A VISITOR to the new First World War exhibition in York Castle Museum was shocked to see her own grandfather's name and belongings in the display.

Laura Potts, a founding member of York Against War, went to see the exhibition, 1914: When the World Changed Forever, only to discover her grandfather's pay book alongside his name in one of the cabinets.

Ronald Mallorie Priestman donated his pay book in 1964, as well as Royal Army Medical Corps (R.A.M.C.) insignia, medals, service stripes and more from his time with the R.A.M.C. during the First World War.

Now, 50 years later, Laura has been able to learn more about her grandfather’s time with the R.A.M.C., in a Casualty Clearing Station at the Front in France.

Laura said: “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’ and I exclaimed to my friend in the middle of the museum on a busy Saturday afternoon, ‘That’s my grandfather!’"

She said she later discovered her grandfather had donated several items to the museum.

She and her brother Graham have now decided to donate more of his belongings from the First World War including diaries and photographs.

Philip Newton, the museum's assistant curator of history, said: “We were amazed to hear from Laura; this is such a rarity. Laura has since brought in her grandfather’s diaries. They were written daily between October 1914 and August 1916, and are such a valuable document of the war.

“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.”

Mr Priestman served with the R.A.M.C. from 1914 to 1919. His pay book came to feature in the exhibition as part of the Recruitment Office section.

His diaries, and conversations with his family, will allow the museum to put the objects in a more informative context.

York Quakers are curating their own exhibition in the Community Rooms at York Castle Museum as part of the exhibition.

Mr Priestman’s diaries will feature in a film as part of this exhibition which will be open to the public from the beginning of November. They will also be transcribed, with passages being released on www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk

Laura added: “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 diaries, and the 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.”