Collection

The bookrooms in the Irish National War Memorial Gardens are home to a collection of items relating to both World Wars.

There is particular emphasis on the First World War. Below are presented some highlights. The full collection can be viewed by visiting the bookrooms, or by contacting us. The military memorabilia was collected, researched, and displayed by Ronald J. Marino, Esq., LLCM, Trustee of the Irish National War Memorial 1994-2002.

The Ypres Alphabet, by C. M. Truman and J. Leslie (1917)

Download the full book here.

Ypres is in Belgium, and was the setting for five long battles between the Germans and the Allied Forces during the First World War. 2nd Lieutenant Major J. Leslie and Major Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Truman both joined the 12th Royal Lancers cavalry regiment in 1914, the first year of the war. Both men were decorated for merit and held Distinguished Service Orders, and Leslie had also been awarded the Military Cross.

The Ypres Alphabet was written between 1915 and 1917, and had a small print run; it is a very rare book today. It was published using cyclostyling, a method for duplicating hand-drawn content with a small toothed wheel to make a stencil. Only the right-hand pages (rectos) are printed on.

Leave of absence pass.

Leave of absence pass 1

16th Irish Division Christmas card. 1917.

16th Irish Division Christmas card exterior

16th Irish Division Christmas card interior

1918 diary of Jim Sweeney, Castleknock.

1918 diary of Jim Sweeney Castleknock

British steel helmet. 108th Brigade, 36th Ulster Division.

British steel helmet. 108th Brigade, 36th Ulster Division.JPG

British steel helmet, detail. 108th Brigade, 36th Ulster Division

Burial inquiry letter.

Burial inquiry letter

Burial inquiry letter back

Captain John Gordon, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, in trenches in France, 1916.

Captain John Gordon, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, in trenches in France, 1916

Princess Mary giftbox with the card that came in it.

Princess Mary Giftbox

Card from Princess Mary exterior

Card from Princess Mary interior

Death Penny of James Deveney.

Death Penny of James Deveney.png

Field service postcard.

Field service postcard back

Field service postcard front

Folding Spoon – German. Found in trench after war.

Folding Spoon - German. Found in trench after war

Issue watch for artillery officers.

Issue watch for artillery officers

Royal Dublin Fusiliers commemoration certificate.

Royal Dublin Fusiliers commemoration certificate

Officer’s salt and pepper canister.

Officer's salt and pepper canister

Tropical helmet.

Tropical helmet

Pair of shoulder straps from a greatcoat. Royal Army Medical Corps, 1914.

Pair of shoulder straps from a greatcoat. Royal Army Medical Corps, 1914

Water bottle.

Water bottle

Killarney 1915 group shot.

Killarney 1915 group shot front

Killarney 1915 group shot back

Wounded in action letter.

Wounded-in-action letter

Read more about the history of the Gardens.

Find out why there is such a large collection of items relating to both World Wars housed here.