LONDON ST WWI soldiers Craven Dairy MP? Famous person? ✔ BOW STREET

[Ruskie]

Distillery on St John Street:
http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=18&lat=51.5248&lon=-0.1040&layers=168&right=BingHyb

Added: zooming in, I think the Craven Dairy sign might be an advertising banner - it seems to be made of a fabric (canvas?) 

Obviously the Nicholson sign is outside a building, so if this is the case is this photo taken on St John St?

[matthewj64]

There's a resemblance to Charles Chaplin but I'm not sure that the height fits

[Ruskie]

Deleted ....

(due to not reading the OPs original post carefully enough ....)

[001uk]

J & W Nicholson & Co - makers and purveyors of gin.

Indeed. Either Nicholson or Gilbey. Their names were plastered (pardon the pun) everywhere. Alas the pub's name is not visible.

[youngtug]

Looks more like Gene Tunney than Charlie Chaplin, matthewj64.

[001uk]

Were the soldiers part of an escort for the man with the book?    And what could be the significance of the book be, I wonder?    Could it be the 1920s in fact?

Escort? Possibly. (MPs having male escorts........Shurley shum mishtake)?

It could be the 1920s. There's an awful lot of men around which would suggest post WWI Is the attire right for then?

[001uk]

It looks to me as if the soldiers are an escort for the person of interest.

Regards Crowsfeet

The two soldiers at the left are looking very jovial to be escorting someone of (possible) importance - unless he's a comedian (Chaplin he is NOT)!!

[001uk]

have you looked for the businesses in historical trade directories or telephone directories?

In the 1917 phone book a branch of Craven Dairies was listed in Bow Street, and Nicholson Distillers in St John Street in the city. Obviously these entries aren't adjacent to each other but they could be listed elsewhere

Hello dawnsh,

Thanks for replying.

I have several Kelly's London directories (plus of course the online availability) but couldn't find CRAVEN DAIRIES. Seeing NICHOLOSON on a pub is like CADBURY'S on a grocers. However, Bow St is a good clue.

May I ask what other branches are there of CRAVEN DAIRIES? What was the door # of the Bow St shop? Do you hold that 1917 phone book?!

[001uk]

....zooming in, I think the Craven Dairy sign might be an advertising banner - it seems to be made of a fabric (canvas?) 

Indeed, it's an advertising awning to stop the sun - which by the shadows is beaming directly at the shop selling butter & milk etc. Or did it, dare I say go......"Past your eyes"  ?