Johnny Doyle
@johnnydoyle.bsky.social
#EasterRising #ArmouredCars #VickersMachineGuns
https://johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14dg9on8KidRptZYQTGE3vIIv0gUvp8nR6lUfi70DbXU/edit?usp=sharing
https://johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14dg9on8KidRptZYQTGE3vIIv0gUvp8nR6lUfi70DbXU/edit?usp=sharing
Pinned
Johnny Doyle
@johnnydoyle.bsky.social
· Nov 19
1920 Pattern Rolls-Royce in Cork with Hotchkiss machine gun on rear of turret.
17th (Armoured Car) Bn had been using Austins and Whippets armed with Hotchkiss MGs before being issued with Vickers armed Rolls-Royce cars.
Full image of Irish Examiner page :
www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/mo...
17th (Armoured Car) Bn had been using Austins and Whippets armed with Hotchkiss MGs before being issued with Vickers armed Rolls-Royce cars.
Full image of Irish Examiner page :
www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/mo...
MC for Harley Fox-Davies, 1/DLI, signed off by Archibald Wavell for a raid on 14/15th April 1941 near Sollum, Egypt.
Possibly against an infantry element of newly arrived 15th Panzer Division @crusaderproject.bsky.social?
rommelsriposte.com/2016/04/24/f...
Possibly against an infantry element of newly arrived 15th Panzer Division @crusaderproject.bsky.social?
rommelsriposte.com/2016/04/24/f...
January 13, 2026 at 4:10 PM
MC for Harley Fox-Davies, 1/DLI, signed off by Archibald Wavell for a raid on 14/15th April 1941 near Sollum, Egypt.
Possibly against an infantry element of newly arrived 15th Panzer Division @crusaderproject.bsky.social?
rommelsriposte.com/2016/04/24/f...
Possibly against an infantry element of newly arrived 15th Panzer Division @crusaderproject.bsky.social?
rommelsriposte.com/2016/04/24/f...
a good listen.
Vickers MG (and Lewis guns) used during the #EasterRising
The Vickers team in the attached postcard captured on film (9 minutes in on the following clip) :
player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wa...
Vickers MG (and Lewis guns) used during the #EasterRising
The Vickers team in the attached postcard captured on film (9 minutes in on the following clip) :
player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wa...
January 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
a good listen.
Vickers MG (and Lewis guns) used during the #EasterRising
The Vickers team in the attached postcard captured on film (9 minutes in on the following clip) :
player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wa...
Vickers MG (and Lewis guns) used during the #EasterRising
The Vickers team in the attached postcard captured on film (9 minutes in on the following clip) :
player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wa...
Only know about Agnes Clerke through research on her cousin Henry Deasy and his involvement in the improvised armoured vehicles used during the #EasterRising
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/henr...
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/henr...
January 7, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Only know about Agnes Clerke through research on her cousin Henry Deasy and his involvement in the improvised armoured vehicles used during the #EasterRising
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/henr...
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2013/02/henr...
Royal Irish Constabulary pensioner Henry Armitage Llewellyn from Queen's County (now Laois) died in County Tipperary in July 1911.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/846...
Twin grandchildren born in County Cork in 1921 would take different paths.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/846...
Twin grandchildren born in County Cork in 1921 would take different paths.
January 6, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Royal Irish Constabulary pensioner Henry Armitage Llewellyn from Queen's County (now Laois) died in County Tipperary in July 1911.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/846...
Twin grandchildren born in County Cork in 1921 would take different paths.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/846...
Twin grandchildren born in County Cork in 1921 would take different paths.
Hoping to watch the presentation online.
Uncivil War, my book about the British Army and the Troubles in the early 1970s, is out in paperback on 15 January. Come and hear me talk about it at the National Army Museum on 13 February:
www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/unc...
www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/unc...
Uncivil War: The British Army and the Troubles, 1966-75
Join historian Huw Bennett as he examines the interactions between the British Army and paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland during the most violent phase of the Troubles.
www.nam.ac.uk
January 6, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Hoping to watch the presentation online.
