Some more recent pictures here, no strangers here, just for nostalgia.

Joe, Irene (mum), Arthur & Alice (Emily) — Joe, Arthur (showing his age in this one more so than Alice), Irene (mum) & Alice (Emily)

Arthur & Alice foreground with Joe & Kath background - probably Masonic do? — Arthur & Alice foreground with Joe & Kath background – probably Masonic do?

Mum & Dad, Alice, Teresa & me at Blue Poole in Dorset

School

January 1, 2014 dave Leave a comment

These three pictures seem to all be from a junior school, three different classes though and the clothes of the teacher in the first one suggests pre-WW2:

Group, Portraits

The Great War (or earlier?)

December 31, 2013 dave 2 Comments

Unless stated otherwise these are probably of, or include, Arthur:

I think Arthur was in teh London Light Infantry - I recall hime saying teh regiment had the fastest quick march in the army, also that they marched from London to Southampton to embark for Gallipoli where he was shot in the leg whilst on the beach — I think Arthur was in the London Rifles – I recall him saying his regiment had the fastest quick march in the army, also that they marched from London to Southampton to embark for Gallipoli where he was shot in the leg whilst on the beach. I can’t pick him out from this group but it is reasonable to assume he is in here somewhere, amazing how many seemed very happy.

I don't think this reclining corporal is Arthur, he looks a little too old perhaps? — I don’t think this reclining corporal is Arthur, he looks a little too old perhaps, although the ‘tache is a little like his?

This picture, almost certainly Corporal Arthur, taken in a walled garden is adjacent to the picture of an older lady with toddler in the same walled garden — This picture, almost certainly Corporal Arthur, taken in a walled garden is adjacent in the album to a picture of an older lady with toddler in the same walled garden (see this image under ‘Portraits without obvious clues’). Suggests a direct relationship – his mum perhaps?

Military Police Detail? - A bit of a stretch perhaps, the arm-bands aren't that clear, but enlisted men with swagger sticks is suggestive as well. Top left may well be Arthur before he got his stripe(s)? — Military Police Detail? – A bit of a stretch perhaps, the arm-bands aren’t that clear, but enlisted men with swagger sticks is suggestive as well. Top left may well be Arthur before he got his stripe(s) and moustache?

This guard details doesn't obviously have a picture of Arthur but the corporal does look familiar, perhaps one of the earlier Omnibus drivers? The hut itself also seems to be adorned with a crudely written London Rifles perhaps? — This guard detail doesn’t obviously include Arthur but the corporal does look familiar, perhaps one of the earlier Omnibus drivers? The hut itself also seems to be adorned with a crudely written London Rifles perhaps?

Would this be dress uniform in this formal portrait? Looks a bit like a ‘tache’less Arthur.

Certainly not dress uniform in this formal posed portrait; doesn't look like Arthur though so who and, for that matter, when? — Certainly not dress uniform in this formal posed portrait; doesn’t look like Arthur though so who and, for that matter, when?

Sergeant & lady - wife or sweetheart? The Sergeant looks very much like the Unknown Soldier 1 picture — Sergeant & lady – wife or sweetheart? The Sergeant looks very much like the Unknown Soldier 1 picture in the Portraits without obvious clues page

Portraits

Portraits without obvious clues

December 31, 2013 dave 1 Comment

Please refer to the caption ‘title’ in any comments on these pictures.

Unknown couple 1 - although there is a resemblance to the driver of Omnibus 2? — **‘Unknown couple 1’** – although there is a resemblance to the driver of Omnibus 2? Is the lady his wife or mother, difficult to tell if she is blonde or grey?

These next two portraits were on the same page of the album mounted together but no words used or names given.

Unknown lady 1 - a different angle but is this Alice as in the 'Early Portraits' post — **‘Unknown lady 1’** – a different angle but this could well be Alice as in the ‘Early Portraits’ post

Unknown lady 2 - again this could be a slightly earlier portrait of Alice. The picture had clearly been carried in a wallet or similar for quite a while before being mounted in the album. — **‘Unknown lady 2’** – again this could be a slightly earlier portrait of Alice. The picture had clearly been carried in a wallet or similar for quite a while before being mounted in the album because it was quite heavily creased (which have mostly been ‘Photoshopped’ out).

The next two groups were also pasted into the same page adjacent to each other – there may be folks in common but the first ‘formal’ group of 3 ladies and a gentleman is definitely not entirely the same as the ‘fancy dress’ group who ‘appear’ to all be female.

**‘Fancy dress group’** – the cowgirl looks decidedly miserable (I’ll bet she wanted to be a Pierrot), the cowboy looks vaguely like Alice?

Again a pair of portraits on the same page, they could be the same chap both having a centre parting, but the nose seems different.

**‘Unknown soldier 1’** – possibly (a very young) Arthur before growing his trademark ‘tache?

'Unknown gent 1' - I think this might well be Arthur, a full 'tache and I recall him saying he did wax it when younger. Just that centre parting? — **‘Unknown gent 1’** – I think this might well be Arthur, a full ‘tache and I recall him saying he did wax it when younger. Just that centre parting?

Another page in the album with two pictures together, this one two different ladies, I think the second one might well be Alice?

'Unknown lady 4' - possibly Alice? — **‘Unknown lady 4’** – possibly Alice? Interesting that the scan also picked up fingerprints – I’m wondering if these are recent or old.

