A postcard through time: the Welch Margetson men who died in World War One

They were just names on an old postcard I bought at a collector's fair, but they were special; these men were all casualties of The Great War. They had worked for Welch Margetson, a firm in Long Lane that produced high quality menswear to be sold in classy West End shops.

George Pollard was just twenty-one when he died at Thiepval in 1916. He was an office clerk with the company and would have walked the short distance every day from his house near the Bricklayer's Arms to Long Lane. He was one of seven children and had two older brothers, Bill and Harry, as well as John, the youngest who, thankfully, was too young to join the conflict. It is unknown whether George's brothers survived, but how awful, if they had all not returned?

Whether Sidney Fern met up with George at Thiepval will never be known; they were from different regiments, but it is likely. They both died there within a day of each other. Sidney's father Fred also worked at Welch Margetson as a collar cutter and Sidney had been a porter there.

The lost memorial, copyright Debra Gosling 2014

Joseph Fitzgerald was another who had brothers, all living in Cherry Garden Street – did they come back? So many young men cut down before they even got to their prime. Joseph was the errand boy in the collar department; they must have missed his cheeky banter when he dropped off and collected work. Now it was silent. He fell at Doiran, aged just twenty.

It is a little unclear what happened to Frank Bridges; there are so many with the same name who died it is hard to tell which one he is. He lived in Waterloo Street, Camberwell and was on the marketing side of the firm. Younger brother Ernest was a factory assistant, and must have made it home as his name is not on the memorial.

Welch Margetson pyjamas. Copyright John Tinseth 2014

The company itself was in business from 1824 to 1963. Joseph Welch was an expert shirt maker of his time and by 1876 the company had a large factory in Londonderry. There were also eight department stores throughout England. The store in the City of London obviously stood out as having the best in high quality menswear for all those bowler-hatted, rich City gents. Any upper class male calling in could expect to see whole departments devoted to socks, ties, sock suspenders, braces, dressing gowns, pyjamas and even umbrellas. Bertie Wooster would have approved!

Much of the work undertaken was outsourced to home workers. Imagine how lovely it must have been for little children to see all the colours, fabrics and patterns taking up the space in the parlour. Lots of paisleys and stripes and flowers for them to sort out before Mum ran them all up into swanky ties, cravats and silky neck scarves (known locally by the Costers as chokers).

Welch Margetson Slippers. Copyright John Tinseth 2014

The art of correct gentleman's dress has been watered down to jeans and a quick squirt of Lynx today, but there remain a few sharp dressers around, mainly to be seen in a tailored suit and vintage accessories. It used to be de rigueur to wear a collar and stud, tie, cufflinks, sleeve braces, trouser braces, sock suspenders, a waistcoat, pocket watch, hat, scarf and gloves! Good grief, how did anyone ever make the bus?! Welch Margetson was a big part of the gentlemen's fashion scene, such as it was.

The company arrived in Bermondsey in 1890, initially making just ties but then carrying on to all the other luxury products. They had various other sites in the City of London but of course, all good things come to an end. In 1950 the factory was rebuilt; all the local firms were having a bit of a makeover after the damage from the war. Two years beforehand, Viyella had bought out Welch & Margetson but it took another twenty years or so before the silky socks and slippers walked out of Long Lane for good. The building is still there, now named Blue Lion Court, so at least there is a reminder of all those lovely things that now fetch smart prices on Ebay.

It is sad however, to think of those four young men who sacrificed themselves for their country and how they never got the chance to saunter along the Tower Bridge Road, a pretty girl on their arm, in a nice tie and matching handkerchief.