An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 37 author: Liam de Paor publisher: Four Courts Press (September 2016) www.fourcourtspress. ie/books/2016/easter- proclamation-1916/ isBn: 978-1846826191 price: €14.95 pages: 128 On Easter Monday, 24th April 1916, Patrick Pearse declared an Irish Republic from the steps of the General Post Office on Sackville St. in Dublin, by reading aloud a document known as the Proclamation. This manuscript, containing 486 words, excluding the signatures, written by Pearse, revised by James Connolly and Thomas McDonagh is as controversial today as it was 100 years ago. Though short and exhortatory it reveals the mindset and aims of those who orchestrated one of the greatest acts of insurrection in Irish history. The Easter Proclamation 1916; A Comparative Analysis has been described as an apologia of the uprising, yet even today, this reissue is an essential critical analysis that will enable the reader to delve further into the document and the minds of those that created it. about the author: Liam de Paor (1926–98) was an archaeologist, historian and political thinker; he initially trained as an architect at University College Dublin, but later abandoned architecture for archaeology, and became a professor at UCD. His books include Ireland and early Europe: essays and occasional writings on art and culture and Saint Patrick's world: the Christian culture of Ireland's apostolic age (1993; repr. 2014). PC tHe eAster PrOclAMAtiOn A Comparative Analysis author: Anthony Cooper publisher: Fonthill Media (August 2016) www.fonthillmedia.com isBn: 978-1-78155-512-5 price: €30 H/B pages: 272 RAF Fighter Command in 1941 appeared to be repeating the successes it had achieved against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. This, however, was far from the truth as Anthony Cooper describes in this new book. The RAF was in fact losing five aircraft for every enemy aircraft destroyed. The Spitfire equipped Kenley Wing of three squadrons was one of many fighting over northern France in the summer and autumn of 1941. Its pilots came from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and of course Great Britain. Victories that would shore up morale were in short supply and the pilots of the RAF appeared to offer the solution. The propaganda value of British, Australian, and New Zealand pilots achieving successes over Europe was immeasurable. Bader, Deere, Finucane became household names in a very short period. Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 left meagre fighter resources to defend western Europe. However these were well equipped and trained units. Huge advances in radar technology and the fact that they were fighting on their terms gave them a massive advantage. They fought the masses rank of Spitfires when the odds were in their favour and only then. The tactics employed by the RAF were also questionable: tight formation flying was useless in these situations. The Luftwaffe had perfected their attack drills over a long period of time and novice Allied pilots did not last long; the short range of the Spitfire was also a huge handicap. Anthony Cooper describes brilliantly the mayhem of high-speed aerial combat: two or three seconds firing, dodging, weaving, avoiding collisions. It was no wonder that over claiming was rife across all the squadrons. Using Luftwaffe combat losses the author examines with scepticism 452 Squadron's claims of enemy aircraft destroyed. Finucane and the Australian pilots claims in his opinion do not equate. I'm convinced that they believed their claims were genuine and one also must be sceptical about Luftwaffe records. Nearly 75 years after these events I feel that it was not as 'black and white' as it seems but the readers can make up their own minds. Cooper does not for a moment denigrate the airmen's bravery, heroism, and tenacity in combat. Many of these young men would make the ultimate sacrifice including Finucane, Truscott, and Thorold- Smith of 452 Squadron. I found it a fascinating and worthy read. Mb 'PAddy' FinUcAne And tHe leGend OF tHe kenley WinG author: James W. Taylor publisher: Mercier Press Ltd (June 2016) www.mercierpress.ie isBn: 978-1781174210 price: €19.99 pages: 288 The name Captain J.C. Bowen- Colthurst is inextricably linked with the Easter Rising of 1916, in particular the deaths of six unarmed civilians. One of those, Francis Sheehy Skeffington, a known pacifist who was trying to bring an end to the chaos that had descended on the city, was executed by firing squad on the orders of Captain Colthurst. Taylor has used previously unseen military documents and family papers to weave together the story of Colthurt's life and the events leading up to his actions during the Rising. Unknown to many is that Colthurst had been invalided home from the Front suffering from what we know today as PTSD. Can his actions in Dublin be contributed to his deteriorating mental state? This work argues the fact that the officer was not of sound mind when he took to the streets of the city to restore order. Tried for his actions, Captain Colthurst was found guilty but insane, serving just eighteen months in Broadmoor Criminal Asylum. Released, he moved abroad and lived until 1965. The author's correspondence with family members gives the reader an insight into the officer's life in latter years and what he thought of his actions back when Ireland was in turmoil. This book will undoubtedly shed new light on these tragic events. James W. Taylor is an excellent Historian and Author and this latest work is a testament to that. P. o'b GUilty BUt insAne J.c. BOWen- cOltHUrst: Villain or Victim?

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