A busy day in Redcar 1908, as Bill Danby tells us: ”This is almost certainly 1908 on the occasion of General French’s visit to the Annual Camp of the Territorial Force. The Territorial Force was started in this year to replace the old Volunteers and Redcar was a regular venue for the camps along with other usually seaside places. The hard training camps were seen as a holiday by lads who spent the rest of the year down pits and in factories. The local 4th Yorkshire Battalion, Territorial Force were else where in this year but did have their camp at Redcar in 1913. General French was in command of the British Army at the start of the First World War until May 1915 when the German gains at Ypres, after using gas for the first time, caused him to be replaced by Gen Douglas Haig.”
Image and detail courtesy of BillDanby’s Yorkshire Regimental Histories.
When first posted this image provoked several comments; Julie Riddiough suggesting: “Didn’t the Royal Flying Corps have a landing strip in Marske in WWI, maybe it was something to do with that?” Paul Clarke suggested: “I think it is one of the ‘Jewel Streets’ but not sure which one. Could be one opposite the station as the photograph was taken from a height, Emerald Street or Diamond Street. With the struts under the tail, the square top of the cockpit cover and the opening in the front of the propeller nose cone, it could be a Messerschmitt Bf 109. By the look of the propeller blades and the undercarriage the left wheel (as you look at it) has collapsed and only caused minor damage to the propeller and wing while trying to land.” Eric Johnson suggested: “I believe this to be an 1939/45 war photograph, the aircraft looks like an German Messerschmitt 109 fighter. Crash landed from the look of the bent prop shafts, and put on display with two poles holding up the wing tips, the bracing struts on the tail plane and hole in the propeller boss for the 20 mm cannon are clues.” Fred Brunskill advised: ”The plane was indeed German and I believe it was Messerschmitt and was displayed in the town for some weeks on behalf of the War Savings Association to help with the War Effort. It is seen here parked in Dundas Street and the shop attracting much attention was a ladies outfitters. Not sure of the year but Bon Marche had that shop for many years.”
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Julie Riddiough, Paul Clarke, Eric Johnson and particularly Fred Brunskill for the updates.
Not a day to be strolling long the promenade at Redcar; obviously 12th March 1908 must have had some significance to the photographer, the image is from a postcard by an unknown producer.
The pier is in the background but look what the high rough seas had done to the promenade. Alan Etherington advised the Archive: “This was the result of the major storm that passed down the North Sea at the end of January 1953 creating massive damage all along the East coast. Holland and Canvey Island seemed to have suffered many deaths because of it.”
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Alan Etherington for the update.
That’s what the Helter Skelter was called when I was younger, 1d or about half a penny in today’s money got you a ride down the helter skelter. Fred Brunskill advises: “Mr Newsome and his family ran the Helter Skelter for many years although not always in the same place. It has, at time, been located at either side of the old Bandstand. Often referred to as the ’Lighthouse’, this photograph was taken in 1907.”
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Fred Brunskill for the update.
Fred Brunskill tells us: ”The photograph was taken of this lady in 1886 as she went along the unmade promenade. The tall building on the right is Somerset House which was midway between Moore Street and Bath Street. On the beach can be seen some bathing machines possibly the ones operated by Mr Skinner.”
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Fred Brunskill for that update.
A long time ago you could see a sight like this on Redcar beach, not any more, notice the sailing ships on the horizon today we would see tankers or closer in the ‘windmills’!
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