Approaching Ireland by boat Arthur Geary got the impression that Dublin was burning. He describes the difficulties he experienced as a British soldier during the Rising.

When Arthur Geary and his fellow British soldiers were mobilised they were not told at first where they were being sent. The assumption was that they were headed for France and were surprised to find themselves heading for Ireland. Not feeling well Arthur Geary was up on deck with some other troops as they approached the Irish coast. 

We assumed we were approaching Ireland and looking to the right I would have said Dublin was on fire.

Not long after landing in Kingstown Arthur Geary saw British soldiers who had been wounded in the attack at Mount Street Bridge carried back. It did not take long to realise that the training they had undergone was geared for trench warfare and not for street fighting. Many of those they were fighting were not in uniform and he describes the constant feeling of living on your nerves never knowing what was coming next. Initially he remembers thinking we are firing on fellow "Britishers".

Initially the reaction from civilians was very positive towards the recently arrived British soldiers. Arthur Geary describes being brought meals from local citizens as they stood guard at barricades. Later after the executions of the leaders of the Rising had been executed the mood had changed. When stationed in Fermoy Geary he says that the British soldiers were hated. 

Arthur Geary was interviewed during the production of 'Ireland A Television History' on 26 June 1979