'There but for the grace of God'
My brother recently sent me this image from the family archives. It shows my grandfather, Bert Lander, in contemplative mood. It is remarkable in that it is a very early 'Selfie'.
He was an amateur photographer and often experimented with atmospheric shots. His photographs of London are now in the Museum of London's archives.
This picture must have been taken during a period of leave, or maybe convalescence in World War I. He was a countryman and joined up, as did many others, to defend his country. He was attached to the West Yorks regiment and wounded (shot through the neck) at the Somme. After 'recovering', he was sent back to the front, although his injuries saw him discharged in August 1917.
He was always a troubled person and was probably suffering from shellshock. Sadly, he took his own life in WW2 when it looked like we may lose the war. He must have wondered what all those souls, on both sides, gave their lives for.
It reminds me just how lucky my generation has been.
'There but for the grace of God'
My brother recently sent me this image from the family archives. It shows my grandfather, Bert Lander, in contemplative mood. It is remarkable in that it is a very early 'Selfie'.
He was an amateur photographer and often experimented with atmospheric shots. His photographs of London are now in the Museum of London's archives.
This picture must have been taken during a period of leave, or maybe convalescence in World War I. He was a countryman and joined up, as did many others, to defend his country. He was attached to the West Yorks regiment and wounded (shot through the neck) at the Somme. After 'recovering', he was sent back to the front, although his injuries saw him discharged in August 1917.
He was always a troubled person and was probably suffering from shellshock. Sadly, he took his own life in WW2 when it looked like we may lose the war. He must have wondered what all those souls, on both sides, gave their lives for.
It reminds me just how lucky my generation has been.