Armistice Day is a solemn time, oddly made more so by the fact just a handful of veterans of the first world war are still alive. I'm reading Britain's last tommies, Richard van Emden's poignant tribute to the last survivors of the great war. Anyone who needs reminding why we wear a poppy with pride in November should read this book.
The man on my left is my grandfather - we think. (See my post last month.) His life was dominated by his experiences in Gallipoli and in the trenches. As a result, he refused to allow my father to join Emanuel school's officer cadet training unit (OCTU) in the fearful days leading up to the second world war.
That's a wonderful picture. I hope it takes pride of place at home!
Posted by: Linda | November 17, 2006 at 10:43 PM
Linda: it is a wonderful photo, made all the more fascinating by the details. Where was it taken? We'll never know, but it doesn't look like one of those old photographer's studios. What's the image in the background? (It looks like the outline of a person, but with a church tower.) Finally, when was it taken? On leave, just before rejoining his regiment? Or before going to war for the first time? The unanswered questions make it even more poignant.
Posted by: Rob Skinner | November 18, 2006 at 12:55 PM