Postcard Brings Sad News For Soldier In The Great War

A postcard sent to a soldier just weeks before the end the Great War brought unwanted news.

“It hardly seems possible such sorrow has come”

Mr dear Alf, my dear boy, your old chum was killed on Sept 30. One of the Sergts name Poole wrote to a friend of ours and told them the sad news. It hardly seems possible such sorrow has come I cannot realize it. He was wounded and was on a stretcher which owing to severe shell fire was put under cover. A shell burst near and the concussion killed him. I cannot write more now. Kindest wishes for you recovery. Yours very sincerely….

The card was addressed to 632487 Private Alfred Cobb, 2/20th London Regiment, at East Leeds War Hospital, Leeds, and was redirected to 18 Beckett Street. The former East Leeds War Hospital is now part of St James’s University Hospital.

The card is postmarked Leeds, 10 October 1918, and was sent from 61 Defoe Road SW17 (London). The name of the sender is difficult to decipher.

 

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Tin Shed Experience, 1940s museum, Laugharne, West Wales

We like to feature new and interesting items from our stock on the pages of this Blog, as well as news of our fairs and other activities, but occasionally we’ll be writing about some of the places and objects that we discover, that we think will be of interest to our customers and followers.

One such place that we would whole-heartedly recommend is the Tin Shed Experience.

Tin Shed Experience Laugharne

Located in the Welsh coastal town of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, the Tin Shed Experience is run by a dedicated team of volunteers, and is a fascinating and inspiring 1940s museum, as well as a brilliant venue for events, retro photography and film-making.

The Tin Shed was built in 1933 by the father of current owner Andrew Isaacs, and spent many years being used as a garage including a period during the second world war when it was used to store and service vehicles for the War Office. It later fell out of use as a garage and had more recently been used as a stable and a storage facility, before a  chance meeting between Andrew and his former work colleague, Seimon Pugh-Jones, led to it’s remarkable reinvention as a museum. Andrew’s meeting with Seimon, an avid collector of wartime memorabilia, resulted in Laugharne’s memorial hall being used to stage a 1940s themed dance supported by a temporary exhibition of Seimon’s collection at the Tin Shed. This proved so popular that plans were soon developed to turn the former garage into a permanent  museum, and in June 2011 the doors of the Tin Shed Experience were opened for the first time.

The museum sets out to educate and entertain by focusing on the inspiring personal stories of those involved in war, both on active service and on the home front, and their stories are brought to life by the museum’s collection of period artefacts and by the friendly and knowledgeable  museum volunteers who offer personal guided tours of the museums exhibits.  Their collection includes a fine selection of uniforms representing the conflicts of the twentieth century along with many personal items that graphically illustrate life during wartime.

Home Front Exhibits at the Tin Shed Experience

Arnhem attic display at Tin Shed Experience

The museum is also home to a superb worker’s tin cottage complete with fascinating period contents, and it is a special experience to step back in time as you enter this beautifully presented exhibit. The period feel is maintained by other outdoor exhibits include an Anderson shelter and a “dig for victory” garden.

Tin Cottage

Interior of tin cottage

Interior of tin cottage

The meticulously assembled period reconstructions at the Tin Shed and Seimon’s expertise as a professional photographer and cameraman have led to the venue being used for retro photo shoots and filming, and this is just one of the exciting and ambitions projects under way at the venue. The Tin Shed team of Andrew, Seimon, and Marketing Manager, Matthew Hughes, have plans to stage regular live music and entertainment events, including linking up with local drama groups to stage theatrical productions. The venue is also a popular location with wartime and period re-enactment groups who enjoy the period authenticity and the beautiful backdrop of Laugharne.

Live events at The Tin Shed

Live events at the Tin Shed

The town of Laugharne was the last home of the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, whose centenary will be celebrated in 2014, and the Tin Shed is taking part in those celebrations by bringing to life characters from Thomas’s most famous work, the play for voices, “Under Milk Wood”. They are planning to create a series of life-size models of some of the plays most notable characters which they hope to place in suitable locations around a town trail.

Captain Cat exhibit at the Tin Shed Experience

2014 will also see the start of four years of centenary commemorations for the Great War, and the Tin Shed will be organizing exhibits and events that reflect on the first world war and in particular on the personal stories of the local  men who left Laugharne to go and fight for King and country.

On a recent visit we were pleased to be able to donate to the Tin Shed collection a small group of wartime posters that had been produced to advertise fund-raising events for the war effort in Carmarthenshire. These are the sort of memories that the Tin Shed Experience is helping to keep alive so that younger generations will know about the sacrifices and realities of everyday life during wartime.

Wartime posters we donated to the Tin Shed

A visit to the Tin Shed Experience is a chance to step back in time and share in the personal stories that shine a light on the dark days of wartime, but above all it’s a fun and inspiring place to visit and it’s run by a great bunch of people.

