NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Robert Erskine Childers

Robert Erskine Childers DSO (25 June 1870 - 24 November 1922) was an author and Irish nationalist who was executed by the authorities of the newly independent Irish Free State during the Irish Civil War. Image File history File links This work is copyrighted. ... Image File history File links This work is copyrighted. ... DSO medal The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 328th day of the year (329th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... An Irish nationalist is generally one who seeks (greater) independence of Ireland from Great Britain, including since 1921 the goal of a United Ireland. ... Territory of the Irish Free State Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch - 1922â€“1936 George V - 1936â€“1936 George VI President of the Executive Council - 1922â€“1932 W.T. Cosgrave - 1932â€“1937 Eamon de Valera Legislature Oireachtas - Upper house Seanad Ã‰ireann - Lower house DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann... The Irish Civil War (June 28, 1922 â€“ May 24, 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of todays Republic of Ireland. ...

He was the son of British Orientalist scholar Robert Caesar Childers; the cousin of Hugh Childers and Robert Barton; and the father of the fourth President of Ireland, Erskine Hamilton Childers. For Orientalist Architecture, see Moorish Revival. ... Robert Caesar Childers (1838 - July 25, 1876) was a British Orientalist scholar, compiler of the first Pali dictionary. ... Caricature from Punch, 1882 Hugh Culling Eardley Childers (June 25, 1827 - January 29, 1896) was a British and Australian Liberal statesman of the nineteenth century. ... Robert Childers Barton (1881- August 10, 1975) was an Irish lawyer, statesman and farmer who participated in the negotiations leading up to the signature of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. ... -1... Erskine Hamilton Childers (Irish: ; 11 December 1905 â€“ 17 November 1974), the son of Robert Erskine Childers (author of The Riddle of the Sands), served as the fourth President of Ireland from 1973 until his death in 1974. ...

Early life

Childers was born in London to a Protestant family originally from Glendalough, Ireland. His father was English and his mother Irish, but he was orphaned as a child and raised by an uncle in County Wicklow. Ancient church at Glendalough monastic site Glendalough is a village located at the site of an ancient monastery located in County Wicklow, Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Wicklow Code: WW Area: 2,024 kmÂ² Population (2007) 114,676 Website: www. ...

He was sent to Haileybury College and then studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and after graduation took a job in 1895 as a clerk in the House of Commons. He was an enthusiastic yachtsman, owning several boats during his life and sailing them regularly. At this point in his career he was a supporter of the British Empire. Haileybury College is an English public school founded in 1862. ... Full name The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Motto Virtus vera nobilitas Virtue is true Nobility Named after The Holy Trinity Previous names Kingâ€™s Hall and Michaelhouse (until merged in 1546) Established 1546 Sister College(s) Christ Church Master The Lord Rees of Ludlow Location Trinity Street... Type Lower House Speaker of the House of Commons Leader of the House of Commons Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated) since October 23, 2000 Harriet Harman, QC, (Labour) since June 28, 2007 Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Theresa May, PC, (Conservative) since December 6, 2005 Members 646 Political groups... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

Military career

On the outbreak of the Second Boer War in 1899 he volunteered for action, serving as an officer in the City Imperial Volunteers, while he was part of the Honourable Artillery Company in the British Army. He was wounded in South Africa and invalided back to Britain. On his return he wrote the novel The Riddle of the Sands which was published in 1903. Based on his own sailing trips along the German coast, it predicted war with Germany and called for British preparedness. Widely popular, the book has never gone out of print.^[1] Combatants British Empire Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Sir Redvers Buller Lord Kitchener Lord Roberts Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Casualties 6,000 - 7,000 (A further ~14,000 from disease) 6,000 - 8,000 (Unknown number from disease) Civilians... Armorial bearings of the HAC, granted in 1821 The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior[2] in the Territorial Army [3] . // The HAC can trace its history as far back as 1296, but it received a Royal Charter... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Riddle of the Sands is a 1903 novel by Erskine Childers. ...

