Lives of the First World War

We think that this picture was taken when Richard entered Naval Service as a ship's steward's boy. The date given is therefore based on this assumption.

We think that this picture was probably taken around Richard's eighteenth birthday when he was promoted from ship's steward's boy to ship's steward's assistant. The date given therefore reflects this assumption.

A studio portrait of the couple. Unfortunately I have no idea when the picture was taken, although I would imagine it would be sometime between 1900 and 1914.

Taken in the back garden of their home, 37 Kensington Road, Portsmouth. They moved into the house, which was in a new development built for Naval personnel, in around 1913. They lived there until their deaths when the house was passed down to their son and daughter-in-law. The house remained in the family until the death of their daughter-in-law, my grandmother, in 1988. I imagine that this picture would have been taken in the late 1940s.

Richard and his family lived at 37 Kensington Road from about 1913 onwards. The houses in the area were newly built for Naval personnel around this time. No. 37 is on the left, the right hand bay window next to the lamppost, opposite the shop. I'm not sure when this picture was taken but it is certainly after World War Two (The metal spikes on top of the walls were removed during the war to be melted down for armaments). Due to lack of traffic I would guess this to be the late 1940s or 1950s.

Richard and Elizabeth cutting their Golden Wedding cake at their family celebration at their home, 37 Kensington Road, Portsmouth.

Short newspaper article on the occasion of Richard and Mary's Golden Wedding. Taken from the Portsmouth Evening News, 7 Feb 1950.

Richard's wife, Elizabeth, and their two oldest children, Doll and Dick. I don't know the date for certain, but judging from the age of the children, I would imagine that this was taken in about late 1914 or early 1915.

This is Richard's only son, Dick. There is no date on the picture, but judging by his age, I would imagine that it was taken around 1914-16.

Death certificate of Richard's daughter, vera

Marriage certificate of Richard's parents, James Jenkins and Elizabeth Sarah Wellspring.