My uncle, James Bruton, was born in Smithfield in Dublin in 1890. In 1910 he emigrated to the United States on the Campania out of Liverpool. In 1917 he was drafted into the American army and assigned to the 77th Division, a unit that is widely regarded as pivotal in bringing the war to a successful end for the allied side. The 77th Division has gone down in history as the Lost Battalion. The 77th were involved in an action in the Argonne Forest in France between the 2nd and the 7th of October 1918 towards the end of the war. They were not supported as planned and became cut off from the rest of the allied forces and surrounded by the German army. A six-day siege ensued when the 77th Division came under heavy bombardment from all sides, including at times from their own troops. Only 140 survived from an initial complement of 500 men in the 77th Division. My uncle James Bruton was killed on the last day of the siege. He is buried at Plot E, Row 41, Grave 35, in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne, France. I never met my uncle but I have his photograph and photographs also of his service medals, his grave and the medal envelope. Times were very difficult, and compensation was paid to my father and his sister for the death of James. This enabled my father to buy a house in Donnybroook, Dublin 4 (for £525) where our family lived for 75 years until the sickness and death of my sister who remained in the house. It would not have been possible for a postman to buy a house in those days otherwise. The sacrifice of my uncle’s life enabled our family to live comfortably. || Photograph service medal for the Meuse-Argonne campaign. ; Photograph of James Bruton's grave. ; Photograph of medal envelope. ; Photograph of James Bruton Photograph of William, his brother (and father of Lucy Bruton, contributor).

In the interview attached here, Kathleen Betts and family shine some light on her cousin John Diplock - a teenaged soldier who died before Kathleen was born. Mystery may have been created by the family's reluctance to divulge details about John; but the digital age has proved powerful in uncovering his elusive story. Conversely, Kathleen tells the stories of her father David's war, who relayed his experiences more openly during his lifetime.Contributed via Age Exchange (http://www.age-exchange.org.uk) as part of the Children of the Great War project (http://www.childrenofthegreatwar.org.uk) at a collection day at the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, Kent, UK. To see all material contributed by Age Exchange, or to see more contributions from this collection day, follow the links at http://www.childrenofthegreatwar.org.uk/archive.html - For further information email: greatwar@age-exchange.org.uk || || Interview || John and David Diplock || Transcript of interview with Kathleen Betts

In the attached interview, Beryl Wardle analyzes the different experiences of her two uncles during the War and the everlasting effects in their later lives; the Spanish flu would lead a horrid trajectory for one…Contributed via Age Exchange (http://www.age-exchange.org.uk) as part of the Children of the Great War project (http://www.childrenofthegreatwar.org.uk) at a collection day at the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, Kent, UK. To see all material contributed by Age Exchange, or to see more contributions from this collection day, follow the links at http://www.childrenofthegreatwar.org.uk/archive.html - For further information email: greatwar@age-exchange.org.uk || || Samuel Peters || Portrait of Samuel and Amelia Peters || A week or so after Samuel came back home to England on leave to marry childhood-sweetheart Amelia, the young bride died as a result of the Spanish flu epidemic. || Photograph || || Photograph || Percy Clement Rushton || Percy Rushton, at POW camp || || Beryl had heard that the German commandant shot himself after the release of the POWs || Percy Clement Rushton || The German commandant || || Percy Clement Rushton || Percy with believed fellow POWs || Photograph || || Photograph || Samuel Peters || || Photograph || The 'lads' || || Français || Insignia reads: Honi soit qui mal y pens (Shamed be he who thinks of ill). Relates to the Army Service Corps up until 1916, or the Royal Engineers (transport) thereafter, until the 1960s || Samuel Peters || Cap-badge of Samuel Peters || Memorabilia || || Samuel Peters || Samuel Peters with regiment - and one female || It remains a mystery exactly who the lady on the lower right was || Photograph