The Royal Naval College, Greenwich
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The Royal Naval College, Greenwich
The Royal Naval College, Greenwich. This card was sent home by (later) Lieutenant Richard William Henry MacArtney Empson, Portsmouth Battalion, Royal Marines during his navy training. Empson was killed in action during the First World War (on 1st May 1915) during an attack in the Dardanelles. He was buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli. Born 26th May 1896, in Milborne Port, Somerset, the elder son of John Empson MD, late Surgeon with the North Somerset Yeomanry (to whom this card was sent!), and Esther Katherine (nee Watling) Empson of Knock-na-cree, Milborne Port. Date: circa 1912
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14404950
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
College Empson Greenwich Reflections Sep16
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the grandeur and majesty of The Royal Naval College in Greenwich, as seen through the eyes of a young naval trainee, Lieutenant Richard William Henry MacArtney Empson, in the early 1910s. The image, sent home to his father, John Empson MD, as a cherished keepsake, reflects the tranquility and beauty of the Thames River and its historic surroundings. Richard Empson, born on May 26, 1896, in Milborne Port, Somerset, was the elder son of John Empson and Esther Katherine (nee Watling) Empson. He joined the Portsmouth Battalion of the Royal Marines for his navy training and was deeply proud of his connection to the esteemed institution. However, the serene scene depicted in this photograph would soon be shattered by the horrors of war. On May 1, 1915, during an attack in the Dardanelles, Lieutenant Empson was tragically killed in action. He was laid to rest in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli, leaving behind a grieving family and a poignant reminder of the peaceful days spent training at The Royal Naval College in Greenwich. This photograph, now over a century old, stands as a testament to the dreams, ambitions, and ultimately, the sacrifice of a young man who answered the call to serve his country. The reflections on the water mirror the hopes and dreams of a generation that would be forever changed by the events of the First World War.
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