The Irish Easter Rising Wrap-up with Extra History LIES
Added 2022-11-18 18:30:01 +0000 UTCWelcome Extra Historians to Lies, where we talk about the mistakes we made and the details we couldn't quite squeeze into our Easter Rising Series. With questions like, why did the Irish occupy a biscuit factory instead of a railway station? Can you still see the bullet holes from this fight in Dublin today? And was there really a ceasefire so some groundskeeper could feed some ducks during the battle?
Recommended Reading for this series:
- The Easter Rising by Michael Foy
- Dublin's Great Wars: The First World War, the Easter Rising and the Irish Revolution by Richard S. Grayson
- Easter Rising 1916: Birth of the Irish Republic by Michael McNally
Missed an Episode?
Part 1 - Seeds of Rebellion | Part 2 - The Eve of Revolution I Part 3 - The Battle for Dublin I Part 4 - Rise and Fall I Part 5 - Death and Rebirth I Lies I Music
Search for the tag "Wallpaper" to get copies of the art from the episodes!
Comments
We're also awaiting the arrival of three Alpacas and some Emus in the coming years; I'm very tempted to equip the Emus with armour, reinforce their beaks so they can peck through metal, and send them to the frontlines in Ukraine. ;-) 1848 14th February In the Kingdom of France, ahead of the next Highly ~ Awaited Political Banquet, the Government of Prime Minister François Guizot Outlaws it. Nevertheless, the Banquet’s Organisers Decide that it will still be held, alongside a Political Demonstration, Scheduled for 22nd February. 21st February In the Kingdom of France, Aware of the Political Gatherings Scheduled for the next Day, the French Government Bans the Political Banquets for a Second Time. The Ban Succeds in Pressuring the Organising Committee into Canceling the Events, however, the Workers and Students who had Mobilised over the Previous Days Refuse to Back down over the Demonstrations. 1907 21st April In the Kingdom of Great Britain, after Surviving Violent Storms off Rockall, the SS Libau Arrives off the Coast of County Cork. The French Naval Captain Checks his Charts, which are in Norwegian, and he has no Radio on Board. His Ship, Currently Disguised as a Neutral Hordalandic Vessel, is Deep in British Waters, and, in the Libau’s Hold, Concealed beneath a Cargo of Lumber, are 20,000 Rifles, 100,000 Rounds of Ammunition, and 10 Machine Guns ~ the Kingdom of France’s Contribution to the Imminent Uprising, and, while the Shipment is smaller than the Nationalists have Hoped, it still Dwarfs the last Gun ~ Running Operation at Howth Two Years Earlier. But, when the Libau Arrives, there’s no ~ One to Collect the Guns. The French Captain is in the Right Place, but at the wrong Time ~ Irish Nationalists are Expecting the Shipment Two Days Later. None are Present along the Shore to Guide the Libau into Cork, and the Captain’s worst Fears are already being Realised: Three Royal Navy Warships Appear on the Horizon. They Hail him, and he Responds with his False ID. Thinking that the “Hordalandic” Ship must be lost, they Escort the Libau into Cork Harbour. Knowing that they will be Searched, the Libau’s Captain Orders that Scuttling Charges be Placed rather than Reveal his Cargo. After a Series of Thudding Detonations, the Weapons meant to Secure Irish Independence Sink to the Depths within Sight of Cork Harbour. 24th April In the Kingdom of Great Britain, Easter Monday Dawns Bright as Dubliners, both Catholics and Protestants, Rouse themselves after a Day of rest and Worship. But some have had Barely had any Sleep at all, having Spent the Holiday making Feverish, last ~ Minute Preparations. Now, they Gather their Courage, Faith, and Guns, and Converge on Dublin Castle. As the Party Rushes the Gate, the Castle Garrison is Minimal and Unprepared for an Attack. The Lone Policeman on Duty, an Irish Catholic Named James O'Brien who is Unarmed, Attempts to close the Iron Gate, only to be Gunned down by Irish Nationalist Sean Connolly. By chance, the British Under ~ Secretary for Ireland, Sir Matthew Nathan, sees this happen, so he, along with a few Soldiers, Scramble to the Gate, Slamming