Another great Blantyre related photo. The identities of the two wee boys aren’t known but this photo was amongst a collection of Blantyre photos by early photographer David Ritchie.
The boys may be brothers, sharing more than a passing resemblance. The buttonhole flowers suggesting they were attending a wedding or celebration, perhaps why they’re very smart, dressed in Sunday best.
The location is unknown but the flowers suggest it’s Summer (as do the shorts!) The building in the background being used as a backdrop for the photo has some evidence of subsidence, with structural cracks, though I’m sure the location for the photo was chosen due to the beautiful climbing roses.
If this was around 1905 or so, I have an overwhelming fear that these lads would have been fighting age by the time of WW1 and shipped off to fight for King and Country. I hope they made a success in life and regardless of that, I’m sure they would have been pleased that people were looking at and commenting on their photo, nearly 120 years later!
On social media, the following comments were provided by readers:
Carol King A great photo / looking forward to their future and maybe sneaking some beer at the wedding! And yes I hope they survived
Jeemo Lisboa Iconic photo, love it .Sad as well thinking of the possible outcome.
Jean Gibson The one sitting down has a cigarette in his right hand! May be older than he looks or boyish bravado!!
Valerie Krawczyk The boy on the left reminds me of my uncle George Rhodes but it would have been too early for him if it’s 1905.