Family Members, World War 2, Etcetera...
- Thread starter Edrof
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Caporegime
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My grandfather sadly passed away last month and I think I've posted a little bit about him earlier in the thread. Afterward, we were going through some of his things and it turns out he didn't just repair aircraft but was in fact a servicing commando in the RAF. I haven't had chance to properly read up on them yet, but apparently these chaps landed on the beaches and helped establish airbases close to the front lines, afterwards they would keep the aircraft running and such. Not sure how much of that is accurate but I'd love to learn some more about his role in WWII for sure!
Soldato
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Both my Grandparents were mechanics on planes etc, so never saw action, they were based at Throckmorton near Pershore which was a training centre for the RA.
My grandad has a pretty mental service record. St. Nazaire, Colditz, etc. The full list is here
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/PURDON.shtml
Some of the stories he told me are both a reminder of the strength of character our country once bred, and others a harrowing account of doing what had to be done.
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/PURDON.shtml
Some of the stories he told me are both a reminder of the strength of character our country once bred, and others a harrowing account of doing what had to be done.
My great-grandfather fought in World War one and signed up for World War two (despite being in his forties).
He was killed on the 17th June 1941 aboard the Lancastria, after it was hit by a German bomb.
It still ranks as the greatest British maritime disaster, and at the time Churchill issued a ban on the reporting of the bombing, 'for the morale of the country', and people in the UK didn't find out until 5 weeks later.
He was killed on the 17th June 1941 aboard the Lancastria, after it was hit by a German bomb.
It still ranks as the greatest British maritime disaster, and at the time Churchill issued a ban on the reporting of the bombing, 'for the morale of the country', and people in the UK didn't find out until 5 weeks later.
I'd love to know more about my Grandad's service, but i'm very proud of what i do know.
He was a Para that served in Arnhem, and thankfully was one of the few to get away. He received a bullet wound to the head (im assuming it skimmed..) whilst helping his friend up a bank the night of the extraction (having read up on the battle im assuming this was the river).
He later had a small part as himself in the relatively unknown movie "Theirs is the Glory", although i'm sure most people will know the other film about the battle - A bridge too far.
He was a Para that served in Arnhem, and thankfully was one of the few to get away. He received a bullet wound to the head (im assuming it skimmed..) whilst helping his friend up a bank the night of the extraction (having read up on the battle im assuming this was the river).
He later had a small part as himself in the relatively unknown movie "Theirs is the Glory", although i'm sure most people will know the other film about the battle - A bridge too far.
Yet we still seam to steer away from teaching our children about such things during their schooling then wonder why they grow up without the standards we all aspire to have in ourselves. Truly sad, this should form a fundamental part of our education system, many of the old ways have immense value today. The US is far better at instilling this into their citizens it's so sad we seem to breed people today who hate being British.
Soldato
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One of my great grandfathers was a Captain in the Hussars, was awarded a medal from both sides during WW1! He trained the German cavalry in peacetime then as soon as war broke out managed to make it out alive and rejoined the british forces.
Other great grandad was gassed at Ypres, survived but had to have an iron lung and never really recovered, died a few years later.
Grandad was a Spit mechanic in WW2 I think, although he never wanted to talk about it.
Done Afghanistan and briefly Iraq myself amongst other places so I hope one day my kids will have something to write about!
Other great grandad was gassed at Ypres, survived but had to have an iron lung and never really recovered, died a few years later.
Grandad was a Spit mechanic in WW2 I think, although he never wanted to talk about it.
Done Afghanistan and briefly Iraq myself amongst other places so I hope one day my kids will have something to write about!
Man of Honour
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Not specific to any family member, but a lady I know locally has devoted years of research into journaling local war heroes. Presently, she is compiling a book so I set up a blog site last year so she could share some of her stories and photos. The site only scrapes the surface on what she's uncovered for local people and the where a bouts of distant relatives lost at war. It's not a great site, but it does her.
http://www.galleywoodfolk.co.uk/
My grandfather was a royal engineer. i have his cap badge in my lounge. I don't have too many specifics, but i know he destroyed key strategic bridges and built pontoon bridges. He was parachuted in i believe and captured at some point. he died 10 years after the war ended and took with him his stories. My nan never spoke of it
http://www.galleywoodfolk.co.uk/
My grandfather was a royal engineer. i have his cap badge in my lounge. I don't have too many specifics, but i know he destroyed key strategic bridges and built pontoon bridges. He was parachuted in i believe and captured at some point. he died 10 years after the war ended and took with him his stories. My nan never spoke of it
Yet we still seam to steer away from teaching our children about such things during their schooling then wonder why they grow up without the standards we all aspire to have in ourselves. Truly sad, this should form a fundamental part of our education system, many of the old ways have immense value today. The US is far better at instilling this into their citizens it's so sad we seem to breed people today who hate being British.
