Ann's Story

“My father looks 50 in this photograph”, Ann says. But in 1918, when she believes the picture was taken, he was only 23. He had been involved in the First World War from its beginning to the very end, and physically and mentally it had taken its toll.

At the outbreak of war in 1914, young Richard Henry Stallard was part way through completing his articles to become a solicitor. But four years later he would hold a Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’, and a bar for that Military Cross, won just ten days before the Armistice. The second citation reads: ‘On the 1st November, 1918, at Maresches [France], he commanded the left support company. When the enemy counter-attacked with tanks on the left, he held on to his position until a tank was within a few yards of his headquarters, firing a machine gun at point-blank range. It was largely due to his gallant efforts that the enemy infantry in support of the tanks were repulsed. He subsequently reorganised and re-established himself on the high ground north of Maresches.’

In later years, Ann recalls her father talking of the hours and days of boredom in the trenches as much as of the episodes of action, with this photograph clearly taken during a lull. Its detail, recovered by Restoring Glory photo restoration services, is fascinating for the different stories it tells: that a soldier has a camera at the Front (quite against the rules!); that a fellow officer, though surrounded by chaos and death, still takes care to set his knife and fork together on his plate; and that only a hundred years ago, gun carriages were still drawn into battle by horses.

“My father, like almost every soldier, returned from the war with shell shock”, Ann says, “though it wasn’t properly understood as a condition. He’d trained as a solicitor, but he said, “I can’t go indoors.” So, instead he took a tenancy on a farm; and through keeping animals and being outdoors he began to get well. He had setbacks. But he was at least able to talk about his war. He was full of sayings, like: “Always see the way out”, and “Always turn your car ready for home.””

A man brave enough to look death in the face, and wise enough to take every precaution.

If you have a treasured old photograph, contact Restoring Glory today to start out on your own amazing journey.