Great War Portraits blog

WW1 Commemorative Event - Talk & Exhibtion

keith — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 09:21:51 +0000

I will be exhibiting photographs and discussing my book 'Great War Portraits'. A photographic record of my encounters with WW1 Veterans compiled over 25 years.

Harry Taylor 1/6th Bn The South Staffs

keith — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:51:11 +0000

Harry Taylor 1/6th Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment. Harry volunteered in October 1914 at fifteen years old. Served on the Western Front from 1915.

‘Jack’ Davis, 6th Bn. The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

keith — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 12:58:51 +0000

His battalion was at Hooge where they saw some fierce fighting. His Division was first to be attacked by flamethrower. He said ‘holding your nerve was vital for survival’.

Commonwealth War Graves Gardener

keith — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 19:45:45 +0000

This is the Commonwealth War Graves gardener who cared for my 19 year old Great Uncle Alex Manly and his mates in Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier.

First visit to my Great Uncle's grave

keith — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:08:43 +0000

August 1984 was the begining of 'Great War Portraits'. My first visit to my Great Uncle's grave in Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier. S-6593 Private Alexander Edward Manly, Killed in Action 31st October 1915.

Alex Gibson M.M. 6th Liverpool Regt. & M.G.C.

keith — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 19:19:15 +0000

Alex Gibson M.M. 6th Bn Liverpool Regt., & 165th Coy M.G.C. and me (in a former life) 'Somewhere in France' 1984. Alex was awarded Military Medal for bravery in the field, East of Ypres, near Hill 35, on 20th September 1917.

Bob Russell 8th Bn. (Irish) Liverpool Regt. & M.G.C.

keith — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 09:45:20 +0000

Bob Russell, 8th Bn. (Irish) Liverpool Regt. and Machine Gun Corps, entertains the local children in Belgium, August 1984. A native of Liverpool.

Bert Hunt shows his photographs to the locals

keith — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 15:06:10 +0000

In August 1984 Bert Hunt of the Middlesex and Royal Sussex Regiments proudly shows his photographs to the locals near Mons.

WW1 Veterans on their way to the old Western Front

keith — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 15:01:05 +0000

In 1984 I was privileged to accompany 20 veterans of WW1 on a return to the battlefields of France and Belgium. This photograph shows the veterans on board the coach on their way back after nearly 70 years.

Great War veterans in St Symphorien Military Cemetery

keith — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:58:50 +0000

In August 1984 I took the first photographs for my book 'Great War Portraits' in St Symphorien Military Cemetery. This First World War burial ground is 2 km east of Mons in Belgian.