| Abstract | Mrs Condon, who saw service in the Boer war and ran a field kitchen in the 1914-1918 war with the Russians too near
for comfort, was a noble and generous person without a selfish thought in her head. Her hobbies gardening and sailing,
She had two brothers, Howard a well known architect who designed many of the houses built on Mersea Island, Alan who
owned the 19 metre MARIQUITA. She and her brother Howard owned the small sloop CASCADE. Her youngest daughter Biddy
became a V.A.D. in the first war and married a charming officer, Captain Brian Keenlyside, 1st Battalion Lancaster
Fusilliers, who was decorated for bravery on the field. Biddy was small and petite and she had the guts of a lion,
She could make you laught with her sardonic wit and devestate you with a look if she disapproved.
She and her husband were stationed in Dublin towards the end of the Irish Rebellion in 1920, and on the day known as
'Bloody Sunday' with shots echoing all over the house they were living in that had killed several of their
fellow officers, she attempted to save her husband who was dressing, by delaying the IRA with the aid of the
bedspread which she threw as they entered the bedroom, at the same time begging her husband to escape through the
window, which he did. The IRA fired several shots at him as he did so, leaving him on the ground thinking he was dead.
All this awful nightmare took place shortly before her only son Julian was born. An anonymous admirer of her magnificent pluck sent her a £100 note split and delivered in two envelopes as a token of her brave deed.
It was recorded that one member of the Firing Squad had said it would be imprinted on his mind forever, the sight of this
little woman fighting them in order to save her husband's life.
|
![Mrs Josie Condon [ Mary Josephine ] driving a pony and trap outside Vine Cottage at the top of The Lane. Josie Condon rented Vine Cottage up to about 1926. The passenger in the centre is not known. On the right is Mrs Rhona Keenlyside, daughter of Josie. The pony's name was Judy.
Used in 2015 Exhibition. KNL_CAR_001](MMThumbnails23/KNL_CAR_001.jpg)
![Mrs Josie Condon [ Mary Josephine Condon ] driving a pony and trap at the top of The Lane. The passenger is Mrs Rhona Keenlyside, her daughter. Josie Mary Condon lived in Vine Cottage up to about 1926. The weatherboard cottages on the right are Smithfield Cottages in Firs Chase. The pony's name was Judy.
Used in 2015 exhibition. KNL_CAR_003](MMThumbnails23/KNL_CAR_003.jpg)
