In last month’s Irish Political Review I focused on the career of J. Arthur Maundy Gregory, who became famous by selling more knighthoods and other titles of honour than anyone else in Great Britain. Previous to that, he was probably involved—under the direction of Basil Thomson, head of Scotland Yard—in forging the 'Black Diaries' attributed to Roger Casement. I set out below … Continue reading A Side-Issue In The Casement Story: McCormick And Grayson
writing
The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
The Evolution Of British Policy And The Emergence Of A Sinn Fein Publicity Department In The Years After The Easter Rising. Mss notes, Part 29 The Hunger Strike And Its Aftermath The Hunger Strike—which lasted from 5th to 14th April—proceeded in tandem with the MacCurtain inquest. While [Frank] Gallagher wrote encouraging letters to his fiancée, … Continue reading The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
The Evolution Of British Policy And The Emergence Of A Sinn Fein Publicity Department In The Years After The Easter Rising Mss notes, Part 28 The Propaganda Battle Over The Death Of Thomas MacCurtain Following MacCurtain's funeral, nb date, which was marked by a united display of sympathy that crossed the divide of republicans and … Continue reading The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
Basil Thomson And Maundy Gregory
In previous articles in this series I sketched the personality of Sir Basil Thomson, who was head of Scotland Yard in 1916 and the main interrogator of Roger Casement. He was a man of remarkably wide professional experience and much intellectual curiosity. He was also a gifted writer. Intellectually, Thomson was committed to defending the global power … Continue reading Basil Thomson And Maundy Gregory
The Lost World Of The Putumayo
Review: The Amazon Journal of Roger Casement, edited by Angus Mitchell, Lilliput Press, Dublin, 1997. This book reproduces correspondence written by Roger Casement in 1910, as well as his Putumayo Diary covering the period 23rd September to 6th December 1910. The existence of the 'Putumayo Diary' represents a fatal weakness in the edifice that the … Continue reading The Lost World Of The Putumayo
Another ‘Biography’ Of Casement !
Book Launch: Report Another 'Biography' Of Casement ! Books on Roger Casement are becoming something of a growth industry. The latest is by Rory Carroll, the Irish correspondent of the Guardian, titled A Rebel And A Traitor. The leaflet below was made available on 25th March at a pre-publication event for the book, The Hunt For Roger Casement. … Continue reading Another ‘Biography’ Of Casement !
Basil Thomson And Distant Peoples And Their Languages
Last month I began a brief investigation of Basil Thomson, head of Scotland Yard and Roger Casement’s main interrogator in 1916, and a man who is closely connected with the Diaries. Thomson was anything but a narrow-focussed policeman. He was an agent of the British Empire with years of service in exotic South Seas … Continue reading Basil Thomson And Distant Peoples And Their Languages
Casement: Dr. Audrey Giles’ Report
(Followed by Brian Inglis's Three Diaries Trick! ) The report of Audrey Giles on the Black Diaries was completed with much fanfare in 2002. It was claimed that the question of the authenticity of the Diaries was now closed. Giles is a Doctor of Philosophy. At the time of the Report she had twenty-five years … Continue reading Casement: Dr. Audrey Giles’ Report
Reclaiming Roger Casement
Review: Roger Casement In Irish History, 2005, Royal Irish Academy, edited by Mary E. Daly This book consists of a collection of essays on various themes concerning Roger Casement. While most of the media attention focused on a report of the handwriting expert Audrey Giles on the so called Black Diaries, there are other parts … Continue reading Reclaiming Roger Casement
Basil Thomson the Writer
Angela Clifford, writing in January’s Irish Political Review, focused attention on the remarkable man who was Roger Casement’s main interrogator. Sir Basil Thomson is well worth looking at closely. He can never be entirely ignored by anyone telling the Casement story, but he may be—and normally is—marginalised. He always seems to get less notice than he deserves. It has … Continue reading Basil Thomson the Writer
