William (Billy) Salkeld’s photograph albums were donated to the museum by his grandaughter in 2022. The painter and decorator, who was living with his wife and family in Sunderland when war broke out, joined up and was sent to the 2nd Battalion in India before moving with them to Burma in September 1944.
Billy Salkeld is seated, second from left.
The ‘end of empire’ style scenes depicted in the photo albums, the majority of which show groups of friends, concert parties, local people, wildlife and scenery present his own curated view of his time in the regiment. We build our perception of him based on what he has chosen to keep and record.
The images contained in the albums belie the massive impact of Billy’s war on him, and his family for the rest of their lives. Find out more here.