Mess Collection

Britains New Navy in Training - HMS Raleigh. circa 1930s

Bomb damage in Kilgour Road, SE London, WW2
Panoramic view of bomb damage in Kilgour Road, SE London, 18 November 1944. Rubble and debris can be seen on both sides of the road

Bomb damage in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, WW2
Panoramic view of extensive bomb damage in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, 14 November 1944, with ambulances ready to remove casualties from the scene

Blitz in London -- Balham High Road, WW2
Blitz in London -- a bus in a bomb crater over an underground station in Balham High Road, SW London, 14 October 1940

Peace, Perfect Peace by Heath Robinson. Being the Morning after the Night Before. The aftermath of energetic peace celebrations to mark the end of the First World War

Charminar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh state, India, Asia

Please clean up after your dog sign, UK - it is now obligatory to clean up dog mess
MAB-37 Please clean up after your dog sign Gloucestershire, UK it is now obligatory to clean up dog mess and this sign on a lamp post reminds dog walkers in Woodmancote Mark Boulton Please note that

The Faithful Heart by George Studdy
A little dog with mournful eyes, obviously alarmed at his owners sea bathing antics, paddles as far as he can into the water holding her dress

No Coupons by David Wright
A lady, half naked and wearing stockings, placing a hat on her head. Wright produced a series of over 160 illustrations or pin-ups for The Sketch during the 1940 s

The Great Hall Norwich, 1942 a42_03739
The Great Hall, Oak Street, Norwich, Norfolk. The interior of a first floor room in The Great Hall at Flowerpot Yard showing bomb damage

Vehicle engine scrap metal

Bomb crater in Minington Road, Leyton, WW2
A bomb crater in Minington(?) Road, Leyton, East London, during the Second World War, 22 October 1944

Miniature silhouette - Captain Alfred Arnold Ernest Gyde
Miniature bust-length silhouette in ebonised frame of Captain Alfred Arnold Ernest Gyde, 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. He is in Mess Dress uniform

Blitz in London -- Turnmill Street, Clerkenwell, WW2
Blitz in London -- Turnmill Street, Clerkenwell. General view showing the fire damage caused by incendiary bombs on 21 February 1944, including the top floor of the Steam Pipe Company. Date: 1944

Bomb damaged building, West India Docks, WW2
A warehouse building with its top floor and roof damaged by an incendiary bomb, North Quay, West India Docks, East London, during the Second World War. Date: 1940s

Blitz in London - Clarnico Factory, Hackney Wick, WW2
Scene of devastation at the Clarnico factory in Carpenters Road, Hackney Wick, East London, following a bombing raid on 24 September 1940

Blitz in London - Foreign Street, Camberwell, WW2
Blitz in London - Foreign Street, Camberwell, SE5, a residential property hit by a high explosive bomb on 29 August 1940

The Dissolute Household, ca. 1663-64. Creator: Jan Steen
The Dissolute Household, ca. 1663-64

The Day After Christmas by Mark Symons
Cosy front room festooned with decorations and filled with Christmas toys. Date: 1931

Blitz in London -- pulling debris clear, WW2
Blitz in London -- firefighters pulling debris clear following an air raid. Date: 1940s

Blitz in London -- Saffron Hill, WW2
Blitz in London -- men at work in Saffron Hill, City of London, 26 October 1940. Date: 1940

Scene in Minington Road, Leyton, WW2
A panoramic daytime scene in Minington(?) Road, Leyton, East London, during the Second World War, showing the aftermath of an air raid, 22 October 1944

A new dog-fancy: the Basset Hounds by Louis Wain
Engraving by Louis Wain showing four naughty basset hounds teasing two scared black and white cats. A fifth basset hound enters the room looking coy but unrepentant with a whip in its mouth

The Bull in the China Shop Date: 1891

The Little Miss Pussy Cats helping in the kitchen (colour litho)
7157455 The Little Miss Pussy Cats helping in the kitchen (colour litho) by Wain, Louis (1860-1939) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Little Miss Pussy Cats helping in the kitchen)

Brotherly Affection; Affetto fraterno, c. 1900 (oil on canvas)
1197530 Brotherly Affection; Affetto fraterno, c. 1900 (oil on canvas) by Chierici, Gaetano (1838-1920); 33x42 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Italian, out of copyright

