My Grandfather's Photo Stash 1

[poliphilo]

My paternal grandfather suppressed his early history and there are no pictures of him as a child. We first encounter him as a young man- as here- at the very end of the Great War- in the uniform of an RAF warrant officer.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Quite a handsome man, your grandfather!

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

Was he a pilot?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Imposing. He filled out rather as he got older.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't think so. He was an engineer in civilian life so I imagine he'd have had a role on the ground, servicing planes...

He only got in at the tail end of the War and never saw active service.

[sorenr.livejournal.com]

I know a lot of it is in the image processing, but I still find it interesting that young men in those days are largely represented as unashamedly pretty in portrait photography. There is often an almost effeminate (to the modern eye), Valentino-esque quality, especially the lips and eyes.

Just goes to show that ideals of masculine beauty can change.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Interesting point. And as it happens I have a couple of photos that illustrate this perfectly. If I can find them again I'll post them...

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

We'll call him one of the lucky ones.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Since I replied to your last comment I've learned he spent the greater part of the war working for Vickers- the arms manufacturers.