A photograph of Philip Richards, approximately 5 years old, returned with the possessions of Trevor Richards (Bristol Z/171, Howe Battalion, RND) killed at the Battle of the Ancre, 13 November 1916. || The attached photograph is one of two possessions returned from AB Trevor Richards, b. 22/11/1895 from Penyrheol, Gorseinon, Wales, who was killed on the Somme on 13 November 1916 (Bristol Z/171, Howe Battalion, RND). It is a photograph of his younger brother, my grandfather Philip Richards, who would have been around 5 years old at the time. He is dressed in a sailor suit due to his older brother, Trevor, serving in the Royal Naval Division.

Map of a section of the Western Front in Bethune, France || || This image contains a studio style photograph of my father, also called William Powderly, who served as a driver during the full extent of the Great War from 1915 to 1918, and a photograph of him and a colleague pictured with the ambulance they drove. This image also shows my father's cap badge, which I still have and which he wore at all of the engagements in which he served including the Somme and Ypres. The cap badge in particular is very important to me as this actual item was present at many of the great battles of the war. || Picture of William Powderly with ambulance and also his cap badge || Medical || Transport || William Powderly || Photograph || || Islandbridge, Dublin || Photograph of veterans marching to a commemoration at Islandbridge || William Powderly, Remembrance ceremony at Islandbridge || Remembrance || This is a picture of World War 1 veterans, including my father William Powderly, marching to a Remembrance commemoration at Islandbridge in Dublin at a date sometime between the 1930s and the 1950s. I accompanied my father on many of these occasions and I played The Last Post on a bugle at many Remembrance ceremonies during this period. There was a great sense of fellowship among the comrades from the Great War but after Irish independence these veterans of the War were not popular in Ireland and the Remembrance ceremonies were not supported by either the public or the Irish government until recent years. || || Official document || My father's driving licence for the Royal Army Service Corps || Driving licence of my father, William Powderly, who served in the Royal Army Service Corps as a driver on the Western Front between 1915 and 1918. || William Powderly || || Leave sheet of William Powderly || Leave sheet of my father, William Powderly, granting him leave in 1917 from Rouen in France to spend time at home in Dublin, Ireland. || || Recruitment and Conscription || William Powderly's certificate on entering active service in 1915 || || Medal card for the service medal of my father, William Powderly, who served in the Royal Army Service Corps on the Western Front during the Great War. || Medal card of William Powderly - M21 073990 || || Remembrance || Group of veterans at Remembrance ceremony at Islandbridge in Dublin || Photograph of a group of veterans, including my father William Powderly, attending a Remembrance ceremony at Islandbridge in Dublin. I have fond memories of attending such events with my father over many years.

Recordings of James Coull (made in about 1978), a fisherman and Royal Naval Reservist (RNR) in Fraserburgh, Scotland before the First World War. James recalls service in defence of Antwerp, and being taken prisoner, a POW in Doberitz (Döberitz) and coal mining in eastern Germany, finally escape by ship from Germany. Then his life as a fisherman, and lifeboatman, including the Second World War. First recording: About joining-up on the day war was declared. Training at Woolmer. Over to Belgium from Dover, going to Antwerp by train, marching through the streets, and to the trenches around Antwerp. Never saw a Belgian soldier! Only one night in the trenches, seeing the Germans in woods in front. Retiring behind a few hundred yards at night. Back to the streets and the dock area, and across the bridge of barges across the river at Antwerp. Marching to Sint-Niklaas towards Ostend, and catching a train full of refugees, then under fire at the railway side. Lay down your arms! so he surrenders, and he is taken prisoner of war by the Germans. Marched to a church (kirk) at 'Exardee', marching and so fatigued from hunger and want of sleep. Hearing singing troop of German soldiers. All prisoners made to lie down and expecting to be killed. But later marched to a train, then 3 days on a train in box-cars with only one time for food. At Doberitz prisoner of war camp, near Berlin. Given a table spoon and a blanket and in a tent/hut for 100 men. His time as a POW for four years. Food, coffee, black bread, cabbage soup-stuff, clogs, working-parties. Winter in camp. Escape attempts. Second recording: Moved from Doberitz, to the coal fields in the east of German near the Czechoslovakian border. Their job coal miners in open cast mines. About comparison of earlier jobs with the mining, pay, chance of hearing rumours, boredom. Couple of years, a horrible place to be in! Chances of escape to the Baltic coast (daydreams!). Escaping through the barbed wire, and navigating by the North Star towards the Baltic Sea and to Sweden. Out for a about a week. Recaptured, to 'Codbers' prison camp, in a prison within a prison. Back to the coal mine. Had anyone helped them escape? Problem with teeth, and back to Doberitz. In Berlin in one of the largest gaols in the city. Back to Doberitz after two years and two months, remembering some of the men back there the second time. Collecting parcels from a train to the guard hut, looking for an escape route. Escape from Doberitz via the railway, buying tickets for Hamburg (or so he thought). Third recording: escape via the railway from Doberitz. On the river Elbe at Hamburg, hearing about a German ship at the dock for England, ut didn't understand how! Negotiating how to find the ship and board it. Hiding on board. Discovered and interviewed by the captain. 3 or 4 days sailing. Friendly German sailors. Meals and sleeping on board. Sailing into Scapa Flow. Writing a telegram to home. From Thurso to Ripon dispersal centre. A week or two on leave. Later life fishing after the war, coxswain of the lifeboat (skipper). Fourth recording: the lifeboat years. Including the Second World War, 1939-1945. Retired in 1956 as 65 years of age. Recording made aged 87 years old. And his later life after the First World War. || 4 x Audio Files ; photographs ; rail ticket || || Photograph || Picture of James Coull, taken some time after the War || Photo of James Coull || || James Coull (taken round the time of recording) || James Coull || Prisoners of War || Photograph || Front || || Prisoners of War || Repatriated: Dispersee. || Discharge papers || Official document || James Coull || || Official document || Prisoners of War || Medal record || James Coull || || Prisoners of War || In German prison camp, probably Doberitz || Photograph || Front || || James Coull || Photograph || James Coull's father with James' four daughters || Prisoners of War || || On Exhibition of Britain exhibition ship Campania || Prisoners of War || Photograph || || James Coull || The spare rail ticket he bought at Berlin for Altona || Prisoners of War || Other || || James Coull with the Duke of Kent || With Duke of Kent when he was awarded the RNLI Silver medal for the rescue of the crew of the trawler Quixotic from their wreck on the Bell Rock || Naval Warfare || James Coull || Photograph