The first photograph is of my Grandfather Sylvester in his uniform complete with Medic armband. This photo was taken in 1915 in Aldershot, Manchester before he left for France. The second photo was taken at home in Sandymount with his eldest children - Patricia and John Graham. Two photographs of my Grandfather with an unknown fellow soldiers. A letter of recommendation from his superior for his future use if necessary. It is interesting to note that he was still employed by the military up to 2 years after WW1 had ended, working in a hospital in Manchester.
My Grandfather was born on the 24th of November 1878 at 33 Lower Dominick Street in Dublin. He took after his father Patrick Graham and worked as a Printer/Compositor for the Irish Independent newspaper. He married Winifred Fallan and they had six children - the youngest of which was my father Kevin Graham ( RIP 2011 ). Sylvester found himself out of work at the outbreak of WW1. As there would not have been any social welfare in those days he enlisted in the British Army as a Medic and rose to the position of Sergeant in the R.A.M.C. He served at the Somme and like many returned from the trenches traumatised by what he had seen. He refused to discuss anything with any family member hence we have very little information other than the the existence of these photos. He returned to his profession as a compositor after the war and died at the age of 63 at his home on Newbridge Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin 4.