Today this photograph is exactly 150 years old. Taken 29 June 1859, it shows a then 12-year-old Edmund Barron Hartley.

About Edmund Barron Hartley

Edmund was born 6 May 1847 in Ivybridge, Devon

On 5 June 1879 Surgeon Major Hartley was serving in southern Africa and rescued and treated several soldiers whilst under heavy enemy fire, his acts of extreme bravery earning him the coveted Victoria Cross.

He died 20 March 1919 in Ash, Surrey and is buried in Brookwood Cemetery, Woking

His Victoria Cross is held by the Army Medical Services Museum, Aldershot.

About the photograph

The photograph was taken by the London Photographic Company, who at the time had studios in London, Exeter, Torquay & Plymouth (at the time the photograph was taken Hartley would likely still have been living in Ivybridge, Devon).

It is extremely rare to find an early photograph such as this that is accurately named and dated.

It was 'discovered' on eBay, purchased for the bargain price of about £20, researched and identified, and is now a treasured piece in my personal collection. Whilst it must have some monetary value (and certainly more than £20) its historic value far outweighs that.

View and comment on the photograph online on Flickr

Interested in history, genealogy, mysteries, old photos, ships, fishing, Hull, and life at sea in the early 1900s?

The Hull Trawler Challenge, here on whatsthatpicture.com, is a brand new project inspired by a stunning set of over 70 original photographs depicting life on board two Hull trawlers in the very early 1900s. These wonderful photos provide a unique insight into life on board a fishing boat at that time, but also provoke many questions - who are the people, can we name any of them, who took the photos, why, and when?

That's where the Hull Trawler Challenge comes in. There are three ways for people to contribute, in what is a unique on-line and 'real world' project:

- on the Hull Trawler Challenge website and blog: find out more about these ships, and the people who sailed on them - visit http://www.whatsthatpicture.com/hull-trawler-challenge/

- on the photo sharing website Flickr: see all the wonderful pictures, read and post comments, and get involved in discussions - see http://www.flickr.com/groups/hull-trawler-challenge/

- if you happen to be in London this coming weekend (27 Feb - 1 March) I'll have the pictures on show at the Who Do You Think You Are? Live show at Olympia (stand 99 - see http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk) and will be getting the public and experts to participate

I regularly sell old photographs on eBay and there's always that hope, one day, that I'll make my fortune. I've had a few lantern slides go for over £200 a piece, but the average is closer to £2. So imagine what she thought when this woman listed an old baseball card at $4.99 and it turned out to be worth well into the thousands.

But I'll keep selling, and even if I don't make my millions, or at least thousands, then there's always the satisfaction that an image I don't want for my own collection has gone to someone who will really appreciate it.

If you ever need anyone to help restore an old photo then I'd highly recommend Pauline Prynne and her 'Retouched by Prynne' service.

I'll be teaming up with Pauline on her stand at next year's 'Who do you think you are? Live' exhibition at Earl's Court. Why not come and see us? It's on from 27 February - 21 March 2009.