Thomas Myles
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Myles, CB
(20 April 1857—14 July 1937) was a prominent Irish Home Ruler and surgeon, involved in the importation of arms for the Irish Volunteers
in 1914.
Thomas Myles was born in Limerick
in 1857, the third of eleven children born to John Myles, corn merchant, and his wife Prudence Bradshaw. A prominent sportsman from an early age, Myles graduated in medicine at Trinity College Dublin in 1881. One of his duties in his first job as resident surgeon at Dr. Steevens's Hospital was to render medical assistance to the victims of the Phoenix Park murders
on 6 May 1882.
By 1900, Myles had become President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. This was followed by a knighthood and the honorary freedom of his native city.
Myles was also an active Home Ruler. He owned a yacht, the Chotah. In 1914, he was recruited (by James Creed Meredith
) to help in the importation of guns for the Irish Volunteers
with Robert Erskine Childers
, Conor O'Brien and others. Childers landed his part of the consignment from the Asgard at Howth
on 26 July 1914. Myles's cargo was landed by the Chotah at Kilcoole
, county Wicklow a week later, on the night of 1/2 August. Meredith himself helped out aboard the Chotah during the operation.
Sir Thomas was appointed temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 21 November 1914 and also became Honorary Surgeon in Ireland to the King. He was appointed to be an Additional Member of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
, for services rendered
in connection with the war, the appointment to date from 1 January 1917.
He died on 14 July 1937 and is buried at Deansgrange
Cemetery in Dublin.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(20 April 1857—14 July 1937) was a prominent Irish Home Ruler and surgeon, involved in the importation of arms for the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
in 1914.
Thomas Myles was born in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
in 1857, the third of eleven children born to John Myles, corn merchant, and his wife Prudence Bradshaw. A prominent sportsman from an early age, Myles graduated in medicine at Trinity College Dublin in 1881. One of his duties in his first job as resident surgeon at Dr. Steevens's Hospital was to render medical assistance to the victims of the Phoenix Park murders
Phoenix Park Murders
The Phoenix Park Murders were the fatal stabbings on 6 May 1882 in the Phoenix Park in Dublin of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke. Cavendish was the newly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, and Burke was the Permanent Undersecretary, the most senior Irish civil servant...
on 6 May 1882.
By 1900, Myles had become President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. This was followed by a knighthood and the honorary freedom of his native city.
Myles was also an active Home Ruler. He owned a yacht, the Chotah. In 1914, he was recruited (by James Creed Meredith
James Creed Meredith
James Creed Meredith K.C., LL.D. was an Irish nationalist of the early 20th century, who upheld Brehon Law. He was President of the Supreme Court of the Irish Republic, Chief Judicial Commissioner of Ireland and a Judge of the High Court and the Supreme Court of Ireland...
) to help in the importation of guns for the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
with Robert Erskine Childers
Robert Erskine Childers
Robert Erskine Childers DSC , universally known as Erskine Childers, was the author of the influential novel Riddle of the Sands and an Irish nationalist who smuggled guns to Ireland in his sailing yacht Asgard. He was executed by the authorities of the nascent Irish Free State during the Irish...
, Conor O'Brien and others. Childers landed his part of the consignment from the Asgard at Howth
Howth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
on 26 July 1914. Myles's cargo was landed by the Chotah at Kilcoole
Kilcoole
Kilcoole is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is three kilometres south of Greystones, 14 kilometres north of Wicklow, and about 25 kilometres south of Dublin. It was used as the set for the Irish television series Glenroe, which ran through the 1980s and 1990s...
, county Wicklow a week later, on the night of 1/2 August. Meredith himself helped out aboard the Chotah during the operation.
Sir Thomas was appointed temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 21 November 1914 and also became Honorary Surgeon in Ireland to the King. He was appointed to be an Additional Member of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companion, of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, for services rendered
in connection with the war, the appointment to date from 1 January 1917.
He died on 14 July 1937 and is buried at Deansgrange
Deansgrange
Deansgrange in is a suburban area of South Dublin, centered around a crossroads. The area shares the name Clonkeen . The area further east of Deansgrange is known as "Kill of the Grange" Deansgrange in is a suburban area of South Dublin, centered around a crossroads. The area shares the name...
Cemetery in Dublin.
External links
- Limerick’s Forgotten Son: Sir Thomas Myles (1857-1937) — Sportsman, Surgeon, Sailor and Gun-Runner
- Obituary, Annals of Surgery