I found this to be the case with a recent donation to the museum.

The King's Own Museum received the medals of Sgt John Corless from Beresford Terrace, Bowerham, Lancaster, who served with the regiment and the Machine Gun Corps in World War One.

The Corless family name is well known in regimental history with John, his three brothers and father serving in the King's Own in World War One and two more brothers serving with the Royal Artillery.

John Corless was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in April 1917 when he "rallied some men during an unexpected German counter attack".

John had arrived in France on August 23, 1914 with the 1st Battalion and served until he was wounded in November. Once recovered he returned to duty in June 1915 and continued to serve with the battalion. He was then transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and was wounded on May 13, 1917 and died two days later.

Along with the medals were some photographs, letters and newspaper cuttings which included some pages from the Lancaster Guardian and the Lancaster Observer & Morecambe Chronicle. The reports are fascinating, containing many references to other soldiers of the regiment, some of who have a strong connection to the museum.

Regular Nostalgia readers will remember the name of Pte William Hodgson of the 2nd/5th Battalion. His diaries formed two articles in November last year.

William's death on May 24 appears in the newspaper of June 1917, on the same page as the death of Colour Sgt Lloyd Williams. Lloyd was drowned when the boat on which he was travelling was caught in a hurricane and overturned on the Nile. He was the son of regimental poet, Quartermaster Sgt Ellis Williams, later Bowerham postmaster, who along with his three soldier brothers featured in the Nostalgia page of the Lancaster Guardian last year.

One tragic story is reported using letters sent back from the front.
Mr and Mrs Holland of Galgate had received news from the Army chaplain of the accidental death of their son, Frank, in May 1917. The padre describes how he was brought into the Casualty Clearing Station and how he had asked that a letter be sent to his mother to send his love. A couple of hours later he had passed away.

In a later letter from Capt Satterthwaite the parents are told of the accidental shooting of Frank by his comrade: "There had been an inquiry into the affair, and there was no doubt it was a pure accident. The two lads had been pals, and had left Aldershot together, and had never had a quarrel."

A third letter came from his pal: "It is with great regret I write to express my sorrow for the accident which happened on the 23rd. I was cleaning my rifle, and replaced the magazine before closing the bolt, and so fired the round. It was a great mistake, and a great misfortune.

Your son and I have been the best of pals of many months, and for a good bit next to each other in the line. I am sorry for the trouble which has come to you. It will take me a very long time to forget it. I will close with best wishes and hope you will forgive me for the trouble I have brought you."

Pte Frank Holland is buried in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerk, France.
But on a happier note, there is an early 1917 newspaper report on Lance Cpl Allan Shaw, a former art student at the Storey Institute, now serving in France with the King's Own, and seconded to the General Staff of the 55th West Lancashire Division.

Shaw is reported to have designed the 1917 New Year card for the Division – an illustration of the ruins of Ypres. Whilst no example of his 1917 card exists in the museum's collection – there is a 1918 card and the artists initials are 'A.S.' surely the same Allan Shaw of the King's Own?

Shaw was later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his service in the war.