ANGRY GOLFER 1897
Having made an awful mess of his shot, a golfer vents his anger, much to the amusement of his caddy. Date: 1897

RAF fighter pilot of 602 Squadron at dispersal - playing chess while waiting for the call to scramble. Perranporth, Cornwall, 1943 eTopFoto

NEWSPAPER EDITOR, 1880. Wood engraving, English, 1880

Mancunian Way Flyover
The newly-built Manchunian Way flyover, Manchester, England, part of the M6 motorway network. Date: 1960s

A Perfect Picture by Muriel Dawson
A small toddler looks in dismay at a large blotch of paint on the front of his outfit

Rabbits, I believe by George Studdy
Bonzo and brother cannot think what a nice round hole if for unless it be a rabbits doorway! Bonzo, the comic, canine creation of George Studdy totally ruins the ninth hole on a golf course by

Cheesed Off by David Wright
An illustration of a lady dressed in a negligee, flicking through magazines on her bed. Wright produced a series of over 160 illustrations or pin-ups for The Sketch during the 1940 s

Stiebel / Wrns Mess Wear
A design by Victor Stiebel for WRNS (Womens Royal Naval Service) officers mess undress, comprising of a long skirt, blouse with revered collar and bolero jacket

Blitz in London -- Redriff Estate, Rotherhithe, WW2
Blitz in London -- scene of destruction on the Redriff Estate, Rotherhithe, SE London, during the Second World War. Date: 1940s

Billiard ball fragments from the officers mess of the 61st Bengal Native Infantry
5926726 Billiard ball fragments from the officers mess of the 61st Bengal Native Infantry, 1857 circa (ivory) by Indian School, (19th century); National Army Museum

Brain Salad, caricature of Victor Hugo (1802-85) from the front cover of
CHT172465 Brain Salad, caricature of Victor Hugo (1802-85) from the front cover of Le Grelot, June 1871 (colour litho) by Bertall, Charles Albert d Arnoux (1820-82); Musee de la Ville de Paris

Court-Martial of Lt. Perry of H. Majesty?s 46th Regiment
The Court-Martial of Lieut. Perry of H. Majesty?s 46th Regiment, in the Mess Room at Windsor Barracks, August 1854.Coloured lithograph after artist unknown, published by Read and Co, London

Firemen at Chipping Norton Workhouse, Oxfordshire
Firemen stand in a burnt-out section of the Chipping Norton workhouse in Oxfordshire following a fire on 19 March 1911. Sewing machines and cotton reels amongst the debris indicate a sewing room

Midshipmens Mess
Midshipmen eat, read and study in their mess on the Royal Navy warship Caesar

Picture shows business premises in Weston Super Mare, Somerset, decimated in The Blitz. June 1942. Street is unknown. On the nights of June 28 and 29

Cottingham Road, Hull, Yorkshire, after it was bombed in the Blitz. November 1940. The Hull Blitz was the bombing campaign that targeted the English port city of Kingston upon Hull by the German

Newbridge Road, Hull, Yorkshire, after it was bombed in the Blitz. Firefighters at the scene of a horrendous bombing raid The Hull Blitz was the bombing campaign that targeted the English port city

Hull, Yorkshire, during The Blitz. Picture shows the devastation in Buckingham Street, Hull. The Hull Blitz was the bombing campaign that targeted the English port city of Kingston upon Hull by

The Blitz. Bridlington, Yorkshire. June 1941. The bar and billiard room of The Britannia Hotel, Bridlington, Yorkshire, was destroyed by a German bomb, during the Blitz

The Blitz. Hull. Yorkshire. February 1941. Picture shows Goddard Avenue, Hull. Although the roofs were damaged, the houses were not

De La Pole Avenue in Hull, Yorkshire, during the blitz of World War Two. The emergency services search the rubble and crater lift by the bomb dropped by The Luftwaffe

Fountain Road in Hull, Yorkshire, during the blitz of World War Two. The emergency services, local people and the army search the rubble and crater lift by the bomb dropped by The Luftwaffe

WW2 - American Red Cross Clubmobile - UK
Sighted Sinkers - Sank Same! WW2 - American Red Cross Clubmobile (USAF) - Somewhere in Great Britain. American airforce personnel relaxing with coffee and doughnuts