it shut and Locking it as Bullets Zip by, then, they Brace for a Siege. Shortly thereafter, in a Strange Twist of Fate, O'Brien’s Killer, Connolly, is himself Dead, having been Felled by a British Sniper’s Bullet. Elsewhere, Sackville Street Resounds to the Sound of Marching Boots as a Column of Men Passes down the Major Thoroughfare. Some Wear Green Military Uniforms, others Civilian Clothes, but all have Guns. Yellow Armbands Proclaim them to be Nationalist Paramilitaries, the Irish Volunteers, and, Marching with them, are their Leaders: Patrick Pearse and James Connolly. The Volunteers Proceed to Occupy the General Post Office, taking it as a Headquarters, and Stockpiling Arms and Munitions there. Then, Pearse Re ~ emerges, Standing before the Building, and Reads out a Proclamation from the Military Council. It Informs the People of Dublin that an Armed Uprising against British Rule has begun and that this is the First Day of a new Nation: the Irish Republic. As Pearse Reads, Gunshots Ring out across the City; Men and Women are Ambushing Policemen and Officials, taking up Sniper Perches, and Erecting Barricades. After Years of Planning, the Easter Rising has begun. 1912 20th September In the Kingdom of Great Britain, a new Political Catchphrase Swiftly Arises out of nowhere to Complete Ubiquity: “National Efficiency.” The Spectator Notes that “there is a Universal outcry for Efficiency in all of the Departments of Society, in all Aspects of Life.” Another Seasoned Journalist Comments, Dryly, that “‘Efficiency’ has become the hardest ~ Worked Vocable in Politics.” The Reason behind the Popularity of this new Slogan? It is due to the Evidence ~ often Shocking, always Depressing, Presented Day after Day by the Hearings of the Milner Commission. The Commissioners Hear Dire Statistics from the Various Recruitment Boards; 460 of every 1,000 Recruits from Manchester have been Deemed Unsuitable for Military Service, while the Discovery that of 3,600 Men Examined in London, Leeds and Sheffield, 27.5% were Rejected while another 29 to 30% are Marginal, Suggesting the Alarming Possibility that at least Half of the Working Population might be Unavailable for Military Duty. Similar Complaints from Naval Authorities about the Physical Inadequacies of Seamen, Especially Stokers, Adds Fuel to the Argument and Raises the Possibility that Britain might no longer be Breeding the type of Man needed to Crew the Modern Ships so Vigorously Demanded in the Evidence given by the Admirals. The Depressing Recruitment Figures are Embellished with other Statistics Demonstrating the Diminution in the Weight and Size of the smaller, Lighter, narrow ~ Chested Misfits Entering the Ranks. One Characteristic Survey, Ignoring the huge Jump in the Number of Men being sent Abroad for Foreign and Colonial Service during the War, Reveal that nearly 83 of every 1,000 Soldiers were Admitted to Hospital for some Aliment or another Compared to an Average of only 59 during the Previous Decade. These findings are Accompanied in the Press by a steady Litany of Newspaper Articles and Pamphlets Containing Hysterical Comparisons with the Healthier, more Efficient Germans, not to Mention lesser Breeds such as the Luxembourgise or even the French, Frequently also Containing References to the Advantages of Universal Military Training, or, to Avoid that Suspiciously Continental Innovation, Organised Physical Exercise. 1928 In the German Empire, Hitler starts Renting a small, Country ~ Style Chalet on the Obersalzberg Called Haus Wachenfeld and Employs his Half ~ Sister, Angela, as his Housekeeper. Angela brings with her her 17 ~ Year ~ old Daughter, Geli Raubal. She will Spend the next Six Years in Close Contact with her Half ~ Uncle, who is 19 Years her Senior. 