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CURRAGH INCIDENT: Harold Alexander (1891-1969) 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis. British Field Marshal of World War II who also served with distinction during World War I, receiving the Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order. T.L.S., Alexander, with holograph salutation and subscription, one page, 4to, Storey's Gate, London, 29th September 1954, to A. P. Ryan, on the printed stationery of the Ministry of Defence. Alexander thanks his correspondent for their letter and informs him 'During the so-called ''mutiny'' at the Curragh in 1914 I was a subaltern in the Irish Guards stationed in London and although I remember the occasion and, if I remember, was quite intrigued, I had no particular interest in the matter and, curiously enough, I don't think our men who came from both the north and south, were particularly interested in the events'; Violet Bonham Carter (1887-1969) British Politician and Diarist, daughter of H. H. Asquith. Series of six T.Ls.S. (some with lengthy holograph additions) and two A.Ls.S., Violet Bonham Carter, nineteen pages (total), 8vo and 4to, London, 1952-59, all to A. P. Ryan. The letters relate to various matters, including Ryan's book Mutiny at the Curragh, and state, in part, 'I fear that I shall not be able to throw any new light for you on the facts of the Curragh ''mutiny''. I think my father's Life deals with the matter factually....and it may be that my husband might remember something which would be of use to you' (10th September 1954), 'May I think over your proposition till Monday and let you know then whether I feel able to attempt it? I have more than enough to say but I know from experience that selection and concentration take a lot of time (at least for me). 1400 words would take me much longer to write than 3000! You must remember that I am an amateur' (31st May 1956), 'A thousand thanks for your letter which has decided me to make an attempt at Haldane....May I send you when it is finished a very rough draft.....and ask you to read it, indicate what parts of it (if any!) you would like retained.....When I begin to write I find so many memories of Haldane jostling in my mind that there is a danger of blurring the broad outline of his remarkable life and achievement. I must let the jungle grow, then cut it down and leave the big trees standing......I am at work upon a broadcast in the ''I remember'' series (so far I have found them rather dull & disappointing except Lady Milner's on Lord Salisbury) & have chosen the pre-1914 years....I shall now insert your point that we were not on the verge of bloody revolution.....' (4th June 1956), 'It is very generous of The Times to be willing to include so much. The only passage whose excision I regret.....is the one....saying that there were ''few.....tasks from which he shrank. This links up with his physical intrepidity & stresses his response to public work & responsibility - which was one of his most marked characteristics. His voracity for work was colossal' (30th June 1956), 'I return the corrected proof.....You ask me to indicate passages for ''dropping overboard''. I can only suggest some of those describing his physical intrepidity.....Unlike my father who was hardly self-aware Haldane, though the most unselfish of men, was intensely interested in himself.....He was always eager to take charge of the F.O. - or any other office - when E. Grey or some other Minister needed a rest.' (2nd July 1956), 'I have been re-reading your thrilling book ''Mutiny at the Curragh''. You may remember coming to see me when you were writing it, and my trying to piece together my disjointed memories of those exciting days which you have recorded so dramatically. There is one point I want you to help me to clear up in my own mind.....you say that my father heard for the first time that the Admiralty ''had ordered the movement of a battle squadron'' and that he promptly countermanded it. Was this a further battle squadron ordered by Winston on his own initiative,.....I only ask from idle, but lively, curiousity. Moving ships & troops did go to his head at times & temporarily unhinged his political judgement' (4th February 1959); Harold Nicolson (1886-1968) British Diplomat and Author, husband of Vita Sackville-West. Whilst serving in the Foreign Office as a junior employee it fell to Nicolson to hand Britian's revised declaration of war to Prince Max von Lichnowsky, the German Ambassador in London, on 4th August 1914. T.L.S., Harold Nicolson, one page, 4to, Piccadilly, London, 14th September 1954, to [A. P.] Ryan. Nicolson states that he would be delighted to talk to his correspondent regarding the Curragh incident ('which I still believe is one of the most astonishing episodes in our rough island story') and remarks 'If you can discover the part that Henry Wilson played in it you will be a cleverer man than I am', further proposing some dates to have lunch at the Garrick. An interesting collection of letters. Most have some minor faults (paperclip rust stains, small areas of paper loss etc.) and light age wear. G to about VG, 10 Alfred Patrick Ryan (1900-1972) British Journalist, editor of the BBC News Service 1940-47, and Assistant Editor and Literary Editor of The Times 1947-68. Richard Haldane (1856-1928) 1st Viscount Haldane. Scottish Politician, Lawyer and Philosopher. Haldane served as Secretary of State for War 1905-12 during which time the 'Haldane Reforms' of the British Army were implemented, leading to him being known as the 'Father of the Territorial Army'. Haldane served as Lord Chancellor from 1912-15 and was forced to resign because of false allegations of German sympathies. The Curragh Incident, also known as the Curragh Mutiny, occurred in County Kildare, Ireland, on 20th March 1914. The Curragh Camp was the main base for the British Army in Ireland, at the time still part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Ireland was about to receive a measure of devolved government, which included Ulster. Irish Home Rule was due to become law in 1914 and the British Cabinet contemplated some form of military action against the Ulster Volunteers who threatened to rebel against it. Many military officers, particularly those with Irish Protestant connections, threatened to resign rather than obey and were privately encouraged by senior officers including Henry Wilson. Sir John French, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, was forced to resign after the Cabinet claimed that the issue had been a misunderstanding and an amended document was released in which a promise was made that the British Army would not be used against the Ulster loyalists. The incident is one of the few times since the English Civil War in which elements of the British military openly intervened in politics. The Home Rule Act received the Royal Assent on 18th September 1914. marking the first law ever passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom that sought to establish a devolved government. However, the Act was formally postponed for a minimum of twelve months upon the outbreak of World War I. The continuation of the war beyond 1915 and subsequent developments in Ireland led to further postponements, meaning that the Act never took effect.
