These wonderful photos of soldiers cooling off in August 1915 were taken by Suffolk’s deaf photographer, Walton Burrell. He photographed men from the Royal Engineers who were stationed at Fornham Park during the First World War.

[Photos to be added]

The photos, two of which were included in the Cavenham/Temple Bridge display panel, were taken at Duck Sluice in the river Lark near Fornham, and show a structure that has now gone. It’s clear how much fun the men were having, and also how structures originally put in place for navigation or water regulation often provide places for recreation.

Walton Burrell was born in 1863. He was a photographer, world traveller, and deaf pioneer. He took thousands of photos of daily life in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Walton was one of the earliest members of the British Deaf and Dumb Association when it was founded in 1890 to advocate for improved rights for deaf people. You can find more about him https://www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/education/suffolks-deaf-photographer-walton-burrell/on the Suffolk Archives website.