1929 7th April In the Russian SFSR, after the End of the Russian Civil War, Lenin’s Government has to Accept the so ~ Called ‘Redistribution of The Land,’ which Leads to the Enlargement of the Land Possessions of the Russian Peasants. Unfortunately, the Former Government didn’t continue the Land Reforms. In Part because of the Unstable Situation in the Country and the Fact that Poor Harvests made the Issue of Land Distribution even more Complicated. However, the Incumbent Cabinet has to Solidify its Influence throughout Russia and the most Obvious way will be to Solve the Issue of Land Reform through a General Restructure of the Civilian Administration. General-Secretary Stalin Faces a rather Straightforward Choice in Forging Order from the Smouldering Wreckage of the Russian Empire: Either they Solve the Issue of Land and Administrative Reform by Creating a new Bureaucratic System which then Gradually Transforms Society ~ or Act Decisively and Radically change Russia Overnight by Creating a Strong Corporate State. General ~ Secretary Stalin Decides that the best thing to do is Create a new Bureaucracy and Govern from the Centre. 1931 20th September In the Kingdom of Great Britain, Mosley’s Gamble Pays off Handsomely. The Cabinet is left with no Choice but to Accept the Bank of England’s Advice to Suspend Fixed ~ Price Gold Sales, and so the Government “Finally did what it was Formed not to do.” To the Surprise of all those who have been Predicting Disaster, the Apocalyptic Results of the Move Resolutely Fail to Materialise. Several Days , the Gold Standard is Dropped. Snowden’s Prediction of Unemployment Rising to 10,000,000 and the Pound Halving in Value seems Utterly Ridiculous, and Mosley’s Economic Judgement is Completely Vindicated. 1936 In the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Issue of Parliamentary Reform has long been on the Government’s Agenda and, now that a Sympathetic Figure is on the Throne, Labour Feels Able to Broach the Idea of Re ~ Organising the House of Lords. Intriguingly, though, the King himself is the First to Raise the Idea in a Meaningful way, Expressing a Concrete, if Vague, Desire for Reform to Mosley on his Return from Como. With Royal Support Guaranteed and Eden’s Unionists Able to do little to Prevent Passage of the Bill through the Commons, only the Lords Remain an Obstacle to Reform, and they are soon Bought off by Promises that many of the Individual Members of the Upper House will Remain, in their Capacity as Representatives of British Industry and Society. 25th December The Christian Nations of the World Celebrate Christmas Day, Commemorating the Birthday of Jesus Christ [also Called “Yeshua” in the Eastern Denominations] on 25th December 1 B.C. 1937 20th January In the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt is Sworn into Office for a Second Term as President of the United States of America. In his Second Inaugural Address, President Roosevelt Declares: “the Policies of the New Deal have been Proven to Work. We must not Lose our way now!” 1st July In the Republic of Canada, Canada Day, Commemorating the Anniversary of the Passing of the British North America Act of 1867, when the Three Separate Colonies of British North America [Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Quebec, and New Brunswick] were United into a Single Dominion within the British Empire Called Canada, is Observed with Fireworks Displays, Parades, Family Barbecues, and Concerts. 13th October In the British Raj, Riots against the Nepali Occupiers are Breaking out throughout Uttarakhand, with Insurgents taking up Arms in the of Dehradun. Caused by the Recent Massacre by the Royal Nepali Army on Indian Protests Celebrating the Hindu Festival Diwali. These Upheavals are Proof that Maharaja Tribhuvan’s Claim to the Mantle of Protector of his Indian Subjects is Shallow and Hollow. However, the Protesters are Poorly Armed and Inexperienced, making their Stand against the well ~ Trained and Battle ~ Hardened Nepali Gurkhas a Frightening Prospect. Conservatives and Liberals Stand United in this Issue ~ no more Indians Murdered by Foreign Troops! No longer can the Nepali Oppression and Occupation of Uttarakhand be Tolerated! Parliament is Demanding that the Government Move to the Aid of their Endangered Countrymen, no Matter the Cost! Some Argue the British Raj should not Support such a Bolshevik Rabble, but Governor ~ General Attlee Decides to Issue an Ultimatum: the Royal Nepali Army