Alfred Stafford WW1 1929 - Battlefield Tour - Back in the Trenches

Here we see Alfred with his two comrades, having climbed down into an overgrown trench.  I am sure all of them, even Alfred (who was in his 40s and younger than his companions) would have found it 'tricky' to negotiate. 

If you look carefully to the right, it looks like there is a young man in uniform 'gingerly' climbing down into the trench. What is interesting is that there is a woman standing up-top with two gentlemen, (you can only see her legs and skirt) so it wasn't just army veterans who returned.

It looks as if the weather was hot, as you can see the gentleman in the middle is holding a large handkerchief in his hand.  He has made a little concession to the heat, as he has removed his hat, and was probably using the 'hanky' to mop his forehead. As we have seen on all the photographs he is still carrying his brolly, the quintessential Englishman. 

Also, when I blew the photograph up to restore it a little I realised there was added heart-breaking poignancy to this, in that Alfred is holding a poppy.

  

Restored 1929 Alfred in overgrown trench with his three comrades