ADAM'S - THE HISTORY SALE - APRIL 26TH 2017 (Click Lot title for more images and to Place Bid)

77 / 114

77
The History Sale
The gold center band inscribed “Presented by Comd’t Fitzgerald Special Infantry Corps,To the Band.
€ 1,000 - 1,500
stamped Chester, 1904, engraved with inscription ‘Presented to H. J Flack As Souvenir of
Services Rendered During the Rebellion by Sir Matthew Nathan, Dublin 30 . 5 . 16’,
4 x 3cm, (c.14.62g).
€ 1,500 - 2,000
Sir Mathew Nathan [1952-1939] was British Under-Secretary for Ireland from September
1914. He was effectively head of the Dublin Castle administration, since the Chief Secretary
(Birrell) was often absent in London. After the Rising he was widely criticised for not rounding
up the leaders in the days before EasterWeek, when there was plenty of evidence warning
of imminent trouble. He resigned on 3 May, and a Royal Commission later found that while
he behaved with the utmost loyalty,‘he did not sufficiently impress on the Chief Secretary
the necessity for more active measures.’ The Commission found that Birrell was primarily
responsible ‘for the situation that was allowed to arise and the outbreak that occurred’, and he
also resigned and left politics.
Probably H.J. Flack was a member of staff at Dublin Castle. He does not appear in the index to
the IrishTimes Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook.