One the many interesting things about collecting old pictures and postcards is trying to identify when and where they were taken and who is in the picture.
On this page I will try to provide ‘hints and tips’ for identifying postcards featuring the “Derbyshire Territorials” and also show a series of unknown pictures.
Shown above is a marquee where the men could go to buy post cards to send home.
Amongst the group are two men dressed in suits who may very well be photographers. This picture was most likely taken at Hindlow in 1910.
Several photographers visited the Summer Camps of the Volunteers and North Midland Territorials including:-
- Hans Peter Hansen from Ashbourne (1907, 1909-14)
- S Kirk from Nottingham (1911)
- Howard Barrett from Southwell (1904, 1906, 1909, 1913-4)
- John Henry Waterhouse from Chesterfield (1909-12, 1914)
- John Spencer Simnett from Burton-on-Trent (1908, 1910)
- Hiam Lang from Cardiff (1912)
- Albert Heath from Clay Cross (1912-13)
- A W Pierce from Nottingham (unknown)
- Elliott & Fry from London (1907)
- Arundal Hall from Buxton (1910)
- Henry Hinge from Ashbourne (1914)
- Jessie M Lyon from Netherfield (after 1911)
- W A Hudson from Chapel-en-le-Frith (Feb 1915)
- David Chapman Latham from Buxton (1910-11)
Related to the 2/6th Battalion:-
- Beckley from Watford (1916)
- J Lawrence of Watford (1916)
- Kay Photo from Luton (1916)
- Harry Cull from Watford (1916)
- Charles Donnelly from Skibbereen)
The Scarborough Camps
(1904, 1908, 1909 & 1911)
The Notts and Derby Brigade held four Annual Camps at Scarborough in 1904, 1908, 1909 and 1911. Determining which year a photograph was taken can often be quiet straight forward because there are several clues to look out for.
1) The 1904 Camp.
2) In 1908 the 6th Battalion had come into existence and it is often written on the front of the post card; however, the men are often seen wearing a mixture of Volunteer and Territorial uniforms and badges.
3) Pictures from 1909 are often the most difficult to identify and can be easily confused with 1908 and 1911 pictures.
4) Pictures from 1911 are probably the easiest to identify because of the numerous annotations on the postcards themselves:-
The “Y.M.C.A 1911” mark is clear indication of a Scarborough Camp picture.
The “Y.M.C.A Series Scarboro’ Camp”
This mark always appears to be associated with a H. P. Hansen stamp on the back and a postmark on one card confirms it as August 1911.
“Y.M.C.A. Series”
These cards always seem to be numbered (or have a caption) and approximately half the time they are associated with a H.P. Hansen stamp on the back.
The “blemish”
These cards always numbered, but do not have publisher. Never-the-less they are unique to Scarborough but there is no confirmation that they are from 1911.
“S Kirk Photo. Nottingham” was also known to have attended the 1911 Camp.
Miss Jessie Mary Lyon, who in the 1911 Census was 18 years old and living with her family in 10 Victoria Road at Netherfield. Her occupation was recorded as ‘Photographic Artist’.
The Hindlow Camp (1910)
HP Hanson was in attendance at the 1910 Divisional Camp and produced a YMCA Series that are distinguishable through both annotation and numbering.
John Henry Waterhouse also appears to have published a series of photographs, although it is not known if he personally attended the Camp.
David Chapman Latham of The Grove Studio, Station Road, Buxton may also have attended the 1910 Camp at Hindlow (Image courtesy of ArthurWO from the Great War Forum)
Also present was J. S. Simnett from Burton-on-Trent
The Clay Cross Series of post cards were published in 1910
The Abermaid Camp (1912)
“Hiam Lang Cardiff”
As far as I can ascertain Hiam Lang of Cardiff, being a local photographer, only attended the 1912 Ambermaid Camp. The cards always appear numbered, although this is only based on two cards that I have seen.
“A. Heath Clay Cross”
Albert Heath of Clay Cross also attended the 1912 Camp and was in fact a member of G (Clay Cross) Company.
The Clumber Camps (1913)
HP Hansen from Ashbourne attended the 1913 Camp and photographed men of at least the 5th (@ Sparken HIll), 6th (@ Clumber Park) and 8th (@ Thoresby Park) Battalions.
AW Pierce from Nottingham attended at least the 7th Battalion Camp at Welbeck Park.
Howard Barrett of Southwell appears to have only attended the 8th Battalion Camp at Thoresby Park.
The Hunmamby Camp (1914)
This Camp was only short lived and I can only find one card published by HP Hansen of Ashbourne.
Mobilisation (August 1914)
WA Hudson of Chapel-en-le-Frith
JH Waterhouse of Chesterfield
H Hinge of Ashbourne
Howard Barrett of Southwell
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 
I have a post card photo of my Grandfather (with others) that is marked “Hiam Lang – Cardiff” and the number 810. I have been trying to find out which regiment he served with in the Great War – can anyone help me?
Hello Annice
Is there any chance you could e-mail me that photo at michael.briggs@newcastle.ac.uk and I can have a look to see if we can identify anything?
cheers Mike
at the top of the page, the soldier 3rd from left is my great uncle l/Cpl Peter White, 1/6 battalion Sherwood foresters of 8 Park Row, Clay Cross, Derbyshire, D.O.W. 24/08/2015, buried at Abbeville. It was reported that he was killed by a stray bullet, Chaplain Guy N. Teale wrote to his parents saying that their son was in hospital suffering from wounds from a stray bullet, passing through his stomach and out through his arm. “I want to tell you the whole truth because your son was brought to us in a very serious condition, the surgeon found it necessary to operate immediately and I am glad to say the operation was totally successful so far as can be known. Your son is still in a serious condition but the surgeons have strong hopes for recovery. You may rest assured everything possible will be done for him, he is in good hands and the best of all he is in Gods hands and so all goes well for God never makes any mistakes. Your son is in good spirits and is anxious you should know where he is. Do not therefore worry too much, although the news will cause you some pain but I hope in a few days time to be able to send you some brighter news. I have told you the whole truth so do not worry yourself with the thought that anything is being kept back. Your son is in a serious condition but surgeons have strong hopes”. Only 2 months later Peters father George was killed in a pit accident at North WIngfield colliery, therefore Mrs White lost a son and husband within 2 months.
Hello – i posted this message on a more recent blog post but this page seems perhaps more appropriate.
I’m currently researching an old postcard i have and i came across your site. The card purports to show the “North Midlands Division of the Cyclist Corps” in 1915 outside a large railway hotel. The photographer is A. Heath of Clay Cross and the series number is 302. I wondered if the image would be of interest to you and whether you might be able to identify the location and the regiment? Follows a link to the image: http://oi59.tinypic.com/2j0b0xf.jpg.
I understand if you’re a bit skeptical about clicking a link – viruses, spam etc.
If that is a problem is there another way to show you the card?
Regards,
Tom Jordan
Thank you for this important section on the photographers who visited the various camps. There is much to absorb here on this one page, and much for me to use in my own studies of the individual photographers who were Derbyshire-based. Much appreciated, Mike.
Thanks Bret, email sent and have found soem interesting PC from Heath
cheers
Mike