Jack’s father was in the Royal Flying Corps and transferred into the Royal Air Force in April 1918 on its formation. Margaret’s father volunteered into the Royal Engineers at the Somme Barracks, Sheffield which he continued to visit for the rest of his life for get togethers with old comrades. He was involved in the tunneling campaigns in the Somme region that resulted in massive explosions under enemy lines, such as the Lochnagar mine detonated on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Such dangerous work was depicted recently in the book and TV adaptation of Birdsong. After the Somme, he was posted to Italy where he learned to speak Italian and developed a taste for vermouth. || A photograph of Margaret Mitchell's father and his battalion in Vicenza, Italy 1918. Note the men's mascot - a dog on the front row. Margaret's father is on the 2nd row down, 6th on the left.

Pre-printed Postcard. and a Photograph of Jack Halvey and two of his three daughter in Blackpool 1936. || I attach a postcard, sent by John (Jack) Halvey to his Mother Mary Lyons of Oranmore, Co.Galway in 1916. Mrs Lyons had been married to Timothy Halvey (R.I.C.) and they had one son and two daughters. Mr. Halvey died while stationed at Ferbane, CoOffaly. Mary Moved to relatives at Gort, and later married a widower Jim Lyons from Oranmore. Jim Lyons had at that time, two sons and two daughters. Jim and Mary went on to have two daughters, Josephine and Eileen (My Mother). Jack is reputed as having gone from Oranmore to the Industrial school at Letterfrack and to have convinced (Sprung) his two stepbrothers Padraig and Thomas Lyons. Together they joined the army. Padraig was wounded at Ypres and he ended up working for the Post Office at Birmingham. Jack Halvey survived the war and became a Police Constable stationed at Leeds. I have been unable to find out what happened to Thomas Lyons.

Lyndhurst road in Peckham, 1915 || || The family at Uncle Billy's grave || Photograph || || Interview || Interview with Kathleen davies