Exhibition of WW1 artefacts
After the performance of the film shown on 15th September 2018 to commemorate the men of Brightling, who died in WW1, we held an exhibition of WW1 artefacts lent by the people of Brightling. We were asked if we could provide a record of the evening. Here it is:-
Photo of film screen showing the Poppy trough in front, contributed to by everyone who attended that evening
This is a sample of what we saw at the Exhibition in St. Nicholas’s Chapel
| Original letter from Leonard Carley | Old sheet music for Roses of Picardy (the theme in the WW1 film) |
| Medals: Leonard’s Dead Man’s Penny British Memorial Plaque Star Medal and British War Medal Bob – Victory Medal | Sweetheart cushion embroidered |
| Newspaper cutting showing a later reunion of Bob’s | Photo of Leonard’s parents |
Top left is cartoon of a Zeppelin being shot down on 4th May 1916 by Mary Cox’s father Robert Tatton Bower from HMS Inconstant.
Bottom left a collection of Robert’s medals.
Top right – letter from Robert describing the Battle of Jutland when he was on HMS Inconstant with an extract from the Daily Telegraph reporting the battle dated 3rd June 1916
Bottom right – copy of the Military record for (now) Commander Robert Bower M.P. ………….
Photographs lent by the French family at Glebe Farm: all photos relate to the Sussex Yeomanry
clockwise from top centre:
Shell Jug (Trench art) from Messine
embroidered postcard
Engraved Brass Shell Trench Art
framed letter (see below for full transcription)
paper poppy as were made for decoration on 15/9 (see first and last photos) representing a ceramic one in memory of Charles Frederick William Booth
framed photo showing Mary Cox’s father in uniform
Transcription of framed letter:
part of a letter written from a young soldier on 18th March 1917. The heading is YMCA H.M. Forces on Active Service, stationed at Swanage.
Dear Mother and all, just a few lines to say I received the parcel alright with currant cakes and tases in. They are a lot better than the cake we got here and go a lot further. We have had a nice warm summers day to day Sunday and it looks its going to be nice for a week or two. We went to the picture on Sat they were groppod (sic) and they shortly afterwards announced the fall of Bapaum and there was a lot of cheering. There is a fellow sleeping in our room that come from the front last week, he said there are thousands of Cavalry waiting just behind the firing line ready to break through anytime so there seams to be good prospects ahead. I have a knife here that a fellow gave me he picked it up when they first landed at mons it has France written on the blades so I will bring it over sometime. I was not surprised when I herd……
This beautiful collection of embroidered postcards was lent by Peter Miles in Mountfield. They were popular souvenirs to send home at the time.
Close-up of items lent by Mark Bridge belonging to Bernard Prentice Starnes Turner, his Grandfather
photo on left – from the postcards showing at the top:
Ammunition pouch
holster
left of holster are mounted Insignia cap badge, shoulder mark of Army Service Corps and a Sweetheart’s brooch
left front Princess Mary Christmas 1914 Gift Tin usually holding smoking requisites or writing paper and envelopes
centre front swagger stick and then to the right (enlarged below) is a photograph of Bernard with the swagger stick. Bernard was of the South Nottinghamshire Hussars, originally a cavalry regiment but by the middle of the war his unit was dismounted and issued with bicycles.
Also on display that evening (but not photographed)
Flying Jacket and photo of Tom wearing the Jacket.
Old Contemptibles Badge and other items
Various letters and photographs from the war
