In April 1916, Bugler John Le Prévost and two other soldiers climbed onto the roof of the Jacob’s Biscuit Factory – one of the key locations of the Easter Rising – and under fire from snipers hauled down the nationalists’ flag.
A scrap of the flag remained in Bugler Le Prévost’s family ever since – but they were unaware of its significance until they read an article by historian Ian Ronayne in the JEP in April.
After reading the story, David Blake, Bugler Le Prévost’s grandson, contacted the author to verify the provenance of his heirloom. He then spent four months deciding whether he should give the remnant to a local or Irish museum, or sell it privately and pocket the cash.
In honour of the grandfather he adored, and as 2016 is the centenary of the rising, he decided it belonged in Ireland and this weekend he is due to travel to Dublin to hand it over.
Get the paper delivered to your door, on mobile, tablet and PC from just 52p a day with JEP Extra
