image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Photo taken probably in some chateau behind the front lines of the Western Front in WW1. The writing on the back lists with position around 20 soldier names including that of J.A. Holton, top row, 2nd from the right (middle top row on roll-over).
The photo is titled: ‘Officers attending Ind. Army course commencing 13th March 17’. This could be the last photo of John Arthur Holton as he was killed later in the year (4 Oct.) fighting in Belgium.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
The location and time of these pair of photos is unknown, but from the items visible they are likely to be the Holton household in Turkey. The photos are clearly of the same room, but the upper one seems to be of a later date as there is more clutter in the room and on the walls. The fancy mirror has a definite European character to it, but other items such as table cover and corner display stand are clearly Turkish.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Programme sheet of an entertainment evening laid on by the visiting British battleship ‘HMS Adventure’ on the 7th March 1919, a period when there would be no shortages of visiting Allied shipping as the Ottoman Empire had recently been defeated with the end of WWI. The entertainment that was held at the International College of Paradise (modern Kızılcullu, half-way between Boudja and Smyrna) and the football match that preceded this event was probably also held in this location between the visitors and the locals who designated themselves as the ‘Wanderers’ which was based in Bornova and its players were all British from that village. These celebrations would have also held the symbolic gesture of gratitude for their deliverance from WWI.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Clearly WW1 period, one of the brothers, photo on the right dated Nov. 9, 1917, taken at Southsea, presumably on army leave, together with his sweetheart? Since John was killed on 4th Oct. 1917, this would rule him out. So this is almost certainly Alfred who died 1919 (Charles Blyth Holton survived the war).
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Pair of unknown individuals, or the same person?
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
This individual on the left seems to be the same individual on the right in the upper pair and the person standing on the left appears to be the brother and fellow WW1 soldier Alfred Holton.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Yet another WW1 uniformed soldier, but he appears to have spurred cavalry boots on, so possibly Charles Blyth Holton? According to a cousin of Ruth, Graham Holton, the grandmother is Hannah Holton (nee Blyth) wife of Edward Holton (1832-1899) and maternal grandmother of the soldiers, and he is fairly sure that the children in the photo were Edward, Donald and Evelyn Holton, the children of one of Hannah’s sons Percy Frederick Holton.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Unknown horsemen, unknown location. Horseman no:1 could be soldier no:3, horseman no:2 location possibly Turkey?
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
The horsemen seem to be in a more Western European farmyard setting, the right one seems to be horseman no:1, and his companion (brother?) possibly soldier no:2. Unknown sailor, unknown period.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Marriage of John Holton and Vera, other persons unknown, c. 1945.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
The father of Ruth, Francis Arthur (crouching on the right) and his brother John A. Holton next to him. While location is unknown, identifications courtesy of Graham Holton: from back row, left to right
- Kate and Francis Smithers Holton, Edith (Cis) and Charles Blyth Holton
-possibly Lottie Wynne, sister of Francis Charles Holton
-Emily Jane and Francis Charles Holton
-John A Holton and Francis Arthur Holton.
The portrait photo is that of Francis Arthur Holton, son of Francis Smithers Holton.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Francis Arthur Holton, looking rather dashing, WW2 time?
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Unknown couple, in Killarney, Ireland 1947, probably Charles Blyth Holton with his wife ‘Cis’ Cicely. He retired early and led a life of gentleman of leisure.
image courtesy of Ruth Holton
Old Hall farm, High hurstwood, near Uckfield, East Sussex, bought in the early 1920s, sold 2001. Oast house is for drying grain and storage, white building on the right is the farmhouse.
Photographs and information courtesy of Ruth Holton, 2007