An Unknown Photo

Discovering a photo of an unknown soldier in an inherited box of old photos took me on a 1000-mile journey to an unveiling of a memorial for the 100th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Somme

Our guest writer,

Ann Larkham

of Photogenealogy joins us with her first contribution to the Projectkin Members’ Corner. These posts celebrate our members’ contributions to family history storytelling — in narratives, recordings, and more. Explore the entire Members’ Corner here, and learn more about joining a future cohort here.

I am incredibly lucky to have shared a special relationship with my nan. On sunny afternoons, she used to take me to the park, where I would go roller-skating. Then we would eat ice cream and sit on a park bench while watching the pensioners play lawn bowls. I loved those afternoons with my nan.

But secretly, I always hoped it would rain because then we would spend the afternoon by Nan’s fire with a cardboard box. It wasn’t just any old cardboard box, though. It was a box that held Nan’s treasures: ration cards, insurance documents, birthday and anniversary cards, invitations, telegrams, newspaper clippings, grandad’s World War II paybook, old diaries, and, most wonderful, old photos.

I was hooked on the stories my nan told me about the people in the photos and their lives during war and peacetime. Whenever it rained, I would raid the bottom of my nan’s wardrobe and drag out that old box. Then, my nan would patiently answer all my childish questions she had answered many times before, embellishing the stories she told me as she remembered more little gems of information. I was enthralled by the old photos and their stories. I still am.

The One Photo I’d Never Seen

I was really surprised to discover a photo my nan had never shown me; I thought I had seen all her precious photos. I only saw it after she left us when I inherited her box of photos. No one had written a name on the photo, and no one alive knew who the contemplative young man in uniform was. I was intrigued! I needed to do some research.

The mystery photo was found in Nan’s box. Credit: The original print is in the author’s photo collection.

I started by looking in my family tree for possible candidates. There was only one, Thomas Holding, my grandad’s elder brother, who was born in 1896 and died in 1916. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website hosts Thomas’s commemorative certificate, confirming his parents' identity.

Rifleman Thomas Holding

Further research revealed that Thomas was a Rifleman in the 13th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and was killed in action on 14 November 1916, in the final days of the Battle of the Somme. I also learned that Thomas was commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial—just one of the 72,245 Commonwealth Servicemen who died at the Somme and have no known grave.

The Thiepval memorial. Photo: © War Graves Photographic Project 2016. All rights reserved.

I also found much more information about Thomas, including the medals he was awarded, a copy of his will, and the war diary for his battalion on the day he died, describing the action that led to Thomas’s death. Despite all this information, I still did not know if the person in the photo was Thomas because the photo did not show any insignia that related the uniform to an army regiment or brigade. And I thought I would never know who the young man in the photo was. 

By now, however, I was fascinated by World War I, so I started reading all the books I could find about it. One of these books, Somme, by Lyn MacDonald, told the tale of why the Rifle Brigade became known as the “Black Buttoned Bastards.” This struck a bell with me…black buttons. I quickly raided Nan’s box, found the photo and yes, the young man in the photo had black buttons on his uniform!

Of course, this was not proof that the young man in the photo was Thomas, but the clues seemed to suggest it was: 

1. Found in a box of family photos 

2. Correct branch of the family 

3. No other candidates in the family 

4. Correct age 

5. Correct period of uniform and 

6. Correct brigade.

I hoped and believed I had put a name to the face in the photo.

I thought that was the end of this photo story, but while researching, I came across the Islington Online Book of Remembrance, where I learned that Thomas is commemorated on the Royal Northern Hospital Entranceway Arch in Islington, his hometown. I decided I had to visit.

While there, I also visited the Islington Local History Centre and Museum; I was put in touch with Mark, the Local History Manager for the Islington Heritage Service. He told me that a memorial service was planned to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Somme, which would be held in the Royal Northern Gardens, just along the road from the Arch, on 18th November. Mark promised he would keep me updated.

Mark kept that promise a couple of months later: I received an invite for myself and my family to attend the memorial service and unveil a new memorial plaque. I was honoured and delighted to be able to share the news and the invitation with my family. Thomas’s niece and nephew accompanied me to represent our family at the service: my mum, Pat, and our cousin, John. The organisers and the Mayor of Islington welcomed us at the Royal Northern Gardens.

The service was attended by local politicians, representatives of the emergency services and council, military personnel, World War II veterans, and families of the fallen servicemen. It included poems, prayers, the Last Post, two minutes of silence at 11 a.m., Reveille, wreath placing, and unveiling, and concluded with the National Anthem.

The service was extremely moving and provided a dignified and fitting tribute for Thomas and all his comrades from Islington and Finsbury who had died during World War I. We were honoured to be invited to take part in this special service.

Thomas’s nephew John, niece Pat, and his great-niece Ann (author), in front of the commemorative plaque (with thanks to Em Fitzgerald Photography, ©Em Fitzgerald Photography 2016. All rights reserved.)

After the service, we were interviewed by a journalist, and an article appeared in the Islington Tribune. The article included my precious photo of Thomas and told his story. I feel that I have helped to discover, remember, and honour a true war hero. 

I think my nan would have been proud of me!

Explore more stories in our Members’ Corner, and watch for new releases this month focused on memories of family members who served in the armed forces worldwide.

Share your thoughts and memories in the comments. Tapping “Restack” and mentioning our author, Ann Larkham shares this piece with your followers. As a bonus, it thanks Ann and helps us get the word out about Projectkin. Thank you! ~Barbara