June 1920 letter from Bob Walsh to Tim Lynch

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St. Mary’s Infirmary
Islingston. Highgate
London. Monday.
Dear Tim
I hope this will find you and
all the family in good health
I was glad when you was left after
us in Belfast, we went through
terrible times since we left Belfast
and I hope it is all over now
there is thirty of the Belfast
men here and thirty of the other
men we are all in good health
now. We were out at Mass on
yesterday.  Frank Hynes and
O’Kieffe were not able to go. We
marched from the chapel to
here. The London people must

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think us strange. We hear 50
of the other men have left for
home. They did not apply for any
vouchers home. We are applying
for them today. We do not
know how we will get on
we did not see a soldier or a
policeman since we left scrubs
and we have complete freedom
here. The London Irish are in
everyday. There was crowds
of them here on yesterday. They
are taking great interest in us,
we did not think we would
get off so light one time in
scrubs. I was out in the yard
when I was called in to go
away. They done everything

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to try and smash the strike
I am in the next bed to Martin
Corry. He is as mad as ever. He
woke us all up one night falling
for the nurse. He said he was
dying that his heart was gone.
We see by the papers that the
times are getting hot in Ireland
again Hoping this will
find you and all you care in
the best of health. I am as
strong as ever again and hope
to be going home soon. but of
course we cannot tell what
may happen yet.
Bob Walsh

Notes:

  1. This letter could be dated to May or June 1920. It describes men who have come off of Hunger Strike in Wormwood Scrubs Prison. The strike was held in April 1920, and many of the men who participated were sent to St. Mary’s Infirmary (where this letter was sent from) to recover. The men were kept at St. Mary’s for a portion of May and June 1920.