Camera Obscure

By fionajmackenzie

The Memories of Others

This is my first blipfoto. And before this journal moves forward in time, I wanted to take a look back.
This is a family Deed Box that belonged to my Grandfather, Thomas Gordon Mackenzie, and is full of treasures and glimpses of the past, including a wealth of old photographs.
The picture on the left is something of a mystery. It is of King Edward VIII, probably when he was Prince of Wales, taken on board a ship or yacht. On the back is written:
'With the compliments of P. J. Philip of the New York Times. D127.' It is also stamped with a large 'Wide World Photos' stamp.
The picture on the right is one of my favourites, as it is a treasure of information, not all of which is complimentary! On the back, handwritten in green ink, in the neat hand of my Uncle Ross, is written:
'Holbrook Arizona 1944.
Left to Right.
Lamont: Formerly gunner aboard P.T Boat (Erratic-pilot).
Boerner: Bombardier aboard a B.24 over 800 hours of combat missions against the Japanese. Holder of several decorations. An excellent pilot.
Airplane Driver Mackenzie. (My Uncle Ross).
Penne?: (part of name missing) - Formerly U.S Marine Corps. Veteran of Guadacanal, Bourganville and Makin. Decorated for Bravery. (A Hot Pilot)
Dodds: Formerly U.S Naval Intelligence. (An average pilot).

So there you have it. The brief memories of others, long gone. The photographers who took these shots would never have dreamt their images would one day be on the internet. I hope their ghosts are pleased.

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