SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

As a young boy early 1960's I was fascinated by a sepia tint postcard back from the front which a Spinster Aunt had. This showed an photo image of a handsome young man in WW1 uniform, against a backdrop of a 'chocolate-box' ideal image of a cutesy English Country Cottage. Roses round the door.This intrigued me as the aged Aunt, by then long retired to a Crossgates flat, was inner city Leeds stock. His age couldn't have been a son, she had no brothers and never married.To younger readers it may seem odd, but as boys our Grandads had fought in WW1, and our Dads were only 15 years back from WW2.At that age you have no spacial awareness, and I thought the address written on the back would hold the key. The surname of little use for, unlike Parents in those days, Aunts were known only by their Christian names. I resolved to memorize the address and when I was older visit.The Aunt duly passed away and with early teens, girls, beer, motorbikes (all pre internet) the project lapsed. Speaking to linked relatives, he was a sweetheart who 'didn't come through'. She never married.    Thirty years on I finally visited the address off Harehills Ln, just another terrace with a Patriotic name. No cottage.The cards were, I understand, premade to keep the spirits up at both ends and the Soldier's image added to it. This one happened to be the one with a Cottage.I wonder if any of our techys can post a picture of one? I googled but couldnt find.What of the Grandads who made it back to the promised land? Slum-cleared to "a vast low-density Corporation built cottage estate with circuses and avenues" another 20+ years in the Gas Works.

You know my name, look up the number!! As the Beatles once sang in a Monty Python stylehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DkaRUtp3w8Send it to me Jogon, I'll do the honours for you     

Jogon, rather than clog up the thread, drop me an e-mail.

I understood from Jogon's post that he doesn't have the photo but wanted to see an example. Something like this:http://ngb.chebucto.org/Dist_Photo/unkn ... r.shtmlbut with added cottage, presumably.    

I may have some help for him in a different form.

Jogon wrote: As a young boy early 1960's I was fascinated by a sepia tint postcard back from the front which a Spinster Aunt had. This showed an photo image of a handsome young man in WW1 uniform... I also have a mystery WWI postcard which belonged to a spinster aunt.Apologies if I've posted this before. I believe that one of the men in the picture was a beau of my great aunt May. He didn't come back, and she never married, but I've no idea which soldier he is. Unfortunately, there is nothing written on the back.The cap badge is the Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment.) I think they recruited mainly in the Leeds area.        

Si wrote: Jogon wrote: As a young boy early 1960's I was fascinated by a sepia tint postcard back from the front which a Spinster Aunt had. This showed an photo image of a handsome young man in WW1 uniform... I also have a mystery WWI postcard which belonged to a spinster aunt.Apologies if I've posted this before. I believe that one of the men in the picture was a beau of my great aunt May. He didn't come back, and she never married, but I've no idea which soldier he is. Unfortunately, there is nothing written on the back.The cap badge is the Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment.) I think they recruited mainly in the Leeds area.         Now that is a set of lads.

I particularly like the recumbent PT instructor smoking a cig!

Pic of a postcard from a soldier sent to his mum during WW1. This belongs to another member of Secret Leeds.

Si wrote: I particularly like the recumbent PT instructor smoking a cig! I found myself thinking who:-1.I'd most like to have a pint with2.I'd least like to have a fight with