Loos 1915: The Little Girl of Loos
Today is the 97th Anniversary of the Battle of Loos and this image connections us with the tragedy of that day – the human cost in lives as the soldiers of both sides fell in their thousands on 25th September 1915. But this image is not of a soldier or a warrior, but of a little girl. Written on it is the legend ‘Returned From France after Battle of Loos’. A postcard photograph, it was taken in Reading – where I bought it when I lived there in the early 1990s. The Royal Berkshire Regiment, the local unit to Reading, had several battalions involved in the fighting at Loos and it likely was the daughter of one of their men who went over the top that day. What happened to him? How did he become separated from this image? One veteran I interviewed recalled seeing postcards like this blowing around the battlefield, scattered from the pockets of men killed and wounded. Some soldiers picked them up, knowing how such treasures would be missed, and sent them back to local newspapers who printed them after big battles like Loos. Whether this one was ever reunited with its owner or whether this young girl grew up without a father we will never know – but it remains a powerful image and a link to the tragedy the Great War caused.
Great War Photos 
Thanks for posting this. Brings a home thought to the front lines.
05/10/2012 at 17:00
Loos always seems to have been the `forgotten` battle of WW1, but the amount of men who took part – and the amount lost – should never be forgotten. God Bless them and Rest in Peace.
25/09/2015 at 18:51
L/Cpl Percy Cresswell Royal Warwickshire Regiment
– a long lost family relation – was killed at Loos 25 Sept 1915. Body never recovered sadly, but still not forgotten. God Bless and Thankyou. R.I.P.
30/03/2016 at 10:44
My great uncle Pte Richard Chorlton 12746 6th Kings Own Scottish Borders is amongst the missing. He was a Manchester lad just 18 years old. Also fell on 25/9/1915. So sad but never forgotten. R.I.P
15/01/2017 at 13:44