This black and white postcard photograph is a part of the Boddington Family Collection held by the Museum. This poignant family archive contains many items relating to the loss of two brothers, Frederick E Boddington and George K Boddington who died in action in WW1 at the First and Second Battles of Bullecourt, France, 1917.
This is a photograph of Private George K Boddington, who can be seen at the back left of the photo, amongst a group of convalescent soldiers at the Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, England in July 1916. Private Boddington was transferred to the hospital after receiving a shrapnel wound to his right leg in action in France. The hospital, once an asylum, treated over 56,000 wounded soldiers between the years 1915-1920. It resumed its work as an asylum in 1921.
The simple gesture of a hand on a shoulder makes this image a memorable one as it conveys a sense of camaraderie and support amongst the men. The seated nurse in the middle casting a sideways glance at the dog is also a charming, almost domestic touch.
The postcard has been marked on its reverse by George Boddington’s mother, Emily Boddington, simply saying
‘G.K. Boddington convalescing in England after being wounded’.
After five months recovering from his wounds, Private Boddington returned to duty with his regiment, the 11th Battalion, in France and died of wounds received in the second battle of Bullecourt the following May in 1917.
Selected items from the Boddington Family Collection are currently on public display at Display Store, Powerhouse Discovery Centre, Castle Hill.
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Post by Leonie Jones, Rights & Permissions officer
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