Rebellion

The film is based on the Easter Rising (April 1916), an armed insurrection in Ireland against the British control. The insurrection was organized by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, but it involved co-operation by several Irish republican organizations. The rebellion took place in the context of World War I, with the German Navy (at war with Britain) having supplied 20,000 rifles, one million rounds of ammunition, and explosives to the republican rebels. The rebellion was brutally suppressed by the British within a few days, but this brutality helped the Irish independence movement to recruit more members and supporters. By January 1919, Ireland had declared its independence and had formed a revolutionary parliament.

The British officers are seen with rank insignia on their shoulders. While some officers did this in the trenches in 1916 it was not adopted officially and outside of France until 1917.