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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: TLB on Wednesday 29 September 10 11:28 BST (UK)
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It is known in my family that 2 uncles, Michael Byrne and Paul Sweeney, broke out of the above jail during the Civil War. I have found an extract in the New York Times stating that 47 prisoners tunnelled out, round about 22/11/ 1921. Does anyone know where I can find a list of who actually broke out as the article is not complete and I understand only a small portion of it still exist.
I know there could be a problem tracing them,as during the troubles , I know the family were using a lot of alias's, but i do know what some of these where.
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Fr PH Delahunty of Callan was involved in the escape. He in fact was the first person out of the tunnel. Non of the escapees were captured. Sorry other than that I dont know anything.
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Thanks Tomahurra, thats a start, where did you glean that bit of info. from.
Tony
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In the past few months a book has been published which gives an account of some of the prison breaks of the War of Independence and Civil War - it was first published in the 1960's I think. I am quite certain that it includes a chapter on the November 1921 escape from Kilkenny. However, it gives very few names of the escapees. I remember that it described how progress in the tunnel was held up for a while by someone who had brought a suitcase with him and got stuck. Some of the prisoners made it to Kilmanagh where there was a safehouse.
Unfortunately I can't remember the name or author of the book. I may have recorded it somewhere, so will let you know if I can find it.
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Prior to his imprisionment in Kilkenny Fr Delahunty was in Waterford Jail with my Grandfather who awaitng trail for his involvement in the Sathmills Explosion. They remained friends even when Fr Delahunty moved to Kansas. I think there may have been articile written about Fr Delehunty in the Callan Historical Journal unfornuately I don't know what the publication is called. Also have you looked at the bureau of military history witness statements they can be seen in the national archives. The newspapers of the time for Kilkenny might worth a look
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Thanks for the info. I'll do some more digging
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have you tried Michael Collins site,
http://generalmichaelcollins.com
when you go on the site you will be able to e-mail them, they should be able to help you,
or you could try: The National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin2, Ireland. e-mail: info(at)nli.ie
replace the (at) with @
Have you been in touch with any of the Newspapers in Kilkenny.
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http://www.military.ie/dfhq/archives/arch.htm
might be worth a try - they are quiet busy but they are very helpful
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New York Times 24.11.1921 - 44 Sinn Fein prisoners who escaped last night from Kilkenny Prison, Yes Father Delahunty was first out, and Laurence Condon who was in command of the Party.
Father Delahunty remained outside the prison until all the others were free, and Condon was making arrangements to help the fugitives leave the district. It does not mention any other names.
of course Sinn Fein has it's own magazine called An Phoblacht, 58 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Sean Bradt is the editor. e-mail address: editor(at)anphoblacht.com replace the (at) with a (@)
Don't forget these men, they might not be still around are wanted men.
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Thanks for all your info. Certain bits and pieces are now falling into place, 'still around are wanted men' explains why Michael and Paul had to get out of Ireland, Paul to the States and Michael to England ( he only ever returned once with his daughter). Talking with the family, the feeling is whilst along with my father, Jeremiah, they were all members of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade , we believe 5th Battalion, that during the Civil War, Michael & Paul joined the other side in the mistaken belief that my father had joined them, infact he had gone to England.
I have recently got a photo of the members of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade( 5th Battalion ) taken the day before the attack on Kickham Barracks and am now trying to identify family members also need to do some research into 3rd Tipperary Brigade, anyone any ideas.
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The witness statement a good starting point as the statements were collected from every county. Tipperary Library might have information
http://www.tipperarylibraries.ie/BureauofMilitaryHistory.shtml
http://www.military.ie/dfhq/archives/documents/The%20Bureau%20of%20Military%20History1913-1921%20Index%20to%20Contributors.pdf
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I would have thought that most of the men would have left Ireland with new names. The rest of their relatives who have suffered because of this.
Austraila News reported this as well. Jan 1921 Father Delahunty RC Curate, Parish of Callan, Kilkenny, found guitly of possession of seditious documents, given two years hard labour.
http://newspapers.nla.gov.au
Have you written to The New York Times?
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Thanks, regretably New York Times article is not complete and I understand only small fragment of the article now exists.
