Unknown Soldiers

Photograph of a young man in Merchant Navy uniform. He appears to be no older than 17. The background shows a cargo ship. On reverse: "My first voyage. Good luck to me!" The handwriting suggests a teenager. No other identification.

Three sailors in Arctic clothing standing on the deck of what appears to be an escort destroyer. Ice is visible on the rigging and guardrails. One man wears a chief petty officer's cap cover. The conditions suggest an Arctic Convoy escort. Written on reverse: "Homeward bound PQ-17."

Portrait of a young ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) woman pilot in flying kit, standing beside a Spitfire. She wears the distinctive ATA wings badge. The aircraft serial number is partially visible but unreadable. Location appears to be White Waltham airfield.

Group photograph of six women in ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) uniform standing outside a Nissen hut. The location appears to be an anti-aircraft battery site. One woman has sergeant's stripes. Written on the back: "Our battery crew, summer 1944."

Damaged photograph showing a group of men in civilian clothes with Home Guard armbands standing in front of a church. The church architecture suggests Somerset or Devon. One man holds a Lewis gun. Caption fragment reads: "...LDV patrol, St Mary's..."

Portrait of a Sikh soldier wearing a British Indian Army turban and uniform with lance corporal's stripes. He wears the Burma Star ribbon. The photograph appears to be taken in a camp setting, possibly in India or Burma. No writing on reverse.

Photograph of a Soviet naval officer shaking hands with a British officer on what appears to be a dock in Murmansk or Archangel. Both are wearing winter clothing. The Soviet officer wears the Order of the Red Star. Possibly an Arctic Convoy arrival ceremony.

Studio portrait of a young Royal Navy officer in dress uniform with peaked cap. He wears the ribbon of the Distinguished Service Cross and appears to be in his mid-20s. The photograph is dated 1943 and was taken at a studio in Portsmouth.

Photograph found in a water-damaged envelope inside a downed Lancaster bomber memorial capsule near Doncaster. Shows a young airman in flight sergeant stripes posing beside a Halifax bomber. The back reads "Trev — first op, May 43" in pencil. South Yorkshire Aviation Museum believes it may relate to 102 Squadron based at Pocklington.

Small portrait of a woman in ATS uniform discovered pressed inside a 1942 edition of "War and Peace" donated to a Bristol charity shop. The woman appears to be in her early twenties, with cropped hair and a determined expression. A Bristol ATS recruitment stamp is visible on the book's inside cover, suggesting the owner may have been stationed at one of the city's anti-aircraft batteries.

Photograph of two women in factory overalls standing beside a partially assembled Spitfire fuselage. Found in the lining of a donated suitcase at a Nottingham homeless shelter. The women are smiling proudly and one holds a rivet gun. The factory appears to be Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory based on the building layout visible in the background. These "Spitfire girls" were essential to aircraft production but most remain unidentified.

Photograph of three RAF ground crew members working on a Mosquito's Merlin engine, found in a box of tools purchased at an Oxford antiques auction. One technician has sergeant stripes and wears spectacles. The back of the photo reads "de Havilland Mosquito B.IV — 105 Sqn Marham — the wooden wonder." 105 Squadron was one of the first Mosquito bomber units and suffered heavy losses in low-level precision raids.

Badly faded photograph of a nurse in Queen Alexandra's uniform, discovered between the pages of a medical textbook in a box of donated books to the Leeds General Infirmary library. The nurse wears a theatre cap and has a stethoscope around her neck — unusual for the period and suggesting she held a senior nursing role. The book is inscribed "E.M.H., Tobruk, 1942" which may be the nurse's initials and posting.

Striking photograph of a young woman in SOE-issue civilian clothes and beret, holding what appears to be a Sten gun. Found in a hollowed-out book of French poetry at a Brighton second-hand bookshop. The woman has dark hair and an intense gaze. The photo has been carefully concealed — the book was hollowed out with precision, suggesting professional tradecraft. No markings or identification on the photograph. Could be an SOE agent or French resistance member.

Group photograph of seven merchant seamen on the deck of what appears to be a Liberty ship. Found in a waterproof tobacco tin during restoration of the SS Shieldhall in Southampton. One man has circled his face and written "Convoy PQ-17" on the back. PQ-17 was the most disastrous Arctic convoy, losing 24 of 35 ships in July 1942. Identifying any of these men would be historically significant.

Studio portrait of a young Royal Navy rating in his best uniform, found inside a hymn book at a Cardiff church that was used as a temporary hospital during the Blitz. The rating appears to be about 18 years old and wears a "HMS" cap tally (the specific ship name has been removed for security, as was common practice). A small note with the photo reads "For Mam — Christmas 1941."

Photograph of a soldier in tropical kit with a Gurkha kukri on his belt, standing beside a Buddhist temple in what appears to be Burma. Found inside a sealed envelope labelled "Do Not Open" in a house clearance in Birmingham. The soldier wears the distinctive slouch hat of the Chindits and has a 77th Brigade shoulder flash visible. The date "Imphal 1944" is written on the back in faded ink.

Photograph of a Soviet officer wearing a Guards badge, found tucked inside a Russian-English dictionary at a car boot sale in Edinburgh. The officer appears to be a captain or major with multiple decorations including what appears to be an Order of the Red Star. On the back is written in Russian: "Передай маме что я жив" (Tell mother I am alive). The dictionary has a 1944 publication date and British Council stamp.

A photograph of a paratrooper wearing a Denison smock and red beret, found among papers at a car boot sale in Aldershot. The soldier is posing with a Sten gun and appears confident and relaxed. The setting appears to be an English airfield. On the reverse: "Ready for the drop — 17 Sept" suggesting this was taken just before Operation Market Garden (Arnhem) on 17 September 1944. No name is visible.

A small portrait photograph of a Soviet pilot in flying gear, found inside a Russian-language aviation manual purchased at a second-hand bookshop in London. The pilot wears the Order of the Red Star on his chest and appears to be in his late twenties. The photograph is of professional quality, possibly an official portrait. No name is written but a partial unit designation "176 GvI—" is stamped on the back.

A group photograph found in a house clearance in Poole, Dorset, showing approximately 15 men in Commando green berets. The back of the photograph is stamped "Achnacarry 1943" — the location of the Commando Training Centre. One soldier in the front row has written initials "R.M." and a partial surname that appears to be "MacL—" in pencil. The men are in high spirits, suggesting this was taken during training rather than active operations.

A portrait photograph of a young woman in WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) uniform, found tucked inside a 1942 copy of "A Shropshire Lad" at a charity bookshop in Shrewsbury. She wears the rank insignia of a Corporal and appears to be in her early twenties. On the reverse is written "To my darling, with all my love — forever yours, P." No surname or service number is visible.