Thread: Old Black & White Photos

I'll let Fenian tell the story of his Uncle James if he is of a mind.


Some I've taken this summer.

My Great Great Grandfather: W.J. McCall

Unknown Year, but in his Civil War Uniform


And my Great Grand Father: William R. McCall

Attachment 112654

Great thread!! My wife's family is McCall from Michigan. I wonder.....

Originally Posted by Costabro

Great thread!! My wife's family is McCall from Michigan. I wonder.....

My Great Great Great Grandmother setteled in Iowa from back east... So far after doing all the checking, nothing but who knows...

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Tells us more Carl I see a German swastika on his shirt, if I'm not mistaken it's a German Army/Heer Insignia would be nice to have a little historical insight and the history behind your Father.

Jamie.

Yes, my father was born in a German village in Yugoslavia. I was going to cover the symbol up, I know it's pretty disturbing. He was an orphan along with a bunch of siblings; around 5 of them I think. I believe his mother died in childbirth; his father left them I THINK after his wife died. He thinks his mother was probably French, she came from a town with a French name near the border of Germany and France (Alsiers???) and had a French name ('Boiso???). There are some really cool photos I have the orphanage, I could post them maybe? He worked for a stonemason when he was 12, then at 19 joined the army. He was an 'adjutant' which he explains is basically a messenger. He was posted to a supply battalion, so never fought in battle. There are a couple of really interesting stories I have...

In the army he boxed, and at the end of the year was interned in an American internment camp. He saw people tarred and feathered and some other pretty horrific things. He was then 'let go' (it sounds like it was a Monty Python-ish "Right, we've got too many of you, anyone have an auntie or uncle of something nearby you could go and stay with?" My dad had an auntie in Switzerland so they said "right, off you go then" and he took off.

He then took up lumber jacking and I think some boxing again and when England wanted to be re-built took off over there and lived there for ten years. I have some interesting photos of him dressed in a beautiful suit with a pushbike that apparently cost a years wage or something. Also some cool photos of him on his motor bike, an Ariel Square Four, and us kids on it too.

Then in '64, two years after I was born, off we go to Australia. We were what were called 'two Pound poms', we paid two Pounds to get here; Australia wanted emigrants (some cool ship photos). Several months on the emigrant centre camp thingy and we bought a house, I think dad paid 16 thousand dollars. So, then here I am, that's how I got here!

Not disturbing at all its life! great family story thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Sailor

...

Those photos are really cool, and that's a great story. That's a cool little house, too! What struck me is the sadness that those young healthy looking people were sent off to war...I think we should have a rule where only old people go to war; you have to be over 70. That would slow things down a bit and at least they can live a life. Sorry, I'm off topic...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Those photos are really cool, and that's a great story. That's a cool little house, too! What struck me is the sadness that those young healthy looking people were sent off to war...I think we should have a rule where only old people go to war; you have to be over 70. That would slow things down a bit and at least they can live a life. Sorry, I'm off topic...

Author John Scalzi has well postulated that as a science fiction series beginning with:
"Old Man's War" A link to Wikipedia.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

Author John Scalzi has well postulated that as a science fiction series beginning with:
"Old Man's War" A link to Wikipedia.
~Richard

Oh, really?

carlmaloschneider
I am finding the story interesting and it brings back many things that I heard about as a child. I appreciate this forum which allows us to understand and know each other in a deeper way than even a face to face conversation could.
Thank you to all!
~Richard

Such an interesting thread with so many personal histories. Thanks to all who have posted.

Bob