Dating a photo of funeral

[weste]

Womens hats and fur collars are like my nans wore in 1935 when my mom was born, photo taken with a jubilee mug. The hats of the men are like some we've have taken late 1920's. Yes that looks like a vicar to me. The women in the line are wearing black armbands. The young lads look to be wearing a small badge on the right side.

[Sinann]

Any idea when Newry got electricity, there are poles in the background. Might give you a 'has to be later than date'

[weste]

There might be another vicar in the doorway by a doorway on the left by the columns. Is a staunch party member /local figure of some description as its a massive following. Where are the graveyards nearby and what is known of wellknown local figures buried there.Narrowing years down would give less years to trawl through burial registers. Then funerals could be looked for in the newspapers. There's a uniformed man on the left also.

[mahalia]

If you blow the photo up to 200% on the casket appears to be H87U or HB7U.  It is just above the ladies head who is wearing the cloche hat.

Whether it is on the actual casket or whether it is the photographers identifying mark I can't say

The proportion of men to women seems out of kilter as well to me.  About 90% of the people there are men.   Could it be that perhaps the deceased was the wife of a respected mill/mine/factory owner and that his workers have turned out as a mark of respect and support for him.

 A lot of the blokes there appear to be working class judging from their attire whilst others are very well dressed.  There are even a lot of onlookers on the RHS who are not part of the procession but appear to be there to show respect rather than just looking on.

[liscoole]

I would date the photo definitely early 30's- 1930-35 i would say. My mum's aunt died in 1933 and a photo was taken of her sisters beside the grave- one was wearing a coat with a huge fur collar almost identical to one of the ladies in the picture.

Newry isnt such a large place- its got to be someone like a mill owner, politician etc. A public figure of some sort. Either that, or someone who died in very tragic or exceptional circumstances which attracted a large number of public mourners.

Good luck!

[weste]

Could those letters be a grave plot number?t  Area , plot, row etc.

[mc8]

On the left of the photo behind the hearse is a chap in uniform-I thought it was a policeman at first but found a similar uniform worn by the Newry fire brigade.  Perhpas the date could be narrowed down by the unfiorm or the person?

[weste]

You must be talking about the man in uniform i mentioned i must admit i was sure whether police, fire brigade or what. There must be another record of this funeral somewhere as it is so bog and the variety of people. I bet people will be kicking themselves when they find out. I'd be tempted for a tour round the local cem looking around the years in question.

[mc8]

this link may be of interest

http://www.newrymemoirs.com/stories_pages/mayhem1921-1923_1.html