Matchbox

Contributed by Down County Museum

This matchbox belonged to William Cleland from Ballyculter in County Down. William fought in the 51st Machine Gun Battalion of the 16th Royal Irish Rifles in the First World War and was gassed while in the trenches. He probably acquired the matchbox at the military hospital at Wimereux, where he was taken for treatment. But what makes the matchbox really special is the poem that was found inside it. Entitled 'A Bunch of Shamrocks green' the verse was written by Susan Curran of Ballyculter. It is believed Susan sent the poem to William while he was on the Western Front. He was one of the veterans presented with a gold medal and a Bible at a welcome-home function organised by Ballyculter Church of Ireland in August 1919. William died of the effects of gas poisoning on November 20 1924. The matchbox was kindly donated to Down County Museum by Dorothy Douglas from Glengormley.

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