No footballs or truce in the air Xmas Day 1914 - a fleeting bombing raid on the UK
iancastlezeppelin.co.uk/24-dec-1914
iancastlezeppelin.co.uk/24-dec-1914
December 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
No footballs or truce in the air Xmas Day 1914 - a fleeting bombing raid on the UK
iancastlezeppelin.co.uk/24-dec-1914
iancastlezeppelin.co.uk/24-dec-1914
A good read. Lots to take in and think about.
December 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
A good read. Lots to take in and think about.
OTD 1918. Denis "Sonny" O'Neill discharged from the British Army.
Captured 25/1/18 with wound to right forearm. Repatriated by the Germans, he was admitted to the temporary King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London on 2/6/18 (originally a warehouse used by HM Stationery Office aka HMSO).
Captured 25/1/18 with wound to right forearm. Repatriated by the Germans, he was admitted to the temporary King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London on 2/6/18 (originally a warehouse used by HM Stationery Office aka HMSO).
October 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
OTD 1918. Denis "Sonny" O'Neill discharged from the British Army.
Captured 25/1/18 with wound to right forearm. Repatriated by the Germans, he was admitted to the temporary King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London on 2/6/18 (originally a warehouse used by HM Stationery Office aka HMSO).
Captured 25/1/18 with wound to right forearm. Repatriated by the Germans, he was admitted to the temporary King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London on 2/6/18 (originally a warehouse used by HM Stationery Office aka HMSO).
The first tanks appeared in Dublin in November 1917.
One of the tank commanders a Dubliner with his diary in the Tank Museum archives.
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-...
One of the tank commanders a Dubliner with his diary in the Tank Museum archives.
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-...
October 18, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The first tanks appeared in Dublin in November 1917.
One of the tank commanders a Dubliner with his diary in the Tank Museum archives.
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-...
One of the tank commanders a Dubliner with his diary in the Tank Museum archives.
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-...
A nice set of images.
One Rolls-Royce armoured car in the set
meshs-omekas.univ-lille.fr/omeka-s/s/im...
which ties in with the film clip re the Battle of Belleek and No 5 Armoured Car Company
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/battle-of-be...
One Rolls-Royce armoured car in the set
meshs-omekas.univ-lille.fr/omeka-s/s/im...
which ties in with the film clip re the Battle of Belleek and No 5 Armoured Car Company
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/battle-of-be...
October 18, 2025 at 9:57 AM
A nice set of images.
One Rolls-Royce armoured car in the set
meshs-omekas.univ-lille.fr/omeka-s/s/im...
which ties in with the film clip re the Battle of Belleek and No 5 Armoured Car Company
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/battle-of-be...
One Rolls-Royce armoured car in the set
meshs-omekas.univ-lille.fr/omeka-s/s/im...
which ties in with the film clip re the Battle of Belleek and No 5 Armoured Car Company
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/battle-of-be...
Picked up a copy of #RogueHeroes Dudley Clarkes' book re the XIth Hussars #RougeHeroes following a conversation at #WeHaveWays re armoured cars in the inter war period 🤓
Cherrypicking here 🙂 but the part re 2 MGs in 1914 vs 40 when the XIth went to Egypt in 1934 caught the eye 🙂
Cherrypicking here 🙂 but the part re 2 MGs in 1914 vs 40 when the XIth went to Egypt in 1934 caught the eye 🙂
September 27, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Picked up a copy of #RogueHeroes Dudley Clarkes' book re the XIth Hussars #RougeHeroes following a conversation at #WeHaveWays re armoured cars in the inter war period 🤓
Cherrypicking here 🙂 but the part re 2 MGs in 1914 vs 40 when the XIth went to Egypt in 1934 caught the eye 🙂
Cherrypicking here 🙂 but the part re 2 MGs in 1914 vs 40 when the XIth went to Egypt in 1934 caught the eye 🙂
#whwf25 picked up a better copy of the Abyssinian Campaigns publication. Will keep as the good copy and use the tattier version for delving in.
#SudanDefenceForce #Mission101SOE #WilfredThesiger
#SudanDefenceForce #Mission101SOE #WilfredThesiger
September 16, 2025 at 9:24 AM
#whwf25 picked up a better copy of the Abyssinian Campaigns publication. Will keep as the good copy and use the tattier version for delving in.
