This isn't a long story to put here, but every little counts. Some years ago, I was given a small box with a lot of things in it, after my Great-Grandmother died. The box is a green, cardboard box that once contained 100 Churchman's No.1 cigarettes. It actually now contained my Great-Grandfather's medals and other wartime things. Some of what's in the box shows more than just a war record, but also a little of the record of his capture during whichever battle he was part of, early in the war. I don't know which, although it could be either Festubert or Loos in 1915. This is due to the box containing German and Netherlands coins and a ticket, which is labelled for 5 pfennig and Gefangenen-lager Zollverein, which I think is a detention camp money ticket. His medals are in the box, so are his metal clothing tags showing T 18 London, or smaller ones showing T London. I have his coat buttons with the London Irish Rifles insignia on them and also some bits of cloth, his soap with something carved on it and, much more interesting to me as a young boy when I got this, his 6-sided brass put and take game. As he died young and my great-grandmother didn't talk much about him, we didn't know much about his wartime life. Both I and my brother have tried to find stuff on the Internet, but we don't seem to get too far. || British War Medal, Victory Medal, both with a Service Wounded Stripe on their ribbons. Single Service Wounded Stripe. 3 brass flat-strip Service Wounded Stripes (with No. 4 printed on them). 2 T 18 London clothing tags, metal. Single T London clothing tag in metal, probably a hat insignia. 1 small and 1 tiny brass buttons with royal insignia on them. 4 large, 6 medium and one small buttons with London Irish Rifle insignia. 1 brown soap with something carved into it. 1 put and take brass game. A 5 Pfennig ticket from Gefangenen-lager Zollverein. 6 Dutch coins 6 German coins. A piece of light-brown cloth A piece of dark blue cloth with a button sown onto it.

Private William George Turner was a family relation to the contributor. William might have been the contributor's suspected grandfather's sister-in-law or brother-in-laws' son. The letter was found in Ernest Arthur Alderman (the contributor's grandfather) belongings upon his death in 1956. William George Turner was a private in the Coldstream Guard and died on 28 September 1915. The letter is dated 18th June 1915. It describes life in the trenches and the headache brought on by the 'big guns' written in old English. He refers to his family and asks after them. The letter is written to his aunt and uncle, suspected to be Ernest Arthur Alderman, he and his brother both married women named Hogsflesh. William was the son of George and Eliza Turner, of Yew Tree cottage, Greywood, Haslemere, Surrey. William is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. || letter dated the 18th of june 1915. 13435. PTE. W.B Turner. No. 7 Section No. 1 company, 1st Batt Coldstream Guard, First Brigade 1st Division, Britsh Expeditionary Force. France. My Dear Aunty & Uncle, I am now writing just a few lines hoping you are all quite well, I am very glad to say I am at present, I went in the Trenches on Sunday for the first time & it was strange at first, & we were under very bad shell fire I have now experienced what the headache is like I have never had it before, but it was the big guns that done it, & I pity anyone who have it. I had a letter come from dear Mum when I was in the trenches, & I was very glad to hear from them all, I hope you will let me have a line from you soon. We are having a rest now come out trenches on wed night. I hope Dear little cousin is getting on quite well, I should like to see him now, but he will be a big boy when I come home & see him & so will my dear little Florrie, no more news this time write to me soon, Love to all from your ever loving nephew, William xxxxxxx || || Private William George Turner || Private William George Turner's letter

The wooden plaque contains a photograph of Private Briggs, the Victory medal and the British War Medal, an Australia Military Forces shoulder insignia, Private Briggs' identity tag and a brass disc containing the inscription He died for freedom and honour : Dick George Briggs