Couldn't agree more. My grandad is the standard against which I measure myself as a man (and always fall short), but there will be a generation that doesn't have role models like this. The apathy of the new generation is appalling.
Man of Honour
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Nice picture.. brave man.
Soldato
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Couldn't agree more. My grandad is the standard against which I measure myself as a man (and always fall short), but there will be a generation that doesn't have role models like this. The apathy of the new generation is appalling.
Nothing but respect to this fine man
Soldato
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My grandfather was a Sergent-Major and was on the beaches for the Normandy landings and somehow got through the war with only minor injuries as far as i remember my grandmother's telling of it.
She herself worked in one of the munitions factories in Merseyside making / assembling bullets & shells and spent her nights in the air raid shelters where she gave birth to my dad. In turn he joined the RAF as an aircraft engineer.
She herself worked in one of the munitions factories in Merseyside making / assembling bullets & shells and spent her nights in the air raid shelters where she gave birth to my dad. In turn he joined the RAF as an aircraft engineer.
New book out soon, can I contact you please?
Hello Oliver,
I saw your response to the person who asked for information about your Great Grandfather a month after I did however, I have not been on here for a while. I have nearly completed my next book which features the complete story of the Walrus L2312. I have massively researched the subject over the past year. I am visiting Ploudaniel next month to take photographs for the book and visit the crash site. I will also be going to St Yves church in Ploudaniel to lay a wreath on the graves of the crew. I would like to contact you to ask a few questions about your Great Grandfather if that is ok. Find out more about me and my last World War Two book here: www.unbeatenblog.weebly.com
I hope to hear from you.
Hello Oliver,
I saw your response to the person who asked for information about your Great Grandfather a month after I did however, I have not been on here for a while. I have nearly completed my next book which features the complete story of the Walrus L2312. I have massively researched the subject over the past year. I am visiting Ploudaniel next month to take photographs for the book and visit the crash site. I will also be going to St Yves church in Ploudaniel to lay a wreath on the graves of the crew. I would like to contact you to ask a few questions about your Great Grandfather if that is ok. Find out more about me and my last World War Two book here: www.unbeatenblog.weebly.com
I hope to hear from you.
Soldato
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I didn't have any grandparents fighting in WW2, however my Grandpa helped design parts for British tanks in WW2, nothing big like the engine or weapons, but small things for the inner workings.
Soldato
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My Grandad on my Dads side was a truck driver with the Logistics corp (From what I know). he passed away though before I was born My other Grandad was only a boy (~10) when the war was in full swing so was far too young to serve. One day I'll get around to finding out more but the only person who knows more about him now is my Dad and I don't talk to him often
- GP
My other Grandad was only a boy (~10) when the war was in full swing so was far too young to serve. One day I'll get around to finding out more but the only person who knows more about him now is my Dad and I don't talk to him often- GP
My Grandad served on the HMS Exeter and was in the Battle of the River Plate & both Battles of the Java Sea where the Exeter met her doom. He spent the rest of the war as a Japanese POW where he saw quite a few of his friends die
Whilst he would talk proudly about his days on board the Exeter to anyone who would listen, I remember my nan telling me that he never once spoke about his days as a POW.
He was an amazing man and it was truly a sad day for me when he died. Whilst I am not a religious person, I do hope him and my nan are together again, somewhere.
Whilst he would talk proudly about his days on board the Exeter to anyone who would listen, I remember my nan telling me that he never once spoke about his days as a POW.
He was an amazing man and it was truly a sad day for me when he died. Whilst I am not a religious person, I do hope him and my nan are together again, somewhere.
Same went for my grandfather, never spoke about the time spent in the POW camp but I know it affected him for the rest of his life.
If you don't have any more information on things then you could stick his name into this site to find out a tiny bit more http://www.powtaiwan.org/The Men/index.php
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