1 medal || This is the 1914 Star belonging to my uncle, Edward Byrne, who was a member of the Irish Guards. I know little about him. || || Medal of Edward Byrne || Medal

In the centre of the item there is a photograph of Edward Tobin with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish symbol in the background and foreground. On the right hand side of the image there is a commemoration document which gives personal information about Edward Tobin. This document gives information about Switzerland's involvement in World War I and World War II. This document also gives the location of the grave sites of soldiers across Switzerland. On the left hand side there is an image of a headstone which honours the soldiers who are buried in Vevey cemetery in Switzerland. This document also gives personnel information about Edward Tobin.

A series of letters exchanged between my Paternal Grandmother Lillian Brown (nee Robins) and my late Uncle Albert Robins, her beloved and only Brother. || My late paternal Grandmother exchanged a number of letters with her only brother Albert from when he volunteered in 1916 to his death in August 1917. My understanding is that he was on a gun emplacement that took a direct hit from an enemy shell. This in itself would have probably done for the crew but their own ordnance exploded as well and there was nothing to be found of any of them. The only physical thing we have left is Alberts blackened and dented cigarette case. Prior to Albert joining up he had already displayed his courageous nature in 1908 by being awarded a Royal Humane Society Certificate for diving in and saving the life of a girl who had fallen into the River Severn near Tewkesbury. I have both the cigarette case and the framed RHS Certificate in my posession and would never part with either. I thought I would share the exchange of letters. To me there is a marked decline in Alberts demeanour and there is a seeming lack of belief that he will return home alive referred to in one of his later letters. I find these exchanges quite moving, I know that it is family but hope that other readers will find them of interest too and get a feel for the time and culture that existed then.