Hours Gallery

The 24 hour race at Le Mans, France for the Rudge-Whitworth Cup

The 24 hour race at Le Mans, France for the Rudge-Whitworth Cup: a huge collision at night. From front to back: Bentley car no.1 with Leslie Callingham (1888-1960) thrown clear, Bentley car no.2 with George Duller (1891-1962) jumping, Bentley no.3 of Sydney Charles Houghton "Sammy" Davis (1887-1981), the eventual race winner along with alternate driver Dr Joseph Dudley Benjafield (1887-1957) and a Schneider that had skidded (driven by Pierre Tabourin). Date: 1927

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, 1900

Photograph of the stern of the North German Lloyd Liner Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse at sea, 1900. This liner was built by the Vulcan Shipyards at Stettin with the aim of winning the Blue Riband. Launched in 1897, by the Kaiser himself, she made the Transatlantic run in 5 days and 20 hours in the same year to claim the title. She served on the TransAtlantic run until 1914, when she was taken over by the German Navy as an auxiliary cruiser. In August of the same year, she was sunk after being attacked by HMS Highflyer

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Fanny and Dora Watson, Kent/178

Fanny (right) and Dora (left) Watson. Taken at the Houghton photographic studio. The Watson Fanny Watson is wearing three War Service Bar stripes on her left arm. This indicates that the photograph was taken no earlier than November 1917. The Bar could be earned by serving an aggregate of 2, 688 hours in the first year (i.e. less than 13 months) and 2, 496 hours in subsequent years but could not be obtained prior to the thirteen or twelve month period being up. Fanny & Dora Watson in 1911 lived with their mother Catherine in Birchington and had private income. Late in 1917 Dora Watson married and became Mrs D. Danielson. She continued to work at Quex Park VAD Hospital. Fanny Watson worked a total of 10, 898 hours and Dora Danielson worked 10, 249 hours during their service at the hospital. The Quex Park VAD Hospital opened on 15 October 1914 and closed on 31 January 1919. The hospital was run by Kent/178, the Birchington Detachment. The Commandant was Hannah Powell-Cotton (1881-1964), wife of Major Percy HG Powell-Cotton (1866-1940) of Quex Park, founder of the Powell-Cotton Museum. Date: circa 1918

© The Powell-Cotton Museum Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library