North Africa

The Life and Times of an RAF Wireless Operator Air Gunner - Part II

I was positioned on the rear gun but I did not return fire because I assumed the Beaufighter would soon...

HMS Barham - Eastern Mediterranean Fleet, 1940: Part 5

Much time spent ashore in Alexandria and worrying about mail and family back in England. The sea mail may...

HMS Barham - Churchill's Inspiration

There is something of the boy in Winston Churchill; he loves to tease and anger his opponents; one can...

War Baby in Bolton

My Grandmother was Blind in her 50’s, due to Glaucoma, but she could bake and cook , and she would...

My Uncle Jim and the Invasion of North Africa

Having completed these as well as a commando type course, I was given promotion and, instead of returning...

Memories of a Boy stationed in the First Militia Company [J.Cooper]

On May 10 the Germans attacked and we were told to pack up and leave because the RAF had been wiped out...

A Thomas Cook Tour

Belvoir Park, Belfast, was an ammunition dump at the time. Whilst there, I saw Winston Churchill, President...

The Man Who Never Was, chapter 1

Around April 1943, as the First Army's campaign in North Africa was coming to an end, I was struck down...

The Mechanics of Warfare

We bashed up the vehicles and left them there so that the Germans couldn't use them. After the war I...

Tommy's War Part 6: North Africa

Bert's War.

Dad listed his mates as; - Ted; Wal; Denis Hunt; Tilly — John Tilston; Bugs Holliday; Stanley; and...

Its a Long Way from Hodnet to Italy

There were many girls about in Bedford and one night there was a ‘do’ on at the Dujohns...

Flight to Heliopolis Part Two

The main street of Barce was thick with two lines of army vehicles all heading towards Alexandria. We met...

Adventures with the Royal Artillery Part 1

Some Allied troops moved and took Tunis and cut off the Germans who fell back to Tunis and surrendered......

Not Going Anywhere Fast

1904 On the 23 April 1904 Francis Rodney Eglen was born to James William and Maud Mary Eglen in Hull...

HMS Barham - Eastern Mediterranean Fleet, 1940: Part 2

After the Force “H” action at Dakar in September 1940, Barham joined Cunningham's Eastern...

North Africa & Italy Wartime Experiences with the 8th Army

I was born on May13th 1911 in 34 Beech Road Horfield Bristol and was the first born child of Fred &...

Jack Merewood:To War with the Bays Part 1

Radice was slightly wounded in the leg and Rowney in both ankles... The bumpy journey continued, and we...

An Army Cook's Story

After six months, Herbert applied to Captain Scully for permission to marry Anna. The Captain said he would...

What Did You Do In The War Daddy? -Part 9 (Chapter 10)

Such was the importance of this commodity that it was with real resentment that we learned that the British...

War Memories of W/CPL Dennis William Shaw (WWII)

The 5th Army had already arrived at Cassino. W/CPL Dennis William Shaw Attached to 97th HAA 10th CORPS 8th...

HMS Barham - With Force "H": Part 1

Following a two-month spell at Scapa Flow during the summer of 1940, HMS Barham sailed to Freetown, Sierra...

One Man's War

1940 During Dunkirk evacuation, Third R.T.R. sent on “Forlorn Hope” to Calais. Machine gun...

John Welsh's War Diary

German guns and tanks bombarding Tubruk. Out of Egypt and into Libya, Mersh Matruh, Sidi-Barani, Hellfire...

Mediterranean P.O.W

These are the notes made by Sgt. Constantine Mason, Durham Light Infantry, whilst it captivity in the...

HMS Barham - Eastern Mediterranean Fleet, 1940: Part 4

Notes: (1) Surgeon-Captain Gleeson, RN — Senior Medical Officer in Eastern Mediterranean (2) On...