As well as the WO161 series there are also a number of documents in the Special Series (WO 141). The file WO 141/9 includes a summary of the evidence compiled by MI5 of the men and NCO’s reported to have joined the German/Irish Brigade. It suggests that the evidence is strong enough for pay, allowances etc be stopped for:-
In the case of the following they thought it a matter for consideration whether the evidence was sufficient:-
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| Debrief Private Joseph Mahoney (?) RDF | Debrief Private T Higgins, 9602 RDF |
The only specific mentions I have got from debriefs available online are on Private Higgins one above in which he alleges that Privates Mahoney, Bourke, Stacey and Wilson from RDF joined Casement's Irish Brigade. The debriefing officer put Higgins down as "very intellegent and apparently reliable" He names Stacey, who was not on earlier government list, and does not name Curry who was, the other 3 names are the same on both sources
| Burke | 11438 Private Henry | Royal Dublin Fusilier. file WO 141/9 includes a summary of the evidence compiled by MI5 re the men and NCO’s reported to have joined the German-Irish Brigade. It suggests that the evidence is strong enough for pay, allowances etc be stopped. His medals were forfeited, and medal card shows his father applied on his behalf W F Burke, 2 Meckenburgh Lane, Cumberland St, Dublin | |
| Caulfield | 11523 Private Michael | Medal Card gives medals forfeited and POW. Address in Dublin illegible. But he is not on Casements POW list | |
| Curry | 11324 Private John | Royal Dublin Fusiliers. In Limburg POW Camp, suspected as having joined Casements Brigade, but not sufficient proof. But later his medals were forfeited | |
| Mahoney | 9623 Private J | WO161 Joined Irish Brigade file WO 141/9 includes a summary of the evidence compiled by MI5 re the men and NCO’s reported to have joined the German-Irish Brigade. It suggests that the evidence is strong enough for pay, allowances etc be stopped. His medal card does not show any forfeits | |
| Stacey | 7895 Private Joseph | Named as having joined Irish Brigade by Private Higgins in his debrief, Stacey deserted 28 May 1919. | |
| Wilson | 11350 Private Thomas Joseph | POW had medals forfeited, then restored. His claim to having joined because the got a German girl "into trouble" when on a working party were probably accepted by the army. |
I now look at each of these men individually
11438 Private Henry Burke
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| Card States he was a POW and Medals forfeited | |
11523 Private Michael Caulfield
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| Card States he was a POW and Medals forfeited. It is difficult to see from card if they were re-instated | |
11324 Private John Curry
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| Card States he was a POW and Medals forfeited. | |
9623 Private John Mahoney
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| No sign of a forfeit. But WO161 leads one to think that he was convicted. More research is needed | |
7895 Private Joseph Stacey
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| Named as having joined Irish Brigade by Private Higgins in his debriefing. Stacey certainly did not hang around after the war! | |
11350 Private Thomas Joseph Wilson
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| Wilson, appears to have joined the Irish Brigade, but had his medals restored post war. The British Army seems to have accepted the view that Wilson joined because he had got a local girl ‘into trouble’ whilst out working (see National Archive notes). | |
On 21 Jan 1919 a reception was held in Dublin for 400 repatriated Dublin Fusilier prisoners. Obviously some of the total had died and some were English who would not have returned to Ireland if they had been demobilised in England. 5 RDF man had joined the Irish Brigade.