We know during the troubles family were using a lot of alias's, in fact my father used to tell the story that when he was picked up by the Black and Tans , who were looking for Gerry Byrne , he told them his name was Henry O'Broin which was the name on his Baptismal cert. and they let him go. We have never known the reason for this name on his BC in actual fact his name is Jeremiah Joseph Byrne. It could have been something to do with my Grandfather who we know was very active in the IRA , in fact it seems to be a family trait to change names as we have established that my great grandfather, who was transported changed his name.
I am now in touch with the archivist of the Tipperary Brigade and hope to get some other info.
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This may be to early for what the time period you are interested. I don't know how widely it is available.
Recollections of the Fight for Irish Freedom
Author: Sean Fitzpatrick
Publisher: 3rd Tipperary Brigade Old IRA Commemoration
Year: n/a
annclare
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Books and articles written: Interment by a John McGuffin 1973 it says on his site they write the books that no one esle will. He writes 43 men tunnelled their way out including Michael Burke of Glengoole who had servived a 90day hunger strike in a cork jail.
Http://www.irishrestancebooks.com
Please be careful, after all you are looking for IRA men.
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Do you use the search eng. google.
www.google.com
when the box comes up type in - 3rd Tipperary Brigade OR 3rd Tipperary Brigade 5th Battalion
OR Photos of 3rd Tipperary Brigade
You can find lots of information going through google.
also the 3rd Tipperary Brigade is on the Michael Collins site.
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missed a bit - in Feb 1922 Kickham Barracks were taken over by Commandant Dalton commander of the 5th Battalion of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade.
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Thanks Rathmore, we do use Google and all the sites mentioned have already been searched.
Archivist at Tipperary Brigades is currently searching records, which are not complete by any means. We are not sure to which Brigade they belonged, we had assumed it was the 5th Battalion 3rd Brigade as we have a photo of the 5th Battalion in which we have identified an uncle but they possibly my have belonged to one of the flying columns which is going to make more difficult to trace.
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I now have a copy of the book I mentioned earlier. It's called 'IRA Jailbreaks 1918-1921'. It does have a chapter on the November 1921 escape, but although it names about 20 of the 47 who escaped there is no mention of either Michael Byrne or Paul Sweeney. If you send me a PM with your email address I will send you the details.
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articile called the flying coloun west kilkenny published 1987
list of some of the escaped
Lawerence Condon Fermoy
Gerald Kenealy Youghal
Sean Power Waterford
Martin Kealy Kilkenny - commandant of prisioners
James O Hanrahan Cappagh Kilkenny
Patrick Power Carrig an Suir
Thomas Brennan Waterford
William O Leary Enniscorthy
Sean Quilter Kerry
Henry Meany Limerick
Edward Punch Limerick
Thomas McCarrick Sligo
Edward Balfe Wexford
W O 'Mara Carrick on Suir
Michael Burke Glengoole Tipperary
Sean O Reilly Tullamore
J Keogh Kells
L Fraher Dungravan
D Connolly Limerick
M Kearns Limerick
T Pine Mayo
Timothy Murphy Limerick
M Bourke Thurles
JJ Keane Cork
Corneilus Conroy Cork
Jerry Ryan Thurles
T Leonard Dungannon
Father Delahunty Callan
Maybe this might be of some help - if you try finding out about any of the above you never know whay you might find
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Thanks Tomahurra, I had seen that list before but the problem I have is both relatives were using allias's so I think it is going to be virtually impossible to find them
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Don't give up - all you need a is a little break. I realise that you are dealing with alias. But maybe you need to look at some of the names you have and you might get some little information. Have you checked witness statements of the County in question or maybe so of the escapees gave witness statements. Also do you think that you relations got military pensions - if so this can be checks. Only problem is it is a very slow process
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Hi Tomahurra, certainly not giving up and we are exploring other avenues but just keep hitting a brick wall. From what we have established my father, brothers and cousins were all in the 'flying brigades' and used more than 1 alais, in fact my cousin is not even sure her father (RIP), after the troubles, was using the correct Christian name as no record exists with his known name.
