Rare photos show glimpse into life of captured war hero

These are the first published images of a rare set of never-before-seen photographs showing the life of a captured soldier in the First World War.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Mar 2017, 10:03 GMT
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 11:01 GMT
Clifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWIClifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWI
Clifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWI

Old Tommy Clifford Garner, who died in the 1970s, kept a collection of photos taken during his time in a German prisoner of war camp that remained hidden from the public eye for 100 years.

The incredible pictures were unearthed by Clifford’s grandson, Blackpool man Darren Bailey, 51, who discovered them wrapped in an old khaki prisoners uniform in the attic of his mother’s Worsley home.

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Darren, who lives on Bedford Road, North Shore, said: “My mother passed away, and when we were clearing her house out we found the photos.

Clifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWIClifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWI
Clifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWI

“They read ‘souveneirs of my captivity in Germany’.

“It shows him playing football, they did gardening and grew their own vegetables. They looked like they were quite looked-after.”

Darren handed the photographs over to his friend, former territorial army officer and amateur historian John Davidson, 47, who is researching their history. He said: “I’m hugely interested in the history of the First and Second World War, and when I saw the photos I knew they were one of a kind.”

Clifford’s military life currently remains a mystery. It is not known where he signed up, or his age at the time - though John estimates he joined in 1914 at the age of 16, as by 1917 he had risen to the rank of sergeant in the 4th King’s Liverpool Regiment.

Clifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWIClifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWI
Clifford Garner's photograph's from 1917 when he was a prisoner of WWI
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It is not known when or how he was captured, though he is believed to have returned home to England in 1918 after his camp was liberated.

John said: “We know he was in Germany but we’re not exactly sure where, and that’s what we’re trying to find out.

“I’m doing everything I can to find out more.”

Related topics:GermanyBlackpool