It has been called the first spy novel (a claim challenged by advocates of Rudyard Kipling's Kim, published two years earlier), and enjoyed immense popularity in the years before World War I. It was an extremely influential book: Winston Churchill later credited it as a major reason that the Admiralty decided to establish naval bases at Invergordon, Rosyth on the Firth of Forth and Scapa Flow in Orkney. The spy fiction genre (sometimes called political thriller) first arose just before the First World War, at about the same time, the first organized intelligence agencies were being formed. ... This article is about the British author. ... This article is about the novel. ... Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can) (30 November 1874 â€“ 24 January 1965) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. ... Flag of the Lord High Admiral The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... Invergordon is a town and port in northern Scotland. ... Rosyth Dockard is a large naval dockyard in Rosyth which today primarily undertakes refitting of Royal Navy surface vessels. ... The Firth of Forth from Calton Hill The Forth Bridges cross the Firth Satellite photo of the Firth and the surrounding area Map of the Firth Firth of Forth (Scottish Gaelic: Linne Foirthe) is the estuary or firth of Scotlands River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea... It has been suggested that Gutter Sound be merged into this article or section. ... Location Geography Area Ranked 16th - Total 990 kmÂ² - % Water ? Admin HQ Kirkwall ISO 3166-2 GB-ORK ONS code 00RA Demographics Population Ranked 32nd - Total (2005) 19,590 - Density 20 / kmÂ² Politics Orkney Islands Council http://www. ...

In 1903, Childers visited the United States. There he met and married Mollie Osgood, who shared his love of sailing. The two received a small sailing yacht, the Asgard, as a wedding gift.^[2] The Asgard is a 44-foot yacht, formerly owned by the English-born Irish nationalist leader Erskine Childers and his wife Mollie. ...

He wrote Volume V of the Times' History of the War in South Africa (1907), which drew attention to British errors in that war and praised the tactics of the Boer guerrillas. He also wrote two books on cavalry warfare based on his experiences, War and the Arme Blanche (1910) and the German Influence on British Cavalry (1911). Both books were strongly critical of the British Army. The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1788. ... This article is about the Boer people (Boerevolk). ... Guerrilla warfare (also guerilla) is the unconventional warfare and combat with which small group combatants (usually civilians) use mobile tactics (ambushes, raids, etc) to combat a larger, less mobile formal army. ... French Republican Guard - May 8, 2005 celebrations Cavalry (from French cavalerie) were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. ...

Home Rule

Around this time Childers became increasingly attracted to Irish Nationalism and became an advocate of Home Rule. He resigned his post at the House of Commons in 1910 in order to campaign for this cause, writing The Form and Purpose of Home Rule in 1912. In July 1914 he and his wife even smuggled German arms to Howth, County Dublin, in their yacht Asgard - days before the outbreak of World War I. These weapons would later arm the Irish Volunteers during the Easter Rising of 1916. This had been organised in response to the Larne gunrunning of the Ulster Volunteer Force. The remainder of the consignment of guns purchased in Germany for the Irish Volunteers was landed a week later at Kilcoole, county Wicklow by Sir Thomas Myles from his own yacht, the Chotah. An Irish nationalist is generally one who seeks (greater) independence of Ireland from Great Britain, including since 1921 the goal of a United Ireland. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference O283393 Statistics County: Elevation: sea level Population (2002) - Town: - Rural: 8706 n/a Howth (pronounced to rhyme with both; known as Binn Ã‰adair in Irish) is a generally affluent residential area in the Fingal County Council administrative area of County Dublin, Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Dublin Code: D Area: 921 kmÂ² Population (2006) 1,186,821 County Dublin (Irish: Contae Bhaile Ãtha Cliath), or more correctly today the Dublin Region[1] (RÃ©igiÃºin Ãtha Cliath), is the area that contains the city of Dublin, the capital and largest city... The Asgard is a 44-foot yacht, formerly owned by the English-born Irish nationalist leader Erskine Childers and his wife Mollie. ... Irish Volunteers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Combatants Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army, Irish Republican Brotherhood British Army Royal Irish Constabulary Commanders Patrick Pearse, James Connolly Brigadier-General Lowe General Sir John Maxwell Strength 1250 in Dublin, c. ... ... The Ulster Volunteer Force (more commonly referred to as the UVF) are a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. ... Thomas Myles was born in Limerick on 20 April 1857, the third of eleven children born to John Myles, corn merchant, and his wife Prudence Bradshaw. ...

