Enlistment papers of our granduncle William Berilldated 1898.

My uncle was William White. He was born in 1893 and was listed in the 1901 census as 8 years old. He lived, with his mother and two sisters off the Grand Canal in Dublin, Ireland, at Grenora Terrace near Boland's Bakery. His baptism or birth was recorded in St. Mark's Church of Ireland church on the 12th of May 1893. His family lived on Hollis Street sand then, from 1895 to 1900, the family address was Eblana Villas, Grand Canal Street. William's father died in 1908 and in 1909, his mother (Annie), sister (Debra) and William emigrated to Canada. His other sister (my mother) lived in the Midlands and remained in Ireland living with her Grandparents. William enlisted in in Canada in 1914, but gave his name as Frank Flanagan, who was a friend of his in Canada. There was a rumour that William's mother married and William did not get on with his new stepfather, with the surname Ganstang. William may have rebelled at this. A detail on his enlistment paper regarding a tattoo makes it hard to know if it was Frank or William. William came back to Europe as a Private with the Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) and to France. He may have had leave to come back to Ireland to see his sister Isabella White (my mother). The photo may have been taken around that time (1914 or 1915). The original photo is in bad condition. I'm not sure how many times he would have come back to Ireland on leave. He was killed on the 3rd of June 1916, possibly at the Battle of Mount Sorrel (2nd-13th of June 1916). He is represented with honour on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres but under the name Frank Flanagan. The Memorial reference panel is 24-26-28-30. My mother would have ben informed of his death. William may have picked up a Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry brooch from another comrade perhaps. || Photo of William, most likely taken in 1914 or 1915 while on leave in Ireland (original in bad condition) ; Enlistment papers for Frank Flanagan (William White) ; Brooch (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry brooch, possibly picked up from comrade)

Photo of William, most likely taken in 1914 or 1915 while on leave in Ireland (original in bad condition)