December Collection (page 80)

Portrait of Princess Alice Maud Mary (1843-1878), Grand Duchess of Hesse, third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

as one lovely to another
Illustration by Lawson Wood showing a young orang-utan smiling at a newly-hatched Easter chick

We Are Fed Up With War News- Send Us The Tatler
A photograph of First World War soldiers reading The Tatler somewhere in France, for a little light relief

Christmas mail arriving in the trenches 1916
Front cover photograph from The Sphere, December 1916 showing a joyful soldier in a trench laden with Christmas parcels

Dress And Fashion Note For Skiiers, by A. E. Bestall
Fashion ideas for the first time skiier. Alfred Bestall (1892-1986) is best-known as the artist who drew Rupert Bear for thirty years

Christmas at the Front: British Soldiers bringing in Mistlet
British soldiers in khaki uniform carrying mistletoe on the barrels of their rifles in December 1914; an optimistic portrayal of Christmas at the Front during World War I

Watching The Rake. By Clark Fay
An impression of the casino at Monte Carlo by Clark Fay. Glamorous socialites playing at the roulette table

Sunday at the Foundling Hospital
This is a scene on sunday at the Foundling Hospital where orphans are sitting down to a meal on long tables and being served by young women in aprons and caps

Albert Smiths Ascent of Mont Blanc, London, 1852
Engraving showing an illustrated lecture given by Albert Smith, on the subject of his ascent of Mont Blanc in 1851, in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London, 1852

Fog in Piccadilly Circus, London, 1924
Photograph showing a Policeman (left) standing at a street refuge in Piccadilly Circus, London, during a heavy fog in December 1924. This image was taken at noon

Port of Christianborg near Accra, 1873
This former Swedish outpost on the Gold Coast was sold to the British in 1873 when, after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana

The Castle of Elmina, Gold Coast, 1873
The Castle of Elmina which both the British and the Ashanti Kings tried to capture sits on the shore of the Gold Coast. In 1873

Accra and its coastline in 1873
Accra sketched in 1873, the year, when after decades of an uneasy relationship between the British and the Acing people of central Ghana

A welcome visitor to a poor home is greeted by a young barefoot boy, his brother and their mother holding a baby. This ladys arrival may be the only relief this family has had in a while

A Madame Yevonde portrait of Mrs Winston Churchill
Graciousness, enterprise, dignity, staunchness, a sympathetic outlook and an acute sense of humour are all characteristics of Mrs (Clementine) Churchill

Newcastle Court, London, 1866
Engraving showing the street scene in Newcastle Court, London, 1866. This street was to be demolished, shortly thereafter, to make way for New Courts of Law

A poor seamstress on Christmas morning
This illustration entitled The poor seamstress on Christmas morning shows a lonely but prayerful young woman and a respectful sympathy for the poor

The poor on New Years Eve in Edinburgh
A crowded street scene showing the poor on New Years Eve in Edinburgh, Scotland, where a man gallantly holds the hand of a woman and offers her a festive drink

Charles Laughton as Captain Hook
Charles Laughton playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the London Palladium. Elsa Lanchester, his wife, was Peter

Scenes at the Monument of London, 1891
Engraving showing four scenes at the Monument of London, 1891. The images show (clockwise from top left): the trip up the staircase; looking out from the cage at the top of the Monument;

Mr Barries play in London and Manchester
Miss Pauline Chase as Peter Pan at the Duke of York s, London and Miss Zena Dare as Peter Pan at the Princes theatre, Manchester

Crowd outside the London Gazette Office, London, 1854
Engraving showing the crowd that gathered outside the offices of the London Gazette Newspaper upon the publication of a Crimean War Gazette Extraordinary, 1854

The Tower of London, 1883
Engraving showing the White Tower, Tower of London, with sailing barges in the foreground in the River Thames, 1883

The Metropolitan Board of Works Offices, London, 1860
Engraving showing the exterior of the, then new, offices of the Metropolitan Board of Works in Spring Gardens, London, 1860

The Lumberers Arch, Ottawa, 1860
Engraving showing the Lumberers Arch at Ottawa, erected on the occasion of the Prince of Waless visit to Canada, 1860

The Ashanti War (1873-74) - Landing troops on the Gold Coast
British troops landing on the Gold Coast in their expedition against the Ashanti people to secure the West Coast of Africa

Lord John Russells House, Chesham Place, London, 1845
Engraving showing the exterior of Lord John Russells House, Chesham Place, London, 1845

Scenes at the Stationers Company, London, 1884
Engraving showing a number of scenes associated with the Stationers Company, one of the London City Guilds, 1884