'Lady in walled garden' appears to have been taken at the same time as the Corporal shot (probably Arthur) in the Great War page - definitely an older generation - his mum perhaps? If so, who is the toddler? — **‘Lady in walled garden’** appears to have been taken at the same time as the Corporal shot (probably Arthur) in the Great War page – definitely an older generation – his mum perhaps? If so, who is the toddler?

'Three female generations' - the bucket & spade give us a clue this was near a beach but the picture is so poor no idea where. The lady ion tghe left could well be Alice which might well mean the child is my mum (Irene) but who is the older lady, I'm guessing (?) mum's nan, but which one? — **‘Three female generations’** – the bucket & spade give us a clue this was near a beach but the picture is so poor no idea where. The lady on the left could well be Alice which might well mean the child is my mum (Irene) but who is the older lady, I’m guessing (?) mum’s nan, but which one?

'Garden family group' is subject to some camera shake so not the clearest of pictures, but the man appears to be same as 'Unknown couple 1' above a few years on but the women not so, balance of probability is a granddad, his daughter and her kids? — **‘Garden family group’** is subject to some camera shake so not the clearest of pictures, but the man appears to be the same as the one in ‘Unknown couple 1’ (top of this page) a few years on (hair receded and fashion changes), but the women not the same, so depending on whether the first lady is wife or mother, the balance of probability is a granddad, his daughter or wife and her kids?

'Middle aged couple' — **‘Middle aged couple’**

'Formal portrait of young boy' — **‘Formal portrait of young boy’**

'Drummer Boy' — **‘Drummer Boy’** – No clues as to who this is but was loose in the album, distinctive Clack looks though.

'2 boys in sea' - a few clues here only, Thames sailing barges moored aup in background; what appears to be a pier in background (Southend?) — **‘2 boys in sea’** – a few clues here only, Thames sailing barges moored up in background; what appears to be a pier in background (Southend?) Absolutely no idea as to when although these are definitely ‘older’ pictures circa early/early-mid C20.

'Family Group' - pretty poor image, tried to tidy up but it might actually be two images 'patched' together — **‘Family Group’** – pretty poor image, tried to tidy up but it might actually be two images ‘patched’ together.

'Family Group' - closer up, still not easy to work out. — **‘Family Group’** – closer up, still not easy to work out.

'2 girls on beach' - this seems to certainly be in the Thames Estuary in early C20 (post WWI) but who are the girls? — **‘2 girls on beach’** – this seems to certainly be in the Thames Estuary in early C20 (post WWI) but who are the girls?

'2 girls in garden' are same as those on the beach. — **‘2 girls in garden’** are same as those on the beach.

Portraits

Omnibuses

December 30, 2013 dave 1 Comment

These pictures were loose in an album that appears to have been compiled by one of the boys but not finished – in very faint pencil the captions are ‘Grandfather Clack’ and ‘Uncle Jack’ but since the cards had come loose it is impossible to tell which is which. Both were printed on ‘post-card’ forms, typical of the time I gather. Postage was specified as ‘half-penny stamp for inland one penny foreign’.

Omnibus post card photograph — Sent as a post card to Mrs J Clack

This first one had been posted to Mrs J Clack (with a green half-penny King George V stamp – date not legible) residing at 8 Chaltos St, Euston Road, London NW. The writing is not easy to read and some is obscured:

Dear Mother Just a card in haste to say I forgot to give you that money again Sunday I was wondering if you & [illegible] would like to come over Sat if Dad is working & see [illegible word] (Airiel Digby[?]) it starts at three. If Dad is working perhaps he will come back here from work if not he will come with you I am just waiting to see best love to you all [illegible words] if in haste May

Number 18 Omnibus — Number 18, Willesden to London Bridge Station

Portraits

Early portraits Arthur & Emily

December 30, 2013 dave Leave a comment

Mrs A H Clack — Interesting attribution of Mrs “A H” Clack – very un-correct nowadays!

Early'ish portrait at back of Number 4 — Early’ish portrait at back of Number 4

The back garden at 'Number 4' — The back garden at ‘Number 4’

Arthur c 1915 - this picture, with its partner, hung in the hallway at Number 4 all the time I knew the place — Arthur c 1915 – this picture, with its partner, hung in the hallway at Number 4 all the time I knew the place

Alice c 1915 - the partner portrait — Alice c 1915 – the partner portrait

Quite a bit more recent this one - taken at Rock Folly, Sandbanks. We spent hours 'camping' in Rock Folly during holidays, sheltered from the wind with a primus stove we had access to sea and beach as we wanted. Now, sadly, no longer there. — Quite a bit more recent this one – taken at Rock Folly, Sandbanks. We spent hours ‘camping’ in Rock Folly during holidays, sheltered from the wind with a primus stove for regular hot drinks, we had access to sea and beach as we wanted. Now, sadly, no longer there.

Group

Sutton 1928

December 29, 2013 dave Leave a comment

Sutton 1928 is what it says on the back of this very small print (just over 2″ x 3″), it was covered in dirt (or cigarette smoke?), which I have cleaned a little using mild soapy water. I think it is Arthur & Alice (Emily) but not sure who the kids are – possibly Sid & Alf??? Amusingly, the dog, looks a lot like my Jack Russell!