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England in colour, 1928

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    England in colour, 1928

    National Geographic's view.

    Very much a picture postcard tourist's view but interesting. Partly because of the stunning image quality, but mainly due to the details. The two farm workers taking their lunch out of china cups and saucers (set-up or real?) The fact that Oxford had seven postal pick-ups a day. And which war was the old guy selling matches a veteran of? Crimea?

    #2
    England in colour, 1928

    First time hearing of Alexandra Day. That's not still a thing, is it ?

    Quite a few pictures of people posting letters there. As though he knew one day they'd be all but extinct.

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      #3
      England in colour, 1928

      Cool. Thanks J.

      I googled the "bridge house window, in Ambleside, Lake District", and it's still there and very much the same.

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        #4
        England in colour, 1928

        When I was at primary school, my recollection is that Alexandra rose day was a national charity event second only to poppy day. It still exists but it has lost its prominence.

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          #5
          England in colour, 1928

          It was big when I was kid. When I was about five me and the little girl next door figured we'd emulate the idea and make our own paper flower pins. We sold them door-to-door and made a killing.

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            #6
            England in colour, 1928

            I love that Oxford is "bustling" with 2 people.

            I'd assume the war veteran is from one of the Boer wars, at a guess.

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              #7
              England in colour, 1928

              I googled the "bridge house window, in Ambleside, Lake District", and it's still there and very much the same.
              Indeed, WOM. The bridge house is very well known to anyone who goes to the Lake District (which means most people in England who have an interest in hill/mountain walking, plus plenty of others besides).

              It wouldn't do to be seen out and about hatless in those days, would it? Love the 1920s cloche hat thing with the ladies.

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                #8
                England in colour, 1928

                La Lanterne Rouge wrote: I love that Oxford is "bustling" with 2 people.

                I'd assume the war veteran is from one of the Boer wars, at a guess.
                He looks a bit old to be a Boer vet. Most of them would only be in their 40s-50s in 1928.

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                  #9
                  England in colour, 1928

                  First Boer War was 1880. If he was 25 then, he'd look like that picture in '28.

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                    #10
                    England in colour, 1928

                    There were plenty of long-serving soldiers in the late Victorian army so if he'd been, say, 30 in 1899 then the later war would also make sense.

                    I also suspect he's not as old as he looks.

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                      #11
                      England in colour, 1928

                      On reflection you're probably right, a Crimea Vet would be over eighty, and not many people of that age would look as sprightly as that old guy in 1928.

                      Anyone able to identify the medals, they'd provide a clue?

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                        #12
                        England in colour, 1928

                        Looks like it very well could be the Queen's South Africa Medal on the left.

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                          #13
                          England in colour, 1928

                          La Lanterne Rouge wrote: I love that Oxford is "bustling" with 2 people.

                          I'd assume the war veteran is from one of the Boer wars, at a guess.
                          Britain was constantly at war and conquest all through the 1800's so it really is take your pick.

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                            #14
                            England in colour, 1928

                            I can also see shoelaces and almanacs in his basket. I wonder what else you'd picture a matchstick man peddling.

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                              #15
                              England in colour, 1928

                              Pencils perhaps.

                              I'm a bit lost as to which country the runty little knight with the white cross on the blue field on his shield is depicting?

                              Pageants seem to have been huge back then. They regularly appear in novels, and you don't have root far through a box of old photos to find a relative with a blanket draped over them pretending to be Boadicea or King Alfred.

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                                #16
                                England in colour, 1928

                                For that matter, who's the knight with the red cross of St. Andrew?

                                Is he representing Alabama or Florida?

                                And is "Canada" in the next shot sponsored by the Canadian Pacific Railway?

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                                  #17
                                  England in colour, 1928

                                  Northern Ireland I'd guess.

                                  The ladies' costumes are perplexing in general. South Africa (I think) is especially puzzling. Both the purple frock and the pirate Smee headgear defeat me.

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                                    #18
                                    England in colour, 1928

                                    ursus arctos wrote:
                                    And is "Canada" in the next shot sponsored by the Canadian Pacific Railway?
                                    That was my question, too.

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                                      #19
                                      England in colour, 1928

                                      I think the ladies did the best they could with what they had to hand. Except for Miss CPR, who went out of her way.

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