George McMullan was my great uncle. He was born in 1887 and joined the Royal Inniskilling Hussars at the start of the war. He was encouraged to join the war because of his past history at home. He died at the age of 28 on April 21st 1915. The boat he was on sunk at Gallipoli where a war commemoration statue was built in Turkey to honour those who died. My grandfather Patrick Johnson was born in 1884 and had six children. He joined the war in 1914 and was assigned to the 36th Ulster Division. He joined the war because of his nationalist ideals and he fought in order to help Ireland secure Home Rule. He fought in the Battle of the Somme and also at Ypres. He also served in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Riffles. He died in the military hospital on August 6th 1917 at the age of 33. He is buried at Menim Road, South West Flanders. || The items associated with this story are a J. Hudson & Co. 1914 whistle belonging to my grandfather Patrick Johnson and a photograph of my great uncle George McMullan and four other soldiers messing in the army barracks.

Pat Hayes was our grandfather. He was a merchant sailor and told us of his adventures all over the world but never spoke about the war. He died 27 June 1973. It was several years later before we even knew he was in the war when our mother showed his medals one day to Bernadette. Our grandmother was Annie Duggan and Jack Duggan was her brother. He was born about 1884 and he was a sailor also, service number T2687. Like Pat Hayes, Jack never spoke of his experiences during the war either. Michael Fitzhenry was Monica’s husband’s uncle. He was the son of Edward and Margaret Fitzhenry, Mulrankin and worked as a blacksmith before joining the Royal Irish Regiment, #4423. He suffered frost bite in the trenches at the front and was invalided home. Just a few weeks after he returned to his battalion on the front he was killed in action at Ypres on 8 May 1915. || Patrick Hayes' memory card; Patrick Hayes' medals; Jack Duggan's medals; Michael Fitzhenry's medals.

Postcards and photos Letter || Patrick (Paddy) and John O'Rourke were brothers of my Mother and were from Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny in Ireland. There was only about 2 years between them. They appear in several of the photos together. They were both members of the Southern Irish Horse and were based in Clonmel and Fermoy. Patrick was injured in the Somme and suffered from shellshock. In 1922 he was admitted to a mental home in Kilkenny City. He died sometime in the 1980s. John was based in the depot and never served abroad, but he was a fine shot. He lived into his 80s and had a family. Marcello referred to in postcards was my mother. Because Paddy served abroad, most of the items are connected with him rather than John. || || Photo of Soldiers || Photograph || || Front || Home Front || Letter to Patrick and John's sister from a (Private?) Pick. || Letter to Miss O'Rourke from Pick || Riverstown, Co. Cork, Ireland || Miss O'Rourke || Letter || || Home Front || Back || Miss O'Rourke || Letter to Patrick and John's sister from a (Private?) Pick. || Letter || Riverstown, Co. Cork, Ireland || Letter to Miss O'Rourke from Pick || || Multiple || Photos and Postcard from Patrick (Paddy) || || Postcard || Backs of postcards. Some addressed to Mrs. (?) O'Rourke, Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. || Deutsch || English || Postcards || (Mrs.?) O'Rourke || || Front || Postcards || Français || English || Postcard || || Postcard || Miss O'Rourke || Back || Postcards, one of which is to Miss O'Rourke from Patrick (Paddy). || Postcards || || Photos || Photograph || || Photos || Photograph || || Postcard || France || Postcards || Postcards including one from Paddy to May O'Rourke. || || Photo of Bureau de Poste || Photograph || Français || || Postcards, including one from Paddy to his mother. || Back || Postcard || Postcards || || Photo of destruction || Photo/postcard showing destruction of unknown village (location scribbled out) due to War. || Photograph || Français || || Photo of Soldiers || Photograph || || Photograph || Photo of Soldier(s) || || Photo of Soldiers || Photograph || || Back || Postcard from Patrick (Paddy) to his sister(s) || Postcard || || Marcello || Postcard to Marcello (Patrick and John's sister) from Partick (Paddy) || Letter || Postcard to Marcello from Paddy || Back || || Postcard || Back || || Photograph || Photo of Soldiers on horseback || || Photograph || Photo || || Postcard from May to Father || Postcard from May to Father (Outside) || || Postcard from May to Father || Postcard from May to Father (Inside) || Postcard || || Français || Postcard || English || Christmas postcards