The Tin Shed Experience run a very active facebook page and twitter feed, and their activities can be followed on their web site. They welcome donations and are always looking for patrons to help support their work. They are also looking for sponsors for their Dylan Thomas Centenary Project.

More Information

Tin Shed Experience Website
Tin Shed Experience Facebook Page
Tin Shed Experience Twitter Feed

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Military Photographs For Sale

Original vintage photographs for sale.

Please contact us for enquiries on availability, condition and postage prices.

*NEW* Collection of images relating to Major Tuke of the Welsh Regiment 1890s-1910s

British and Indian Army Officers in India c1890s (Ref 611.1)

British and Indian Army Officers in India – Stock No. 611.1 – SOLD

Fine study of a group of army officers in India, not dated, probably 1890s.  The image measures approx 13 ½” x 9 ¼” (35cm x 23.5cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

Names of the officers are inscribed in pencil to the mount and include

Capt Dighton, Wiltshire Regiment. Lieut Hill, 19th Hussars. Surg Major Robinson, AMS. Lieut Gardiner, West Yorks. Capt Bowly, 21st Hussars. Lieut Brooke, Inniskilling Fusiliers. Lieut Toke, Welsh Regt. Lieut Unwin, Suffolk Regt. Lieut Alexander, Yorkshire Regt. Capt Helyar, Royal Artillery. Capt Reay, Wiltshire Regt. Surg Capt Russel, AMS.
Lieut Boger, Cheshire Regt. Lieut Taylor, Welsh Regt. Capt Coke, Welsh Regt. Capt Reade, Welsh Regt. Major Pigott, 21st Hussars (Served Zulu War). Brig Gen Prendergast, ISC. Surg Col McVittie, IMS. Capt Bazalgette, Suffolk Regiment. Capt Shadwell, Suffolk Regiment.

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British Army Officers India c1914 (Ref 611.3)

British Army Officers India – Stock No. 611.3 – SOLD

Fine study of a group of officers in India. Various regiments represented. Not dated, probably c1914.  The image measures approx 11″ x 8 ¾” (28cm x 22cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

Names of some of the officers are inscribed in pencil to the mount and include

Capt Sprot, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. Capt Moore, Royal Fusiliers. Major Toke, Welsh Regiment. Capt Wemys, Royal Scots. Major Browne, RAMC. Lt Sterling, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. 2/Lt Peareth, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

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Welsh Regiment Entry Into Johannesburg 1900 (Ref 611.25.1)

2 photographs including the Welsh Regiment Entry Into Johannesburg – Stock No. 611.25 – £15 plus postage

Fine study picturing the Welsh Regiment marching into Johannesburg during the Boer War, May 1900. The image measures approx 8″ x 6″ (20cm x 15.5cm) and is mounted to card clipped from an album page.

On the reverse of the mount is another image. This one an unusual image relating to the annexation of the Transvaal 1877.

Annexation of the Transvaal 1877 (Ref 611.25.2)

Part of  stock no. 611.25.  The image measures approx 5½” x 3¾” (14cm x 9.5cm)

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Welsh Regiment Entry Into Pretoria 1900 (Ref 611.26)

Welsh Regiment Entry Into Pretoria – Stock No. 611.26 – £12 plus postage

Fine study picturing the Welsh Regiment entry into Pretoria during the Boer War, June 1900. The image measures approx 8″ x 5¼” (20cm x 13cm) and is mounted to card clipped from an album page.

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Welsh Regiment Goat, Bloemfontein, 1908 (Ref 611.39)

Welsh Regiment Entry Into Pretoria – Stock No. 611.39 – SOLD

Fine study picturing the 2nd Bn Welsh Regiment goat mascot at Bloemfontein, South Africa, 1908. Soldier wearing campaign medals. The image measures approx 11¼” x 8″ (28.5cm x 20.5cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

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Soldiers outside Llandaff Cathedral (Ref 611.31.1)

3 photographs including Soldiers outside Llandaff Cathedral – Stock No. 611.31 – £25 plus postage

Fine study of a group of soldiers and old soldiers outside Llandaff Cathedral, 1895. Officers wearing orders and medals. The image measures approx 7″ x 5¾” (18cm x 14.5cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

Officers horse outside Cardiff Barracks, 1905 (Ref 611.31.2)

Part of stock no. 611.31. Fine portrait of an officers horse. The image measures approx 7″ x 6″ (18cm x 15.5cm) and is mounted to the same side of the album page as the previous image.

Range Officers at Bisley, 1905. (Ref 611.31.3)

Part of stock no. 611.31.

Fine study of a group of officers of various regiments, at Bisley, 1905. The image measures approx 11½” x 8″ (29.5cm x 20cm) and is mounted to the reverse of the album page.