#SudanDefenceForce #Mission101SOE #WilfredThesiger
#SudanDefenceForce #Mission101SOE #WilfredThesiger
#WeHaveWays #whwf25 tanks and Scalextric - fantastic 🙂
September 16, 2025 at 8:53 AM
#WeHaveWays #whwf25 tanks and Scalextric - fantastic 🙂
A trip to Reading and a stop to see the Maiwand Lion. Very nice piece of public art.
September 9, 2025 at 6:19 AM
A trip to Reading and a stop to see the Maiwand Lion. Very nice piece of public art.
Yesterday's delivery.
Prompted by a photo of 1920 pattern Rolls-Royces with Shanghai "Top Hats" and a camouflage pattern used by the 11th Hussars in 1934, as per the Bovington RR pic :
tankmuseum.org/wp-content/u...
Prompted by a photo of 1920 pattern Rolls-Royces with Shanghai "Top Hats" and a camouflage pattern used by the 11th Hussars in 1934, as per the Bovington RR pic :
tankmuseum.org/wp-content/u...
August 16, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Yesterday's delivery.
Prompted by a photo of 1920 pattern Rolls-Royces with Shanghai "Top Hats" and a camouflage pattern used by the 11th Hussars in 1934, as per the Bovington RR pic :
tankmuseum.org/wp-content/u...
Prompted by a photo of 1920 pattern Rolls-Royces with Shanghai "Top Hats" and a camouflage pattern used by the 11th Hussars in 1934, as per the Bovington RR pic :
tankmuseum.org/wp-content/u...
Our students from last and this year have returned to help catalogue more items in the VMGCRA collections.
They came across these items from an RAF Regiment Leading Aircraftsman (pictured in the top middle photo) who undertook parachute training in India and fought in Burma.
#VJDay
They came across these items from an RAF Regiment Leading Aircraftsman (pictured in the top middle photo) who undertook parachute training in India and fought in Burma.
#VJDay
August 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Our students from last and this year have returned to help catalogue more items in the VMGCRA collections.
They came across these items from an RAF Regiment Leading Aircraftsman (pictured in the top middle photo) who undertook parachute training in India and fought in Burma.
#VJDay
They came across these items from an RAF Regiment Leading Aircraftsman (pictured in the top middle photo) who undertook parachute training in India and fought in Burma.
#VJDay
Pratt was CO of No 5 Armoured Car Company (ACC) in Dublin during the Irish WoI, with Pope as 2IC. Pope later in charge of armoured cars in Cork.
Pope became CO of No 3 ACC in Egypt for much of 1923 (20th March to 15th December).
No 3 and no 5 ACCs would later merge to become 6 RTR.
Pope became CO of No 3 ACC in Egypt for much of 1923 (20th March to 15th December).
No 3 and no 5 ACCs would later merge to become 6 RTR.
August 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Pratt was CO of No 5 Armoured Car Company (ACC) in Dublin during the Irish WoI, with Pope as 2IC. Pope later in charge of armoured cars in Cork.
Pope became CO of No 3 ACC in Egypt for much of 1923 (20th March to 15th December).
No 3 and no 5 ACCs would later merge to become 6 RTR.
Pope became CO of No 3 ACC in Egypt for much of 1923 (20th March to 15th December).
No 3 and no 5 ACCs would later merge to become 6 RTR.
A trip to the Tank Museum archive yesterday.
It would appear that the 3rd Armoured Car Company took on the Duke of Westminsters 1914 pattern Rolls-Royce armoured cars.
Some were taken to the Sudan in 1924 and 2 stayed.
www.melik.org.uk/discover/sol...
It would appear that the 3rd Armoured Car Company took on the Duke of Westminsters 1914 pattern Rolls-Royce armoured cars.
Some were taken to the Sudan in 1924 and 2 stayed.
www.melik.org.uk/discover/sol...
August 8, 2025 at 7:47 PM
A trip to the Tank Museum archive yesterday.
It would appear that the 3rd Armoured Car Company took on the Duke of Westminsters 1914 pattern Rolls-Royce armoured cars.
Some were taken to the Sudan in 1924 and 2 stayed.
www.melik.org.uk/discover/sol...
It would appear that the 3rd Armoured Car Company took on the Duke of Westminsters 1914 pattern Rolls-Royce armoured cars.
Some were taken to the Sudan in 1924 and 2 stayed.
www.melik.org.uk/discover/sol...
