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Personal and military papers of William Edward Parsons, Major Lord Oxmantown, (from 1908 the fifth earl of Rosse) including commissions; illuminated addresses from the Heaton and Shipley tenants on his coming-of-age, 1894; and from the Birr Parish Vestry on his marriage, 1905; a fairly savage attack on him in The Midland Tribune at the time of his return from the Boer War in 1900 to join the newly formed Irish Regiment; letters from him to Toler R. Garvey during the Boer War and the first World War; a page recording the signatures of Lord Oxmantown and other Irish notabilities who attended a shoot at Ashford, Cong, Co. Mayo; during a visit by the Prince of Wales, 1905; and the fifth earl’s London address book, 1911.

Also includes copy of his birth certificate (1873); commissions and applications to Officers’ Reserve (1908); appeal to be allowed to appear before Medical Board in Dublin, not London (1916); detailed medical reports on the extent of his wound, by shell to the head, where a palm-sized piece missing, damage to his speech, comprehension and gait causing 80% disability with epileptic attacks; his death certificate plus further obituary of the fifth earl by Michael Pegum prepared for the Kildare St and University Club for publication in a book of memorials to those members of the Club who gave their lives in WWI and WWII (2010).

Includes letters to Toler R. Garvey (‘Rob’) from the front describing poisonous gas attacks in the trenches (26 April 1915 and 11 May 1915).

Family, and family history, correspondence of the Hon. Geoffrey L. Parsons, including: a letter from his father, the 4th Earl, just before the latter’s death; letters from his brother, the 5th Earl, who writes from the Front during the First World
War, and a letter reporting that the 5th Earl has been seriously wounded; letters from Anthony de Brie, a portrait-painter, about his portraits of the 4th Earl and of Parsons’s wife; letters from Dr Otto Boeddicker offering items of antique furniture for sale; and an envelope of newspaper cuttings and other material concerning the family collected by Geoffrey Parsons, c.1915-55. [For letters to Geoffrey Parsons from his uncle, Sir Charles Parsons, see Section R.]

Contains lists of Irish Guards noting their name, regiment number, rank and where interned, including a separate listing of those from Birr; letters from Selfridge's & Co., Oxford St, London to Lois, Countess of Rosse, in relation to the contents of nine parcel types assembled for sending to the Irish Guards Prisoners of War; correspondence from Mary Britton, Rosfaraghan, Ferbane and Col. Douglas Proby, in relation to subscriptions collected in her village on behalf of Private B. Anderson (Reg No 3220), who is interned in Limburg; and correspondence between Major de Vesci, Regimental Adjutant, Irish Guards to Lady Rosse, mainly in relation to the movement of Irish Guards prisoners between POW camps in Germany so that parcels can be sent to them. Also includes ephemeral material such as newspaper cuttings relating to the Irish Guards, a packet of jam jar covers, and a copy of an illuminated address presented to Queen Mary from the Women of Ireland in July 1911, and distributed by Lady Aberdeen, the head of war relief in Ireland.

Letters sent by and sent to Theodora Trench from 1913 until 1917.

During this Theodora volunteered with the Red Cross as a Chauffeuse and as such the file contains letter relating to this. Examples include two 1916 letters from the Royal Automobile Club regarding driving tests and a 1916 letter from the Red Cross Voluntary aid detachment informing members of their latest activities.

The file also includes a copy of a letter from Moscow dated Oct 9th 1917. The letter discusses the increasing difficulty faced by those who wish to travel, 'It is no easy matter to get to Petrograd now-a-days; one has first to get permission from the commissaire of the town here and then get a ticket, and it is by no means easy to get either. , but got there at 12.10, and found the place shut'. The letter also discusses the hostility within society 'They seem to be taken by a sort of wave of madness, which brings out all the brute in them'.

File of diaries belonging to Theodora Trench.

