Home Rule and World War I
Ledwidge was a keen patriot and nationalist. His efforts to found a branch of the Gaelic League in Slane were thwarted by members of the local council. The area organiser encouraged him to continue his struggle, but Francis gave up. He did manage to act as a founding member with his brother Joseph of the Slane Branch of the Irish Volunteers (1914), a nationalist force sworn to defend the introduction of Home Rule for Ireland, by force if need be.
On the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, and on account of Ireland's involvement in the war, the Irish Volunteers split into two factions, the National Volunteers who supported John Redmond’s appeal to join Irish regiments in support of the Allied war cause and those who did not. Francis was originally of the latter party. Nevertheless, having defended this position strongly at a local authority meeting, he enlisted (24 October 1914) in Lord Dunsany’s regiment, joining 5th battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, part of the 10th (Irish) Division. This was against the urgings of Dunsany who opposed his enlistment and had offered him a stipend to support him if he stayed away from the war. Some have speculated that he went to war because his sweetheart Ellie Vaughey had found a new lover, John O'Neill, whom she later married, but Ledwidge himself wrote, and forcefully, that he could not stand aside while others sought to defend Ireland's freedom.
Read more about this topic: Francis Ledwidge
Famous quotes containing the words war i, home, rule, world and/or war:
“The war is utter damn nonsensea vast cancer fed by lies and self seeking [sic] malignity on the part of those who dont do the fighting.”
—John Dos Passos (18961970)
“Our home has been nothing but a play-room. Ive been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Papas doll-child. And the children have been my dolls in their turn. I liked it when you came and played with me, just as they liked it when I came and played with them. Thats what our marriage has been, Torvald.”
—Henrik Ibsen (18281906)
“Democracy dont rule the world,
Youd better get that in your head;
This world is ruled by violence
But I guess thats better left unsaid.”
—Bob Dylan [Robert Allen Zimmerman] (b. 1941)
“Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine?”
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (17921822)
“The war is utter damn nonsensea vast cancer fed by lies and self seeking [sic] malignity on the part of those who dont do the fighting.”
—John Dos Passos (18961970)