A reader has been able to tell the extraordinary story behind a mystery picture of old Liskeard published in the Cornish Times two weeks ago.

Liskeard and District Museum volunteer Brian Oldham submitted the picture of a large group of people of all ages gathered on the Parade, many of whom were in horse-drawn carriages.

Philip Hicks has revealed that the picture was taken in 1915, during the First World War.

The photograph shows a group of Belgian refugees, who had fled their country when the Germans invaded in 1914, being taken for a day’s outing to the Morval estate.

The transport was provided by the Edmonds brothers, Charlie, Jack and Alfred, who ran a livery stable and transport business from the yard behind Webb’s Hotel (now Webb’s House, the headquarters of the Cornish Times).

Jack, who died in 1944, was Philip’s grandfather – his daughter Blanche married Philip’s father Harry.

In the picture, Jack is the man in charge of the four-in-hand, and it is his son Reg Edmonds who is holding the grey horses, Primrose and Duchess.

Holding another horse is J Edmonds, Reg’s cousin. The man in charge of the brake is Harry Jeffrey.

Reg became well known in the bowling world as president of the East Cornwall League and secretary of Looe Bowling Club. He and Jack both played in Liskeard Band.

But there’s a sad epilogue to tell.

Philip said: ‘In 1916, the Army started commandeering horses for the war effort.

‘They would come into Liskeard on market day, Monday, when all the farmers came into town, and if they fancied a horse they would take it straight out of the shafts, leaving the cart parked up on the Parade. The farmers had to find their own way home.

‘So the Army took all the business’s best horses and, of course, they couldn’t run the business. They were given a pittance for the horses really.’

Now, says Philip, he’d love to know about the Belgian refugees in Liskeard during the First World War and their eventual fate.

Can anybody shed light on the story of Belgian refugees in South East Cornwall? E-mail us at [email protected]