This photograph of a young couple on their wedding day was recovered from a skip in Aldbourne many years ago, and kept safe by the late and much missed Trish and Dave Rushen. The glass is stuck to the photo, so Trish passed it to me so that I could take some nice clear photos. The image first went onto Facebook in January 2014. Names were added to faces during 2017 when William and Jessie’s great-granddaughter spotted the photo and matched it up with a copy from her family album. The wedding took place on 5 August 1917 at St Michael’s Church, Wood Green, Middlesex.
William is wearing a silver war badge on his lapel. Thanks to Phil Comley for spotting this and pointing me in the direction of information about this particular badge of honour. Imperial War Museum Silver War Badge.
There are two other stories to be told about the ‘broken glass photo’. One is about William’s skill as a euphonium player in the Aldbourne Band. The second is about yet another mystery photo that was tucked into the broken frame.
Jo Hutchings - Aldbourne Archive 