Introduction

There can never have been a better time, with so much genealogical information available online, to research old photographs or follow up stories passed down by earlier generations. Leaves from a Leeds Album was originally inspired by ancestors who had the foresight to add names/dates to photos or write down their reminiscences. They would be amazed that it is now possible to make photos and stories available to anyone interested, wherever they are in the world.

The Shoesmiths

These photos are from the collection of Leeds postman Tom Wheldon (also spelt Weldon) who served in 1/8 Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment during WW1 and was a veteran of the Boer War. The handwriting on the face of some of the photos is Tom's.


Arthur Shoesmith, a Leeds printer, joined 3rd Volunteer Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles) in 1891. He was promoted to sergeant in 1896 and then colour sergeant in 1903. Arthur was one of their best marksmen winning the Gresham Challenge Cup (a competition for  sergeants in the Regiment) in 1900.

He is shown here in his dress uniform - at 6ft tall he must have looked impressive. I understand that the crossed rifles and a crown on the cuff indicate that he was a sergeant in the "best shooting company" in the battalion.

When the territorials were re-organised in 1908, Arthur enlisted in 7th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment.

At the outbreak of war in August 1914, Arthur was 40 - past the age at which he was expected to fight. However he signed up again and is shown here in his colour sergeant's uniform in 1914. It seems likely that the picture of his wife Edith was taken around the same time.



Arthur was promoted to company sergeant major in January 1915 and is shown here in his CSM's uniform with his son Reginald who looks to have been in the Army Service Corps. Both Arthur and Reg survived the war. Arthur was given his discharge in October 1916 after two spells on the Western Front.

The following photo was sent as a Christmas card in 1917 and shows Arthur with Edith and their children Ena, Reg and Marjorie. It may have been taken around the same time as the above photo, although Arthur has a waxed moustache in the one below. 












Finally, this is a photo from happier times - the wedding of Arthur and Edith's daughter Ena in 1933. Arthur and Edith are on the far right.  It looks as though Marjorie is one of the bridesmaids.



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