From 1917 until 1919 Theodora volunteered as Chauffeuse with the Red Cross's Voluntary Aid Detachment. Throughout the early diaries she writes about her experiences resulting from this volunteer work and the responsibilities she was required to carry out. Examples of such entries include one she wrote on 18 January 1918 she writes 'Evacuation 4.45 am breakfast 4.15. Cleaned engine a little. 1.30 went to Richmond football match & Austin lunchtime.' Another example includes an entry from 12 January 1919 'On duty all day (night duty) inspection 11.30'.
Theodora also uses the diaries to record her her daily life. On 5 February 1921 she records attending a concert, 'Concert Albert Hall (Samson & Delilah)' and on 23 may 1922 she writes about going to the Chelsea Flower show 'S & I went to Chelsea Flower Show. Very hot & [humid] but beautiful flowers...'.

File of photographs of members of the extended Trench family. Family members who's photographs appear in the file include Arthur Henry Chenevix Trench, Blanche Helen Trench, [Herbert] Trench and Charles Reginald Chenevix Trench (Reggie) in his army uniform. He was later killed in action on 21st March 1918.

The file also includes members of the Lloyd-Edwards family who were related to the Trench family through Georgina Sarah Lloyd-Edwards, sister of Benjamin Bloomfield Trench. Photographs of Blanche Enrica Lloyd-Edwards and Georgie [Georgina Sarah] Lloyd Edwards are included in the file.

File of photographs of friends, acquaintances and unidentified portraits.
The file contains a wide variety of photographs. One notable example includes a photo of 'little Henry' baring the inscription 'for Sheelah with love and best wishes'.
Another notable photograph is that of Edward Aurelian Ridsdale. Attached to the back of the photograph is a copy of a letter of condolence from Sir Frederick Treves to Lady Ridsdale. The letter dated 8 Sept 1925 expresses Fredrick's admiration for Edward Aurelian Ridsdale. He writes 'During the war, he bore upon his shoulders the heaviest burden of the Red Cross work. He sought no prominent position no applause and indeed not even thanks. He thought never of himself but undertook whatever duty- agreeable or disagreeable came in his way. His absolute integrity, his unselfishness, his devotion is the cause and his great administrative ability did more than did the work of any other man to make the Red Cross organisation the success it was in the great war.' 2 framed photographs of an unidentified soldier.

File of photographs taken during the St Barnabas pilgrimage to the battlefields and war graves of Salonika and Gallipoli. The file contains a mixture of personal photographs and professional photographs taken by Graphic Photo Union, Tallis Street, London, England and Central Press Photograph, 119 Fleet Street, London, England. The file also includes Rev. Mullineux at the unveiling of the New Zealand memorial at Gallipoli in April 1925.

Letter from Stephen Flannery of Flannery & Co., motor engineers of Nenagh and Roscrea to Theodora Trench: 'I have received the paper from the Red Cross, and have filled in same, and returned to them.' Also includes a New Zealand mechanical transport manual used to record mileage, routes and journey lengths; Red Cross clothes patterns including male assistant's coat or overalls, gentleman's nightshirt, nurses apron, dressing gown; driving permit; meal voucher card for journey from from Walton to Cloughjordan 14/7/18 - 19/8/18; certificate of enrolment in a voluntary aid detachment; and permit to wear the Red Cross uniform.

File of items Theodora Trench saved as souvenirs from her attendance at Maori reception to H.R.H the prince of Wales. The reception was held on 28 April 1920 in the Rotorua Jockey club, Rotorua, New Zealand. The file includes a programme and a ticket from the event; a passenger list from S.S Stella D'italia; itinerary from S.S Stella D'italia; dinner menu and concert programme from S.S Stella D'italia; unused luggage tags; R.M.S 'Tofua' Christmas dinner menu; letters to Benjamin Bloomfield Tranch regarding Thora's lost luggage and insuranc; R.M.S 'Tofua' map of saloon and second class passenger accommodation; Thora's passport; leaflets, maps,
and guide books relating to Australia, Samoa, Canada, New Zealand.

Also contains bundle of leaflets, maps, letters and programmes resulting from Theodora Trench's trip to Scotland; passenger list from S.S Bayono; a leaflet for Edinburgh International Music festival Motor Coach Tours 1847.

Also contains bundle of pamphlets and leaflets from the Gallipoli and Salonika pilgrimage from the 1928 cruise; a leaflet from the St Barnabas pilgrimage to Gallipoli and Salonica 1926; and the Order of Service at Capes Helles memorial to the missing [soldiers].