Photo's of our army ancestors

[Peter_uk_can]

This may apply to the other armed forces, but all my photos are Army related.

I have several photos of known ancestors, wearing a uniform and taken in a studio. In the majority of them there is the "unknown soldier", someone of whom my parents, great Aunts etc have no knowledge and certainly not a family relation.

It seems that I am not alone in having this type of photo and have dismissed it to an old legend that it cost the same to have two people in the shot as it did to have one, so they halved their costs.

Others say it was simply an army buddy.

None of my photos or any that I have seen have any text that would explain who and why, therefore I am throwing this question in the belief that there are many people on this site that know a great deal more than I do.

Maybe this should have been in general interests ? If any mod out there thinks so, please move it.

[neil1821]

As these soldiers are wearing uniforms, there may be plenty of clues in the photos to identify both their regiments and the era! Armed with that info, you may have a better idea who they are.

If you can scan and post them on here, I'm sure people will give you the benefit of their knowledge.

[Wilkes_ml]

I have noticed the same with one of my photo's - only one is a family member with no clue as to who is the other "sitter". I also thought that it was likely just a friend, it is here (http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc25/Wilkes_ml/WalterHenryGordonMitchell1.jpg)

[helen57]

I too have inherited old photos of ancestors in uniform.
My parents have thankfully been able to identify most of them.
One interesting one that I have, is of my g.grandfather (process of elimination and much use of magnifying glass) lying in a hospital bed with his head bandaged, there are seven other men in the photo all in civilian clothes, of whom we know nothing.
The photo. as in many cases, is printed as a postcard. I wish it had been used as such, because then I would be able to identify where it was taken and who the invalid was for certain.

regards Helen