A soldier's family from Ash | Surrey.
There are a few interesting details to be seen in this photograph of a British soldier–father and his family, one being his wedding ring. In addition, the four upward-pointing chevrons on his lower right sleeve tell us that he served overseas after 4 August 1914, and that this photograph dates from 1918. Authorised in December 1917, such chevrons denoted service overseas between 4 August 1914 and 1 May 1920, with each chevron signifying a year. Further notable details include his white lanyard and the two upward-pointing chevrons on his lower left sleeve that signify six years’ good-service conduct while serving below the rank of corporal. Another significant feature of the photograph is the baby’s christening gown. (And doesn’t the older boy look the spitting image of his mother?) Although there are no printed details on the reverse of the photographic postcard that might identify the studio that this army family visited in order to pose for the family portrait commemorating the youngest member’s christening, there is – crucially – a pencilled note. It reads ‘6 postcards / Mrs Alton / 1 Brentford Villas / Shawfield Ash / Surrey’.
Postscript: this family has now been identified as Johnson Henry Morris Alton, a driver in the Army Service Corps; his wife, Louisa; his son, Maurice; and his daughter, Doris. Follow the link for further details about the Altons, as well as for how this information was discovered: http://tacadrum.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/the-altons-of-ash-surrey-family.html.
A photograph.
CONTRIBUTOR
The Army Children Archive
DATE
-
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
2
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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