Collection

The novel Major Tom’s War is fictional, but only just.  It began its decade-long journey into print as a transcript of the author’s grandfather’s war diary, crammed with photographs, letters, postcards and posters he sent back to his future wife 1914 – 1918.

When completed later this year, the collection will display every individual item (over 400 in total) within the family archive digitally, plus some of the additional images and documentation Vee Walker has collected during her research trips to Bavay which relate to its mayor Gaston Derome.

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Two formal shots of Tom's cavalry regiment on parade

These photographs may have been commissioned for a newpaper, probably when they were obliged to wait on parade for Lord Kitchener before the battle of Loos.

01 September 1915

Two formal shots of Tom's cavalry regiment on parade Two formal shots of Tom's cavalry regiment on parade