US Marine and child in an internment camp, Tinian. Paul Reynolds / mediadrumworld.com

By Mark McConville

STRIKING colourised pictures have captured the innocence of children during times of war.

The vivid images show a young boy running to his dad who is marching off to battle, soldiers comforting a little girl outside a rubble-strewn house and a marine passing a gift to a small boy through a barbed-wire fence.

Soldiers comfort girl, Colleville-sur-Mer. Paul Reynolds / mediadrumworld.com

Other incredible photographs show a youthful Russian boy smiling for the camera as he poses with his Tommy gun and grenades, German girls with Nazi uniforms collecting donations and an American soldier laughing with an Italian boy.

Nazi girls collect donations. Paul Reynolds / mediadrumworld.com

The wartime snaps were expertly colourised by design engineers Paul Reynolds (48) from Birmingham, UK.

“I think colourising detailed photos really brings them to life, you notice detail that usually gets missed due to the monotone background,” he said.

8. Five-year-old Warren Bernard chases after his father Pte. Jack Bernard in New Westminster, BC, Canada, 1940. Paul Reynolds / mediadrumworld.com

“I am glad that by colourising these photos more people are aware of the happenings of World War One and World War Two.

“I always get a positive reaction to all photos I post, people are amazed at what can be achieved with even the most damaged of photos. I love showing off my photos and it’s a real boost to get that positive reaction from people.”

Vova Yegorov, 15 year old Red Army scout. Krasnogorsk, 1942. Paul Reynolds / mediadrumworld.com

Mr Reynolds uses a digital pen and pad to colourise the images but sometimes runs into some problems.

“I’ve always been interested in art since a very early age,” he explained.

“I first started colourising with a family photo of my great Grandmother and progressed from there.

“I basically layer on the colour as you would with a painting, I’ve painted from an early age so this transition to digital was quite easy for me.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, France. June 12, 1944. American soldiers look on at the village fountain. Paul Reynolds / mediadrumworld.com

“The only problems I come across are the condition of the photos especially private commissions, most are torn, folded, creased, water damaged, dust spots and discoloured which then has to be digitally repaired with a brush, this process usually takes longer than the paint, but the finished photo is 100% sharper and more pleasing on the eye.

Little boy and Us soldier in a French village, July 1944. Paul Reynolds / mediadrumworld.com