Damaged bathroom in a house, in al-Harak town, near Deraa
A damaged bathroom in a house, in al-Harak town, near Deraa, Syria March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Alaa al-Faqir TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Historic building, that was destroyed during a three-year conflict, is seen in Benghazi
A historic building, that was destroyed during a three-year conflict, is seen in Benghazi, Libya February 28, 2018. Picture taken February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

A doll is seen amongst beds at a kindergarten in the abandoned city of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine March 28, 2016. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

1935 Lagonda M45R (Rapide) T9, CGO 62, outside the Officer's Mess at HMS Sultan, near Gosport. This fabulous Lagonda Rapide, car No

Clouds, Sunshine, 1889 (colour litho)
8635289 Clouds, Sunshine, 1889 (colour litho) by Merry, Tom (c.1852-1902); Private Collection; (add.info.: Clouds, Sunshine, 1889)

Painting. Still Life, 1923. Creator: Patrick Henry Bruce
Painting. Still Life, 1923

Alchemist (woodcut)
8672923 Alchemist (woodcut) by Burgkmair, Hans (c.1473-1531) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Alchemist. Illustration from Geschichte der Deutschen Kultur)

Traffic in Paris, c.1900 (print)
7293302 Traffic in Paris, c.1900 (print); (add.info.: Transport. Traffic in Paris, France: firemen, paramedics, horsecar. Imagery by Drannep, France, ca 1900.); Photo: © Archives Charmet

Turks attacking Greek corsairs, 19th century (hand coloured engraving)
7339176 Turks attacking Greek corsairs, 19th century (hand coloured engraving) by Fairburn, J. (19th Century); 40.8x50.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Traffic in Paris, c.1900 (print)
7293311 Traffic in Paris, c.1900 (print); (add.info.: Transport. Traffic at the Opera in Paris, France. Imagery by Drannep, France, ca 1900.); Photo: © Archives Charmet

Battle of Trafalgar, and Death of Lord Viscount Nelson, 1806 (engraving, stipple)
7342611 Battle of Trafalgar, and Death of Lord Viscount Nelson, 1806 (engraving, stipple) by Craig, William Marshall (fl.1788-1828) (after); 57.9x84.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

British sailors boarding an Algerine pirate ship (coloured engraving)
7337534 British sailors boarding an Algerine pirate ship (coloured engraving) by Fairburn, J. (19th Century); 40.7x52.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: J)

The library of Sanssouci, unknown (engraving)
7273679 The library of Sanssouci, unknown (engraving); 12.3x14.7 cm; JMK Archiv, Bremen, Germany; (add.info.: A look into the castle library. There is disorder)

Teutons and Celts unite in Endeavours to drive the Romans from Gaul (litho)
8661143 Teutons and Celts unite in Endeavours to drive the Romans from Gaul (litho) by Burton, H. M. (20th Century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Ofen (Buda) taken from the Turks, 1686 (litho)
8661141 Ofen (Buda) taken from the Turks, 1686 (litho) by Blaas, Eugen von (1843-1931) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ofen (Buda) taken from the Turks, 1686

The morning after the Saint Firmin Festival, New York 1875 (engraving)
8679737 The morning after the Saint Firmin Festival, New York 1875 (engraving) by Riou, Edouard (1833-1900); 15, 6x11, 6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

A young cavalryman manages to calm a crowd, 1887 (illustration)
ELD4834487 A young cavalryman manages to calm a crowd, 1887 (illustration); Private Collection; (add.info.: A young cavalryman manages to calm a crowd came to wait a royal wedding near)

The death of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805, 1806 (oil on canvas)
7337702 The death of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805, 1806 (oil on canvas) by Drummond, Samuel (1765-1844); 73x83 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Citizens Volunteer Hospital Philadelphia 1862
2597628 Citizens Volunteer Hospital Philadelphia 1862; (add.info.: Citizens Volunteer Hospital, corner of Broad St. & Washington Avenue, Philadelphia)

The Mess Kid. A sailor's life at sea. no 2, 19th century (coloured lithograph)
7341769 The Mess Kid. A sailor's life at sea. no 2, 19th century (coloured lithograph) by Kohler, W. (fl.1838); 34.8x24 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: W)

