Who,What,Where,When And Why?

Dilip.

That is most generous of you and is very much appreciated.

Check your PM’s.

Regards,

kev35

Thanks – wlll do – and as I think that is a most honourable thing to do I will send you a complimentary copy of my new book, ‘The Few’, signed by Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot Ken Wilkinson.

The last time I published that photograph was in 1994, the only explanation I have is that this could be a copy once belonging to another but on the reverse of which I have detailed who’s who. As you can appreciate, when my address was widely available I literally received thousands of requests for information over the years, and enthusiasts often bring such things to book signings and talks for the same purpose. So may be that is it, I will know once I see the actual photographs because of the paper and size concerned. Anyway, an aviation mystery!

Dilip.

If you PM me your address I am more than happy to return the photograph to you at no cost. It has sit in my filing cabinet doing nothing for the best part of the last ten years. You are more than welcome to it.

As you rightly say, some of the things passed onto us are indeed precious. Perhap you will take more care of precious items entrusted to your care in future.

I’ll try and get it in the post for you before Christmas.

Regards,

kev35

Hi

Is that Ray Johnson, by any chance – if so please give him my very best, another old friend with whom I lost touch these past few traumatic years.

Many thanks

Dilip Sarkar

Yes, you are correct; I will see Ray hopefully at the next RAFA meeting in January.

Kev35

I did not imply in any way, in fact, that you had obtained the photograph ‘nefariously’, but that whosoever offered it you for sale COULD have done – given that I could only offer two even remotely possible scenarios as to how said photograph had been offered for sale in the first place. You may be interested to know that having purchased the item in good faith you are in law what is known as a ‘bone fide purchasor for value’ – and I have no problem with that or, indeed, your personal honesty or integrity. So I do not, in fact, owe you an apology.

As your most recent post says, neither Chris Gale or my ex-wife could be responsible for this photograph being offered for sale, given the date you obtained it. This really is an absolute mystery to me, therefore, as to how this item of my property has been offered for sale.

I think that should settle things.

Dilip Sarkar

Dilip.

You find the thread distressing? Any items in my posession were obtained in good faith. You are suggesting that I somehow obtained items by nefarious means. I resent that implication and believe an apology is the least you could offer.

For the record, the 152 Squadron photograph was obtained in around 2000-2002 at a car boot sale in Cannock. I clearly recall that it was late summer and a very pleasant day. My particular interest at that time was the Great War. On a stall selling ‘antiques’ I spotted a bundle of photographs, newspaper clippings and other paper ephemera. I bought the lot for, if I remember correctly, two or three pounds at the most and it was only when I arrived home that I discovered the Spitfire photograph. It was put away and forgotten about until I came across it again recently.

As for Chris Gale, I have had no contact with him since late 2001. I remember this because I had brought Christmas gifts for the family and then he dropped out of contact. As for items given to me by Chris, they consist of a copy of a photograph of Lord Dowding with HM King and Queen and a quantity of his own artwork. I vaguely remember a picture of Messerschmitts which was mounted on foam for some reason. Chris also gave me a couple of your books, signed. In fact, one of them is signed by yourself as a gift to me from Chris!

All of this pre-dated the demise of Ramrod, let alone Victory Books which is why I resent the implication by you that I have received items illegally from Chris Gale as a result of your ‘letting him go’ or the alleged forced entry into your office by your ex wife. Both of those incidents occurred long after I had lost contact with Chris.

With the exception of the apology you now owe me, I think that concludes our correspondence.

Regards,

kev35

Ray Johnson?

Hi

Is that Ray Johnson, by any chance – if so please give him my very best, another old friend with whom I lost touch these past few traumatic years.

Many thanks

Dilip Sarkar

Coincidences or what? One of the senior members of my local RAFA is ex- 152 Sqn (Armourer) and he showed me a scrapbook a couple of months ago that he had made of the Sqn’s history, including the “Pooch”. 152 Sqn, as you probably all know, served in the Far East later in WWII flying Spit Mk VIIIs and most of the scrapbook is from this period.

Distressing….

Well, I have to say that this thread is most distressing.