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there are published articles on the Tipperary brigades
http://www.dcu.ie/~foxs/irhist/bibliograpy%20-%20journal_articles.htm
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This is an extract from the great grand fathers account of his involvement of the troubles
Conditions in Kilkenny were very bad. The military guards there were a bad lot and gave us a tough time. I had a bit of good luck, however; our arrival caused the Jail to be overcrowded, especially in the long-term wing. As we were lined up to be allocated to cells, I met a warder named Frawely who had been in mount Joy during the big Hunger Strike there in 1917. He was in sympathy with the Sinn Fein and recognised as soon as he saw me. He told me to wait back at the end of the line. I did so. There was no more room in the long Term wing for the last 10 or 12 of the crowd who had come from Spike Island, with the result that they had to be accommodated with the short term prisoners who numbered about twenty.
These short-term prisoners, all political of course, had been working on an escape tunnel. On the night after we joined them we were asked to attend a meeting which they had arranged. To my great delight, I learned that the escape had been planned for the following night and we were to be allowed to go with them. The escape plans were to be explained. A prisoner called McCarrick, a native of Leitrim, was to lead the way through the tunnel, which was about 40 yards and opened outside the prison onto the public road. Four others including myself were to follow him. As soon as we got outside the tunnel four men were to guard outside the wardens' house which were right in front of the exit, where I was to remain to haul out the others as they appeared. Along with McCarrick and myself were three Limerick men named Pyne, Punch and O' Halloran.
The escape worked out excellently and most of the men had got through until one fool decided to bring his suitcase with him. He tried to force this out in front of him, but in doing so managed to jamb the passage most effectively. Not alone did he prevent the remainder of the men escaping, but he nearly suffocated them as well. They all had to go back into prison with him. The warders and the military guards had become alert and found the unlucky ones inside the tunnel. I was surprised when no more men were coming along, as I had been counting those who had got clear and knew there was more to come. I shouted through the exit hole a few times but got no answer. I the heard the prison staff shouting and knew the game was then up. I collected the three Limerick men and followed in the direction in which the others disappeared in the darkness.
Though we had not the faintest idea of the country we got safely into the fields outside Kilkenny and kept wandering further and further away from the city. After a couple of hours we heard a couple of lorries coming towards us. We were then at the bridge, which had a blind arch, and we crept into it. The lorries stopped right overhead. They belonged to the military that were obviously on our tracks. A searchlight was flashed on both sides of the bridge, but our luck held and we were not seen. A small party of soldiers was left on guard at the bridge while the lorries moved off. They were not long gone when they came back again, picked up the guard and drove.
As soon as the coast was clear, we resumed our trek. In the early hours of the morning we saw a light in a house and headed for it. Inside we found a old man sitting at a kitchen fire and told him our story. He led us to the captain of the local IRA Company. In his place we washed, cleaned our clothes and had a meal. Through his assistance we were passed along from one Battalion to another until, finally after a couple of days, we landed in Doon, Co. Limerick. There I separated from my three companions and made my way to Castleconnell, where the veteran Mid Limerick IRA man, Sean Carroll, took me across the Shannon to Clonlara and there got a pony and trap in which drove me to Broadford, Co. Clare.
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Hi and good afternoon, i am a Delahunty and i was told by my great Unlcle that there was a priest in the family who during the WofI had to leave Ireland ,he thinks he went to the US, Now could this be one of my relations. Does any one know what become of this chap Fr.PH Delahunty.
