What a FIND... to come across another photo of my Father–in–law from 1918!
First let me show you his official Border Guard picture.
We have NO idea what date it was when he enlisted, neither how long he actually served.
But he spoke of his time as a border guard during WWI so any time between 1914–1918.
He was stationed at Groesbeek, Gelderland in The Netherlands.
There was no service time in the army as The Netherlands remained neutral during WWI...
Guess the above address was the place where he had to report to and it might have been his ID number: 932
Second from left is also my Father–in–law...
Also my Paternal Granddaddy did serve as a border guard, don't know where he was stationed.
But my Granddaddy married on September 13, 1918...
Coincidence maybe?!
See link to previous post about my Granddaddy below post.
The end of WWI was on November 11, 1918 and signed at Compiègne, France.
The photo that I found on Archief Well mentions that it was in September 1918 and the person seated on the left sent this to his sister.
They all are toasting and have wine bottles for whatever reason.
Okay, just learned today on May 1st, that this is in front of Café Boerderij (Farmstead) Altena in Groesbeek, Netherlands. click link→: Found Father–in–law's Girl at Café H. Albers Altena in Groesbeek, Netherlands
NONE of the other names are known... sad as most are long gone and relatives probably don't recognize them anymore.
To both of us, history always has remained a very important part and ought to be preserved!
At least for family members that came after him.
Pieter's Dad was not yet married then...
He has told Pieter as a young boy about a beautiful dark–haired girl at the Café in Groesbeek and he even went by bike with young Pieter seated on the back of the bike, with a folded blanket underneath... That was some 30 km one–way on the bike or 18.6 miles.
Pieter got an ice cream at the Café but his Dad's beloved dark haired girl was not there.
Did receive from Marleen Timmermans at Archief Well, this enlarged image of Pieter's Dad and yes, we recognized him, also the familiar way he is holding his cigaret.
Here Pieter's Dad is shown in a photo at the 25th wedding anniversary of his fiancée's Parents on May 11, 1919 and he is wearing the very same detachable starched collar and tie as in the above photo from September 1918!
WISH we would know more about the Border Guard or in Dutch 'Grenswachter' period from Altena (Germany) – Groesbeek (Netherlands).
Related link:
Happy Father's Day to my Father-in-law in Heaven | previous post by me
{My OPA - GRANDDADDY} | previous post by me of my Granddaddy wearing his border guard suit
1965 Pieter visiting French Mushroom Grower André Sarazin near Historic Compiègne | previous post about Pieter's visit of Compiègne where the Armistice agreement was signed to end WWI...
A wonderful souvenir of times gone by.
ReplyDeleteGod bless always.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, indeed a wonderful momento of Pieter's Dad, pondering about the future...
Hugs,
Mariette
Those photos are treasures. In the first two photos, his face reminds me of a young Robin Williams. Perhaps it's just his expression--his mouth, I don't know. Not in the other photos, though!
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteYes, those are really true treasures and we only wish we had found the groups photo in time for Pieter's brothers to have seen them...
Guess the mouth of Robin Williams is similar.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate you have the phots even though so little is known.
My father-in-law was a historian. He always insisted we label our photos. Sometimes I did.
Deareast Suzi,
DeleteOh, there are so many mystery photos because they did not get labeled. SAD!
At least I'm happy for having found this treasure.
Hugs,
Mariette
How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYour father-in-law' photos must be treasures. Mariette.
Happy day to you and Pieter.
Dearest Tomoko,
DeleteYes, they sure are and it is so good for Pieter for having seen them in time!
Hugs,
Mariette
Awesome souvenir! It’s great to find pictures of past relatives. The person gets a face, and there is more to the memory than just the name in the family tree.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteAbsolutely and for Pieter, now his Dad's stories about his time as a border guard come to life!
Hugs,
Mariette
What a great find. I wish I had old family photos.
ReplyDeleteDearest Sami,
DeleteYes, this is truly a great find! So happy with that.
For each of us it is valuable to have some images of our Parents when they were young.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello! A truly fascinating post ... to reconnect with ancestors thru photos is such a rare treat. He was a handsome fellow and I love the way he holds the cigarette.
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteThank you and what a joy to discover him on a photo on the Internet!
Pieter's Dad must have given me a 'nudge' to look for it in the right place.
Handsome he was and a very distinct way of holding the cigarette.
Hugs,
Mariette
Sono foto molto preziose,grazie per averle condivise.Buona serata.
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteDavvero sono foto molto preziose!
Abbracci,
Mariette
What an exciting find!
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteYes, a very exiting and happy find!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, What a sense of history these old photos provide. These ones not only show family history, but also record world events that included your/Pieter's family. That is quite a convivial gathering--good thing the border was not rushed right at that moment!
ReplyDelete--Jim
p.s. Sorry about my tardy responses lately. I have been somewhat overwhelmed, but should be back on track soon.
Dearest Jim,
DeleteHoping you manage to get back on track and that all is well with you!
Yes, this is a true sense of history and Pieter's Dad played a role in it as did so many others.
Hugs,
Mariette
That photo is a wonderful find. So much of family histories get lost over the years. We have so many pictures taken when the boys were little and sometimes can't even remember who the people are that are in the photos. I've been asking my mom questions about our family and writing her responses down in a journal. It's the only way I'll ever remember anything.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteOh, a God sent for finding this!
Family history ought to be written down as one day it all will be lost.
Good for you to ask your Mom questions and recording them!
Hugs,
Mariette
How cool is this, great photos
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteYes, very cool and it feels like hitting bingo!
Hugs,
Mariette
I really like old photographs of my ancestors, luckily I have some and I used the scanner to transfer everything to the computer. That way they are even more protected.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteWe have everything digital, no real photos or movies.
It is valuable to have some family history and this is great for passing on.
Hugs,
Mariette
Siempre la familia guardaban las fotos y aún que no se hacían tantas como ahora. Esas fotografías erán guardadas con gran esmeros. Ahora en la era digital su número es considerable, se imprimen menos y son guardadas en el disco duro del ordenador.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteOh, en ese entonces, las fotos se tomaban para ocasiones muy especiales. Por eso también son valiosos. Me temo que los jóvenes nunca "conocerán" este valor... ¡Y la peor parte son los selfies!
Abrazos,
Mariette
Olá, tudo bem?
ReplyDeleteQue belo relato de um tempo passado da família. Como é interessante ver como era antigamente as coisas, né.
Bjos minha querida fique com Deus!!!
Querida Anajá,
DeleteEstamos bem considerando nossos problemas de saúde.
Mas tão feliz por ter mais ou menos completado o histórico familiar de Pieter para passá-lo.
Abraços,
Mariette