France

A Few Memories of my time in the RAF during WW2

Number 103 R.A.F Beach Unit comprised of personnel, including officers. When the ports opened in Normandy...

From Catford to Dunkirk

There was little food , the French cafes had run out, there was a shortage of water and some men unwisely...

Dunkirk - A Lucky Escape

Knowing all transport would be dumped and destroyed some miles short of Dunkirk, the remaining distance to...

Dad's Memories

As a result of serving in France, dad fell in love with the country and had a lifelong affinity with all...

A Glaswegian's account of the Normandy landings

The Germans were mortaring and machine-gunning the roads so we got rid of the bikes after 50 yards. German...

Gold Beach

I was part of the 50th Northumbrian Division and landed on Gold Beach at 9.30am. They were followed by six...

From Civilian to the Army

I joined the 131 Infantry Brigade R.E.M.E. Workshop 7th Armoured Division at East Derham, Norfolk in...

From Normandy to Korea and to Northern Ireland

Some years later, in 1953, when back in England, I was posted to Korea. Then, on medical grounds I went to...

My Dad's War

My dad was Albert Frederick Russell who was born in Birmingham in 1920. He was the son of Frederick Russell...

Mapping Arthur's place in history

Arthur, who settled in Beverley before he died in January 2002 aged 79 — went ashore at Le Riviere...

On the beach At Dunkirk

From Normandy to Korea and to Northern Ireland

Some years later, in 1953, when back in England, I was posted to Korea. Then, on medical grounds I went to...

Life in the Pay Corps

No invasion happened that year, so I spent some months — again billetted at home — working in...

Sailing into an Enemy Port — almost

It is well known that in the last weeks of W.W.II the Dutch were starving, and that the German occupying...

On the beaches at Dunkirk 27 May - 1 June 1940 by Guy Smith

Monday 27 May Detailed to take a number of “key” personnel to Dunkirk docks for return to UK...

The Way The Lancastria Was Sunk

All of the time the destroyers and the Oronsay's guns were firing at the bombers; some brave troops...

Brians Scotts Story

We were due to land in Normandy as one of the three armoured divisions, who would hopefully break out once...

Charmed Life - Innocent Abroad

My main job was driving a lorry delivering pipes for the PLUTO system.My first few weeks at Bury St Edmunds...

Dunkirk 1940

I cannot remember whether this was 31st May or 1st June all I do vividly recall is the sense of relief and...

Tommy Blower - Dunkirk Survivor

I am not a religuious man , but I honestly believe it helped me to get back". When Tommy reached...

Kitty Barrett with USO in France, Holland and Germany after D-Day

On the back they wrote: 'To Kitty, a small remembrance of your stay in Maastricht, the first town...

Tommy Blower - Dunkirk Survivor

I am not a religuious man , but I honestly believe it helped me to get back". When Tommy reached...

Liverpool 1944-45

I could only admire the sheer courage of the people who had picked up the pieces and got on with their...

Memoirs of Dunkirk

Eventually, after living off the land stealing chickens from gardens and milking cows into their tin hats,...

Tommy Blower - Dunkirk Survivor

I am not a religious man , but I honestly believe it helped me to get back". When Tommy reached Dunkirk...

The Mulberry Harbour

The real work started a couple of days later when the floating roadways arrived and we quickly set about...