Sinn Fein (I.R.A) Irish Republican Army-Flags, Seized By England Police 1918

 

 

Sein Féin Flags, 1918

Two battle flags believed to have originated in Dublin, Ireland in 1918, during the early days of the Irish War of Independence; accompanied by an original identification tag reading:
"Sein Fein Flags seized 1918 by Eng. Irish, Police - given to me by Magistrate - Ireland."
Background and Context: In 1918, Ireland stood at a turning point in its struggle for independence. The aftermath of the Easter Rising of 1916 and Sinn Féin’s sweeping success in the 1918 general election sparked widespread civil unrest. British authorities, particularly through police operations and the judicial system, frequently seized Republican materials—banners, proclamations, and political insignias—during raids.
Such a moment appears to have given rise to these flags: seized in an operation by British or Irish police forces and entrusted to the Chief Magistrate of Dublin. Their fate diverged from most artifacts of that period when they were gifted to an American naval officer serving abroad.
Recipient Identification: While Curtis family folk lore attributed the receipt of these flags to Charles Pelham Curtis III (1860–1948)—a distinguished Boston lawyer, and world traveler whose family had a special interest in the Irish Rebellion—extensive archival and genealogical research has confirmed that it was in fact his son, Charles Pelham Curtis IV (1891–1959), who was most likely the true recipient.
• Curtis IV graduated Harvard Law School in 1917, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War I.

• By early 1918, he was commissioned and stationed aboard the U.S.S. Duncan, a destroyer based in Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland, assigned to North Atlantic convoy duty.
• He remained on active duty until March 1919, serving also aboard the U.S.S. Buchanan, and was known to have been a highly sociable and politically observant officer.

• Given his legal background, military position, and presence in Ireland during this period, he was an ideal guest for high-level hosts such as the Chief Magistrate of Dublin.

It is within this context that the Chief Magistrate is believed to have gifted these seized Sinn Féin flags to Curtis IV, as a diplomatic gesture amid a politically sensitive time.
ID Tag Verification: the ID tag acquired with the flags, inscribed, further supports the authenticity of the item: "Sein Fein Flags seized 1918 by Eng. Irish, Police - given to me by Magistrate - Ireland."
The phrasing aligns with official British policing language of that time, reinforcing its historical credibility. The specificity of the date, origin, and roles mentioned adds weight to the family’s claim.
Family Lineage and Ownership Chain:
1. Charles P. Curtis IV (1891–1959) – U.S. Navy, Ireland, 1918

2. Anita D. Curtis McClellan (1917–2012) – Daughter, sculptor, custodian of family artifacts

3. John T. McClellan – Grandson, of Charles P. Curtis and last custodian
.

In Conclusion: Based on historical timelines, naval service records, genealogical connections, and provenance; this report concludes with high confidence that the Sinn Féin flags were gifted by the Chief Magistrate of Dublin in 1918 to Lt. Charles Pelham Curtis IV of the U.S. Navy. They have since been preserved through successive generations of the Curtis family, representing not merely an heirloom, but a rare and tangible link to Ireland’s turbulent path to independence and early 20th-century transatlantic diplomacy. “The flags stand as silent witnesses to a volatile era, echoing across generations.”

Research by J. T. Francis.

Good condition flag mesures: 50" x 28.5"

Poor condition flag measures: 48" x 28"  

Unframed
   

Email: jtfrancis.com@gmail.com

Item: 1918-I