Author Archives: William Raws

How satisfied I am things have fallen out as they have

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TCD MS 10853 folio 139 recto

In closing I might say how satisfied I am things have fallen out as they have done and how fortunate I am, not only to have my life preserved, but to have my health unimpaired, so very different to so many of the poor lads.
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The government have provided me with an artificial limb

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TCD MS 10853 folio 138 recto

I made many good friends at James Street, amongst whom w[e]re:-
Coates,Smith,Deakin,Biggins D.C.M.,Bell,Hampson,Fish,Salmon,Sharp,Williamson,Sergt.Jackson, and Henderson, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself in both the Borough and James Street.
It was Dec 29th. 36th week, (9 months) after I was wounded, that I obtained my release from the Hospital.
The government have provided me with an artificial limb, which was fitted at Critchley’s in St. George Street, Liverpool, and I soon became accustomed to my new means of locomotion. After much trouble, and finally through the help of the Right Hon. Sir Fred Milner, Bart. P.C. I received all the pay due to me and was discharged on March 11th 1916, after being in the service 1 Year and 193 Days.

Soon we were at dear old Wallasey

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TCD MS 10853 folio 137 recto

HOSPITAL LIFE IN BIRKINHEAD.
Dad and I had a quick and good crossing and soon we were at dear old Wallasey, and there met all the old friends again. I reported myself at the Borough Hospital at 4 p.m. and was soon fixed up in Ward 2. My leg was almost completely healed and they soon finished it off.
I was nearly five weeks at the Borough and three weeks at James Street Convalescent Home. The food at the Borough was very poor indeed, but we had a good deal of liberty and I came home every Sunday in a Taxi. On Mondays we went to the Claughton Picture House, Tuesday, Queens Hall, Wednesday, Gaiety Soldiers Concert, New Brighton, Thursday, Theatre Royal, Friday, Argyle Artistes came to the Borough or Devonshire Place and Saturday we sometimes went to the Shakespeare. We had quite a number of concerts besides and I got thoroughly tired of pictures and shows.

Many of the boys I shall never see again

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TCD MS 10853 folio 136 recto

Sandys,Courtenay,Coade,Moore, and many others, not forgetting the cooks who were marvels. As for the boys, well first and foremost were my good friends, Bissell,Bears,Bullock,Brown, (the 4 B’s) Hignett,White,Dezell,Mills,Hutchinson,Issy Smith,Melly,Clarke,Turner,Pike,Walters,Waters,Fotheringham,Allan, 2 Davis’s,Laffan,Miller,Cresswell,Wilkinson and many others. It was indeed a very happy party.
Then the outside friends,Captain Mann,Mr.Rea,Mrs.Brown,Mrs. Eustace,Mrs.Purser,Mr & Mrs. Wilkinson,Miss Curwen, Dr.Osborne,Mr.Oakes and Family,and Mrs. Leslie-Ellis.
Many of the boys I shall never see again but I hope to see many of my other friends and the “Sisters”.

With what pleasure I look upon my stay at Mountjoy –

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TCD MS 10853 folio 135 recto

[1915] Miss Rialls home near Bray.
Father had gone home again after he had seen me through with the operation but he returned to take me home to Birkenhead as my transfer papers had now come through.
Nov 3rd. Der Tag. Left Hospital with Dad at 8 p.m. after saying Goodbye to the Sisters and Boys, receiving many presents from the former and promised to see them when I got my artificial limb.
With what pleasure I look upon my stay at that place. It was indeed Providence that guided me there. They saved my life, and by the greatest care they saved my knee which will be of much value to me. I was treated splendidly throughout and I bless the day I entered that little Auxiliary Hospital.
Names to be remembered:-
Miss Stuart M.A., Sisters Wood,Procter, Acton, M.K.Ball, M.Ball, Moinan, Renny-Tallyour,Three Miss

