Silk with scenes from Flanders

• Soldier’s Service Book – William Price; • Soldier’s Pay Book – William Price; • Character Certificate – William Price; • Certificate Royal Garrison Artillery Specialist Exam – passed exam in signalling and telephony, February 1916; • Frederick Price’s medal; • Handwritten Note William Price Easter 1916 || William Price (1895-1983) came home to Ireland from the war. He was in the No. 2 Depot, RGA, and was transferred to Class “Z” reserve. His rank was Gunner. He voluntarily enlisted on 8/11/1915 and served for the duration of the war (served for 3 years and 10 months). William Price, Gunnery Officer, was stationed at Marne, outside Paris. He may have served with William (Willie) Redmond as there was a connection to the Redmond family. The two brothers (Willie and Fred (1897-1956)) and another brother James (1899-1999) all came home after the war. Fred was very shell-shocked, and would wake at night screaming. Both William and Fred served in France. James, the youngest, was in England and may not have seen action on the front. William and Fred served with the Dublin Fusiliers. William enlisted in November 1915 and served for the duration of the war.

I have attached the diary and two pictures of Fred. I also attach a number of letters written at the time to Fred's sister and his girlfriend/wife. It is rather confusing because they are both called Ethel! Actually one was Elizabeth but she was also known as Ethel. || My grandad, Frederick Charles Rawlings, was born on 15th December 1892 in Southwark, London. He was one of the millions caught up in the First World War. I remember, as a child, the stories he told about when he was in France. He was a driver but when the British Army was running out of canon fodder, he was sent to train for the front line in the Bull Ring. I have no idea where that was but he refers to it in his diary, which I have. On his way to the front line he was gassed and taken to hospital in Blighty. You can read the trauma he went through when he was told that he was being sent back to the front line and the sheer relief when he was subsequently told that he was being sent home after all. The diary was written in pencil and is very small so I have enlarged it when I scanned it in. I can also attach photos of my grandfather as well as letters to and from home. During the war his brother, William, (born 12th November 1891) was killed. I understand that he was mounted on a front horse of a carriage team pulling a gun when he was struck by shrapnel, which killed him. My mother, who is 86, still has the bent silver cigarette case that he had on him when he was hit. Hence references to Poor old Will.