Granddaughter's shock discovery leads to story of World War I conscientious objector who served as medic

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Rarely-told tale of those who decided not to fight in World War I given greater coverage after granddaughter's shock discovery in York

A pay book, medals, service stripes and personal objects, left behind by a Quaker and pacifist during World War I, have been rediscovered by the medic’s granddaughter, who has spoken of her “very special” surprise while visiting a museum with a friend.

Laura Potts, a founding member of York Against War, only realised that her grandfather, Ronald Mallor Priestman, had donated his wartime insignia to York Castle Museum when she saw them on display in a case. Curators have cared for them since 1964.

“I couldn’t believe it – I saw the pay book and then I saw next to it ‘A soldier’s pay book, R M Priestman from Ilkley, Quaker and pacifist’,” says Potts, who was amazed by the objects from her ancestor’s service in a Casualty Clearing Station at the front in France.

“I exclaimed to my friend, in the middle of the museum on a busy Saturday afternoon, ‘that’s my grandfather.’

“When I got home I looked into it, and later spoke to my mother and museum staff, and I discovered that my grandfather had donated several items to the museum.”Inspired by Priestman, who served with the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1914 to 1919, Potts and her brother, Graham, contacted curators to offer more treasured items to the display.

“I told the staff that we had more of my grandfather’s belongings from the First World War, including diaries and photographs, which Graham and I have now decided to donate too.

“The diaries and photographs my brother has sent to the museum provide a detailed account of daily life at a Casualty Clearing Station on the Western Front.

“My grandfather was a very special person in my life and my brother and I are very pleased to be able to follow his lead in donating to the museum.

“I’m so glad to be able to contribute to the little-heard story of those who decided on principle not to fight in the First World War.”

The new diaries will feature in a film as part of a new exhibition in the Community Rooms at the museum, curated by York Quakers.

“We were amazed to hear from Laura – this is such a rarity,” says Philip Newton, an Assistant Curator of History, who believes the objects and recollections of the family will give the display a “much more informative” context.

“Her grandfather’s items are of particular interest to us because we have relatively little in our collections relating to the Quakers during the First World War.”

Priestman wrote his diary daily between October 1914 and August 1916. Passages from the book will be transcribed on the museum’s website.

• 1914: When the World Changed Forever is at York Castle Museum. Visit yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk for more.

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Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk//history-and-heritage/military-history/first-world-war/art506089-granddaughter-shock-discovery-leads-to-story-of-world-war-one-conscientious-objector-who-served-as-medic