n Tans were just plain crazy murderers .

[@eoghankelly68]

Who’s the turncoats bringing them cups of tea

[@ramadamming8498]

Maybe people called 'humans'?

[@merocaine]

War is a terrible thing, its a wonder so many manage to keep there humanity, and even come to befriend their former enemies. At the end of the day we are all human, whatever our differences.

[@karlbarry6004]

They were real men back then they fought forireland and fought there British empire it was horrific I'm sure some off them soldiers on both sides knew eachother fro past wars in the boar war and Afghanistan and India I'm sure they fought in them other wars

[@kevinmurray764]

Thermopylae

[@BenNZ-j9n]

What year was this

[@hmcc2296]

1916 Easter Rising

[@mickdon267]

The worst part was the brits coming to IRELAND in the first place i dont blame this man personaly🇮🇪

[@jimanderson6544]

Hows ireland wirking out now ??

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

Better than british occupation

[@Maidaseu]

Better than Northern Ireland

[@jimanderson6544]

@INFIDEL96 I'm afraid not I work in the South all week I see it with my own eyes you have big problems down therev

[@shutthefuckupstudios]

​@@jimanderson6544yet you have a job in the free state

[@oclarke31]

@@jimanderson6544oh yeah big problems compared to occupation and subjegation by the British empire? Cop the fuck on you’re clueless

[@jonboywaltonful]

The women of ballsbridge bringing the British army tea.good aul west brits .😂😂

[@johnnotrealname8168]

That has to be the most useless rhetoric ever.

[@hughmcnamara1790]

Jackeen by name jackeen by nature

[@tomkeegan3782]

I think a lot of Irish people don't want to hear that side of the story. Though after the executions, all changed utterly, a terrible beauty is born.......

[@teomac]

@jonboywaltonful The vast, vast majority of Dublin citizens literally despised the volunteers of the 1916 uprising for the upheaval it caused. They fully supported the British army’s suppression of it. It was only later, after the executions, that the tide turned. So it’s no surprise that they got served tea during the rising. They certainly wouldn’t have got it some weeks later. History must be looked at from the perspective of the time and not afterwards.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@teomac Also I would dispute this partially. The executions were strictly speaking reasonable responses to a rebellion where they were with the enemy during a time of War. What really ticked people off was trying to impose conscription.

[@BenNZ-j9n]

What a story

[@michealhand1001]

Hello Davy H Is this the full interview?.

[@benmcguire4014]

What is his name ?

[@conorlydon6531]

Wow. I never knew this existed.

[@peterallison-ex4yy]

The way he spoke about clearing (Them) from the houses with grenades speaks volumes. They had no concern or love for the Irish rebels or civilians. They could only bring in the canon's and war ship to force the badly equipped rebels to surrender which Padraigh Pearse did to save the lives of Dublins civilians. But its good to have a perspective of one of the enemy on that fateful Easter week . Great video as always Davy. Go raibh maith agat 💚🇮🇪☘✊

[@garymiller_85]

Why would they have concern or love for rebels trying to kill them? How do you clear buildings where rebels are hiding amongst civilians?

[@peterallison-ex4yy]

@@garymiller_85 Missed the point. A foreign soldier in a foreign land trying to subdue the natives uprising and for all his canter he could not give a dam aslong as he followed orders. Yes in war what you say might matter but for an occupier they had nothing but contemp and in this interview it showed. After the facts with rose tinted glasses its always different but he and his army buddies had no right in my Country

[@itsalwaysteatime3803]

​Should of never been in our country in the first place ! They were the Invaders Rebel's.. they were freedom fighters. .​@@garymiller_85

[@PatrickAhern-qb6xb]

No difference from 1916 than 1969 the same army with the same objectives

[@peterallison-ex4yy]

@@PatrickAhern-qb6xb 100% Chara

[@joprocter4573]

Ww1 and ww2 shot own side for desertion despite serios injury .today ptsd

[@patrickdugan2929]

The executions did more to galvanize public opinion WORLDWIDE for the Cause and had the donation money pouring in from all over. Massive donations from the States and the idea for bonds for the Republic of Ireland .