Not 100% but the Rolls-Royce with the Hotchkiss MG mount may be "Danny Boy", based on a newspaper item re fighting in Bruree in 1922.
No reg number I can see on a seprate pic of "Danny Boy" from the front view or in the film clip of fighting in the area.
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/irish-nation...
No reg number I can see on a seprate pic of "Danny Boy" from the front view or in the film clip of fighting in the area.
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/irish-nation...
July 25, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Not 100% but the Rolls-Royce with the Hotchkiss MG mount may be "Danny Boy", based on a newspaper item re fighting in Bruree in 1922.
No reg number I can see on a seprate pic of "Danny Boy" from the front view or in the film clip of fighting in the area.
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/irish-nation...
No reg number I can see on a seprate pic of "Danny Boy" from the front view or in the film clip of fighting in the area.
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/irish-nation...
An 88mm flak gun at Fort Nelson - didn't realise how large this gun really is
July 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
An 88mm flak gun at Fort Nelson - didn't realise how large this gun really is
OTD 1919 Victory Parade in Dublin with elements of 17th (Armoured Car) Bn, Tank Corps passing College Green
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/vict...
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/vict...
July 19, 2025 at 10:52 AM
OTD 1919 Victory Parade in Dublin with elements of 17th (Armoured Car) Bn, Tank Corps passing College Green
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/vict...
johnny-doyle.blogspot.com/2013/01/vict...
Medals etc of Douglas Henry Pratt, Commanding Officer of No 5 Armoured Car Company during the Irish War of Independence.
One of many involved in the mechanization of the British Army before WW2.
www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/arc...
One of many involved in the mechanization of the British Army before WW2.
www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/arc...
Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria (12 February 2025): Lot 28 | Noonans Mayfair
www.noonans.co.uk
July 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Medals etc of Douglas Henry Pratt, Commanding Officer of No 5 Armoured Car Company during the Irish War of Independence.
One of many involved in the mechanization of the British Army before WW2.
www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/arc...
One of many involved in the mechanization of the British Army before WW2.
www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/arc...
The diary of the North Irish Horse mentions they sent 2 armoured cars to the funeral of Lord Craigavon in 1940.
Moveitone footage shows one of their Rolls-Royces (F 220?) with a "Top Hat" on the turret, as used by No 5 Armoured Car Co in Shanghai
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4xu...
Moveitone footage shows one of their Rolls-Royces (F 220?) with a "Top Hat" on the turret, as used by No 5 Armoured Car Co in Shanghai
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4xu...
July 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The diary of the North Irish Horse mentions they sent 2 armoured cars to the funeral of Lord Craigavon in 1940.
Moveitone footage shows one of their Rolls-Royces (F 220?) with a "Top Hat" on the turret, as used by No 5 Armoured Car Co in Shanghai
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4xu...
Moveitone footage shows one of their Rolls-Royces (F 220?) with a "Top Hat" on the turret, as used by No 5 Armoured Car Co in Shanghai
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4xu...
Document re the #EasterRising murder of unarmed civilians by troops from South Staffs Regiment. Most were cold blooded murders after overnight imprisonment.
Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, born in Kerry, died #OTD 1916. This is from a series of secret cipher messages between Kitchener and General Maxwell concerning bodies found buried under rubble in King’s Street (23 May 1916). (Transcription in ALT)
![23/5/16
Secret
[War Office] 5.30pm
Sir John Maxwell,
...This is private and only for my own information.
In your opinion is it true that during the fighting in King Street men were shot by our local force and buried in house cellars. Do not you consider it to be much more likely that Sinn Feiners who were holding the houses were shot by our men from outside and, before our men entered, were buried by their comrades, or that altercation regarding surrender may have occurred amongst the Sinn Feiners resulting in those who disagreed with the majority being shot and buried. If our men short others in hot blood I cannot think that they would bury them also.
Kitchener
Deciphered 6.12pm](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:haa74v4feowinvczksrdivfj/bafkreiajrq4jwzv22er7j52t5b22fqsblmehmnbozwvn7kwtx5m3ejtemi@jpeg)
June 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Document re the #EasterRising murder of unarmed civilians by troops from South Staffs Regiment. Most were cold blooded murders after overnight imprisonment.