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2nd Bn Welsh Regiment NCOs at Trimulgherry, India, c1890s (Ref 611.7.1)

2 photographs – Welsh Regiment Sergeants in India, & Welsh Regiment Rifle Team in Malta – Stock No. 611.7 – SOLD

Fine study of the sergeants of the 2nd Bn The Welsh Regiment at Trimulgherry, India. Not dated but probably c1890s. Names of most of the soldiers inscribed in pencil to mount. The image measures approx 10½” x 8″ (26.5cm x 20cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

1st Bn Welsh Regiment Rifle Team Malta, 1893 (Ref 611.7.2)

Part of stock no. 611.7 SOLD

Fine study of the 1st Bn The Welsh Regiment Rifle Team in Malta, 1893. Most of those pictured are named in pencil to the mount including Colonel Quirk DSO. The image measures approx 11″ x 8¼” (27.5cm x 21cm) and is mounted to the reverse of the album page.

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Officers at Hythe, 1904 (Ref 611.23.1)

3 photographs including group of officers at Hythe, 1904 – Stock No. 611.23 – SOLD

Fine study of officers at Hythe, Kent, 1904. Probably at the School of Musketry. Various regiments represented. The image measures approx 11″ x 8¼” (28.5cm x 21cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

Mess garden & lawns, Cardiff Barracks, 1905 (Ref  611.23.2)

Barrack Square, Cardiff, 1905. (Ref 611.23.3)

Part of stock no. 611.23 SOLD

Two images of Cardiff Barracks, 1905. The images measure approx 6″ x 4¼” (15cm x 10.5cm) and are mounted to the reverse of the album page.

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1st Bn Welsh Regiment, Tug of War Team, Floriana Malta, 1893 (Ref 611.6.1)

2 photographs – Welsh Regiment Tug of War Team & Devonshire Regiment group – Stock No. 611.6 – SOLD

Group portrait of the 1st Bn The Welsh Regiment, Tug of War Team, Floriana, Malta, 1893. The image measures approx 11″ x 8¼” (28.5cm x 21cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

4th Devonshire Regiment group 1889 (Ref 611.6.2)

Part of stock no. 611.6 SOLD

Fine study of the 4th Bn The Devonshire Regiment, 1889. Most of those pictured are named in pencil to the mount. The image measures approx 10½” x 8¼” (27cm x 21cm) and is mounted to the reverse of the album page.

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Devonshire Regiment at Wonford Camp, 1890 (Ref 611.5)

Devonshire Regiment at Wonford Camp 1890 – Stock No. 611.5 – SOLD

Group portrait of the 4th Bn The Devonshire Regiment at Wonford Camp, Exeter, Devon, 1890. The names of most of those pictured are inscribed in pencil to the mount. The image measures approx 10¾” x 8¼” (27cm x 21cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

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Welsh Section Mounted Infantry at Longmoor, 1907 (Ref 611.32.1)

2 Photographs – Welsh Section Mounted Infantry at Longmoor, and Longmoor Polo Clubhouse, 1907 – Stock No. 611.32 – £12 plus postage

Group portrait of the Welsh section, Mounted Infantry, at Longmoor, May 1907. The image measures approx 11½” x 8½” (27cm x 21cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

Longmoor Polo Clubhouse (Ref 611.23.2)

Part of stock no. 611.32

Fine study of the Longmoor polo clubhouse, June 1907.  The image measures approx 8″ x 5¾” (20cm x 15.5cm) and is mounted to the reverse of the album page.

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Soldiers being inspected in Cardiff Barracks Square (Ref 611.30.1)

Cardiff Barracks, 1905. (Ref 611.30.2)

2 Photographs – Cardiff Barracks, Wales, 1905 – Stock No. 611.30 – £10 plus postage

Soldiers being inspected by General Howard at Cardiff Barracks, 1905, and a study of Cardiff Barracks. The image measures approx 8″ x 5¼” (20cm x 14cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

On the reverse of the mount are six smaller images taken during the Boer War in South Africa.

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C Company, Welsh Regiment, Alexandria, Egypt, 1910 (Ref 611.4)

Welsh Regiment at Alexandria, Egypt – Stock No. 611.4 – £10 plus postage

Group portrait of “C” Company, Welsh Regiment at Alexandria, Egypt, 1910. Photograph by Reiser. The image measures approx 11″ x 6½” (28.5cm x 16cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

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Welsh Regiment Garden Party at Pembroke Dock, 1909 (Ref 611.38)

Welsh Regiment Garden Party at Pembroke Dock, Wales, 1909 – Stock No. 611.38 – SOLD

Fine study of guests at a garden party at Pembroke Dock. House identified as the “Colonel’s house”. The image measures approx 12″ x 5½” (28.5cm x 16cm) and is mounted to a large card album page.

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