| Description | A letter from German prisoners of war who worked in the Irish Red Cross Hospital (French: Hôpital irlandais de Saint-Lô) to Matron Mary Frances Crowley which reads: "We hope us being able to express you our greatest gratitude and veneration by presenting you this modest gift. God may reward you for all you have done to us! We are, Miss Crowley, yours Willy Otto, Hermann Rothner, Fritz Franz[...], Albin Wenalowski[?], Viktor Biegelmann, Scheblrer [?], Wilhelm [?], Paul Wurker, Walter Schuber, Robert [?], Joseph Stockl, Heinz Fahrenwald, Johanne Merekl[?]. St. Lo, Normandy, France." On the reverse Matron Crowley has written: "A gift of a drawing of the Cathedral Ruins in Saint-Lô after the Allied invasion June 1944 when American Bombers destroyed the German [fortress?] there - many prisoners were taken and later I took over the 'Red Cross Centre' Here established a hospital of 110 beds. The French[?] Commander assigned me 18 German prisoners to assist in the work - over some of their signatures. M.F. Crowley." |