History Of A Concertina

[d.elliott]

At different times I have commented that my Aeola and my English minature were both family instruments, and both belonged to my great uncle Harry, who used to teach concertina in Sheffield before he joined up in the first world war. His time on active service resulted in his wounding, and capture, a total breakdown of his health, physically and mentally. He was returned home to England, then to his wife, on a POW exchange basis - not even knowing his own name, nor presumably hers either.

 

We now know more, on clearing my late mother's house today, we found photographs of Harry (and his wife Annie) in his pre-war vigour, and even more interestingly his service medals. Clearly he was Royal Artilliary- a gunner, whilst I thought he was a Signaler. So finally medals and concertinas are re-united virtually 90 years later on.

 

Dave E