The digitisation and online availability of the Military Service Pensions Collection (1916-23) has been underway. Composed of pension applications from various Irish revolutionary groups and their dependants, this collection has become invaluable for understanding the history of the Irish revolution. The editors, however, note that it serves a grander purpose as it presents a myriad of life experiences of a diverse group of individuals. Contributors chiefly focus on this aspect, offering a wealth of insightful essays in this collection.
There are various themes explored, including struggles with issues such as ill health, poverty, unstable employment, and an indifferent bureaucracy. The collection uncovers stories of dependability, both women reliant on husbands who cannot support them or their progeny and siblings reliant on each other. It also tells tales of the shared fear of ageing alone. There is a largely unspoken narrative of illness, from mental health issues due to trauma to diseases that were silently borne leading to constrained and shortened lives. The collection further illumines the concept of Irish masculinity in this era.
Each contributor brings their unique approach to their analysis. Some focus on personal accounts while others delve into gender-focused experiences, family histories, and issues like youth, poverty, sickness, and crime among others. Cécile Chemin, for instance, brings attention to the vulnerability of women and children through her analysis of dependants’ applications.
One highlight of the collection is its ability to offer insights into the lives of ordinary revolutionaries. Brian Hughes utilizes it to understand the socio-economic position of Dublin IRA members. Marie Coleman studies how revolutionary activity influenced participants’ lives. Other themes explored include Irish republican policing, the munitions strike of 1920, the Kilmichael ambush, the experiences of single women, and the civil-war atrocities in Kerry.
“An Overwhelmingly Difficult Battle. Existences documented in the Military Service Pensions Collection – a glimpse into the severity of Irish living conditions
Edel Coffey: ‘We inhabit a profoundly prying world… I speculate about its effect on our sense of satisfaction’
Whilst there is substantial gloom, there are also instances of positivity: wedlocks formed due to revolutionary engagements, births of offspring, lasting companionships and gestures of goodwill.”