I decided to undergo another operation

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TCD MS 10853 folio 134 recto

again and to be freed from the Army. I found I could not get home until it was completely healed, but Captain Stuart the head of the Military Hospital King George the Fifth who was very kind to me said he would transfer me to Birkenhead. However while waiting for this to go through I decided to undergo another op[e]ration, my 12th, to finish it off and shortly after Sir Charles Ball and Sir Thomas Miles came down and had a look at it and advised this procedure saying it would not interfere with the usefulness of the knee joint. Dad arrived the day after in Dublin and two days later I went under ether again exactly 25 weeks to the day after amputation. Dr Smylie who performed the operation was present at the first. I got over the effects in fine style and suffered very little pain indeed and 9 days after I was up in the Ward. A week later I was out again, on the 29th to tea with Bissell at Dr. Purcers and next day with him to

It became apparent that my leg would never heal

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TCD MS 10853 folio 133 recto

23rd. Matinee at Empire “Whats Yours” very good.
24th. Drove round Phoenix Park with Risby and Brown in Car.
25th. Watched Football match with Hignett and Brown. Bohemians 3 Shamrock Rovers 1. Good game.
28th. Rathfarnham Castle Golf Links.
29th. Miss Curwen’s at Sutton.
30th. Grafton Street Pictures with Sister Wood, Jock, Sweeney, Hignett, Brown and Risby.
Oct 1st. Mrs. Brown’s.
2nd. Captain Mann and Jock to Dorset Street. Another boat arrived. 16 men to our place.
6th. 40 mile Motor spin in a Scotch Elder’s car and to tea after.
7th. Dad arrived.
About this time it became apparent that my leg would never heal up of its own accord. It had done well, splendidly in fact and these happy days had not been wasted but I wanted to get home

Picnicked with Mr and Mrs. Oakes at Dalkey Island

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TCD MS 10853 folio 132 recto

of whisky fame) nice girl, cousin or niece of Sir Douglas Haig. Fine time.
9th. Down at Sutton with Bears. Mr. Kennaghs Car.
11th. Red Cross Fete at Lord Iveaghs grounds.
Met Lady Ball again.
10th Picnicked with Mr and Mrs. Oakes and children at Dalkey Island. Fishing after, caught 4 mackeral in an hour.
15th. Mr. Maconnell (our doctor now, Dr.Crawford gone to France) and a specialist examined my leg with a view to taking away a little more to finish it off properly.
17th. Bissell operated on again.
18th. Went with Hignett and Brown and Miss Stuart to Howth Summit in a professors’ car. Fine outing
19th. Unitarian Church with Miss Curwen and spent the afternoon at Rathgar.
21st. Malahide again.
22nd. Rathfarnham Golf Club. Won Putting Prize.

Miss Huxley presented Smith with a silver watch

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TCD MS 10853 folio 131 recto

Gaiety Theatre with him on the Saturday to see “Betty” and Smith sent her a bouquet from the Boys of Mountjoy Hospital.
Aug 30th. On behalf of the Staff of the Hospital Miss Huxley presented Smith with a silver wristlet watch and I made a speech for the boys. In all his speeches he always referred to the Hospital in glowing terms and we liked him all the better for it.
Sept 1st. Large Party at Mrs. Brown’s.
Sept 2nd. Dr. Willis Eustace’s. Saw some fine tennis played.
3rd. Hutchinson, Clarke and White discharged from Hospital.
4th. Pictures with Jock Bissell and Captain Mann “Sky Pilot” Hunts Concert.
5th. To Mr. Oakes to dinner. Taxi round Phoenix Park after.
8th. Malahide. Met Miss Victoria Jameson (family

Issy Smith was awarded the V.C.

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TCD MS 10853 folio 130 recto

who sat in this cave we were told would be married within 6 weeks. I couldn’t climb up so I’m still unmarried. We had tea at the Glendalough Hotel and the Proprietor of the place was most anxious to inform his patrons that he was not an Austrian but of Slav extraction. I think I can safely say that this was the finest outing any of us had in Dublin.
Next day July 24th. Issy Smith received the news that he had been awarded the V.C. and there was great rejoicing in Mountjoy Square. A large number of his co-religionists came to see him and bring him presents and the newspapers shrieked Jewish V.C. in Dublin. Of course he had to address meetings here, there and everywhere, and at his request I, with Sisters Procter and Coade went with him to the Theatre Royal where he made two speeches. I may say he was also awarded the Russian order of St. George. We all went to the