There was an Old Man on the Border, who lived in the utmost disorder (coloured engraving)
8634420 There was an Old Man on the Border, who lived in the utmost disorder (coloured engraving) by Lear, Edward (1812-88) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Demonstration by unemployed workers, London, 1931 (b/w photo)
8635310 Demonstration by unemployed workers, London, 1931 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Chaotic scene in a queue (colour litho)
8656679 Chaotic scene in a queue (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Chaotic scene in a queue. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Traffic congestion at Piccadilly Circus, London, 1926 (b/w photo)
8626465 Traffic congestion at Piccadilly Circus, London, 1926 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

How sour sweet music is when time is broke and no proportion kept! (colour litho)
8677263 How sour sweet music is when time is broke and no proportion kept! (colour litho) by May, Phil (1864-1903); Private Collection; (add.info)

Nelson boarding the San Josef at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, 14 February 1797, 1829 (oil on canvas)
7337681 Nelson boarding the San Josef at the Battle of Cape St Vincent, 14 February 1797, 1829 (oil on canvas) by Jones, George (1786-1869); 162.5x223.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

celebrations on board the British Ship the Centaur 1776
5306544 celebrations on board the British Ship the Centaur 1776; Universal History Archive/UIG

Sexual orgasms in men and women (litho)
8657074 Sexual orgasms in men and women (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sexual orgasms in men and women)

Battle of the Amazons (engraving)
7342134 Battle of the Amazons (engraving) by Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640) (after); 49.9x65.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Police arresting demonstators at a rally by unemployed workers, London, 1931 (b/w photo)
8635298 Police arresting demonstators at a rally by unemployed workers, London, 1931 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Dutch Schoolmaster (engraving)
8676448 Dutch Schoolmaster (engraving) by Seben, Henri van (1825-1913); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dutch Schoolmaster)

George Cooke the caricaturist (litho)
8655873 George Cooke the caricaturist (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: George Cooke the caricaturist. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Humorous cat postcard (colour litho)
8643339 Humorous cat postcard (colour litho) by Thiele, Carl Robert Arthur (1860-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Humorous cat postcard)

Skull of Plassey the tiger, 1870 circa (bone)
5922200 Skull of Plassey the tiger, 1870 circa (bone); National Army Museum, London; (add.info.: The skull of Plassey, the pet tiger of the 102nd Regiment of Foot (Royal Madras Fusiliers)

Sailors in a fight, 1798 (mezzotint)
7342161 Sailors in a fight, 1798 (mezzotint) by Stothard, Thomas (1755-1834) (after); 60.3x50.6 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: Stothard, Thomas [artist]; Ward)

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"Mess: A Tale of Destruction and Resilience Across Continents" Witness the scars of war etched into history - bomb damage in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, WW2. Kilgour Road, SE London - a haunting reminder of the relentless Blitz during WW2. Balham High Road, London - where chaos reigned during the darkest days of the Blitz. Charminar stands tall amidst the bustling streets of Hyderabad, bearing witness to centuries-old messes and triumphs in India's Andhra Pradesh state. "Peace, Perfect Peace" by Heath Robinson captures both the absurdity and beauty that can emerge from life's messy moments. In Woodmancote, Gloucestershire, a simple sign reminds us all to take responsibility for our furry friends' messes – cleaning up after your dog is now obligatory. George Studdy's "The Faithful Heart" depicts loyalty even in times when everything seems like an irreparable mess. David Wright's "No Coupons" portrays post-war rationing struggles as people navigated through economic messes with resilience and ingenuity. Amidst wartime waiting at dispersal points, RAF fighter pilots found solace in chess games – finding order within chaos. Turnmill Street in Clerkenwell bears witness to the destructive force unleashed upon London during WWII's devastating blitzkrieg attacks. Vehicle engine scrap metal serves as a testament to progress made from dismantling old technologies – turning yesterday's mess into tomorrow's innovation. The Great Hall Norwich stood strong amidst 1942’s turmoil—a symbol of hope rising from ashes—uniting communities despite surrounding destruction. In this captivating tale spanning continents and eras alike, we explore how humanity endures through adversity—finding strength amid ruins and transforming life’s inevitable messes into stories of resilience and renewal.