Joseph Hodgson joined the army 06 September 1899 and left on 21 November 1919. He was a musketeer 1st class, a master cook and a physical training instructor. He served in the Boer War when he was 18. During WW1 he served in East Lancs regiment, ending up as sergeant. After WW1 he joined the reserves and was in Dad's Army the Home Guard in WW2. He died in 1961. Joseph had six children all born in Blackburn. His children and grandchildren remember that he treated them like they were soldiers; he didn't accept back-chat and gave them each 10 shillings for Christmas and Birthdays. This collection includes: war records; certificate of employment and article about him in Boer War; photograph of Joseph during WW1 with medals; a photograph of Joseph standing in uniform with wife Annie seated with Kathleen's mother Hilda on her lap and her brother Robert, who was killed in WW2, photograph was taken approximately in 1915; a photograph of a parade of the Old Contemptibles in Blackburn after the war; a photograph of Joseph in hospital, in the desert, unknown date; a photograph of Joseph at a reunion of the Old Contemptibles, taken in the 1950s. Joseph is 2nd from the left at the back; a photograph of Joseph in another picture of a reunion of the Old Contemptibles. Joseph is 3rd in from the left. All the men are wearing bowler hats; silk Christmas cards from France in WW1 from Kathleen's Grandad on her Father's side: James Fancott. These were sent to Kathleen's Father Harold. || War records; certificate of employment; articles; 6 photographs; silk Christmas cards

A British patriotic/sentimental postcard || Artist Frederick Spurgin created the scene depicted on this postcard (his name can be seen in the bottom left-hand corner). He has portrayed a girl looking through a huge telescope at the night sky, as a boy, perched on an adjacent wall, points up at stars that spell out ‘PEACE’, ‘PEACE’. The caption below reads, ‘Look on the bright side. / And peace won’t seem so far away’. The printed details on the back include ‘“Art and Humour” Publishing Co., 27, Chancery Lane, London, W.C. / The “A & H” “HOPEFUL” Series. No. 114. British Manufacture.’. ‘Inland Postage 1/2 d. / Foreign postage 1d.’ has been typeset within the stamp box. || || Postcard || A British patriotic/sentimental postcard || Front

A British comic postcard || Artist T Gilson, whose signature can be seen in the bottom right-hand corner, created the scene on this postcard. He has depicted a boy scrubbing the skin of a howling smaller boy (apparently with soda), who is immersed in a tin bath on a rug. The caption below reads, ‘Mother’s making Munitions – and I’m on War Work too.’. The printed details on the reverse state, ‘No. 808. British Manufacture. / The “Alphalsa” Publishing Co., Ltd., 2 & 4 Scrutton St., London, E.C.’. The stamp has been franked, but the details are unclear. The card has been addressed in pencil to ‘Miss A / Providence House / Dunholme / Nr Lincoln’, and the accompanying message reads, ‘Just a few lines hoping to find you well. Keep my rabbits and pigeons fat till I come home. I shall bring you something if it is only a rotten egg. I am your Tom’. || || Front || A British comic postcard || Postcard