There are no written clues – be they printed or handwritten – to help us to identify this family of four, but at least the name of the photographer’s studio that produced this photographic postcard is embossed on the front: ‘J. J. Payne, 106 Anlaby Road, Hull’. The details of the soldier–father’s cap badge are difficult to make out, but it may be that of the Royal Artillery, particularly since he is also wearing a bandolier. The children and their mother are warmly dressed in fashions suggesting the later years of the First World War. || A soldier's family of four photographed in Hull. || || A British soldier's family photographed in Hull || Photograph

A photographic postcard. || The printed information on the back of this photographic postcard includes the name of the photographer: ‘OVERTON. Photographer, 85 Prospect Street, Hull.’, plus the figure ‘2580’. In addition, there is a message written in black ink, which reads: ‘With Love from Ada / Christmas 1917.’ Further information has also been pencilled in a different hand: ‘196221 Gunner G Colley / Antie sic Aircraft Section France’. This may be a red herring, however, because the soldier–father’s cap badge does not seem to be a match for the Royal Artillery’s.

A slightly out-of-focus baby takes centre stage in this photograph, balancing on his mother’s thigh, with a teddy bear on the bench beside him; a teething ring dangles from his mother’s left hand. Flanking them are a young woman wearing a wedding and engagement ring, and a soldier, perhaps the baby’s father. His cap badge appears to be that of the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). The printed information on the reverse tells us that the photographic studio the family visited was that of ‘OVERTON, Photographer, 85 Prospect Street, Hull. 9711’. A message has been written in black ink across the back: ‘Sonny / 8 months 2 weeks / Fondest Love from Ray & Sucker ?’. || A real photographic postcard || || A photograph of a British soldier and his family in Hull || Photograph || 53.7456709,-0.3367412999999715