Page 14 - Greystones Archaeological Historical Society

THE GREAT WAR – PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Cross network which attempted to make things a little easier for
people left destitute by the war.

When Normie came back from the war he led as much of a
normal life as he could despite the damage the gas had done to
his lungs. He was a Trustee of the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land
Trust, building houses for returning service men. He was a
Director of the Bank of Ireland. He was a Commissioner of Irish
Lights (boats and sailing being one of his hobbies together with
Aileen). He pursued country sports and his horological skills
were recorded worldwide when he designed and built (1906) the
only clock entirely powered by water and recently restored at
Killruddery. I was seven years old when my grandfather died in
1949 so I did not really know him but Gran Aileen was special to
me.

So this is just one story of one family. How many more stories
are out there and how many more will we hear now 100 years
nd
on? The 2 World War came far too soon, 20 years later, and
the global agony was re-lived but this was not labelled a ‘great’
war. People now realise that war is continuously being waged
somewhere in the world and wars are certainly not great.

10