Photograph album of Colour Sergeant Frederick John Reginald Urch
Reference Number
1380/1
Alternative Reference Number
1380
Level of Description
Series
Title
Photograph album of Colour Sergeant Frederick John Reginald Urch
Creator(s) & Administrative History
Colour Sergeant Frederick John Reginald Urch
Date
1903-1918
Extent
Extent: 1 photograph album
Description
Photograph album compiled by Colour Sergeant Frederick John Reginald Urch mainly featuring photographs of his First World War service in India and Palestine as part of D Company of the 2nd/4th Somerset Light Infantry.
At the bottom right hand corner of the inside of the front cover is a very small label, which reads 'Higginbotham & Co, Booksellers etc., Madras & Bangalore' which indicates that Frederick bought the large red photograph album while stationed at Bangalore, soon after he arrived in India.
It is not known which, if any, of the photographs were taken by Frederick himself. It is possible that they were all taken by other soldiers, perhaps officers, and copies made. Certainly the official group photographs were taken by professional photographers.
Access Conditions
Physical access to the photograph album is restricted to the depositors family only. Public access to the photographs is available via the digitised versions on Bath Record Office: Archives and Local Studies online catalogue.
Custodial History
It is believed that the photograph album was donated by Emily Mullens, a Basketmaker and colleague of Frederick's, to the Museum of Rural Life, Reading, along with her basket making tools, bequeathed in her will. Although Emily made no mention of the album in her will it was fortunately kept by the Museum (their reference: PDX 522). The album was found on their online catalogue by Frederick's Granddaughter who identified it as Frederick Urch's. The Museum kindly returned it to her and her family provided that the Museum could take photographs. The photograph album was then deposited, along with a family history research document, to Bath Record Office: Archives and Local Studies in 2022.
