Incredible 100-year old mugshots show the criminals who remained in Britain during the First World War and were arrested for crimes including stealing aprons and pawning a soldier’s uniform
These black and white mugshots were taken between 1914 and 1918 in Britain as the war raged on abroad
THESE are the mugshots of the men and women who remained in Britain during the First World War and were caught stealing and breaking into homes.
The stark black and white images were taken from an album of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court - among them are apron thieves, cheque forgers and a soldier who tried to pawn his uniform.
The images were chosen by archival experts at the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums because of the sharpness and quality of the images.
In order to discover the stories behind the mugshots, staff visited North Shields Local Studies Library where they carefully searched through microfilm copies of the ‘Shields Daily News’ looking for newspaper reports of the court cases.
The newspaper reports provide details of crimes by citizens, mostly including theft and fraudulent behaviour.
Other photographs have recently come to light showing huge German U-Boats washed up on a British beach.
In the mugshots there are notable appearances by members of the armed forces.
Soldier Walter Firth, 17, was arrested for pawning military uniform, while another 17-year-old, baby-faced George Walker, was arrested for cashing a forged cheque.
Soldier John P. Wilson and his wife Mona were arrested for theft from a dwelling house - the couple had taken "one bed quilt, foot wrap, flannelette sheet, three blouses and two aprons.
This week, in time for Valentine's Day, heartbreaking love letters from soldiers on the front back home were revealed.
The Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums said in a statement: "Combining these two separate records gives us a fascinating insight into life on the Home Front during the First World War.
"These images document the lives of people of different ages and backgrounds, both civilians and soldiers. Our purpose here is not to judge them but simply to reflect the realities of their time."
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