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what is going on here ???

Astoness

Astoness

TRUE BRUMMIE MODERATOR
Staff member
just found this cracking pic of high st saltley dated 1914 but what is drawing the crowds.?? i can see that the men are in uniform but what is the horse drawn carriage carrying..there looks to be another one behind.. i did think at first maybe a funeral but whatever is on the first carriage looks to high to be a coffin so maybe getting ready to go into battle....

lyn
 
What an interesting picture Lyn - I hope someone has the answer to what is going on, I am intrigued now.
 
hi pol..i did wonder if maybe the carriages were transporting munissions..lovely pic though...

lyn
 
Lyn

There are several similar photos floating about, the explanations differ from a visit of George V to the Met Carriage Works, a munitions delivery, to the explanation of this one a recruiting parade in 1914.

Phil

Saltley High St 1914.jpg
 
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thanks for that pic and the ideas phil...looks like a load of munitions on the back of the carriage in my pic...

lyn
 
Lyn

As they were coming out of the Coach & Carriage works it may just have been the carriages they were collecting on both photos.

Phil
 
Hi All,

The crowd is massive so it must have been something that was well publicised. My guess is that it was possibly the local TA Unit setting off for France. A search of the local newspaper archives may give a clue if anyone is so inclined.

Old Boy
 
Here is an early picture of the coach and carriage works before it was named Metro-Camel seemingly. Look at the countryside around the Gate Saltley. You can see a train heading off to Stetchford at the junction and a barge and horse on the canal...possibly roads sans houses on the left leading off up Primrose Hill. All probably before the Viaduct. In the distance is Aston Church Road but I don't think it can be seen. Thought it might be of interest here.

This and other images can be viewed Ref.https://www.revolutionaryplayers.org.uk/home.stm
 
Old Boy said:
Hi All,

The crowd is massive so it must have been something that was well publicised. My guess is that it was possibly the local TA Unit setting off for France. A search of the local newspaper archives may give a clue if anyone is so inclined.

Old Boy
Click to expand...


hi old boy and yes thats another good suggestion..

nice pic rupert thanks for posting it...

lyn
 
As for the photographs...one might think that as stated it might be a collection of carriages and guns by the army. Dating the tram would possibly indicate if the delivery was headed to the 14/18 war. After the Boer wars anyway...the tram would be steam. Maybe it is. There must have been many locals working in the factory with dependents and families and friends and collection of a shipment by the army would have been known to many and would be an event of interest then.
 
Phil
i don't think they were coming out of the carriage works. theya re coming from metropolitan road aren't they ?. At that time , just round the corner was a Drill Hall, presumably for the territorials, or whatever they were called at the time

Saltley_drill_hall_1917.jpg
 
I have seen this photo in one of the MANY books on Birmingham that have been published...so perhaps when I have more time I will peruse the copies that I have & perhaps come up with the answer... but memory seems to tell me that it was brave lads going off to France....

Margaret.
 
skylark said:
I have seen this photo in one of the MANY books on Birmingham that have been published...so perhaps when I have more time I will peruse the copies that I have & perhaps come up with the answer... but memory seems to tell me that it was brave lads going off to France....

Margaret.
Click to expand...


margaret that was my first thoughts...i think it would need to be this to attract such a crowd...

lyn
 
Great photo's Lyn and an interesting thread I have a photo somewhere of the soldiers going off to was at the station in Saltley so maybe a lot of activity in the area.
 
mikejee said:
Phil
i don't think they were coming out of the carriage works. theya re coming from metropolitan road aren't they ?. At that time , just round the corner was a Drill Hall, presumably for the territorials, or whatever they were called at the time
Click to expand...

Mike,

I suppose its possible, but at that time Metropolitan Rd was the main entrance for the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance Co (Saltley Works) and I cant see all that ordinance being used in a drill hall.

Phil
 
Lyn, my dads cousin, who is in Australia has mentioned that her mom used to talk about her dad going off to war in 1914, although he was too young, they were childhood sweethearts and he left from Saltley, Mary says her mom describes the carriages and crowds seeing them off, so could be connected with that. I don't think there are pics of him leaving, as when they emigrated he didn't want any memories of the war and didn't keep close contact with his family.
Sue
 
FOUND IT !!!! "Yesterdays Warwickshire " series No 19, ASTON. Here is what the caption says ....

Quote: A military parade turning from Metropolitan Road into High Street, Saltley. On that corner is G E Swingler, stationer, and further down "The Adderley Arms".

The photo covers 2 pages.....

Margaret.
 
I take your point Phil. but as an addition to the information (from https://www.drillhalls.org/ ) "Not all units had drill halls, often sharing existing public premises like town halls or, in a couple of instances, places of employment for work raised units such as the South Midland Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery who were raised and based at the Metropolitan Works in Saltley, Birmingham) . Therefore this might have been the Metropolitan Works unit going off to war
 
Mike

Well worked out and a very reasonable and plausible explanation, and I suppose the different photos would be different dates and the crowds could be families seeing their loved ones off.

Phil
 
Phil said:
Lyn

There are several similar photos floating about, the explanations differ from a visit of George V to the Met Carriage Works, a munitions delivery, to the explanation of this one a recruiting parade in 1914.

Phil
Click to expand...
Hi Lyn and Phil, looking at the photographs I thought it may be a ceremonial parade as the police officer in the foreground appears to be wearing white gloves also I think that what looks like St. Johns Ambulance Brigade men in the picture with the white band round their caps.This is what could be expected on an official visit
Regards Reg
 
September 1939 - a photo of men in an artillery unit. Does the writing on the hut tell us anything more specific e.g. Labour Corps? One does have a shovel. Seems to be a joke or two on the hut too. Viv.DBA116C3-5481-42BF-9BD2-0B89E9FC5C95.jpeg
 
Eric Gibson said:
Painters and decorators, Labour Corps written in French and German and maybe Hebrew?
Click to expand...

All in the same hand, written by someone who knows his languages, even Greek. (And Latin if you include "Ubique").
That looks like actions of a bunch of bored squaddies at the beginning of the "Phoney War".
 
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