Patrick Doyle's medals; cigarette box, 1914; letter from Patrick to his mother; letter from barracks; character reference from parish priest. || My father Patrick Doyle fought in both world wars but rarely talked about the first one. He was from John Street in Enniscorthy, born on 8 March, 1887. He joined the Royal Irish Regiment in 1914 having enlisted at Enniscorthy on 29 January 1914. He was discharged on 28 January 1920. He always said that he was in the trenches and went on a break and the soldier who took his place was killed. He also said that when he was back in Ireland and still in the British army, his convoy was ambushed and the Paymaster was shot. We have his discharge papers and various certificates, and a letter he wrote to his mother saying 'remember me to all with best love', dated 20 July 1918. He was real gentleman, a man of a different era. After the war he found it hard to find work and we have a character reference from the parish priest trying to help him out. He eventually found work with Guinness in Enniscorthy and also worked as a gillie and a postman. He was married twice and had thirteen children between the two marriages. || || Medal || Patrick Doyle's WW1 medals || Patrick Doyle's medals || 1914 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal, all with ribbons || || Memorabilia || Christmas 1914 gift box || Brass gift box, Christmas 1914 || || Letter || Letter from Patrick Doyle in France to his mother || Patrick Doyle - letter to his mother || France || || Letter from barracks to Patrick's mother, telling her he is well || Letter || Patrick Doyle || || Patrick Doyle's character || Letter || Character reference for Patrick Doyle from Fr John Butler PP

Daniel McCormack (my wife's greqat-grandfather) and his brother Patrick were both from Limerick in Ireland. Their father was a carpenter. They left their jobs in a Limerick flour mill (Bannatyne's at the time, now Ranks) and joined the Armey for the war in France. He became a Sergeant in the Royal Munster Fusilieers, number 2309. The letter was the last letter received by his wife Mary (Mollie) McCormack. Danny, as Daniel was known to his family, was killed in action at Aubers Ridge on the 9th of May 1915, where he was blown up. He left a widow and seven children. He is commemorated on panel 43/44 at Le Touret Cemetery in France. He seems to be mistakenly referred to as David in one record. His wife Mary died on the 16th of January 1965. A letter from October 1914 to his wife advised her not to believe everything published in newspapers about England's victories in the War. A transcript of this appeared in the Widow's Penny Book. || Copy of letter dated October 1914 Copies of War Medals Copy of Photo/Portrait of Daniel McCormack Papers || || Copies of Medals || Front || Medal || Daniel McCormack || Copies of Sergeant Daniel McCormack's Medals || || Daniel McCormack || Medal || Back || Copies of Medals || Copies of Sergeant Daniel McCormack's Medals || || Official document || Sergeant Daniel McCormack's Military Record || Daniel McCormack || Sergeant Daniel McCormack's Military Record. Mistakenly referred to as David. || || Home Front || Letter from Sergeant Daniel McCormack to Mary (Mollie) McCormack. Letter is a page folded in half, resulting in 4 pages of text. Left side of this image is page 4. Right side is page 1. See next image for pages 2 and 3. || Propaganda || Letter from Sergeant Daniel McCormack to Mary (Mollie) McCormack || Front || Daniel McCormack || Letter || || Propaganda || Back || Letter from Sergeant Daniel McCormack to Mary (Mollie) McCormack || Home Front || Letter || Letter from Sergeant Daniel McCormack to Mary (Mollie) McCormack. Letter is a page folded in half, resulting in 4 pages of text. Left side of this image is page 2. Right side is page 3. See previous image for pages 1 and 4. || Daniel McCormack || || Other || Daniel McCormack and Mary McCormack || Family Tree of Daniel McCormack and Mary (Mollie) McCormack (Fitzgibbon) || || Other || Daniel McCormack and Mary McCormack || Family History details of Daniel McCormack and Mary McCormack (Fitzgibbon)

The text on the reverse of this postcard informs us that it was ‘Printed in Great Britain.’ and gives a reference number: ‘W 777/4.’. The small girl on the front of the postcard is shown shouldering a gun and saluting; she wears a British soldier’s cap, bearing what appears to be the badge of a Royal Artillery unit. The caption below reads “I’se (all) right!”. || A British patriotic postcard. || || A British patriotic/sentimental postcard. || Postcard