I never saw any photos of my dad as a boy, because my grandmother, suffering from dementia in her later years, destroyed all the family albums.
But recently my sister visited my aunt and managed to get hold of this photo.
The little boy on the left, looking away from the camera, is my dad.
It is a tantalising glimpse into the boy he was. All I know of his childhood is the few memories he shared with us – my granddad drawing Disney characters to entertain my dad and his siblings during the war, bread and dripping eaten as a treat, that kind of thing.
Today it’s 23 years since my dad died.
I wish I’d asked him more about his childhood when he was around. And I wish that I could see the little boy’s face in this photo.
[…] while back I wrote about my sadness that I only had one photo of my dad as a boy, and his face was turned away from the camera. Well, following on from my piece for the Guardian on […]
I read this post when you published it, and didn’t have time to comment, but it has been on my mind ever since because I was so moved by it. I just wanted to pop back and say thank you for sharing something so personal. It’s lovely and sad at the same time.
Powerful post. Thanks for sharing x
That has made me cry. We take family for granted and then realise once they are no longer with us. I love the picture and love looking back on my grandparents childhood pictures too.
[…] The Mum Blog – The photo that breaks my heart […]
What a poignant photo – so close to what you were looking for but still so far from it… keeping my fingers crossed that more photos emerge
I’m so sorry all you have so little to remind you of your dad’s childhood – very sad, Liz.
My dad died earlier this year and I’m typing up a blog using the memoirs he began to write before he died. I have photos of him as a young boy – he was probably a similar age to your dad, growing up in the war. Even with all the information I have, I wish I’d asked him more about his life.