"A Belgian soldier called Marius", circa 1914-18, from the collection of Ralf De Jonge

 

When I come across images like this, where the personality of the individual pictured is so vividly captured, I can't help but regret that I'll never know anything of his or her biography, when they were born, when they died, how they spent their life. I regret that I'll never have anything more of their story.

A Belgian Army Engineer collar badge, like those worn in the photographs.