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Little troopers

Striking colourised images capture the innocence of World War II children who laugh with soldiers and chase their dads as they march off to battle

The photographs depict the startling contrast between youth and conflict

JAW-dropping colourised pictures have captured the innocence of youth in war-stricken scenes.

The vivid images depict children caught up in conflict, from a boy struggling to part with his dad to the young sharing heart-warming moments with soldiers.

1944: U.S. Army Pfc. Fred Linden of Detroit, Michigan, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, holds a young French boy following the liberation of the village of Trévières during the Battle of Normandy.
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1944: U.S. Army Pfc. Fred Linden of Detroit, Michigan, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, holds a young French boy following the liberation of the village of Trévières during the Battle of Normandy.Credit: Media Drum World

The Second World War affected the whole of society, including Britain's kids.

Remarkably, some children even played their own part in the effort, including helping the front line by contributing to the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and Sea Scouts.

The youth also contributed a crucial money raising effort - which helped both troops in the firing line and families left behind on the home front.

1940: Claude P. Detloff first snapped this photo of the British Columbia Regiment as they made their way down Columbia Street intersection, Canada. In this moment, a young boy named Warren ran from his mum to reach out his hand to his dad, Private Jack Bernard
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1940: Claude P. Detloff first snapped this photo of the British Columbia Regiment as they made their way down Columbia Street intersection, Canada. In this moment, a young boy named Warren ran from his mum to reach out his hand to his dad, Private Jack BernardCredit: Media Drum World

The moving photographs show kids among the rubble, posing with weapons and cracking jokes with the troops.

One of the images depicts the moving moment Warren Bernard struggles to say goodbye to his dad as he marches off with his regiment.

While another heart-breaking photograph shows troops comforting a teary little girl following the Battle of Normandy.

Two Nazi girls collect donations for the war effort. They appear to be selling WHW, or winterhilfswerke pins, as they attempt to raise funds for the poor during the depression.
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Two Nazi girls collect donations for the war effort. They appear to be selling WHW, or winterhilfswerke pins, as they attempt to raise funds for the poor during the depression.Credit: Media Drum World
1944: American soldiers comfort a little girl and her puppy after the invasion of Normandy, Colleville-sur-Mer. Today, almost 10,000 war graves lie in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer.
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1944: American soldiers comfort a little girl and her puppy after the invasion of Normandy, Colleville-sur-Mer. Today, almost 10,000 war graves lie in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer.Credit: Media Drum World

Paul Reynolds, 48, painstakingly colourised the historic black-and-white snaps in the exciting new project.

The design engineer, from Birmingham, said: “I think colourising detailed photos really brings them to life, you notice detail that usually gets missed due to the monotone background.

“I am glad that by colourising these photos more people are aware of the happenings of World War One and World War Two.

“I always get a positive reaction to all photos I post, people are amazed at what can be achieved with even the most damaged of photos.

“I love showing off my photos and it's a real boost to get that positive reaction from people.”

1943: A young Italian girl holds an umbrella as she watches a despatch rider attempting to clear the carburettor of his motorcycle
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1943: A young Italian girl holds an umbrella as she watches a despatch rider attempting to clear the carburettor of his motorcycleCredit: Media Drum World

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Although the process may seem simple, Paul painstakingly uses a digital pen and pad to layer colour onto the snaps by hand, as you would with a painting.

The lengthy process can sometimes be problematic because old photos may be damaged with discolouration or dust spots.

He explained: “I've always been interested in art since a very early age.

“I first started colourising with a family photo of my great Grandmother and progressed from there.

“I basically layer on the colour as you would with a painting, I've painted from an early age so this transition to digital was quite easy for me.”

A bearded Marine pauses beside the barbed wires of an internment camp on Tinian Island, Pacific theatre, to give a native Japanese child some sweets.
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A bearded Marine pauses beside the barbed wires of an internment camp on Tinian Island, Pacific theatre, to give a native Japanese child some sweets.Credit: Media Drum World
1942: Vova Egorov, a 15-year-old Scout for the Red Army. This Russian military force was the main component of the Soviet Armed Forces and were responsible for capturing the German capital during WWII.
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1942: Vova Egorov, a 15-year-old Scout for the Red Army. This Russian military force was the main component of the Soviet Armed Forces and were responsible for capturing the German capital during WWII.Credit: Media Drum World

He added: “The only problems I come across are the condition of the photos, especially private commissions, most are torn, folded, creased, water damaged, dust spots and discoloured which then has to be digitally repaired with a brush.

“This process usually takes longer than the paint, but the finished photo is 100% sharper and more pleasing on the eye.”

Reynolds isn’t the first artist to bring colour to historic black-and-white photos.

A young girl takes a peep at American GIs in the streets of Caiazzo, Italy - just north of the River Volturno. The River Volturno in Campania was a line of defense for the Germans as they retreated following the Allied capture of Naples.
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A young girl takes a peep at American GIs in the streets of Caiazzo, Italy - just north of the River Volturno. The River Volturno in Campania was a line of defense for the Germans as they retreated following the Allied capture of Naples.Credit: Media Drum World

Earlier this month, The Sun exclusively unveiled extraordinary colourised photos that brought the D-Day landings to life.

Recently, artist Frederic Duirez brought trench warfare in World War One to life in vivid colour.

And stunning retouched postcards from 1890 captured life in the seaside towns and ruined castles of Scotland in the Victorian age.

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