Looking through old family photo albums, we have two delicate old albums with treasures from the past. Delicately patched inside these albums with their thick black pages are photos taken by Gerald Johnson Maynard during his years in Europe during World War II. He was commissioned as a photographer, spending most of his time in England and in Scotland during those years. We have no idea what kind of "action" he may have seen, because there are no photos included that he would not have wanted his family to see.
There are hundreds of them, and J. has scanned a few of them. I thought they were worth sharing.
The best clue to location and timeframe is this photo of Queen Elizabeth, mother to Elizabeth II who currently reigns and was born in 1926, assuming the throne in 1952. She was the wife of George VI and died in 2002 at the age of 101. Known as the Queen Mother, Elizabeth frequently toured to visit troops, and medical facilities during the Great War, always decked out in a fancy hat of some description. Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne when George VI died, because she was merely a Consort and the throne passes to the the daughter. She was lauded by her public when she stood her ground rather than fleeing England when Hitler's bombs began to fall.
 |
Queen Elizabeth circa 1943
|
This amazing shot of a soldier is haunting. The lighting is especially beautiful.
 |
| probably taken in Scotland.. |
 |
| WACs? Is that what women in service were called then? |
 |
The photographer, Gerald Johnson Maynard, and his bride,
Mary Lou Wall Maynard probably in 1950 or so. |
No comments:
Post a Comment