Posted by Adam Quinan on March 29, 2006 at 01:53:17 from 72.136.51.111 user Adam.
In Reply to: Re: Riddle of the Sands Undefinaable readability posted by andyb on March 29, 2006 at 00:18:58:
Childers was Anglo-Irish, though born in London, he was originally fairly imperialist, volunteering to fight in the Boer War and writing ROTS about the German threat to England. However he became interested in the Home Rule debate and his Irish Nationalist side came out considering that Ireland deserved at least as much independence as the other "white" Dominions. He even resigned his position as Clerk to the House of Commons to advocate for Home Rule. He became involved in more militant action, smuggling weapons to the nationalists as a reaction to the arming of those in Ulster (Northern Ireland) who opposed "Rome Rule" and the Curragh mutiny of 1914.
However, when WW1 broke out, he rejoined the Royal Navy as an Intelligence Officer and served loyally throughout the war.
After 1918, he moved back to Dublin and became an active member of the Nationalists even opposing the 1921 Anglo-Irish treaty that created the Irish Free State in southern Ireland. During the subsequent Irish Civil War, he was opposed to Free State government and when caught with a pistol he was executed by firing squad.
Complicated life of a complicated man.