Family History Fun: Pals Together : Sepia Saturday

This week's Sepia Saturday prompt photograph fesatures four happy lads together, Photographs below, largely from from my mother's Danson family, fit the bill.

My great uncle George Danson (1894-1916) of Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire is standing on the left with his teacher and fellow pupils.

The three photographs below were in my great aunt Jennie's collection. Unfortunately only the first one is identified - as "George's Friends in Manchester" where he worked on a W.H. Smith station bookstall. George, is on the back row on the right.
It must be the hat, as here he looks older than his age. He could only be 20-21 years old, as in 1916 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served as a stretcher bearer in the field in the /First World War. WAr He was killed on the Somme, on the 16th September, a week after his 22nd birthday.

The photographs below were also George's friends. The group on the left seems very formal and serious. Is that the same threesome in the second photograph having a bit of fun? Two are wearing pocket watches which are not visible in the first photograph and I was also trying to match the partings in the haircuts. I am not convinced they are the same group - what do other bloggers think?

All three photographs were taken at Gale's Studios who had branches in both Blackpool and Manchester.

The photograph below looks like it is an informal occasion (out for a drink, perhaps?), but it still is the time to wear a formal suit,waistcoat, collar & tie.

My grandfather William Danson is in the middle of the group, with his brother Robert (and dog) on the left plus an unknown friend. Robert was the third son of the family, and William the fifth out of ten sons (eight surviving infancy), followed by the only daughter Jennie, to whom I owe a great debt for being "the keeper of the family archives".

Friendship Through Service

This photograph below of my great uncle Frank Danson identified in Jennie's writing, seems to be some kind of celebration. Frank is front row left, dressed formally in his uniform and cap, but what about those two fellows on the back row in what appears to be their pajamas and beanie hats.

Jennie worked in Poulton Post Office and she recalled when a war telegram came through for her widowed mother. Maria Danson. Fearing the worst, she was allowed to run home with it. Fortunately it was good news - that Frank had been wounded but was recuperating hospital in Malta.

This photograph was unfortunately unidentified, but I think Frank could be on the right of the front row. Wounded soldiers, fit enough to go out and about, wore a distinctive uniform of blue flannel suits with white revers and a red ties.

Jack Riley is identified in the centre of this group, wearing sailor’s uniform and a cap HMS Chester. He was the grandson of my great grandmother Maria Danson, nee Rawcliffe's sister - Jane. On the left is Marcus Bailey, a neighbour of Jack in Fleetwood.

I have a postcard (above) sent by Jack's mother to my great grandmother Maria to say " Jack went out to sea today. He went in good spirits". The postmark is difficult to make out but could be 7.?? 16 or 18.

I have tried to trace Jack in service records without success. HM Chester was a ship involved at the Battle of Jutland in the First World War, when young sailor John Travers Cornwell was awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross for "a conspicuous act of bravery". Was Jack Riley another young sailor on board HMS Chester at this time? Something else to add to my "Research To Do" list.

A photograph from my husband's family collection with this group of young sailors, obviously relaxing! The postcard franked 15th December 1909 from Beverley (Yorkshire?) was addressed to my husband's great grandmother, Mrs S. A. Hibbert, 169 Maxwell Street, South Shields, with the message:

Dear Mother, I write these lines hoping you are keeping well, and to ask if you can pick me out in this group?

My husband's uncle Matty (Matthew Iley White) of South Shields, County Durham is among this group of soldiers perched on a rock in India. Matty (1914-1978) served in the Durham Light Infantry in India 1933-1937, as listed in his service book below.

Matty, seated on the left) tucking into his food at army camp.

Friendship Through Sport

My father John Percy Weston (1912-2003) is on the second row right as vice captain of his school team at Broseley, Shropshire. This is the earliest photograph (1926) I have of my father and the local historical society was instrumental in me getting a copy.

On a generation to a similar photograph of my brother in the hockey team of Broughton School, Edinburgh, in the 1960s - (on the front row second from the left)