The Sepia Saturday post for this week has a group of women holding banners. Banners put me in mind of flags, and of this card with people forming a "living Union Jack". Then I found two more. I thought they marked the same occasion but it turns out that forming a living flag was quite popular at that time. The first marked Empire Day (now Commonwealth Day) in 1911 and the second two marked the Royal Visit to Bristol in 1912.
Oh this is just simply fabulous! I always am so impressed when a large number of people get-together and make these kinds of statements....! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat postcards, it must have taken some discipline and organisation to get all the children lined up!
ReplyDeleteAmazing postcards. From the first one, it is clear that they actually were dressed in the colors rather than holding up placards as is common today. I wonder if each of those outfits was home-made? The colors all seem to match perfectly.
ReplyDeleteIs there any clue to where the flag was formed in Bristol? One of my sons lives there.
ReplyDeleteHolding placards seems a cheat when you see a scene like this.
@Karen, it must have looked very impressive.
ReplyDelete@Lisa, yes, how do you stop them running riot. :)
@Liz, I suspect there was colour added to the picture later.
@Bob, somewhere in the back of my mind I have Clifton as the venue. I'm sure I read that when I was trying to find out more but now I can't find the link.
Think how boring this event is for the Germans and the French. The asymmetry of the Union Jack most be especially challenging. Something for the 2012 London Olympics?
ReplyDelete@Mike, I hadn't thought of that! :) There are some very simple flags around, now that I think of it.
ReplyDeleteI guess this sort of event has been replaced by the placard-waving efforts of the communist-era rallies, and more recently the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and various World Cup events. Eventually it all begins to get much the same, and I think perhaps it would be nice to return to this sort of participation, slight less polished, perhaps, but more human.
ReplyDeleteI really admire this kind of picture of human that represents a symbol or a name, never saw it on postcard before. Thanks for the share Sheila.
ReplyDeleteGrace
Wow! Thanks for sharing these with us. This is one thing that I love about S.S., I get to see things that I wouldn't even otherwise think about.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Kathy M.
What a lot of time and effort must have gone into coordinating an event such as this back then. Great card!!
ReplyDeleteI always appreciate seeing anything made by the assembly of live people and this one was really great.
ReplyDeleteOdie
Fascinating : and a perfect example of how colour can enhance an early postcard.
ReplyDeleteI have one card with a living U.S. flag and would like to find more.
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