-  Image Collection

Tanker CHARTSMAN taken by Brightlingsea photographer Alf Jefferies. Probably in the Colne off Brightlingsea, loaded and inward bound for Colchester where she was a regular caller.
</p><p>
Built 1944 as tanker EMPIRE BOXER 1944 Rowhedge Ironworks Yard no. 629. Official No. 169730, 340 tons gross.
1946 sold to C. Rowbotham, renamed CHARTSMAN
1967 converted to suction dredger for tin dredging in St Ives Bay. Renamed BAYMEAD 1974 Scrapped, Northam, Southampton.
</p><p>Photo Shared by Alf's daughter Lynn Ballard. c1960. Photo: Alf Jefferies
Girl Guides Keills III 1949. cAugust 1949. Photo: Girl Guides
Digby Bros. General Ironmongers.
Digbys' Corner, West Mersea
Wireless Sets
Efficient Radio Service by E.P Digby
From Digby's Tide Table 1926
Accession No. P608-3 1926.
Hugh Smith was born 16 July 1888. At the beginning of the War, he volunteered and joined the Essex Regiment, not the Kitchener's Norfolk Regiment as reported in newspapers of the time. He landed at Gallipoli with the Battalion 25 April 1915, and after eight days of fierce fighting was wounded. Hugh was evacuated to Malta and eventually arrived back in England in July. 
He recovered and went with 9th Battalion Essex Regiment to France at the beginning of 1916. Hugh was killed 15 February 1916 in what became known as 'the Battle of the Craters' and is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery.
Hugh Smith was one of six sons born to George Frederick and Mary Overall Smith of Sunset House, Mill Road, West Mersea.
</p>
<p>For more details, see Not Just a Name by Roger Bullen, page 19
<notonweb>
or see 
<a href=MMPDFs/J 028 Hugh Smith 23 08 2013.pdf target=ALS>Smith Family Chapter 28</a>
for a detailed biography of Hugh Smith by Alan Smith. It is a PDF and will open in a new window.
</notonweb>
Hugh Smith was one of six sons born to George Frederick and Mary Overall Smith of Sunset House, Mill Road, West Mersea. c1915. Photo: Peter Rudlin Collection
HK 5085 - a Primrose Buses' Mersea charabanc in Stanwell Street by the Roman wall. Before the St John's Street bus park was opened in 1926, buses stood outside the Hippodrome in High Street, but were limited to 15 minutes there, so would use Stanwell Street for parking. After 1926, a few buses still used Stanwell Street.
</p><p>The driver is Bob Woodward and the conductor is thought to be Kenny Thorp - the photograph came from Bob's daughter Janet and she thought it was Kenny because he normally worked with her father. Before 1926. Photo: Janet Woodward Collection
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Mersea Museum has a large collection of images, mainly of Mersea Island and the surrounding area. Those shown here are a small sample.
The images are divided into categories - click on a Category to view a selection.
Each year, a selection of the images with an accompanying audiocommentary form an audio-visual display that is run when the Museum is open.
If you can add to the information we have about an image, such as the names of the people, the place or the date, please Email us.
The collection is always increasing thanks to the kindness of may individuals. If you have photographs that are suitable for our collection, we would be pleased to hear from you. We can just take a digital copy of a photograph and return the original to you.
The images above are copyright Mersea Island Museum unless otherwise stated.


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