Tuesday 12 January 2016

THE THREE MUSES


It's VINTAGE COLLAGE at the Three Muses this week and so I thought I would introduce you to my Granddad Leonard.  He was born in 1899 and lost his father three years later.  This photo was taken some where around 1906 or '07 when his mother married for the second time.  It's one of a pair.  In the second picture it's his brother Bill's turn in front of the camera.  Leonard fought in the first world war (the story is he lied about his age and joined up at just 15).  He was shot and invalided out of the army and whilst convalescing he met and married Annie.  They had two children, the first a boy, and then my mum.  When the second world war came he joined up and it was whilst he was stationed in Iceland that Annie, his wife died.  He did get leave but didn't manage get home in time.

I remember him as strict but loving, and I had him until I was 12. 

Credits : everything apart from the photograph is in the public domain.

Thank you for looking.


9 comments:

Judy said...

What a handsome young man, Ann, thank you for sharing his sad and courageous story! I, too, lost my maternal Grandfather at the age of 12.

Judy said...

And he was a Yorkshire man!

peggy gatto said...

Simple design with great contrast, a standout!!!

Gayle Page-Robak said...

Love your little gentleman..great image and wonderful paper stack.

indybev said...

Thank you for sharing your grandfather and his story, Ann. Not many can say they fought in both World Wars! He certainly did more than his share in his lifetime. His story is the stuff movies are made of! He was a handsome fellow too!

Deann said...

Thank you for sharing his story I love personal histories they bring the past alive. He looks like a good and proper handsome English lad. I'm glad he was part of your life.

Lori Saul said...

An amazing story and a wonderful collage tribute Ann- so special!

Anonymous said...

Leonard, aha, so he gave you the good roots and gens, no wonder, that you are such a good one of mankind!
Herrlich!
Herzlich Pippa

sirkkis said...

Great take on the theme with the own old photo and story. Thanks for this, Ann.