With the start of war, Childers joined the Royal Navy as an Intelligence Officer and was active in the North Sea and the Dardanelles. He was awarded the DSO and promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1916. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... Combatants British Empire Australia India Newfoundland New Zealand United Kingdom France Ottoman Empire Commanders Sir Ian Hamilton Otto von Sanders Mustafa Kemal AtatÃ¼rk Strength 5 divisions (initial) 14 divisions (final) 6 divisions Casualties 252,000 260,309 The Battle of Gallipoli was a very bad and costly war, yet... DSO medal The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ...

However the violent suppression of the Easter Rising had angered Childers, and after the war he moved to Dublin to become fully involved in the struggle against British rule. He joined Sinn Féin, forming a close association with Éamon de Valera and Michael Collins. Dublin city centre at night WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Statistics Province: Leinster County: DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann: Dublin Central, Dublin North Central, Dublin North East, Dublin North West, Dublin South Central, Dublin South East European Parliament: Dublin Dialling Code: 01, +353 1 Postal District(s): D1-24, D6W Area: 114. ... For pre-Arthur Griffith use of the political name, see Sinn FÃ©in (19th century). ... Ã‰amon de Valera (born with the name Edward George de Valera, IPA: [1][2]) (14 October 1882 â€“ 29 August 1975) was one of the dominant political figures in 20th century Ireland. ... Michael John (Mick) Collins (Irish: ; 16 October 1890 â€“ 22 August 1922) was an Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, both as Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander...

In 1919 he was made Director of Publicity for the First Irish Parliament and represented the Irish nationalists at the Versailles conference in Paris. In 1920 Childers published Military Rule in Ireland, a strong attack on British policy. In 1921 he was elected (unopposed) to the Dáil as member for Wicklow and published the pamphlet Is Ireland a Danger to England?, which attacked the British prime minister, David Lloyd George. He became editor of the Irish Bulletin after the arrest of Desmond FitzGerald. Soviet Propaganda Poster during the World War II. The text reads Red Army Fighter, SAVE US! Chinese propaganda poster from during the Cultural Revolution. ... This article is about the current Irish body. ... Map of the World with the Participants in World War I. The Allies are depicted in green, the Central Powers in orange, and neutral countries in grey. ... DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, OM, PC (17 January 1863 â€“ 26 March 1945) was a British statesman who guided Britain and the British Empire through World War I and the postwar settlement as the Liberal Party Prime Minister, 1916-1922. ... The Irish Bulletin was the official newspaper of the short-lived Irish Republic. ... Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947), Irish revolutionary, poet and Cumann na nGaedhael politician. ...

Civil War and death

Childers was secretary-general of the Irish delegation that negotiated the Anglo-Irish Treaty with the British government. He stayed at the delegation headquarters in Hans Place throughout the period of the negotiations, 11 October-6 December 1921. Childers became vehemently opposed to the final draft of the agreement, particularly the clauses that required Irish leaders to take an Oath of Allegiance to the British king. Signature page of the Anglo-Irish Treaty The Anglo-Irish Treaty, officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom and representatives of the extra-judicial Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of Independence. ... Hans Place is a prime residential garden square situated immediately south of Harrods in Knightsbridge. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Irish Oath of Allegiance was a controversial provision in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which Irish TDs (members of the Irish parliament) and Senators were required to take, in order to take their seats in DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann (The Chamber of Deputies) and Seanad Ã‰ireann (the Irish Senate). ... The British monarchy is a shared monarchy; this article describes the monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ...

