We have a few faded photos of a man who died nearly 20 years before I was born but one of those is in a hospital in Brighton where he was recovering from being gassed at the Somme I believe (that was the family legend anyway). He died in the 40s after being a leading union and labour politician locally through the 20s and 30s, I often wondered how much of Haig's determination to throw more and more of the canon fodder at the Germans made him decide to devote so much to the working class struggle that followed that war. I should one day drag the photos out and post them - he was on the National Executive of some union I know. This stuff gets lost doesn't it. I never met him but I feel a huge connection with him - he was my Dad's Dad - or Pop as he was always referred to when I was lad.
That's a lovely tale, Furtheron, he sounds like a great character. There is just something about old photos; I would like this one whoever it featured, it just happened to come into our possession because of the family connection.
You know how much I love to lose hours looking at old photos and this one is no exception. I want to step into shot and meet these people. The chap standing in the middle at the back immediately got my attention. Do you think he borrowed someone else's hat?
I thought you might like it! Unfortunately I couldn't get it out of the ancient frame so I had to photograph it rather than scan it and the quality is not as clear - but still clear enough. I would like to know a bit more of the back story but there's no-one around who can tell it as far as I'm aware, all I know is that my in-laws are/were all modest rural folk so this photo may have been quite special at the time. Yes I can imagine the middle chap's hat was a spare one that belonged to the seated man!
I now have a picture of my Great Grandfather Bartlam from the war. He came to the US in 1912 but didn't want to miss out on the fight so he went to Canada and enlisted for King and Country.
Endless stories to be told, one suspects. The seated chap looks a character.
ReplyDeleteHe does, doesn't he? Sadly we've no idea who any of them are apart from the grandfather-in-law.
DeleteWe have a few faded photos of a man who died nearly 20 years before I was born but one of those is in a hospital in Brighton where he was recovering from being gassed at the Somme I believe (that was the family legend anyway). He died in the 40s after being a leading union and labour politician locally through the 20s and 30s, I often wondered how much of Haig's determination to throw more and more of the canon fodder at the Germans made him decide to devote so much to the working class struggle that followed that war. I should one day drag the photos out and post them - he was on the National Executive of some union I know. This stuff gets lost doesn't it. I never met him but I feel a huge connection with him - he was my Dad's Dad - or Pop as he was always referred to when I was lad.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely tale, Furtheron, he sounds like a great character. There is just something about old photos; I would like this one whoever it featured, it just happened to come into our possession because of the family connection.
DeleteYou know how much I love to lose hours looking at old photos and this one is no exception. I want to step into shot and meet these people. The chap standing in the middle at the back immediately got my attention. Do you think he borrowed someone else's hat?
ReplyDeleteI thought you might like it! Unfortunately I couldn't get it out of the ancient frame so I had to photograph it rather than scan it and the quality is not as clear - but still clear enough. I would like to know a bit more of the back story but there's no-one around who can tell it as far as I'm aware, all I know is that my in-laws are/were all modest rural folk so this photo may have been quite special at the time.
DeleteYes I can imagine the middle chap's hat was a spare one that belonged to the seated man!
Lovely stuff-photo and comments. In a way I quite like the way these photos suggest stories but we'll never fully know them.
ReplyDeleteYes I know exactly what you mean... all part of the mystique. I'm loving the photos you use over at your place too, by the way. Very inspiring!
DeleteThanks. I love old photos. Its easy to waste time looking for them.
Deleteswiss adam
Love it...so evocative.
ReplyDeleteI now have a picture of my Great Grandfather Bartlam from the war. He came to the US in 1912 but didn't want to miss out on the fight so he went to Canada and enlisted for King and Country.
Oh that's great that you have that photo, Erik. If you ever feel like sharing it would be lovely to see it.
DeleteErik, I blame you for this! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat pic....just watched the Pssing Bells short seies about the WW1...so horrible I wonder if these guys were there and what their stories would be.
ReplyDeleteBoycott American Woman.....love it! Poor lad must have been taken to the cleaners.
The WW1 stories are incredible aren't they.. so awful but so humbling, yes you wonder what these characters went through too.
DeleteDo you think that Boycott American Women bloke might be just a tad bitter about something...?!