Postcard from an unknown studio
 with a backdrop of

The Forth Bridge

Photo 1

Studio Portrait of two men with a backdrop of the Forth Bridge

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to David Parfitt, Brighton Sussex, England

Back of the Postcard

The back of a postcard - Studio Portrait of two men with a backdrop of the Forth Bridge

© Reproduced with acknowledgement to David Parfitt, Brighton, Sussex, England

 

Photo 1

Thank you to David Parfitt, Brighton, Sussex, England who wrote:

The Studio

"I am hoping to identify the studio that this precious family photo was taken in.  With no studio name and only a distinctive backdrop and some anecdotal evidence to go on, I know it is a long shot, but worth a try.

The Portrait is of two men, one standing, one seated, in front of a painted backdrop of the Forth Bridge - the seated man is sitting on a rusticated chair that bears an ID number for the portrait (890)."

The Men

"The man standing was my great uncle (my grandmother's brother) Arthur Edward Weller.  The other man is believed to be James White. These two men were Admiralty civilians (canteen staff) aboard the Lion-Class Battlecruiser HMS Princess Royal at Rosyth.

Both men were killed during the Battle of Jutland, when a shell pierced the armoured hull and passed through the canteen before exploding on the armour surrounding the engine room.

This portrait was sent to my grandmother shortly before her brother died on the 31st of May 1916.  He must have had it taken while on shore-leave in Edinburgh.  He was 22 years old."

Back of the Postcard

"Sadly, there is no studio mark on the back of this card.

My mother wrote "Uncle Arthur Weller & friend" several years ago, so that the family would know who the photo was of.

The message, "Haven't had a wet" was written on the card by Arthur, before he sent it. I'm not too sure what it means.  It could be a reference to his coat, or to the fact that he hasn't had a drink yet?

Be sure to let me know if that backdrop or the chair is familiar to you."

David Parfitt, Brighton, Sussex, England:  April 28, 2010

Reply to David

Do you have any idea which studio this photo might have been taken in.  If so, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to David.    Thank you.

Peter Stubbs:  May 3, 2010

 

Photo 1

Reply

1.

David Turner

Craigmillar, Edinburgh

Thank you to David Turner who wrote:

Message on the Postcard

"The reference, "Haven't had a wet yet" is a naval term meaning "I've not had a drink yet."

David Turner, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:  May 4, 2010

Photo 1

Reply

2.

John Smith

Paisley, Renfrewshire Scotland

Thank you to John Smith, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, who replied:

Forth Bridge Backdrop

"I was looking at your site again and came across this photo from David P:

Studio Portrait of two men with a backdrop of the Forth Bridge

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to David Parfitt, Brighton Sussex, England

Here is a photo of my Great Grandfather taken around the same time.  It has the same props.

Studio portrait by Peter McGill, South Queensferry, with a backdrop of the Forth Bridge

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to John Smith, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland

The text on the back of the photo, reads:

PETER McGILL

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hawes Pier, South Queensferry, Edinburgh

______________

Negatives kept.  Additional Copies 1/- each

John Smith, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland:  May 9, 2010

 

Photo 1

Reply

3.

David Turner

Craigmillar, Edinburgh

Thank you to David Turner who wrote:

Message on the Postcard

"The reference, "Haven't had a wet yet" is a naval term meaning "I've not had a drink yet."

David Turner, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:  May 4, 2010

Photo 2

Photo of Private Paterson with a Forth Bridge Bckdrop - taken by Peter McGill in 1914

©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Dave Donatelli,

 Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

 

Photo 2

Comments

Dave Donatelli

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to Dave Donatelli, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada who wrote:

Private H Paterson

Forth Bridge Backdrop

Photo of Private Paterson with a Forth Bridge Bckdrop - taken by Peter McGill in 1914 ©

"Photo 2 above is from a World War I album.  It has  around 400 images that are named and dated from 1909 to 1920.  This photo was taken by Peter McGill in November 1914."

Private Paterson

"The photo is of Private H. Paterson 6th Bn Black Watch Royal Highlanders who was killed in an accident at Dalmeny Station. The photo has a Fourth Bridge backdrop.

Tommy Byers was the man who gave me his photo collection back in 1976 at the age of 94. He was a resident in my family's rest home.  Tommy had collected and taken the photos that are in the collection.

I'm trying to find out Private Paterson's first name is if that is possible."

Dave Donatelli, Abbotsford, British Columbia Canada:  June 17, 2014

Postcard Portrait

I've not seen the back of this photo, but I assume that it is a postcard portrait, similar to other photos from Peter McGill's studio at South Queensferry.  The proportions are about right for it to be a postcard.

  Peter Stubbs:  June 17, 2014

 

Photo 2

Reply

1.

Frank Hay

South Queensferry, Edinburgh

Thank you to Frank Hay who, after reading the comments above,  spoke to other members of his Queensferry History Group.  The group is now embarking on  an ambitious 4-year project to commemorate the centenary of World War I.

Frank wrote:

Newspaper Reports

"Our team came up with a number of reports on this death.  I've summarised them thus:

Death of Forth Bridge Sentry
25th November 1914

Background

Hugh Paterson, the eldest son of William Paterson, cycle agent, Pitlochry, joined the Territorial Army, 6th Black Watch Reserve Battalion in the summer of 1914.  He was just sixteen years old.

When war was declared, he was called up at Perth and then moved to Queensferry, Forth defences. William Paterson had been very keen to serve at the front but was disappointed when precluded from this service by his age.

Accident

On Wednesday 25th November, 1914, while on sentry duty at Dalmeny Passenger Station, William Paterson was run down by a train between 4 o’clock in the morning, when he came on duty, and 7.45 am, when his body was found by a railway surfaceman.

His terribly mutilated remains were taken to Dalmeny police mortuary. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown but there was a heavy mist that morning and he may not have seen the train that ran him down.

The Scotsman newspaper reported, "Intimation of the tragic fatality cast a gloom over Pitlochry".

Frank Hay, South Queensferry, Edinburgh:  June 18+19, 2014

 

Photo 2

Reply

2.

John Hadden

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Hadden who replied:

Message on the Postcard

"Here is an article from 'The Scotsman' newspaper referring to sixteen-year old Territorial, Hugh Paterson, a private in the 6th Black Watch, whose body was found at the Dalmeny end of the Forth Bridge, where he had been on sentry duty."

SENTRY KILLED AT THE FORTH BRIDGE

A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD TERRITORIAL

"About eight o'clock yesterday morning the body of Hugh Paterson, a private in the 6th Black Watch, was found at the Dalmeny end of the Forth Bridge, where he had been on sentry duty. The accident may have occurred any time between four o'clock in the morning and the time when the body was found, and the exact circumstances attending the fatality are unknown. It would appear, however, that a heavy mist hid the approach of a train, which ran him down and inflicted fatal injuries.

Private Paterson, who is the eldest son of Mr William Paterson, cycle agent, Pitlochry, was only sixteen years of age. He joined the Territorials this summer, and proceeded to Fife with the battalion when war broke out. He was very keen to go to the front with the others, a company who have volunteered for active service abroad, and was disappointed that his age meanwhile precluded him from thus serving his country.  Intimation of the tragic fatality cast a gloom over Pitlochry."

The Scotsman:  November 26, 2014

John Hadden, Edinburgh:  June 19, 2014

 

Postcard Portraits

The Forth Bridge

 

 

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