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Citation for the Military Medal. Citation from Winston Churchill (Secretary of State for War). Invitation to receive his medal from Dodworth Town Council. Thomas Clarkson - photograph. || My grandfather, Thomas Clarkson, was called up from the Army reserve in 1914. He joined the 9th Btn., the York & Lancaster Regiment and was promoted to Company Quarter Master Sergeant. His act of bravery is described by his commanding officer: On the evening of March 13th 1916 at FLEURBAIX, CQMS T. Clarkson showed great courage, coolness and presence of mind when under heavy shell fire. The billets occupied by 'A' Company 9th York & Lancaster R. were severely shelled with HE and shrapnel, causing casualties to the number of 31 killed and wounded. This NCO was partially buried with bricks, mortar and other debris. The company storeman who was sitting by his side was killed. On extricating himself CQSM Clarkson at once went to the assistance of the wounded men and assisted in bandaging their wounds, and in extricating dead and wounded men from the debris - the whole time the shell fire was continuing. MILITARY MEDAL. Thomas had severe shrapnel wounds to both legs, which were left permanently bowed and deformed. He was awarded the Military Medal, which was presented to him at a meeting of the Dodworth Town Council in March 1919. Like many in the Great War, an ordinary man who found it within himself to do something extraordinary. || || Western Front || Thomas Clarkson || Citation in dispatches for the Military Medal || Official document || || Citation from the Secretary of State for War || Thomas Clarkson || Official document || || Official document || Dodworth District Council - Invitation to Medal Ceremony || || Photograph || QMS Thomas Clarkson, York & Lancaster Regiment

Cover and excerpt from 'Letters from Lamledra, Cornwall 1914-1918'; cover and excerpt from correspondence between Marjorie and John Fischer Williams (plus pdf of collected images) || My maternal grandparents, Marjorie and John Fischer Williams, married in 1911. They built a house in Cornwall and with the outbreak of war, my grandmother carried on living there with their two daughters. My grandfather was a lawyer and a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and as he was too old to join up, he worked in the Home Office in London. They corresponded daily and the letters from my grandmother, describing life on the home front, were published as 'Letters from Lamledra, Cornwall 1914-1918'; she ran the house, grew food and was also an artist. Both sets of letters have been deposited in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. After the war, my grandfather spent 10 years in Paris working with the Reparations Committee. || || Marjorie Williams || This is a book of the letters written by my grandmother to my grandfather during the war, when he was working in London and she was living in their Cornish house, Lamledra (I edited the published volume). || Book || My grandmother's letters to my grandfather