This autograph book begins ‘To Dolly with Love Flo’. Dolly Sheffield is the full name of the owner of this autograph book. Her sister was Flo. This book contains caricatures and carbon drawings of war images. There are signatures and interesting and moving verses by soldiers who were possibly cared for by Dolly in a war hospital. This autograph book was purchased at Sheeran’s Auction by Eileen O’Higgins an aunt of Mr Rackoff’s wife, Frederica Roche. || Autograph book contains poems, images, drawings by soldier's and fellow nurses. || || Image (1918) and Note (1917) || Dolly Sheffield || Image from Autograph Book || Autograph || || Dolly Sheffield || Autograph || Image from Autograph Book || Images from Autograph Book || || Women || Medical || Poem in Autograph Book (1917) || Autograph || Autograph book || || Autograph || Note and Poem || || Autograph || Drawing of hospital scene || || Drawing of a woman by Jim 1920 and a poem by Pte.H. Cohan 27/3/1918. || Image and note || Autograph || || Cartoon drawing and words by A. Pepper; Note by E.M. Fryall June 9th 1917. || Autograph || Cartoon Drawing and Note || || Autograph || Image and Poem || Cartoon image by A. Pepper (left page); and poem from R.S. Howard, June 1917 (right) || || Image and note || Image of woman by Sidney Smith 1920; Note by P.H. Bunning 1918. || Autograph || || Notes/Poem || Autograph || Note by Minnie L. Grant 1921; Verse by Mabel L. Norton 1918. || || Autograph || Drawing of war ship 1918; Note Sgt. H. Mills 1918 || Drawing of War Ship; Note || || Autograph || Poem/Note titled 'Dolly' || A poem written to 'Dolly' in 1916 || || Autograph || Poem written on 11/9/17 titled 'The Flaming Dart' || Poem titled 'The Flaming Dart' || || Autograph || Poem titled 'Worth Fighting For' written on 8/5/1918; Drawing of fruit by M. Bice, 19/2/1918. || Poem and Image || || Cartoon drawing of soldier with caption 'That evening star shell'. London, August 1918. || War Cartoon/Drawing || Autograph || || Last page of autograph book || Autograph || Two notes/autographs on the last page of the autograph book.

Mary was born on July 17th 1884 and was the contributor's paternal grandmother. She was 30 yrs old when WW1 began and was an auxillary nurse in Wales. The hospital she was based in was in Holywell, Flintshire. She kept an autograph book containing the writings of wounded soldiers that were in Mary's care. Many of the entries are written in verse and there are a number of illustrations in the book. A needle and thread with a stitch in time saves 9. Mary has written in as well. Mary qualified as a nurse in 1924. Her son said she was one of the first SRN's. Picture of the conbributor's maternal grandad Edward Fitzgerald in soliers uniform. He was in France in WW1 where he was a mechanic working on ambulances. After the war he had his own garage. || Autograph book includes some heather. Nursing Qualification Certificate Photograph of Mary saying postcard on the back Photograph of group of people with horse and Mary on far right Photograph of maypole (mary in white hat and flowers) Photographs of Mary as a nurse which her daughter in law has anotated Photograph of a group of nurses including a baby with Mary second on the left in nurses uniform Mary's nursing badge with her name on the back of the badge Portrait of Mary before she was a nurse Photograph of Edward Fitzgerald (only one in uniform) 11 December 1918. This was his wedding photo Picture taken in Jerusalem of John Bolland (he was Jim's Great Grandfather) and was in the army there, maybe a sergeant. He was on Allenbys campaign. || || Edward Fitzgerald's wedding photograph || Photograph || Edward Fitzgerald || Photograph of Edward Fitzgerald in his wedding photograph. He is the only one in uniform and it was taken 11 December 1918. Edward Fitzgerald was the contributor's (Maeve Birdsall) maternal grandfather. || || Mary Middleton || Memorabilia || Mary Middleton's nursing badge || Reverse of Mary Middleton's nursing badge with her name engraved on it. || || Photograph || Photograph of a group of nurses, including Mary Middleton. Her daughter-in-law has annotated the photo. || Mary Middleton and fellow nurses || Group of nurses including Mary Middleton || Deutsch || || Group of nurses including Mary Middleton || Photograph || Group of nurses including Mary Middleton (second from the left) || Mary Middleton and other nurses. || || Photograph of Mary Middleton. || Photograph || Mary Middleton || || Maypole dancing || Photograph of girls posing by a may pole. Mary Middleton is in the centre, near the pole, dressed in nurse's uniform and holding a bouquet of flowers. || || Group photograph including Mary Middleton || Group shot including a girl (May queen?) on a horse and Mary Middleton far right in nurse's uniform. || || Photograph of Mary Middleton in uniform. || Mary Middleton || || Mary Middleton's autograph album || Following images are pages of Mary Middleton's autograph album from her time as a nurse. It contains verses, drawings and signatures of soldiers that she nursed. || Autograph || Autograph album of WWI soldiers nursed by Mary Middleton || || Certificate of the General Nursing Council for England and Wales conferring upon Mary Middleton the qualification of State Registered Nurse. Dated 19th December 1924. || Mary Middleton || Mary Middleton's nursing certificate || Official document || || Jerusalem || Group photo including John Bolland || Middle East || John Bolland || Photograph taken in Jerusalem of John Bolland who was there as part of Allenby's campaign. || Photograph

I understand this collection of postcards was given to my great, great Aunty Mary by a relative returning from service in World War 1. Postcards like these seem to have been one of the few ways that ordinary people back in England could get an idea of how much devastation was being caused by the war in France and Flanders. || Set of Postcards depicting damage done to Paris and Arras between 1914 and 1917