Thursday 26 July 2012

Bombing of the PRO document on Military Archives

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Military Archives has introduced a Document of the Month feature on its website. As the title suggests, it will present a key document from the Archives each month, along with a short explanation as to its provenance and significance. The intention is to give researchers a better idea of the range of materials available at the repository.

The first such Document of the Month is of prime relevance to Irish genealogists. Exactly 90 years old, it is the order, signed by Oscar Traynor, confirming the plan for Anti-Treaty forces to detonate mines at the Four Courts, June 1922, the home of Ireland's Public Records Office.

What followed was the Great Fire That Destroyed All The Records (only it didn't, not quite).

The Military Archives feature provides good context to the document. And makes you want to weep!