Digital Transgender Archive

Two British soldiers performing as clowns for "The Timbertown Follies", at a prisoner of war camp in Groningen. Photographic postcard, 191-.

One man is in drag as a female clown, seated on a swing, with the male clown standing behind. Both wear white geometric patterned costume. Two performers from 'The Timbertown Follies'.This is a very high quality gelatin silver print, indicative of the wide renown attached to this troupe.One of the many revues staged by some of the 1,500 or so members of the First Royal Naval Brigade, interned as prisoners of war in the camp outside Groningen, northern Netherlands, from 1914 to 1918, which they nicknamed HMS Timbertown. As they were not involved in any conflict and were housed in reasonable comfort with time on their hands, they were able to stage some very elaborate and professional theatrical revues which became famous back in the UK. Their performances included pastiches of many of the revues and musical comedies produced in England at this time

Part of James Gardiner Collection: photographs of military, naval, and prisoner-of-war camp drag.