Walter John Isherwood (seated) (born 24th February, 1868 and died 1st June, 1954) was too old to enlist in the Army when war broke out in 1914, but, the formation of the Royal Defence Corps saw men aged between 41 and 55 being asked to volunteer to undertake defensive tasks at key installations such as fuel depots, stores and port facilities. In this picture, thought to be taken in late 1917, his RDC cap badge is distinguishable.

The son of Walter John Isherwood, John Francis Isherwood (standing)(born 24th January, 1899 and died 5th November, 1969) was conscripted in 1917, first into the RJGB and went from there to the Hampshire Regiment, before later being transferred to the Labour Corps. This picture, thought to be taken in late 1917, shows him still as a member of the Hampshires.

Known as ‘Harry’, Philip Henry Isherwood (born 31st October, 1895 and died 4th April, 1978) served as a Gunner in the RFA and was seriously wounded, thereby causing the loss of a leg. It is possible that he is shown as wearing “hospital” dress under a greatcoat. When men were wounded and had returned to the UK they would wear a light blue suit with off-white lapels, a white shirt and a red tie as opposed to the khaki uniforms they had returned home in, and which probably were lice ridden in any case.

 

 

 

Pictures courtesy of Lindy Billot