December Collection

Hush-A-Bye, Baby by Lawson Wood
A colour illustration by artist Lawson Wood showing a monkey using her tail to rock her baby to sleep

Rainbow illustration, by Arthur Ferrier
Illustration of a glamorous lady wearing a rainbow as a shawl

A House Full by Cecil Aldin
Illustration by Cecil Aldin showing six dogs jostling for space on a cosy armchair. Date: 20th December 1933

Earthrise photograph, artwork
Earthrise photograph. Artwork based on the famous Earthrise photographs taken by the Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman and William Anders

Christmas Truce 1914 / Ww1
British and German troops fraternise on the field of battle on Christmas Eve, greeting each other and exchanging goodwill, and are even photographed together

Higher Education
A Blue Stocking reads in a Library. Illustration by Webster Murray

Don Bradman Going out to Bat for the Last Time, Melbourne Cr
Photograph of Don Bradman going out to bat, during his last first-class cricket match; a game between Bradmans XI and L. Hassetts XI, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, December 1948

Christmas Truce / 1914 / Ww1
A light of peace in the trenches on Christmas Eve as a German soldier approaches the British lines with a Christmas Tree and small paper lantern

The Haka: New Zealand rugby war dance, 1905
The New Zealand rugby team singing their war song before the match against Wales at Cardiff on 16th December 1905. Wales went on to win a historic victory against the New Zealanders

HMS Albion (R07) when in use as a Commando Carrier, December 1971

Apollo 17 astronaut. US astronaut and geologist Dr Harrison Schmitt exploring the Taurus-Littrow region of the Moon, as part of NASAs Apollo 17 mission

Alexandria Library
Scholars examine the scrolls of the library of Alexandria, the greatest collection of the ancient world, burnt in 47 and finally destroyed by Moslem general Amrou 22 December 640

British Guns dash through French town
A British Artillery piece is rushed at a gallop through the market-place of a French town, the square surrounded by shell damaged buildings

Frost-covered trees and Glastonbury Tor. Hoar frost covering three willow (Salix sp.) trees in a field on a farm. St Michaels Tower can be seen on the summit of Glastonbury Tor in the background

Scotland, Edinburgh, City Skyline. City skyline viewed from Calton Hill looking towards Castle Rock and the surrounding old town

Scotland, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh Castle is built upon the remains of an extinct volcano, originally known as Lookout Hill but now known as Castle Rock

Christmas Truce / Photo
British and German soldiers fraternising on Christmas Day abandoning their respective trenches to exchange gifts, play sports and forget the war for one day

Christmas Truce / Soldiers
British and German troops leave their trenches on New Years Day to fraternise in peace in No Mans Land

Mayflower in Full Sail
The Mayflower carried the Pilgrim Fathers to America in 63 days, reaching New England in December 1620

German Panzer tank, 1944
A German Panzer tank, pictured during the Ardennes counter-offensive which became known as the Battle of the Bulge. Date: December 1944

St Lucys Day
Saint Lucys day (15 December) The girl chosen to be Lucia carries coffee and cakes to those preparing Christmas gifts and decorations

The Bombardment of the Hartlepools - James Clark Date: 1914

The Last Man, Hans Bohrdt - Propaganda - German navy officer
In 1915 Hans Bohrdt created his most famous illustration which is called " The Last Man". The image shows a German navy officer holding up a German flag as his ship sinks because he would

Wright 1903 Photo
Orville Wright, watched anxiously by his brother Wilbur, achieves the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Fancy Dress Ball, Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, London, 2 December 1920. Date: 1920

Photo of The Dolly Sisters
Black and white photograph of popular revue stars the Dolly Sisters in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News of 19th December 1925

Battle of the Bulge
American soldiers on a German Tiger II (Royal Tiger) tank which had been knocked out by American Air Force fighter-bombers during the Battle of the Bulge

The Gullet, Stafford Street, Birmingham
Under the Artisans and Labourers dwellings Improvement Act, 1875, slum areas like the gullet were cleared and improved. Date: 16 December 1876

The coronation of King George VI in Westminster Abbey, London, showing the moment the king is crowned.Date: 1937

General Allenbys official entry into Jerusalem, WW1
Scene during General Allenbys official entry into Jerusalem during the First World War. Date: 11 December 1917

Scotland, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh Castle illuminated at night

Decembre, 1896. Creator: Eugene Samuel Grasset
Decembre, 1896. From " Calendrier la Belle Jardiniere", by Eugene Grasset. [Paris, 1896]

