Letters Pass for coming to London picture of William in India picture of Kate Small wooden cat box, carved by William || William O’Reilly was a soldier, stationed in India. He came back to Ireland and trained others for the Irish rebellion. Married Kate in 1914. As a soldier, he was called up and sent abroad in 1914. He was taken prisoner and brought to Limburg were he was for two years. His wife gave birth to a daughter in December 1914 and then died in April 1915 while William was in Limburg. The maternal grandparents looked after the baby grand-daughter at first. William started corresponding with his sister-in-law, Annie, who was working in Preston, Lancashire. Some of the correspondence has been preserved. Annie decided to come back to Ireland and take care of her niece. After 2 years in Limburg, William was sent to Lizern (???), Switerland as he was sickly. He was there for a year before he was sent back to the UK. He only made it as far as London where he was hospitalised. A sister from hospital wrote to the sister-in-law to say William was very ill and if Annie wanted to take the daughter, aged 2.5, to London they could arrange for a pass (part of collection). Tragically, William dies the day before his daughter arrives, so he never got to see her. Annie and her brother Andrew never married but dedicated their lives to looking after their orphan niece. || || Photograph || Picture of William || DU421 - He never saw his daughter

A real photographic postcard || A father and son visited ‘The Hudson Studios, Ltd., Great Western Arcade & City Arcades, Birmingham’ to be photographed, as the details on the reverse tell us, a business that also offered ‘Pictures & Picture Framing at Wholesale Prices’. The cap-wearing boy stands next to his seated soldier–father, who has draped his left arm around his son’s shoulders. He holds an unlit cigarette in his hand and a wedding ring is also apparent. Visible details of his uniform include a swagger stick and a white lanyard, and his cap badge appears to be that of the Army Service Corps. A message has been pencilled on the back, but is not that legible: ‘To Miss C Flennelly ? / wishing you the best of health & luck ? from your old ? ? Fred A ? xxxx’. || || Photograph || Front || A soldier and his son photographed in Birmingham

Pictured on the front of this real photographic postcard are a British soldier and his child, both looking solemn. The soldier’s uniform looks new, and his cap does not yet have a cap badge, so presumably the photograph was taken before he was assigned to a regiment or corps. The name of the studio in which they are pictured is printed on the reverse: ‘SEAMAN’S STUDIOS, Hull and Beverley now in the East Riding of Yorkshire’. A message has been written in black ink: ‘Wishing you a Bright and Prosperous New Year / To Mr & Mrs Brown’. || A real photographic postcard || || Front || Photograph || A British soldier and his son