Exhibition to tell remarkable story of wallet that saved soldier from enemy bullet (From St Helens Star)
Send us news by text, start your message Star News and your send photos and videos to 80360
Exhibition to tell remarkable story of wallet that saved soldier from enemy bullet
10:00am Friday 14th September 2012 in News
Bulletproof...Hannah Longworth displays the wallet that saved a St Helens soldier’s life in the First World War.
A WALLET in which a First World War soldier carried treasured photographs and notes from loved ones ended up saving his life by deflecting an enemy bullet.
Now the remarkable story of St Helens’ Corporal J Barker of No. 4 Section of the 79th Fusiliers is a star attraction in a new exhibition at the World of Glass.
Bullet holes can be seen in the pictures and letters from the soldier’s family that were tucked inside the brown leather wallet and are on display at the Chalon Way museum.
There are few other details on show about Corporal Barker’s life, career or remarkable story of survival but exhibitors hope Star readers may be able to expand on what appears to have been a fascinating slice of fortune.
Curator Hannah Longworth said: “We’ve called the exhibition Treasured because it features things people have kept for specific reasons – a memory, a place, an emotion or special occasion.
“Also in the exhibition is a locket containing the picture of a soldier, again from the First World War, and a display of decorative uniforms from the Lancashire Hussars.
“As well as military souvenirs and medals, we have a whole range of spectacular objects, precious works of art and personal favourites.
“There’s a lady’s cabinet with decorative hatpins, handbags, a beaded belt and a powder puff as well as a gentleman’s cabinet with a splendid Chinese-style smoking jacket.
“Apart from the jewellery most exhibits have no monetary value. They are just things people are reluctant to part with and of purely sentimental value.”
All the items come from the permanent collection at The World of Glass and have been donated down the years.
Bosses there believe this is chance to display some of the many items the museum has to hold in store for space reasons.
Treasured runs at The World of Glass until September 23.
