Organisations
On the Beach
Victory Day Celebrations on Barrack Field, Harwich (Sat 19th July 1919) Wallis No 7c
This innocent photograph taken over 100 years ago, shows pupils from All Saints School, Dovercourt, celebrating "Victory Day" on Barrack field on the 19th July 1919. However at the time across Britain, not all was well, as on the very same day following these Peace Day celebrations (marking the end of World War I), many Ex-servicemen were angry and frustrated with high unemployment and other grievances. This led to civil unrest including riots and the burning down of Luton Town Hall by the very soldiers that had won the war. A lesson in history perhaps?
Empire Days
#No 2 - "Empire Day", Dovercourt on May 24th 1922 by Wallis
This classic Wallis card celebrates "Empire Day" at Dovercourt (note the boating Lakes), when millions of school children from across the British Empire, would typically salute the union flag and sing patriotic songs like "Jerusalem" and "God Save the Queen". They would hear inspirational speeches and listen to tales of ‘daring’, with stories that included such heroes as "Clive of India", "Wolfe of Québec" and ‘Chinese Gordon’ of Khartoum. However the real highlight of the day, was that they were let off school early in order. to take part in the thousands of marches, maypole dances, concerts and parties that celebrated the event.
This classic Wallis card celebrates "Empire Day" at Dovercourt (note the boating Lakes), when millions of school children from across the British Empire, would typically salute the union flag and sing patriotic songs like "Jerusalem" and "God Save the Queen". They would hear inspirational speeches and listen to tales of ‘daring’, with stories that included such heroes as "Clive of India", "Wolfe of Québec" and ‘Chinese Gordon’ of Khartoum. However the real highlight of the day, was that they were let off school early in order. to take part in the thousands of marches, maypole dances, concerts and parties that celebrated the event.
Empire Day (1921) Wallis No 2 H&D C II
Empire Day, Dovercourt (1922) H&D C II