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Chelsea Barker, 16 DLI

‘Great friend’ is written on the back of J A Philipson’s photograph of Chelsea Barker, of 16 DLI. The tie--not allowed with Other Ranks battle dress for most of the war--and the medal ribbons suggest that this is an early postwar portrait. However, the first letter of the surname has been corrected on the reverse of the photo: to see it click here. So, could it be Chelsea Parker? The writing on the reverse of the of the photo continues: ‘1182068 Chelsea B?/Parker, c/o HQ 54 Area CMF’

HQ 54 Area of the Central Mediterranean Forces seems to have been some kind of holding unit. I have an un-captioned group photograph of the unit which I obtained from the Durham Country Record Office. To this photograph click here.