Northern Capitals 15 : Veranda Gong

These days on the cruise ships, passengers assemble outside the restaurant doors like expectant gulls following a herring boat, waiting for the doors to be opened. Back in 1925 on our tour of the Northern capitals, things were much more stately: a smiling restaurant steward would bang a gong to summon the guests into the … Continue reading Northern Capitals 15 : Veranda Gong

Trench Parting

This is an old Cabinet Card of an unknown soldier. How it came into my possession, I do not know. But look at the parting in his hair: as straight as a die, as pronounced as a Flanders trench.

Northern Capitals 14 : The Look-Out

So here we are, sailing across the Skagerrak in 1925 on the SS City Of Nagpur and here is our look-out. I can't attest as to how good a watchman he was, but he made an excellent subject for a photograph. The look on his face is up there with the Mona Lisa in the … Continue reading Northern Capitals 14 : The Look-Out

Northern Capitals 13 : Flora, Matilda And Reg

We are a third of the way through the 1925 photo album of a voyage around the Northern Capitals and by now I feel as if I am getting to know some of the passengers quite well. I give them names - that's Flora on the right and Matilda on the left. The ship's officer … Continue reading Northern Capitals 13 : Flora, Matilda And Reg

Northern Capitals 12 : Now You See Her

Page 12 and at last we have a clue. The photographs on page 11 and 12 are the same except for the exchange of the ship's officer with the bow tie for the young girl in a chequered dress. The album is unlikely to belong to the ship's officer, but could our mysterious photographer be … Continue reading Northern Capitals 12 : Now You See Her

Northern Capitals 11 : Skagerrak Poses

The officers of the SS City Of Nagpur seem to have little to do other than pose for photographs. It's 1925 and the ship is crossing the Skagerrak, one of the busiest shipping channels in the world.

Northern Capitals 10 : Still On Deck

It is July 1925 and we are on board the SS City of Nagpur en route from Copenhagen to Oslo. It is a day at sea and our intrepid photographer is out on deck capturing the lives of his or her fellow passengers.

Northern Capitals 9 : On Deck

Anyone who has ever been on a cruise ship knows the feeling of relaxation that comes over you when you eventually stop hopping between ports and destinations and have a day at sea. It must have been the same in 1925 and our cruise around the northern capitals. At last there is time to soak … Continue reading Northern Capitals 9 : On Deck

Northern Capitals 8 : The Leaving Of Copenhagen

Page 8 of the album and it is time to leave Copenhagen. These days when a cruise ship leaves port, any visitors, friends, or onlookers are kept far away from the boat behind layers of security fences. In 1925 things were easier and more relaxed.