A Framed Picture commemorating an Ulster soldier who survived the Horrors of WW1 only to die in disturbances in Belfast.
View on RequestA Framed Picture commemorating an Ulster soldier who survived the Horrors of WW1 only to die in disturbances in Belfast.
The Soldier was Sapper W Patterson who served in The Great War with the 121st Field Company, Royal Engineers, which were part of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
During his War Service he was hospitalised on a number of occasions for injuries including exposure to Mustard Gas, received in service.
He survived the War.
By 1922 he was working at Garrett’s Cooperage in Little Patrick Street. On Friday 19 May an IRA gang entered the premises and asked the men present to declare their religion. One man identified himself as Catholic and was freed. The other four men, including William Patterson, were killed.
The Picture Frame is composed of various wooden elements, which have been fret cut into various reliefs, with a common Leaves theme.
The central Piece is in the shape of a Cross, on a plinth,The reminiscent of a cruciform headstone from The Great War. A Picture of Sapper William Patterson is displayed centrally. An Inscription has been cut into the wood at the base of wooden plinth:
“Survived Armageddon
Was Murdered at Belfast
May 19th 1922”
Four satellite wooden frames surround the central Cross feature.
Each of these frames a Silk postcard, of a type, the use of which, was highly prevalent, and popular, during the Great War, and thereafter.
These would have been commercial Postcards, chosen for their message, in the same way as modern greeting cards.
These four examples bear the legends:
“To My Dear Children”
“Forget Me Not”
“My Love is For You”
& “Remembrance”
Three Medals awarded to Sapper Patterson also form an integral part of the display.
Owned by Linen Hall Library. Images used by Permission of The Linen Hall Library