I have absolutely no idea whatsoever how one of my precious Battle of Britain photographs has appeared for salee in, of all places, a car boot sale. There are, so far as I am aware, but two possible explanations: –

Firstly it is interesting to see that the name of Chris Gale, my estranged cousin, has been mentioned hereon as having disposed of certain of my collection – without my knowledge, permission, or with any right, therefore, to do so. I can only assume from reading the post in question that when I had no choice but to let Chris go, as it were, from Victory Books, there was a quantity of material from various publishing projects left with him and which was subsequently disposed of illegally. I would, in fact, be very interested to hear from the poster mentioning Chris’s name as to what material he received from that source.

Secondly, my ex-wife and former business partner orchestrated a forced entry into my office several years ago and removed a still indeterminable quantity of property. It is also possible, therefore, that the photograph was taken at that time.

As for me having ‘given up on aviation twice in the past’, that needs qualifying. The first occcasion was in 2002, following the sudden death of my beloved father and subsequent harrowing experience, understandably dictating a shift in priorities. Secondly in 2006, when Victory Books unfortunately had to be wound up due to said acrimonious divorce and when life basically disintegrated completely. Fortunately, however, life is now very happily back on track and progress being made once more on all fronts!

Well….although I was beaten to it to identify the faces on the photo I can go one better and identify the writing on the back! It is the handrwiting of Dilip Sarkar. Very distinctive! Just to add, I have an original sepia toned print of this and it is entirely possible this is copied from my print. It seems as if he used it in one of his books. No idea which one. Dilip has given up on the aviation scene at least twice in the past and sold/disposed of much of his collection along the way and so it is possible this photo originates from one of those periods in Dilip’s life.

What sold all those log books donated to him by veteran family members for safe keeping?:confused:

That’s interesting Andy. I did think it looked like Dilip’s writing as I was given some stuff by Dilip’s cousin Chris Gale. This, however, definitely came from the car boot sale.

Regards,

kev35

Am I alone in noticing that Sakar’s listing and the one provided by D1566 are not identical?

Moggy

Was this from a publication of any kind? The one I have is clearly a copy, perhaps of a copy of a copy etc. It is on glossy photo paper but I can’t make out the watermarks. Interestingly, here is the reverse.

I knew someone would have the answers. I would be interested to find out how and why it came to be in a batch of photo’s I paid a couple of quid for at a car boot in Cannock. Guess we’ll never know.

Thanks for the help.

Regards,

kev35

Well….although I was beaten to it to identify the faces on the photo I can go one better and identify the writing on the back! It is the handrwiting of Dilip Sarkar. Very distinctive! Just to add, I have an original sepia toned print of this and it is entirely possible this is copied from my print. It seems as if he used it in one of his books. No idea which one. Dilip has given up on the aviation scene at least twice in the past and sold/disposed of much of his collection along the way and so it is possible this photo originates from one of those periods in Dilip’s life.

The Mutt was the giveaway! – got lucky with a websearch. Good website.

Was this from a publication of any kind? The one I have is clearly a copy, perhaps of a copy of a copy etc. It is on glossy photo paper but I can’t make out the watermarks. Interestingly, here is the reverse.

I knew someone would have the answers. I would be interested to find out how and why it came to be in a batch of photo’s I paid a couple of quid for at a car boot in Cannock. Guess we’ll never know.

Thanks for the help.

Regards,

kev35

Andy here is another shot of the central character….Pilot Officer Pooch. (Sgt Shepherd behind)

152 (Nizam of Hyderabad) Squadron at Warmwell 1940

BACK ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT)

MR CARR, SGT. BERRY, SGT. CASSEL, F/SGT. BOUEN, W/O. HILL, F/SGT. BARNES, F/SGT. HUTTON, SGT. WALKER, SGT. FROST

MIDDLE ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT)

SGT. AKROYD, SGT. SHEPPERD, P/O. R.M.HOGG, SQN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER P/O. McBAIN, P/O. BAYLES, P/O. WESTON, P/O. BEAUMONT, P/O. WARREN, P/O. MARRS, P/O. HOLMES, SGT. BAKER, SGT. REDDINGTON.

FRONT ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT)

SGT. ROBINSON, P/O. WILDBLOOD, SQN. ADJUTANT, F/O. O’BRIAN, F/L. BOITEL-GILL, SQN/LDR. DEVITT, F/LT.THOMAS, F/O. HOGG, SQN. ENGINEER OFFICER F/O. DEVERELL, P/O. COX, SGT. HOLLAND. (P/O POOCH IN THE MIDDLE):D

Well the car immediately behind is a Morris 8 Tourer. 🙂

John