Silk Handkerchief Holder: 'Souvenir from France'

Grandfather (Private William Townend) was in the 21st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, in his unit looking after horses (his civilian occupation as a coal merchant involved using them for transport) and on marrying in August 1917 brought this memento for his fiance, my grandmother. Until I delve deeper into his history with the regiment, that is all I know. But his survival ensured the births of his own children and the next generation realising university educations. How fortunate are we to benefit from one whose life had encountered trauma and anguish.

我的祖父威廉·汤恩德（列兵Private William Townend）隶属于第21西约克郡团（21st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment），彼时他在部队中负责照料军马——其民用职业为煤炭商人，日常工作本就依托马匹完成运输——1917年8月成婚之际，他将这件纪念品赠予了未婚妻，也就是我的祖母。在我深入挖掘他在该团的服役过往之前，我所能掌握的信息仅此而已。但他幸得幸存，这才迎来了自己子女的降生，也让下一代得以圆梦大学教育。我们何其有幸，得以受惠于一位曾历经创伤与苦痛的先辈。