Madam, – I wish to thank Mark Hennessy for his article on Irishmen in the British army (July 31st). My minor reservation would be the undue prominence given to some soldier’s “canteen talk”. This is common to all armies about other armies and, even within armies, between different corps.
This is an important subject area because the Irish military tradition, including the Irish Brigade in the service of France and the “Fighting 69th” in the USA, is a proud shared memory for all Irish soldiers, Catholic and Protestant, nationalist and unionist, in the Irish Army or Irish regiments of other armies. It is our strongest bridge to a united people, which is the first step to a United Ireland.
Groups like the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association, with their trips and lectures, deserve support for providing a meeting ground for ex-soldiers of both armies, who wish to honour those constitutional nationalist Irishmen who laid their lives on the line in the first World War. President Mary McAleese has contributed very effectively in this regard. (Ni bheidh a leithead ann aris). – Yours, etc,