Tin Shed Experience's D Day camera find

With paper work dating back to 1965, the Super Ikonta Camera was an irresistible purchase at a local flea market for Seimon Pugh Jones, one of the directors at the Tin Shed Experience museum, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire.

“My girlfriend Min spotted it. It was like any other Ikonta of it’s time, other than it had a military lanyard as a strap. So we decided to buy it. It also came with a wallet full of cuttings and correspondents.”

Later that evening, Seimon sat down to inspect the purchase and discovered that the paper work, which included receipts dating back to the mid sixties, was once owned by James Mapham

In peace time, James Mapham was Leicester’s Mercury Chief photographer but on the morning of June the 6th, found himself on the Beaches of Normandy, part of the Army Film and Photographic Unit on Queen Red of Sword, looking east towards Quistreham photographing Number one Platoon of the 48th Field Company Royal Engineers.

One image in particular stood out. It was acclaimed by the Americans as “The greatest photograph of the war”

The question is this the camera that took the picture?

Seimon said, “Unless we have the camera analysed by scientists, I would imagine it almost impossible to determine whether the camera was ‘The actual’ camera that took that picture on D-Day, as he probably owned more than one.”

He went on to say, “Despite this, Jimmy Mapham is the British equivalent of Robert Capa, who landed on Omaha beach on D-Day , we really need to commemorate his achievements.”

Seimon said, “We also need to recognise a Mr Atkinson, who purchased the camera from Photovision in Leicester back in 1965 realising its connection with Jimmy Mapham, researching and collecting information on him up to 2004.”

Andrew Issacs, Director of the Tin Shed Museum said

“It’s such a coincidence that the camera was found in Carmarthen, since a large proportion of the display at the museum is dedicated to photography”.

There is a display dedicated to Sgt. James Mapham, at the Tin Shed Museum. Laugharne, SA33 4QG