thanks
daz
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Good morning, all. I'm afraid I don't have information to add on the identity of the jailbreakers. I think the best source for information on that subject would be the Kilkenny People but I don’t think its records are online. I do, however, have quite a lot of information on Fr. Patrick Delahunty and, Dazem, if you are related to him, you are related to me too. Fr. Pat was born in Curraghmartin, Carrigeen, County Kilkenny. His IRA activities occurred when he was in Callan, Kilkenny. He was spirited away to the U.S. and became chaplain at Leavenworth prison in Kansas, where he died in April 1955. (I have heard he chose this posting because he himself had been imprisoned.) He is buried in St. Mary’s Leavenworth. One of his duties as chaplain was to accompany condemned men to the gallows and I've heard that he had great sympathy for them and believed that their poverty condemned many of them. An article at http://www.mail-archive.com/deathpenalty@lists.washlaw.edu/msg00815.html notes that in the case of one double hanging, he was troubled that the two men seemed to lack the mental capacity even to know what was about to happen to them. The article says they were buried in the Catholic cemetery and that the cause of death was listed as "cervical fracture of the spine" rather than "hanging." After Fr. Pat's death, a high mass was held for him in Carrigeen Church on April 19, 1955. The story is that so many bishops and priests attended that you couldn’t move six inches without tripping over a crozier or stepping on a cassock. Father Delahunty Terrace in Kilkenny City is named after him. While in Leavenworth, he met a local reporter and mentioned that he himself had once been a prisoner, but he declined to elaborate. The intrigued reporter came to Ireland after Fr. Pat died and later wrote an article for a Kansas newspaper which mentioned the jailbreak. I have seen a copy of the article but I unfortunately don’t have a copy. At least some of his brothers were also active in the IRA. His brother Richard was involved in the ambush at Sinnott’s Cross. His other brothers were Hilary, John (who died in Plymouth) Bernard and Joe. The best research source I’ve found for information on him is the Irish Newspaper Archive http://www.irishnewsarchive.com/
If you want info on his family, the death notices are very good when they list siblings. However, I’ve noticed that in some cases, not all siblings are listed. When searching, don’t restrict your viewing based on the score. The lowest scoring articles are sometimes the best, because sometimes the article will refer to “XXX Delahunty Curraghmartin” and will then instead of repeating the placename, list other persons followed by “Do”.
On the Irish newspaper archive site, I found references to him in the Freeman's Journal, the Irish Independent and the Munster Express. Unfortunately many of the articles are fragments.
In the Freeman's Journal, a search for Delahunty Callan found the following:
Nov 12, 1914 Volunteers reviewed in Callan. Address delivered by Fr. Pat, President of the County Volunteer Committee and leader of the Callan Corps.
March 6, 1915: Refers to a letter from Fr. Pat to the Kilkenny People newspaper. (Incomplete)
Oct 6 1920:Fr Pat's house searched by Black and Tans. (Incomplete)
Dec 18, 1920: Fr. Pat on trial. Courtmartialled in Waterford.
Jan 4, 1921: Fr. Pat convicted.
Jan 4, 1921: Priest gets 2 years with hard labour.
Jan 4, 1921 Sentenced to two years.
Jan 18, 1921: Hard labour portion of sentence remitted.
Nov. 24, 1921: Fragment of atricle re escape from Kilkenny jail.
Sunday Independent
Sept 5, 1920: Fr. Pat’s house raided
Irish Independent
Aug. 6, 1917: A meeting in Callan in support of W.T. Cosgrove (who was running for election) was addressed by Fr. Pat and Messrs D. McCarthy, De Valera (later President) and E. T. Keane (who was, I believe, the editor of the Kilkenny People Newspaper.)
I have a copy of a photo of Fr. Pat with De Valera and another gentleman whose name I don’t know. I'm told there was also a photo of him with Arthur Griffith but it was given to relatives in England and no one in Ireland has a copy. If anyone out there has it, I and my relatives would love a copy.
Dec. 18, 1920: Priest found guilty
Dec. 27, 1920: Article listing priests arrested.
May 17 1921: Serving 2 years.
Nov 24, 1921: Escape from Kilkenny jail. (Fragment)
Munster Express
There is a lot of useful information here as regards the family but as regards Fr. Pat’s activities in the war of Independence, try April 8 and 15, 1955 for articles relating to his death.There is also an article dated June 5, 1965 on the Sinnott's Cross ambush.
I hope this helps.
C
PS After writing the above, I spoke to my aunt, Fr. Pat's niece, who said he was first assigned to SingSing, before Leavenworth. She also said he didn't leave for the U.S. immediately and that he believed in the "hiding in plain sight" method of avoiding capture and would often take a pony and trap to visit Curraghmartin and would sail up the River Suir. She also said he had to leave because he could no longer say Mass, hear confesssions etc.
C
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TLB, another post on this site says records for Kilkenny jail from 1892 to 1921 are now online at www.findmypast.ie
I have not looked at these records but this is the post, which lists prison records available:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,563540.0.html
I suggest you check the records for Clonmel and Waterford jails also.
