This slide show contains a selection of items related related to my grandfather Gabriel Miron (1896 – 1979) who served in the King’s Royal Rifles in the First World War from early 1915, until he was injured in October 1918 a month before the end of the conflict.
For a fuller account of his experience in the War see my blog, ‘My Grandpa – My Hero’
To initiate the slide-show CLICK on one of the images below
- AS A CHILD. The 1901 Census, Swansea, South Wales. 5 year old Gabriel Miron is listed almost at the bottom of the page underneath the names of his brothers, sister and parents.
- A TEENAGER GOES TO WAR. Lance Corporal Gabriel Miron R-13130
- ID TAGS. In case of injury or death. Note his religion and the mispelling of his surname. (MYRON) on one of the tags
- CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS. Gabriel (bottom row 1st on the rigth) with comrades and machine guns near Salonika, 1916
- A NOTE TO MOTHER. Postcard (other side previous photo) ‘With fond love and kisses to my Dear Mother, from Gabe.’ Sent from France, August 1918
- A MOMENT OF PEACE IN WAR. Flowers picked while out on patrol ‘on the banks of Struma (River) at midnight Tuesday, October 11 1916.’ Greece.
- PRAYER BOOK FOR JEWISH SAILORS AND SOLDIERS. Gabriel kept the flowers he picked in the pages of his prayer book.
- Recognizing the service and the sacrifice in Ypres – where 325,000 British soldiers died.
- HEADING TO THE TRENCHES. ‘Leaving for the Front tomorrow’. Three days after this was sent he was injured by a shell during the Battle of Cambrai.
- FROM THE WAR OFFICE. Awarded the Military Medal October, 1918 for, ‘conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.’
- FOR SERVICE TO KING AND COUNTRY. From left to right: the Military Medal, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal
- LIVING IN PEACE. Gabriel in Kew Gardens, London, near his home. 1948