LEJEUNE, Louis-Fran篩s, baron (1775-1848). Visiting
LEJEUNE, Louis-Fran篩 s, baron (1775-1848). Visiting a Bivouac on the Eve of the Battle of Austerlitz, 1st December 1805, 1808. Oil on canvas. FRANCE. Ό E-DE-FRANCE. YVELINES. Versailles

York Minster in winter by Ernest Uden
The towers of York Minster cathedral viewed by Bootham Bar, from beyond the citys walls

9th Hampshire Regiment in Vladivostock
The 9th (Cyclist) Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment march through the streets of Vladivostock, about to set off for Omsk in Siberia

King Edward VIII as Admiral of the Fleet by John St. Helier
King Edward VIII (1894-1972), later Duke of Windsor, painted by John St. Helier Lander in the robes of Admiral of the Fleet and as Sovereign of The Order of the Garter

Brown Bear riding a motorcycle at the Bertram Mills Circus
Photograph showing a large brown bear riding a motorcycle during a performance of the Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia in December 1951. That year was the Silver Jubilee of the Mills Circus at Olympia

American Indians. Sitting Bull, Chief of the Sioux
Portrait of Sitting Bull with elaborate feathered head dress reaching to the ground. Sitting Bull lead the resistance against the Americans which culminated in the defeat of General Custer

The Norwegian Flag at the South Pole, 1911
Photograph showing Lt. Helmer Hansen, of the Amundsen Antarctic Expedition of 1910-12, standing with his sledge, dog team and Norwegian flag at the South Pole, December 1911

Curlews (Numenius arquata) group flying over the sea during storm. Wales, UK December. Highly commended, Habitat division, British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) competition 2012

Card commemorating Graf Spee destruction, WW2
Card commemorating the destruction of the German cruiser, Admiral Graf Spee, on 13 December 1939 by HMS Exeter, Ajax and Achilles following the Battle of the River Plate. Date: 1939

Lancaster Castle Station, Lancashire, pictured on the morning of the official opening of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, for which it was the southern terminus Date: December 1846

Battle of Ayacucho 1824
ALABES, Fidencio (19th century). Battle of Ayacucho. Battle on the 9th December 1824. General Sucre defeats the royalist

Popular Aviation Magazine

British tank on Western Front, WW1
A British tank, with the name " Barbarian II" painted on its side, in the snow on the Western Front during the First World War. Two German soldiers stand alongside it. Date: 28 December 1917

George V and Mary, Coronation Durbar, Delhi, India
King George V and Queen Mary sitting on their imperial thrones on the day following the Coronation Durbar ceremony in Delhi, India

The Thirst For Reprisals, by Bruce Bairnsfather
And me rifle, someone. I ll give these -----s ell for this! Originally an amateur artist, Bairnsfathers cockney humour displayed in his view of the Front

Fante Soldiers serving with the British against the Ashanti
Soldiers from the Fante tribe who served under the British in their war against the Ashanti empire on the Gold Coast. In 1873

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"December: A Kaleidoscope of Moments and Memories" As the year draws to a close, December unveils its vibrant colors like a mesmerizing rainbow illustration by Arthur Ferrier. It paints the world with hues of hope and reflection, reminding us of the beauty that exists even in the darkest times. In this month of festivities, our hearts find solace within "A House Full" by Cecil Aldin. Warmth fills every corner as loved ones gather, creating cherished memories that will forever be etched in our souls. Like an Earthrise photograph turned artwork, December brings moments of awe-inspiring unity. We remember the Christmas Truce of 1914 during WW1 when enemies laid down their weapons to celebrate peace together. It serves as a reminder that humanity's capacity for compassion can transcend even the harshest conflicts. Yet amidst such harmony, there are reminders of struggle and sacrifice. The sight of a German Panzer tank from 1944 or British guns dashing through French towns reminds us of those who fought bravely for freedom and justice. It also marks new beginnings and aspirations for higher education. As students embark on their academic journeys, they carry dreams that will shape their futures like Don Bradman going out to bat for the last time in Melbourne Cricket Ground – determination radiating from his every step. Just as Apollo 17 astronauts ventured into space with curiosity and courage, we too embrace December's spirit of exploration. It encourages us to reach beyond our limits and discover new frontiers within ourselves. However, history is not without its scars; it bears witness to human suffering like "The Bombardment of Hartlepools" captured by James Clark. These somber events remind us never to forget past atrocities so we may strive towards a future free from violence and injustice. On HMS Albion (R07), once used as a Commando Carrier, bravery permeates every deck – a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who protect and serve.