Author Topic: Can't make this out - help, please  (Read 2020 times)

Offline SmallTownGirl

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Can't make this out - help, please
« on: Tuesday 06 July 21 08:56 BST (UK) »
This is the back of a photo of an unknown WW1 soldier, but I can't make out quite what it says.

Can anyone help, please?

Thanks
STG
Always looking for GOODWINS in Berkshire :)

Offline Rhododendron

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Re: Can't make this out - help, please
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 06 July 21 09:09 BST (UK) »
I think the 2nd & 3rd lines say:  "this your father
                                                in 1918 war"

Offline Gadget

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Re: Can't make this out - help, please
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 06 July 21 09:09 BST (UK) »
First attempt

I am your* own
this  your father
in 1918 war

* or  can you own
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Offline Rhododendron

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Re: Can't make this out - help, please
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 06 July 21 09:18 BST (UK) »
I had the same thoughts about the first line as you did, Gadget.


Offline Gadget

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Re: Can't make this out - help, please
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 06 July 21 09:35 BST (UK) »
I had the same thoughts about the first line as you did, Gadget.

It doesn't make sense though  :-\

I wonder if it means   ' can you identify your father ...'

Add -or 'this is your own copy'


STG - is it a group photo of soldiers?
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Offline Rhododendron

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Re: Can't make this out - help, please
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 06 July 21 10:15 BST (UK) »
Like you (again), Gadget.  I didn't think the first line made sense.  But wondered if it was just an odd way the writer spoke in those days.

Offline Karen McDonald

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Re: Can't make this out - help, please
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 06 July 21 11:08 BST (UK) »
This is a tricky one.

I can't help but see a hyphen at the end of the first word in the first line - even though there is plenty of space to write a longer word.  ???

Also, there is no "tail" on the "n" at the end of "in", which makes me wonder if it is something other than "own" (e.g. aur-).

Before I had looked at the other replies, my initial interpretation was "Love from XXX-  XXX. Your father in 1918 war"
...but now I'm not so sure...
McDonald MacDonald M'Donald McGregor MacGregor M'Gregor Twilley Wells Fentiman Carrington Rowe Needham Mitchell Mackie Collingwood Fuller Maides Shilton Hagon Budd

Offline SmallTownGirl

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Re: Can't make this out - help, please
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 06 July 21 12:43 BST (UK) »
Sorry for the delay, but I had to pop out.

So consensus is that it says

Can you own (or I am your own)
this your father
in 1918 war


The photo is of a single soldier, and the family story (the family who own the photo, not my family) is that this man, who's name they do not know, was engaged to an ancestor until he was killed during WW1, and that she remained single for the rest of her life.

So if you're right and "this your father", that's going to be a bit of a turn-up for the family, I'd say!

From the photo the soldier's insignia isn't very clear, but even if it was, without a name for the man, it's a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Thanks everyone
STG





Always looking for GOODWINS in Berkshire :)

Offline mckha489

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Re: Can't make this out - help, please
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 06 July 21 12:57 BST (UK) »
I wondered if second word first line was gave
And so first word was a name.  Possibly Sam?

And perhaps that awn word is meant to be something like Owen