must be Withdrawn, or Face War. 1938 9th October In Nationalist Germany, a Swiss Student Named Maurice Bavaud starts to Stalk Hitler across Germany. But he is no Fan; he wants to Assassinate der Führer. The Berghof is Famous as a Place where Devoted Followers can, sometimes, get Close to Hitler, and Bavaud Pretends to be just such an Enthusiastic Nationalist. He takes a Room at a Hotel in the nearby Town of Berchtesgaden. An R.S.D. Agent Secretly Checks him out, but finds nothing Suspicious. Bavaud goes for Walks in the Forests Surrounding the Berghof and Practices Shooting at the Trunks of Trees. He doesn’t Bother using a Silencer for his Gun, but just Blasts away. If they Hear the Shots, Hitler’s Guards Assume it is a Hunter. Göring, who has a House in the Area, is Notoriously Keen. Bavaud Asks at the Gatehouse if he can go up to the Berghof, but is Told it is Impossible to get through the Checkpoints without a Pass. At Bischofswiesen, a Security Officer at the new Chancellery Building Tells Bavaud he might be better off trying to see Hitler in Munich. 1940 In the Confederate States, Admiral James O. Richardson Cables the Chief of Naval Operations, Demanding to Know why the Heck he’s here. In April, the C.S. Atlantic Fleet had left its Home Base in Jacksonville, Florida, to Conduct Naval Exercises in the Caribbean. Then, One Month in, he’d Received Orders to Issue a Press Release Stating that he will be Remaining at Guantanamo Bay on Naval Business. He’s Furious. He has no Business here and what he was told would be a Two Week stay has Stretched into Six Months. Guantanamo Bay is a Forward Station. It doesn’t have the Facilities to Properly House, Supply, or Repair the Fleet. Re ~ Enlistment is down, Ammunition and Fuel is Short, and Morale has Collapsed. Why is his Fleet being left to Rot? Finally, he gets an Answer: President Potter wants the Fleet in Guantanamo Bay as a Deterrence against German and Byzantine Attacks in the Caribbean and to give the Confederacy Leverage in Diplomatic Negotiations. The C.S. Atlantic Fleet is now a Pawn in a High Stakes Game, one where Potter, Unknowingly, is Running out of Time. 1958 4th June In the French Republic, French President Charles de Gaulle Visits Algeria and Calculatedly makes an Ambiguous and Broadly Emotional Appeal to the Inhabitants, Declaring: “I have Understood you.” De Gaulle Raises the Hopes of the Pied-Noir and the Professional Military, Disaffected by the Indecisiveness of Previous Governments, with his Exclamation “Vive l’Algerie Français!” to Cheering Crowds in Mostaganem. President de Gaulle Proposes Several Economic, Social, and Political Reforms to Improve the Situation of Muslims. President de Gaulle Immediately Appoints a new Committee to Draft a new Constitution for France’s Fifth Republic which will be Declared Early the next Year in which Algeria will be Associated with but not an Integral Part. All Muslims, for the First Time, Including Women, are Registered to Participate in a new Referendum to be held on the new Constitution in September 1958.
Martin Verran
2023-01-28 20:00:12 +0000 UTCOMG I LOVE Chinchillas!
Extra History
2022-11-28 17:18:32 +0000 UTCI'm curious as to how the Napoleonic Wars played out outside Europe. Every participant in the Napoleonic Wars had empires (except perhaps Prussia) but the impact of the wars on those empires is generally only discussed in passing. In America, we talk a bit about the Louisiana Purchase and the War of 1812, with occasional mentions of the Haitian Revolution and the Spanish American Wars of Independence but aside from Egypt, I know nothing about how the Napoleonic Wars played out in Africa, nor China, and only a few tidbits about India (I know the future Duke of Wellington was involved in fighting Tipu Sultan but that's it)
Joshua Evans-Lowell
2022-11-18 19:14:12 +0000 UTCI'm still waiting to hear what role the Supreme Chicken played in the Eater Rising. Our new Chinchillas have arrived, so everyone was excited to see them, and I also got my first close up view of our new sheep [6 ewes and one ram] on Tuesday.
Martin Verran
2022-11-18 19:05:25 +0000 UTC
