Breadcrumb

Koser, Helen

Helen Laugher grew up in pre-war Birmingham, England, and was a nursing student during World War II when she met John Hambley, a convalescing American soldier, when she emerged from an air raid shelter following a German bombing attack in 1944. The two were married in 1947 in John's home town of Polo, Illinois.

Photos

Caption
Three year old Helen Laugher with her maternal aunt Rose in Birmingham around 1924. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Birmingham
When:
around 1924.
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A portrait of Helen in 1937, when she was sixteen and living in Birmingham. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Birmingham
When:
1937
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Helen, 18, relaxes in Birmingham Park in 1939. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Birmingham Park
When:
1939.
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Postcard of Birmingham Cathedral as it appeared during the war. (This image is considered to be in the public domain.)
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Helen attended St. Augustine grade school, a Catholic school run by nuns. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Helen attended Rookery Road School from age 8 to 14. It was also where Helen attended nursing school during the war. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Helen Laugher’s Wartime Identification Card. (This image is considered to be in the public domain.)
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain
Caption
Helen received this Xmas card from her cousin, who was stationed in the Soviet Union during the war and was in Yalta at the time of the talks. It portrays the British Embassy in Moscow.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Family portrait of Helen, her husband John Hambley, and their baby Terry in May 1948. (May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.)
Where:
Unknown
When:
May 1948
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
Helen and her second husband, Robert Vogel, taken at their wedding on December 22, 1989. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Unknown
When:
December 22, 1989
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

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