[@1951timbo]

Being born in England but having Irish Grandparents I learnt the rebel songs from my Irish cousins in the early 60s. I think we should be ashamed of what we did to the Irish people. Shame on the English. Ireland 🇮🇪 should be one country.

[@beverlyhills7883]

When did this chap die? The colour film suggests this was filmed in the 1970s

[@lamalama9717]

Is it true some of them thought they were landing in France?

[@alanmckenna1137]

I can't press ' like ' or ' dislike '

[@philipnorris6542]

We will remember them.

[@brianmurphy6243]

The English were defeated.

[@ApinderSingh-b2c]

(1916 to 2016) republic of Ireland

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

I have a mate who`s a Dub i`ll send it to her

[@davidmolloy-j2z]

I also prefer the English to the imagrants we are getting into our beautiful country

[@doubleducks814]

I guess you have never been under British rule. If you are going to insult some one don't make an arse out of yourself, at least spell immigrants correctly. I'm Irish and live under British rule and would not wish it on my worse enemy.

[@thatwhit1]

The British don’t want the Irish anymore…independence for everyone!😊

[@hhhsf4357]

​@@doubleducks814Can you explain what atrocities are being committed that you are a victim of

[@bogbay]

@@hhhsf4357 Sue lla Braver man is a bit of an atrocity, to be fair.

[@zapre2284]

And now Ireland is rising up again against the colonisers of diversity !

[@paulbromley6687]

Women were let down in those early years in Ireland ,promised much, but changes of policy by the new government were shameful .

[@markhyde1970]

Apologies from an Englishman. Unacceptable and shameful.

[@SNPKSNPK]

Yeah seemed like a decent man

[@MikeDelaney-ie4je]

Have any of the commentators here ever been to Dublin? Or know what the pre First World War Dublin looked like from old maps? How many MPs the Irish National Party sent to Westminster in the early twentieth century? I am often appalled at the lack of knowledge of Irish history, starting with the "British" never invaded Ireland in the first place. The Normans "invaded" Ireland (by invitation of an Irish Chief). The Normans invaded from the English and Welsh lands they had already conquered.

[@anthonym3351]

Why did Britain give up dublin? Surely they have held on to Ireland if they wanted?

[@germofthedefense6462]

They left because we kicked their butts during the War of Independence. Wee Ireland beat the empire

[@anthonym3351]

@@germofthedefense6462 interesting to hear. Was there any specific Irish victory that led to Britain's surrender?

[@teomac]

@@anthonym3351 The most famous victory by the Irish Volunteers was the Kilmichael ambush on the 28th November 1920, but there were many more. There were no pitched battles as such. The British realised that they would never again have full control and a treaty was signed. We didn’t get full independence as we still had to swear allegiance to the Crown. We didn’t become a republic until 1949. I’m presuming you’re not Irish if you’re asking the question in the first place.

[@anthonym3351]

@@teomac thanks for your detailed reply. Is it a stretch to say Ireland's independence triggered the end of the empire or is that an exaggeration? I'll definitely read more about kilmichael

[@teomac]

@@anthonym3351 It wasn’t a trigger exactly but it was an extraordinary feat against a very powerful enemy, considering our size and population (3 million). The main impact of it was that it inspired the likes of India and other countries to seek the same thing.

[@TC8787-yq7og]

The pain and suffering the British have brought to the world and many indigenous peoples over the last century is staggering.

[@nicolad8822]

🙄 Human history is pain and suffering. Some of it is just more recent and better documented. Doesn’t seem to have stopped people wanting a part of it?

[@TC8787-yq7og]

@@nicolad8822 current western society is a graveyard of horrifying acts by the British empire, up until it dwindled in the last 30/40 years. A cancerous growth on civilisation.

[@ainekearney9041]

They were a foreign army of occupation. Interesting to hear their viewpoint. But id take it all with a pinch of salt. Saying what suits. They knew what they were doing distancing himself from plunkett cause he knew what b*****ds they were when he had ten minutes with his new wife.

[@AndrewHogarth-o8b]

What year was this filmed. He looks too young to have been present

[@nicolad8822]

Late 70s I think.

