militia

A local photographer who documented Birr at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries was George Morrison of Cumberland Square, Birr. 21 photos of his are held at the UK National Archives in Kew, including ones with such intriguing and tantalising descriptions as "Photograph of John's Place, Birr. Bread cart opposite Mrs Boner's", "Photograph of John's Place, Birr. Two boys on roadway near Dr Stoneys, No 7 Johns Place, Birr", "Photograph of the coffee bar Leinster depot, Birr barracks" (although the copyright for this one belongs to Edward Morrison). I haven't got a visit to Kew planned, but I'll put them on the list of things to see next time I'm there.

Is this photo scanned backwards? The original handwriting on the glass plate image is reversed, -or so it seems.

CASSIDY PHOTOGRAPHY It looks the right way round judging from the buttons on the tunic of the soldier scratching his chin near the sentry box.

Which was first? catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000317389 - this one, or catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000330910 - another one.

Is it possible the tents were temporary until barracks and administration building were constructed?

Hugh Iltid Nicholl was originally a Bedfordshire Regiment officer. His appointment as a Second Lieutenant in 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment (from Lieutenant 4th Militia Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, which he had joined in 1880 aged 18), effective 12th March 1892, is published in The London Gazette of 11th March 1892. As a Captain, Hugh Iltid Nicholl was a member of the Aero Club of the United Kingdom. It was through this association that he met his wife, a founder member of the Aero Club since 1901, then Miss Vera Butler. Miss Butler was apparently the first lady in France to be granted a certificate to drive a motor car. She took part in a 1,000 mile automobile trials rally, and was an enthusiastic hot-air balloonist. (In fact the Aero Club of the UK was formed in a balloon basket - the 3 original members being Mr C S Rolls, Mr F Hedges Butler, and his daughter Miss Vera Butler). The Nicholl family home was in Portland Place, London. Iltid Nicholl and Vera Butler married at Steyning, Sussex, in 1904. A son, David Iltid Nicholl was born in 1906 at Hartley Wintney in Hampshire, (his mother enrolled him as a Member of The Royal Aero Club in 1909, aged 3). During the Boer War Iltid Nicholl was the Officer Commanding the 6th Mounted Infantry Company of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He afterwards wrote up his South Africa Journal which was published in 1900.

Lt Col H I Nicholl at age 45, served on the Staff of 49th (West Riding) Division as a GSO1 from its arrival in France in April 1915 as one of the first entirely Territorial Army formations to engage on the Western Front. 49th Division fought at Aubers Ridge in May 1915 and in December 1915 it was subjected to the first Phosgene gas attack. It was for his tireless efforts during this period that he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He later served as DAA&QMG in 47th (1/2nd London) Division as they prepared for their attack on the Somme in July 1916. Unsurprisingly by the end of June 1916 he had probably given of his best and he was appointed to the UK based 67th Division, the Headquarters of which was in Canterbury in 1917 and Colchester in 1918, until March 1918. Remarkably, despite the rigours of his extensive military service in India, South Africa, France and Flanders, Hugh Iltid Nicholl lived to the age of 83, dying in Marylebone in 1953.

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

Are these the Lou Dold photographs? -- Seen on your photo stream. ( ?² )

I am not sure who took these but for more information ans some photos taken by Stuart Mace see courses.coe.asu.edu/margolis/mining/

Woody Guthrie's song Ludlow Massacre . This video has more photos.

Many thanks to you both! Some great links here.

I agree there are some great links here. Does anyone have any confirming documentation that Lou Dold took the photographs in this series?