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9781781381618

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A very timely subject for study based on extremely impressive archival research. -- Dr Marie Coleman

A very timely subject for study based on extremely impressive archival research. Paul Taylor's Heroes or Traitors? is an incredibly important book. In the scale of his research he has gone very far beyond the scope and depth of previous studies to produce a volume which will change our view of how First World War veterans fared in the south of Ireland. Taylor's most important conclusion comes from his focus on practical support given to veterans. He persuasively demonstrates that the Irish Free State government gave more assistance to its veterans than was enjoyed by those in Britain. This alone represents a highly significant revision to the dominant view of veterans finding the south a cold house. Beyond this he engages in the debate on targeting of veterans by the IRA. In so doing, he makes a combative and solid case for past views being simplistic. He shows that where victims of intimidation were ex-servicemen, there was often another reason they attracted IRA attention, such as suspicions that they were police informers. Meanwhile, veterans plate an important role in the new state as part of the National Army. Overall, it is easy to take a view that because commemoration steadily became of little interest to citizens of the Irish Republic, that it was ever thus and that veterans were treated with hostility and scorn. Overall, Taylor shows that where this did happen, the reasons were far more nuanced than has been understood, and at the same time shows that veterans' practical experience were better than many believe. Heroes or Traitors? deserves to be a central text for many years to come for all with an interest in Ireland's Great War and its aftermath. Paul Taylor's Heroes or Traitors? is an incredibly important book. In the scale of his research he has gone very far beyond the scope and depth of previous studies to produce a volume which will change our view of how First World War veterans fared in the south of Ireland. Taylor's most important conclusion comes from his focus on practical support given to veterans. He persuasively demonstrates that the Irish Free State government gave more assistance to its veterans than was enjoyed by those in Britain. This alone represents a highly significant revision to the dominant view of veterans finding the south a cold house. Beyond this he engages in the debate on targeting of veterans by the IRA. In so doing, he makes a combative and solid case for past views being simplistic. He shows that where victims of intimidation were ex-servicemen, there was often another reason they attracted IRA attention, such as suspicions that they were police informers. Meanwhile, veterans plate an important role in the new state as part of the National Army. Overall, it is easy to take a view that because commemoration steadily became of little interest to citizens of the Irish Republic, that it was ever thus and that veterans were treated with hostility and scorn. Overall, Taylor shows that where this did happen, the reasons were far more nuanced than has been understood, and at the same time shows that veterans' practical experience were better than many believe. Heroes or Traitors? deserves to be a central text for many years to come for all with an interest in Ireland's Great War and its aftermath. Paul Taylor's Heroes or Traitors? is an incredibly important book. In the scale of his research he has gone very far beyond the scope and depth of previous studies to produce a volume which will change our view of how First World War veterans fared in the south of Ireland. Paul Taylor's Heroes or Traitors? is an incredibly important book. In the scale of his research he has gone very far beyond the scope and depth of previous studies to produce a volume which will change our view of how First World War veterans fared in the south of Ireland.

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Paul Taylor received his doctorate from the University of Oxford, and an MA with distinction from University College London.

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