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theaws.bsky.social
The Smith
@theaws.bsky.social
100 followers 340 following 61 posts
Based in NW England.

Interests include: Maps / History / Genealogy / Historical aircraft / Landscapes / Illustration
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theaws.bsky.social
Sorry to hear about the sadness and hope it eases soon. It will, given time.

Here are a few scenes from our youth that may help for a moment….
A member of the Royal family throwing hot tar down some stairs Battery hens being treated like second class citizens A minibus driven by a happy gnome, with the newspaper caption “pupils hit the road” Two students being followed by an airship in the city of York
May 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
theaws.bsky.social
Here are some images from the archives, showing some of the streets where my ancestors lived during the 19th and 20th Centuries
A black and white photograph: A tip in the foreground at the end of Egbert Street, Manchester in the early 20th Century. The terraced houses of the street are in the hazy background. A black and white drawing of a slum in Tickle Street, Manchester, 1862. Three people sit in a bare room, with little furniture in view. Just a table and three chairs. There is a shelf above the fireplace and three pictures on the wall but few other possessions. A black and white photograph of Newton Street, Manchester. The scene is empty of vehicles and people. A mixture of three storey brick retail buildings and four storey offices/industrial buildings fill the scene. R. Hampton Pharmaceutical Chemists can be seen at the forefront, including a sign marking it as a “photographic depot”. A black and white photograph of Peel Street, Newton Heath. A row of two storey brick terraced houses fills the scene, devoid of any vehicles.
February 9, 2025 at 6:16 PM
theaws.bsky.social
I feel that No Salad Barry is missing his own spinoff series though
A cartoon of a larger than life character - a man wearing slim trousers, a yellow big bubble jacket worn over a white shirt and a black beanie hat. He’s shouting “Oi Oi” as he makes a grand entrance through the barber shop door
December 10, 2024 at 3:59 PM
theaws.bsky.social
You can buy one of the “Rupert” dummies from the film The Longest Day 👀🚨

He’s a little creepier than I remember though…
A website listing advertising a “Rupert” Paradummy from The Longest Day war film for £7995. Includes a picture of the dummy dressed in paratrooper uniform A scene from the film The Longest Day showing a British officer stood next to a “Rupert” Paradummy he is unveiling during a briefing, with a map behind them.
December 7, 2024 at 9:08 PM
theaws.bsky.social
The figure with the top hat is an AI addition (with a weird dangling bit of clothing between their legs). The image of the girl in the doorway no longer bears a resemblance to my 2nd Gt Aunt. Even the baby doesn’t resemble the child in the original image anymore.
A black and white photo dating from the late Victorian era. A young woman is stood in the doorway of a corner greengrocers shop holding a baby. A figure in a top hat and long coat is walking past with their back to the camera, although they have something dangling between their legs that looks like either fabric or a third leg. The image has been edited by AI.
December 4, 2024 at 9:16 PM
theaws.bsky.social
Another important reminder to everyone that as part of Remembrance all records are free on FindMyPast until 11th November - including the 1921 census!
An image of First World War soldiers cheering with the caption “No Story Left Behind - discover family heroes this Remembrance”
November 8, 2024 at 11:20 AM
theaws.bsky.social
The missing crew were: Pilot Officer J.Prescott, Sgt T.E Gledhill, Sgt A.T Taylor, Sgt D.T Ratcliffe, Sgt A.L Barrie and Sgt J.A Brown.

James is commemorated at the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.
37 Squadron RAF badge, showing the motto “wise without eyes”
September 18, 2024 at 7:58 PM
theaws.bsky.social
On 1st August 1941 Wellington R1067 is recorded as ditching 10 miles northwest of Ras El Milh, Egypt on the way home from the raid.

Sadly James and the rest of the crew were posted missing, believed killed.
A Wellington bomber in flight
September 18, 2024 at 7:54 PM
theaws.bsky.social
Pilot Officer James Prescott RAFVR was a member of 37 Squadron RAF, based at Shallufa, Egypt.

The squadron operated Wellington IC bombers and on the night he was lost he was aboard Wellington R1067 taking part in a raid on Benghazi harbour in Libya
A Wellington bomber of 37 Squadron being prepared by ground crew
September 18, 2024 at 7:49 PM
theaws.bsky.social
I found this newspaper cutting whilst looking through some old family photographs, documents and keepsakes.

I suspect that James (no relation to me) was probably a friend of my Great Aunt or Great Uncle who were in to amateur dramatics 🧵
A newspaper cutting reporting that Pilot Officer James Prescott had been reported missing whilst serving in the Middle East, the day after his 27th birthday
September 18, 2024 at 7:38 PM
theaws.bsky.social
Just managed to catch a little aurora activity when I popped out to watch the #PerseidMeteorShower
A pink glow from the northern lights above suburban treetops
August 12, 2024 at 10:45 PM
theaws.bsky.social
I was extremely lucky to experience an unexpected fly past by a PBY Catalina at the weekend. Lovely!
July 23, 2024 at 7:33 PM
theaws.bsky.social
Some further pages, including the obligatory crossword, their very own agony aunt page “Auntie Flossie” and “A day in the life of a watch keeper off duty”
July 12, 2024 at 5:27 PM
theaws.bsky.social
The first few pages of what is, presumably l, a rare copy of the Inveraray Times, produced by WRNS at HMS Quebec during the Second World War
July 12, 2024 at 5:15 PM