[@brianmurphy6243]

It was war.

[@mylesmooney7505]

I would have died for Ireland 🇮🇪 at that time .

[@peterfeltham5612]

The irish executed 4 times as many of their own citizens within a couple of years of gaining "independence". I think we are now all tired of them blaming the british for their own failures.My advice to them (and I am of Irish origin) is to grow up, something that sadly,I think they will never do.

[@stiofain88]

Listen up Peter, we've had quite enough of ye butting in anytime our history is mentioned because it's extremely inconvenient for ye that it's known. Continue supporting the US while they facilitate a genocide so the world knows exactly what ye are and stop bothering us.

[@frankmorton1920]

The British were fighting for the freedom of Europe in 1916. There was no time for insurrection when we were fighting the might of the Huns.

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

Wht a brainwashed fool Ye are the huns

[@Starryplough1916]

Yous are the huns!

[@frankmorton1920]

@@Starryplough1916 use spellchecker!!!

[@Maidaseu]

The wars of the huns were way before ww1 - what history books are you reading?

[@jordanomasuin8023]

The British were fighting for the freedom of poor aul Belgium and conscripted hundreds of thousands under that whilst simultaneously suppressing the freedom of Ireland with thousands of troops. There is no difference in what Germany done and what Britain done. Literally nothing, it was pure self-interest and greed for the reason they went into Belgium. There was no moral high ground that Britain came remotely close to.

[@liam.4454]

I prefer the British to the new immigrants

[@insiderreality491]

You are the British down there. You killed the last Irishmen in the 1920s and have more in common with racist colonial Brits than those Irish men back then. Even call the Irish in the north Brits to mimic your old masters

[@davekeating.]

Typical, no doubt you are descendant from a long line of informers

[@liam.4454]

Not at all, I dislike the British (in Ireland) but multi culturalism/diversity will be a lot worse ​@@davekeating.

[@Irelandforever609]

I agree this is a lot worst Islam is here to takeover with the aid from the government​@@liam.4454

[@logie010101]

What did the new migrants do to you?

[@williambarrett7818]

If the Unionists accepted Home Rule & didn't run guns to Larne the chances are we would be still in the Common Wealth & our War of Independence may have never occurred. Instead in 1918 we voted for full Independence, which the British government were never going to accept without a fight. Thus a train of events took place which the Empire couldn't quell.

[@ThomasBoyd-tx1yt]

You carry memories of past of History he British Army in Ireland he discuss Black and Tans. Awesome thanks for showing it. It Michael Collins he finished Britain involved in Ireland. Michael Collins Prime minister for Ireland for 100 Days yes Thomas. Better off with George from Ireland Eton college running Irish government in Cork Ireland. He built Irish parliament George from Ireland Eton college. He Anglo Irish catholic he super rich Thomas. He said built 1781 Dublin Ireland parliament.

[@Mark-hb9xy]

It is easy to judge matters within the context of today. But at the time, the 'uprisers' were murderous tr - -t - - s during a time of war. And the time when the death penalty for such crimes was standard and uncontroversial.

[@bogbay]

And there's also the context of the time itself which you've left out which is also crucially important. Carson armed the UVF with German guns in 1912 and threatened insurrection against the crown to block a democratically enacted Home Rule Bill, a treasonous act which was not dealt with, a clear signal that the UK would act as it had always acted in Ireland and could not be trusted. Irish rebels saw this and decided (rightly or wrongly) that they had to act. One man's treason is another man's opportunity. All about perspective as well as context.

[@taproot381]

With all that we know now , I wonder if all of this was staged from the beginning. Just my opinion from my own research.

[@tazamia]

Was what staged?

[@taproot381]

⁠@@tazamiaThe whole Easter Rising. The movement was riddled with government agents and freemasons.

[@taproot381]

I often wonder if the men who were executed had life insurance.

[@nicolad8822]

Eh?

[@sodabake]

This is the most boring part of Irish history, there's so much more than couple rags running about Dublin in 1916.👍

[@paulfitzpatrick2572]

Soldier and Gtentleman.