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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: annie24b on Friday 15 June 12 12:54 BST (UK)
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Written on the back of a small photo I found in my father-in-law's effects.
i can't make out the first bit at the top, but the second looks like it could be Wood, which matches the family name
I can see HMS SEAGULL, the date underneath says May 8th but I can only make out 191 in the year....possibly 1917?
thanks
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I'm no expert on mens fashions but I would have thought the style of the clothing worn by the man in the picture would make it much later than 1917
There was an HMS Seagull that was completed on 30th May 1938. There is a photo of it on the internet but I can't tell if its the same ship
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I'm also not sure about the date, admittedly it does look like 191 then possibly "7" but also followed by another possible "0"?
"Wiki" has an "HMS Seagull" - Sharpshooter Class Torpedo Gunboat, built Chatham Dockyard 31st May 1889, Converted to a minesweeper in 1909. Sunk in a collision in the Firth of Clyde on 30 September 1918.
The thing the guy is leaning on appears to be a torpedo, so could it be pre 1909?
Kind Regards,
Matt T.
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May 13th 1958 ?? If you sort of look at it sideways on .... I think you can see the cross bar of the five .... and the bulbous bits of an 8 ??
..... maybe its a six at the end ??
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I thought it might have been 1960. It's very faint though.
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Having looked at pictures of HMS Gossamer which is also an Halcyon Class Minesweeper, same as the 1938 HMS Seagull, I am convinced it is this later ship.
I would suggest it is 1950 or 1956 with the top of the "5" stretched out?
Kind regards,
Matt T.
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I've just had a search on google for the "Velox" brand of photographic paper and one website states that the velox stamp indicates the photo paper was used c 1940's - 1950's. Later paper from the 1950's - 1960's was stamped with Kodak/Velox
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Thank goodness for the red warnings :D I had just typed the same almost word for word :o
Matt T.
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HMS Seagull was scrapped in May/June 1956:
http://www.halcyon-class.co.uk/seagull/hms_seagull.htm#seagullhome :'(
Regards,
Matt T.
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He He! You know what they say Matt T.... ;D So your guess of c 1950 fits right in
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Just Sorry I can't help with the writing at the top :(
Every time I look at it I keep thinking it says "...?? My friend" but then when I look closer it dosn't look anything like it :-\
Regards,
Matt T.
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thanks everyone - I just had a brainwave, turned the photo over to see if the writing had left indentations - and it has (just!) there is definitely a 0 and it could just be a 5 so I reckon you are right with the 1950 date. Unfortunately the top line doesn't show through!
If only I knew who he was!
Just had a look through other old photos and found this one - do you think this could be the same person? (not that I know who he is either ::) )
annie
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Hi Annie, glad to help.
I don't think this can be the same person. I'm no expert, but I'm sure this style of photo (the pose and the back-drop) is much older, possibly even late C19th.
You might be best posting it on the Armed Forces Board, someone may be able to identify the uniform. Personally, I have a feeling the uniform may be Australian, I'm sure I've seen similar shoulder flashes somewhere before.
Hope this helps,
Matt T.
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I don't think it's the same person either.
Different shaped ears, for one thing.
Dawn M
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The soldier is certainly post ww2, I think the backdrop just means the photographer is in a timewarp and hasn't updated his studio, the uniform, belt and anklets stayed like this up to the late 50s and early 60s.
In the first pic perhaps the "torpedo" is a paravane, a device for towing with hawsers that would cut submerged mines free so the could be detonated.
James