An article in the Nenagh Guardian on November 26, 1921 said that most of the prisoners in the jail had been transferred from Spike Island. Maybe there are records of Spike Island prisoners that could be checked? The above-referenced post says the records for Spike Island for 1860-1893 are online but there may be a way to access later records. Good luck!
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There is a list of names of men who escapes from Kilkenny Jail through the tunnel. I think it was 41 bodies including 4 from Enniscorthy, which is my interest.
This list can be found in "National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin 8.
The file contains a long detailed account of how the escape was made. These accounts are by staff from the jail itself which were highly criticised.
Hope this helps,
Tóg aire,
Liam óg.
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If you need a reference number try-GPB 1921/9687.
Liam óg.
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Sorry for not answering all the replies, but have not been around much and things have been put on hold. It now transpires, from a distant cousin, that they may not have been part of this 'break out' but of an earlier one where they obtained some guards uniforms(?) or similar and walked out. More work to do but thanks for all your info, it has been very interesting.
As an aside, following a recent visit to Clonmel I have been able to obtain my dads Birth Cert, he was told his birth had never been registered and he always had to rely on his Baptismal Cert( which was incorrect )and this caused no end of problems. It took a lot of work in the records office and a very diligent lady noticed an error in the records which led to the discovery and has turned up a name nobody has ever heard of.
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Hi and thanks for all the info, have done more research and it appears this is not the Great Uncle i was after. But still very interesting.
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My father is a nephew of Father pat. His mother Catherine was a sister of Father Pat.what is your connection to him?
I have a family tree of the Delahunty family back to1774 and a copy of the photo with de valera.my father thinks that the 3rd person in the photo was the then mayor of kilkenny?He is aware of the existence of the photo with Arthur Griffith.A cousin of his (daughter of Richard) thinks that the photo is in Australia with relatives of Ellen Wall who was Fr Pats mother.
would love to share info
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I'm the great grandson of John Delahunty mentioned in this thread, Father Patrick and Richard Delahunty were his brothers
I've not done a huge amount of research yet, just started but I have found loads to digest, just on this one extraordinary branch of my family
Keen to hear from any of you others who are also related to me in any way, keen to learn more / share knowledge / make connections!
I live in Exeter, UK
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I would be delighted to share the info i have with you.my email address is (*)
Regards,
Niamh
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There is a book written by Jim Maher about The Flying Column-west kilkenny 1916 to 1921 which gives Fr Pat a good mention.I have a copy of the Anerican newspaper article about Fr Pat.
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http://www.rootschat.com/links/01hux/
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Hi Niamh
A long shoot but i am trying to do a family tree for my bf who relates to Fr Pat Delahunty and you mentioned that you have a family tree done up... would you be able to share it with me.. i would be very obliged.
Regards
Yana
I would be delighted to share the info i have with you.my email address is (*)
Regards,
Niamh
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Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
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Fr Pat
1911
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Kilkenny/Kilkenny_No__1_Urban/James_Street/527632/
immigration 1927
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP1T-S315?i=723&cc=1923888
next of kin brother Richard going to Rev Thomas Barden,Tecumsah,Nebraska
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP1T-S3BT?i=724&cc=1923888
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John Barden born Waterford going to brother Rev Thomas Bardon,David City,Nebraska
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G1XM-QX1?i=732&cc=1368704
http://www.stmarysdavidcity.org/History.html
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Hi,
I am very interested find out more about Fr. P H Delahunty. He was a friend of my grandfather. They we both in jail in Waterford prior Fr Delehunty transfer to Kilkenny Jail. Fr Delehunty celebrated his birthday during his time in Waterford Jail and his fellow inmates gave him an autograph book as a present. Does any one know if this autograph book is till in existence. My grandfather corresponded with Fr Delehunty when he moved to USA
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MY Ancestry DNA matches show that I'm related to Fr. Pat Delahunty. I'm finding out about the Delahunty family and in particular find Fr. Pat a fascinating person. I've learned a lot about him but as I try to piece together his past, I can't find his whereabouts from the 1911 census through to 1920, in particular in 1912. Can anyone help with this?