Male or Female?

[honey-roma88]

Hello,

A bit of an odd one here. These are my great grandmother's sister's children. I know that one is a boy (Johnny Holland) and one is a girl. My problem is I have no idea which is which. I would guess that the older child with the bonnet is the girl but her hair is so short so I am a bit confused.

Johnny grew up into a very handsome man but sadly the little girl died aged about 5 when her father came home drunk and threw her in the air, dropping her on her head. I have a picture of the parents sometime after the tragedy and I think you can see the strain on their faces even after those years. 

Thank you in advance for your time. 

[mudge]

From initial reactions, I would say almost certainly, left (oldest) girl and right (youngest) boy
Mudge

[elin]

What a heartbreaking story.  What sort of date would it have been?

Elin

[IgorStrav]

They are both particularly beautiful children and you are right, it's difficult to say which sex is which.

I think the bonnet is the clue, and therefore the older child is the girl - does that mean that she is the one who died?  How horrible. 

[honey-roma88]

Thank you Mudge and IgorStrav. It has been so irritating not knowing so it is great to get some confirmation. 
Elin - I think it would have been taken around 1911 because Johnny (John Richard Holland) was born about 1911.

I think she would have died soon after this picture was taken. She was definitely no older than five and she looks about 3/4 here. I will post the picture I have of her parents. I think Jack (the father) was of Irish descent and Charlotte (my gg aunt) was of Romany descent. I think the children look more like their dad. Jack adored his kids, he wasn't a bad man at all and was devastated at his daughter's death. 


Thank you all so much for helping.

[mudge]

Hi
They look a nice couple. They must have been devasted.
I know you didn't request it, but here's a quick cleanup of the 2nd photo for you
Mudge

[elin]

I had been thinking that if it was earlier the boy  might possibly have been in a dress as I have a photo of a young male relative dressed in that way.  Not by 1911 though and the older child does look female.

The poor father it must have been a terrible thing to have to live with.

Elin

[honey-roma88]

Thank you elin, I think you are right. It does seem a bit late for boys to be in dresses still and she does look female but is a little bit ambiguous...if you know what I mean.

Mudge - thank you so much. That is lovely, they look more serene in your picture. Beautiful. 

[Niksmum]

my one

Irene