In the attached interview, Lucy Tyndall shares with Age Exchange what she knows of her husband's uncle Joseph Charles Tyndall; a 21-year-old man who had left the army before the War to holiday in Australia, but was tragically called back at the outbreak; he would be dead at 22. 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 || || Photograph || Joseph Charles Tyndall || || Memorial, Joseph Tyndall || Joseph Tyndall || Memorabilia || || Memorabilia || Memorial, Joseph Tyndall || Joseph Tyndall || || Photograph || Joseph Tyndall || The graveyard at Kemmel where Joseph lay || || Photograph || Joseph's mother AT Kemmel || || Joseph Tyndall || from the Tyndall scrapbook of relating to Joseph's life || Letter || || from the Tyndall scrapbook of relating to Joseph's life || Joseph Tyndall || || Photograph || William Tyndall || William Tyndall as Dick in 'Dick Whittington' pantomime || || programme: 'Dick Whittington', featuring William Tyndall || Memorabilia || || Interview || Joseph Charles Tyndall & William Tyndall || Transcript of interview with Lucy Tyndall

Patrick Boylan papers

My uncle Paddy Hamill was born in Dungannon 1887. He joined the Royal Field Artillery in 1911 and was appointed to the 2nd Battery, XIII Brigade in India first in Kirkee and then in Bangalore. He enjoyed life in the RFA with his knowledge of horses which was the backbone of the regiment. The routine of peacetime in Bangalore was shattered by the outbreak of WW1. On the 31 August the whole of the XIIIth Brigade in the Royal Field Artillery was ordered to mobilise. On 31 October at 6am they marched to the front to Gorre. Paddy's commanding officer Major PJ Paterson spent his leisure hours inventing bits of equipment and according to the brigade diaries he invented a periscope which was made by his fitter and a 'bomb gun' for the infantry to use in the trenches. I have always wondered if my uncle was the 'fitter' as he had the training and skills to make the equipment. On the 1 December 1914 there was great excitement as a visit from King George was expected. The Brigade paraded in the road at Robecq but officers and men were disappointed as the King took another road. On the same day the Brigade diary records that Gunner Patrick Hamill, 2nd Batter RFA was wounded in billet at Gorre. Since doing my research into the activities of the brigade I have wondered if he was working on making some equipment and something went wrong. Family tradition has it that he was injured manning one of the field guns. After receiving first aid in France, Paddy was brought to England to Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool. He was operated on and a metal plate inserted in his skull in place of damaged bone. His sister Minnie who was working in Blackburn came to visit. His recuperation seemed to go well and preparations began at him home in Roan for his return. As he prepared for his return home, Paddy was struck down by a sudden onset of septicaemia. Nothing could be done, the disease progressed rapidly and he died on 26 March, 1915. Paddy's parents grief was immense. His mother wore a locket for the rest of her life which contained a piece of his golden hair. She had little regard for his service medals and one had the undignified end of being used as a saucer under a pot plant. || 3 photographs of Patrick Hamill stationed in India. 1 photograph of him being treated in Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool. || || Patrick Hamill || Photograph of Patrick Hamill in Hospital || Photograph || || Photograph of Patrick Hamill (1) || Photograph || Patrick Hamill || || Photograph of Patrick Hamill (2) || Photograph || Patrick Hamill || Photograph of Patrick Hamill and also of the 2nd Battery, XIII Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery.