BALLYMENA 1914-1918

Did you have a relative who fought in the Great War?  Keep an eye out for interesting material that family members may still have about the house.  You never know what's in that box in the attic! Here's a few things to look for.

Men who were killed got memorial plaques, often called 'Death Pennies'.

 

They came in an envelope, seldom kept.  However, the certificate that came with them was often framed.

Other men got certificates like the one below.

A few families even kept old ID disks, 'Dog Tags'.

His name was D(avid) Carlton (Carleton) and his service number was 12/19245.  This one says he was in the Royal Irish Rifles and was a Presbyterian.   12 refers to his battalion.

Other families have photographs, letters, bits of trench art, and other curios brought from the trenches.  They will all help to build up a picture of your ancestor's war.

This photograph is of Sergeant Robert 'Bob' Gilliland, 12th Royal Irish Rifles. He resided at the Moat Road, Ballymena.  He and his family later lived for many years at 50, Larne Road, Harryville.

Here's a map sent home by a soldier.  I'd bet the censor wasn't pleased that it was smuggled back from the Western Front.  It shows the positions around St Quentin Cabaret in 1917.

 

 

 

Silk postcards - such as the one above - were often sent home to friends and family by soldiers from the front.