Family History Fun: Lads in Short Trousers

This weeks’s Sepia Saturday prompt picture is of a young boy in shrrt trousers. I have quite a collection of vintage images from the turn of the 19th-20th century to more recent times.

In the first half of the 20th century, for boys the main fashion characteristic was short trousers, worn whatever the weather, with knee length socks. Boys did not go into long trousers until the age of around 13-14 - something of a rite of passage. I remember this upgrade with my brother in the 1950s.

The note on the back of this photograph says "Arthur in his first pair of trousers", c.1910. This wording referred to the fact it was the custom to have baby boys in dresses - see below - though I thought he practice had died out by the early 1900s. Arthur was my cousin's father.

Young Athur looking none too happy posed in his tartan dress, reflecting his Scottish heritage - his grandfather was born on the Scottish northernmost island of Unst in the Shetlands.

Harry Rawcliffe Danson, (my Uncle Harry), born 1912

Harry's middle name came from his grandmother Maria Danson, nee Rawcliffe. This is a section of a larger family photograph taken in 1916 when his father William Danson went off to war in Flanders. 24 years later Harry survived the Battle of Dunkirk. He retained his good dark looks all his life.

My husband's uncle Matthew Iley White, born 1915.

Photograph taken by T. W. H. Liddle, Photographer, South Shields.

Frederick Henry Weston (my Uncle Fred), born 1905. in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire

This photograph came to me via a connection of my cousin and is one of the very few early photographs I have of my father's Weston family. The story was that photographs were thrown out following a death. What a crime!

In the 1911 census the Weston family were living in Lunt Lane, Lunt Gardens, Bilston, Wolverhampton in the industrial English Midlands. A photograph in Wolverhampton Archives indicated that Lunt Lane was the location of the Bilston Sewers - so not exactly garden country.

Surely Fred must have been dressed up for a special occasion in this fancy coat and white socks and big hat? Unfortunately there is no longer anyone alive from the immediate family to ask.

A photograph from my husband's family collection - but he does not know who it is. The only clue - it was taken by a photographer in South Shields, County Durham. The guess is, it could be his grandmother's half brother - Robert William Hibbert, born in 1896.

The sailor suit was a uniform traditionally worn by enlisted seamen in the navy, characterized by its distinctive collar. It gained popularity and developed into a popular clothing style as worn by the children of Queen Victoria and the Russian royal family.

Arthur Smith again in his sailor suit - and what a wonderful mop of curls,

Jackie Threlfall, wearing the popular sailor suit.
Taken by ? Watson, 13 Wellington Terrace, Blackpool.

A photograph from the large collection left by my Great Aunt Jennie Danson, who grew up in Poulton-le-Fylde, near Blackpool, Lancashire. She had written names on the back, but otherwise little is known about them. I suspect they are the children of friends, and taken around 1918. I was unable to make much headway in searching for the surnames in the 1911 census.

Onto the 1950s. My brother, looking very angelic, in short trousers bar sandals and short white socks. I am all dressed up with my hair in ringlets, for taking part in Staining Gala, near Blackpool,. Lancashire.

A family group of my parents with m aunt Fran, with my little brother in his shorty trousers. I have my plaits tied up over my head Austrian style.

My husbad in his winter coat. with short trousers hidden.

Warm enough for icecream - but husband still dressed in his pullover and jacket over short trousers.

My cousin Stuart with his sister and how angelic they look, with their blond locks obviously inherited from their father Arthur (see above). I remember my brother wearing similar short trousers held up by straps.