I purchased this pair early last year. Because I am originally from Manchester, these appealed to me a lot. They are a rather battered pair of binoculars which were once the property of Captain P.A. McGrath of the 8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. These are obviously a private purchase pair as can be seen from the retailers address engraved on the casing.
The medal index card is rather interesting, as it appears that Captain McGrath believed he was entitled to an oak-leaf (M.I.D). I've never got around to looking up his records yet, but I will do in time. The 8th Battalion were at Messines ridge and the third battle of Ypres in 1918, and I often wonder what M'Grath may have observed through this pair of binoculars.
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