Saturday, February 13, 2010

Sepia Saturday 1940's......



This is an old photo taken of the everyday life in Belgium during the second World War. Belgium has been restored from a German takeover, and people are trying to do the things that have to be done in living a more normal life.  

The cow power is great and was probably common back then.  I like how there is a spare cow being moved along with them.




I don't remember any story about the train except that it had been disabled by the ways of war. My dad is looking out the side window of the steam locomotive here, and I am sure he traded places with the buddy who owned the camera to have the buddy's picture taken.

Visit our Sepia Saturday Site to view many fine contributions to our group endeavor.  Click here on Sepia Saturday.

17 comments:

Kat Mortensen said...

What a terrific shot of dad on the train! (I like your remark about the "spare cow". Funny man.

Kat

P.S. I found you on Facebook and sent a friend request. Hope you're okay with that.

Martin said...

Two more great photographs Larry. I wonder if we'll ever see the return of 'cow power'?

Anonymous said...

Two treasured photographs for sure and what a great picture of your Dad. Wishing you a nice weekend. GA finally got the much talked about snow today!

claude said...

Nice post about the last WWII, Larry, as usually.
Do you know why cows replaced horses.
May be the german soldiers went in farms to take horses.
Have a nice week-end, larry.z

Alan Burnett said...

Love the "spare cow". Love the photos which have such a deep sense of time and place. Oh I am enjoying this Sepia Saturday lark!

Anonymous said...

I'm wondering if this was maybe in Bastogne? And I would've done the same thing on the train here, heh...

Les Barr said...

A good remembered Photo of your Father, Larry. Things and Life were so different back then. I, also, have some photo's of my Mother while serving in the US Army during WWII. They were taken over in London.

Barry said...

Cow power versus the iron horse. I notice the cows are actually moving.

What fascinating photos!

Merisi said...

On my grandparents farm there was a wagon exactly like to one in the picture. Cows were used to pull them by small farmers, not big enough to be able to afford horses.

Betsy Brock said...

A spare cow...kinda like a spare tire! LOL! That is a great photo.

Love the one of your dad...wonderful shot!

Leah said...

These are great--and I got a chance to go back and read last week's post about your dad, too. So poignant!

Delwyn said...

Hi Larry

these are both educational and interesting photos Larry.
Is you Dad in the Belgian armed services.
Did he emigrate after the war?

My Beloved's grandfather told a wonderful story of escaping form Antwerp at the German invasion by leaping on to the bow of an already full boat/ship...to return to Australia. He was a language professor probably teaching in Europe. His young family had already left Europe at the outset of war.

Happy days

The Retired One said...

Love the one of him on the train...you can see the homesickness...

Valerie said...

Really interesting pictures, Larry, both in their own individual way. The angle of the train appealed to me, I love slanting the camera.

Stephanie said...

Nice! Cow power, ha!

Unknown said...

Great photos & background. Being a bit of a railfan I love the photo of your dad in the locomotive.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Both great photos..for different reasons. I really like the one of your Dad in the locomotive..you are very lucky to have these photos ! :)

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