Other documents

 

Letter from Mr W. Copeland Trimble to Sir Edward Carson

                                                                                                             CENTURY HOUSE
                                                                                                                ENNISKILLEN
                                                                                                                Jan. 20 1915.

Dear Sir Edward,

It is extremely kind of you to go to so much trouble in a matter that belongs to the Ulster Division and not your own department, as conveyed by your kind letter.

The matter is simple.  Major Craig telegraphed to me to call at head-quarters.  I went, & then & there I was asked to raise a squadron of Horse for the Ulster Division, & Brig. General Hickman promised military rank.  I said I would do it. 

His Grace of Abercorn (whom we all admire) had been here twice or three times to obtain recruits for the North Irish Horse, & had not got one recruit.  I raised the full squadron of the Inniskilling Dragoons, (6th service squadron) which with the approval of head-quarters I so named. 

I expected that the military rank would have come to me within a few days to ease my path & facilitate the work, but, as it did not come I was in a unique position, of being while a layman in sole command of the barracks, & administrator of & commander of the squadron.  And while officers at head-quarters very properly had their rank & pay, I received neither one nor other for my weeks of work & energy. 

I am satisfied that Brigadier-General Hickman would have conferred a lieutenant-colonelcy (honorary) on me if the power had remained with him.  When General Powell came to inspect the Dragoons he told me that I was well known at head-quarters, & also at the war office.  I replied to these kind things by saying that I was too small a man for that:  & the General replied – "The war office knows you well, for they spoke to me about you."  He then asked me to assist recruiting for the infantry, which, of course, I promised to do, - saying that I had sent many men to the infantry & would continue to do so.  I may mention that my newspaper gives me unusual influence in this direction, so that it extended far beyond the bounds of the Dragoon squadron. 

Personally, I do not think about military rank, although since I wrote the Historical Records of the Inniskillings in 1874 I have been closely identified with military life & movements.  But when a Nationalist is made a captain for bringing 52 men to the Irish Brigade at Fermoy, my own men of the volunteer Enniskillen Horse feel hurt at their commander being ignored, & as one of them said – "If you were the 33rd cousin of a Lord, you would have been appointed long ago."  And another said – "If our own people treat you that way, what may we expect?"

I did not ask any compliment:  but when it was promised it should have been carried out or let me know the reason why:  & because there was a distinct reflection upon me - & that that reacted on my men of the Enniskillen Horse – I thought it well to take the step I mentioned to you in my letter – though not in any degree weakening my attachment to yourself or cause.

I now note what you are so good as to say, and we can wait to see if the slur be removed from me.

                 Assuring you of my personal devotion,
                 Sincerely yours,

                      W. Copeland Trimble

(Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, Ref. No.D1507/A/11/5.)