Mersin - French Troops
French troops debarking (December 1918) at Mersin in order to occupy Cilicia. A large city and a busy port on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey and is the capital of the Mersin Province

Pembroke House, Whitehall, 1854
Engraving showing the exterior of Pembroke House, Whitehall Gardens, London, in 1854. This building was then the office of the British Minister of War

Interior of the Hall of Commerce, London, 1842
Engraving showing the interior of the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle Street, City of London, 1842

King William Naval Asylum, London, 1849
Engraving showing the interior of the King William Naval Asylum, Penge, in London, 1849

The Marquis of Lorne being sworn in as Governor General of C
The Marquis of Lorne (Duke of Argyll), husband of Princess Louise, being sworn in as Governor General of Canada in 1878

Queen Dowager Adelaide (1792-1849)
Engraved portrait of Queen Dowager Adelaide (1792-1849), the consort of King William IV, pictured c.1840

Earl of Athlone
Major General Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, formerly Prince Alexander of Teck (14 April 1874-16 January 1957)

The West Wing of Somerset House, London, 1853
Engraving showing the then newly built West Wing of Somerset House, London, 1853

The Licensed Victuallers Asylum, London, 1858
Engraving showing the exterior of the Albert Wing of the Licensed Victuallers Asylum, Old Kent Road, London, 1858

Prince Alexander of Teck, Earl of Athlone
Major General Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, formerly Prince Alexander of Teck (14 April 1874-16 January 1957)

East Transept of St. Pauls Cathedral, London, 1860
Engraving showing the interior of the East transept of St. Pauls Cathedral, shortly after modifications had been made to this part of the cathedral, 1860. Date: 15 December 1860

Chelsea Pensioners Relaxing, 1882
Engraving showing a Chelsea Pensioner, of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, playing The British Grenadier on his flute, to his two comrades, 1888

Christmas Leave
Two soldiers return home to join in the peace celebrations in time for Christmas. They are accompanied by a number of ravishing women with newly cropped hair

A Gurkha Charge
German troops decide to turn and flee rather than face the ferocity of the charging Gurkhas

Everybody Can Help
Two rather effeminate young men, obviously not cut out to be soldiers, instead help the war effort by knitting for the troops, while smoking rather a lot

BILLETED
Two soldiers are aghast to discover they have been billeted at the Coldwater Temperance Hotel. No chance of a quick pint there

The Imperial Stocking
The Kaiser receives an unwelcome gift in his Christmas stocking from Lord Kitchener - a bunch of pesky British soldiers with bayonets fixed

Allies - Gallant Russia
A bearded Russian soldier wearing a heavy greatcoat and shiny boots, converses with a graceful ballerina against the backdrop of his countrys flag

The Prince of Wales, serving with Sir John Frenchs staff as
abdication World War I WWI Great War First World War

Cattle Show at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, 1861
Engraving showing a cattle show taking place in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, 1861

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"December: A Kaleidoscope of Moments and Memories" As the year draws to a close, December unveils its vibrant colors like a mesmerizing rainbow illustration by Arthur Ferrier. It paints the world with hues of hope and reflection, reminding us of the beauty that exists even in the darkest times. In this month of festivities, our hearts find solace within "A House Full" by Cecil Aldin. Warmth fills every corner as loved ones gather, creating cherished memories that will forever be etched in our souls. Like an Earthrise photograph turned artwork, December brings moments of awe-inspiring unity. We remember the Christmas Truce of 1914 during WW1 when enemies laid down their weapons to celebrate peace together. It serves as a reminder that humanity's capacity for compassion can transcend even the harshest conflicts. Yet amidst such harmony, there are reminders of struggle and sacrifice. The sight of a German Panzer tank from 1944 or British guns dashing through French towns reminds us of those who fought bravely for freedom and justice. It also marks new beginnings and aspirations for higher education. As students embark on their academic journeys, they carry dreams that will shape their futures like Don Bradman going out to bat for the last time in Melbourne Cricket Ground – determination radiating from his every step. Just as Apollo 17 astronauts ventured into space with curiosity and courage, we too embrace December's spirit of exploration. It encourages us to reach beyond our limits and discover new frontiers within ourselves. However, history is not without its scars; it bears witness to human suffering like "The Bombardment of Hartlepools" captured by James Clark. These somber events remind us never to forget past atrocities so we may strive towards a future free from violence and injustice. On HMS Albion (R07), once used as a Commando Carrier, bravery permeates every deck – a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who protect and serve.