The Treaty bitterly divided Sinn Féin and the IRA, and Ireland slipped into civil war. Soon Childers was regarded as a traitor not only by the British, but by the pro-Treaty Free State government in Dublin, which was under increasing pressure from Winston Churchill and the British government to take violent reprisal measures against the anti-treaty forces and their leaders. This article is about the historical army of the Irish Republic (1919â€“1922) which fought in the Irish War of Independence 1919â€“21, and the Irish Civil War 1922â€“23. ... The Irish Civil War (June 28, 1922 â€“ May 24, 1923) was a conflict between supporters and opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6, 1921, which established the Irish Free State, precursor of todays Republic of Ireland. ... Territory of the Irish Free State Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch - 1922â€“1936 George V - 1936â€“1936 George VI President of the Executive Council - 1922â€“1932 W.T. Cosgrave - 1932â€“1937 Eamon de Valera Legislature Oireachtas - Upper house Seanad Ã‰ireann - Lower house DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann...

Said to be the inspiration behind the irregulars' propaganda, Childers was hunted by Free State soldiers and had to travel secretly. The ambush death of Michael Collins intensified the desire of Free State authorities to exact retribution, and in September 1922 the Irish Dail introduced the Emergency Powers legislation, establishing martial law powers and new capital offences for the carrying of firearms.^[3] In November of the same year, Childers was arrested by Free State forces at his home, Glendalough, in County Wicklow, while travelling to meet De Valera. He was tried by a military court on the pretext of possessing a small-calibre automatic pistol on his person in violation of the Emergency Powers Resolution.^[4] Ironically, the pistol was alleged to be a gift from Michael Collins before the latter swore allegiance to the Free State^[5]. Childers was convicted by the military court and sentenced to death. While his appeal of the sentence was still pending, Childers was executed by firing squad at the Beggar's Bush Barracks in Dublin. He was 52 years old. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. The Irish Army (Irish: Arm na hÃ‰ireann) is the main branch of the Irish Defence Forces[1] (Ã“glaigh na hÃ‰ireann). ... The final phase of the Irish Civil War(October 1922-May 1923) degenerated into a series of atrocities that left a lasting legacy of bitterness in Irish politics. ... Ancient church at Glendalough monastic site Glendalough is a village located at the site of an ancient monastery located in County Wicklow, Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Leinster County Town: Wicklow Code: WW Area: 2,024 kmÂ² Population (2007) 114,676 Website: www. ... Execution by firing squad is a method of capital punishment, especially in times of war. ... Beggars Bush is the name of a former barracks on Haddington Road in Dublin, as well the surrounding area and a nearby pub. ... Glasnevin Cemetery The round tower (centre) stands over the tomb of Daniel OConnell Glasnevin gravestones Glasnevin Cemetery, also known as Prospect Cemetery, is the main Catholic cemetery in Dublin, the capital of Ireland. ...

His last words were a joke at the expense of his executioners: "Take a step or two forward, lads. It will be easier that way."

Winston Churchill, who had actively pressured Michael Collins and the Free State government to crush the rebellion by armed force, expressed the British view of Childers at the time: "No man has done more harm or done more genuine malice or endeavoured to bring a greater curse upon the common people of Ireland than this strange being, actuated by a deadly and malignant hatred for the land of his birth." In Ireland, however, many saw Childers's execution as politically-motivated revenge, an expedient method of halting the continuing flow of anti-British political texts for which Childers was widely acknowledged. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can) (30 November 1874 â€“ 24 January 1965) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. ... Michael Collins is the name of: Michael Collins (Irish leader), the Irish patriot and revolutionary of the 20th century Michael Collins (Limerick politician), a modern-day Irish politician Michael Collins (astronaut), the American astronaut Michael Collins (footballer), an Irish footballer currently playing for Huddersfield Town Michael P. Collins, a Canadian...

References

External links

Contents