A little bit of the Great War for all to see beside the picture of "our Albert"

Now I am on a quest and it is to track down the story of a series of porcelain figures produced during the Great War.

I suspect they were bought as souvenirs and more than likely were part of the war effort.

They come from the collection of David Harrop* who exhibits some of his wartime memorabilia at Southern Cemetery and has two exhibitions coming off later in the summer.**

It would be useful to know more including where they were sold, who made them and how many still survive.

I suspect they were mass produced and given an individual transfer making them unique to each place.

So our tanks have the coats of arms of Manchester and Stockport and the ambulance that of Southport.

They are one of those fascinating little pieces of history giving an insight into the everyday life of those who lived through the conflict.

Most I guess sat on a mantelpiece, perhaps beside a photograph of a loved one in uniform and with the end of the war slowly bit by bit made their way from something proudly displayed to a cupboard and finally consigned to a box in the cellar or attic.





Pictures; from the collection of David Harrop

*David Harrop, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/David%20Harrop

**The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport from July 28 and Oldham Archives, Union Street, Oldham, from August 4