Saving two civilans in Antwerp, Belgium

Normandy Veteran Louis Williams, R.A.S.C.
Louis landed in Normandy Beaches on 8 June 1944 (D+2)
Later in the war, Louis saved two Belgian civilians in Antwerp.

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Normandy Veterans Plaque

Normandy Veterans Association (West Cumbria No 51 Branch) Plaque
This was the last plaque donated by the NVA West Cumbria Branch

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Landed on the afternoon of D-Day, 6 June 1944

Normandy Veteran Albert Madine, Seaforth Highlanders.During WW2 Albert was involved in the Normandy LandingsHis unit landed on ‘Sword Beach’, Calvados, France on D-Day 6 June 1944

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Singing in the rain!

Billy and Margaret Pye following an Armistice Day Memorial Service

Still smiling and 'singing in the rain' despite the weather

Billy is a veteran of the Normandy campaign

He landed at 'Onaha Beach' on 8 June 1944 (D+2)

Billy Pye and his wife Margaret like singing and dancing, particularly the music of the American musicals of the 1940s and 1950s. So it seemed rather approporaite that Billy and Margaret can shrug off the rainy skies and keep smiling, as one had to do all the time during the war years.

For most of WW2 Billy worked with the Americans and landed on 'Omaha Beach' in Normandy on 8 June 1944. While in France, Billy was lucky enough to see the Glen Mille Orchestra in Paris, although this was shortly after Glen Miller disappeared duruing a flight across the English Channel.

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Landed with the Yanks at Omaha Beach

Mr and Mrs Harry Warren at a recent get-together of wartime veterans.

They met during WW2 when both served as Corporals in the RAF

Mrs Warren was late promoted to Sergeant with the WAAF

Meanwhile, Corporal Harry Warren went over to Normandy with the Yanks

He landed at Omaha Beach, working on Radar sites

(Photograph: J. Ritson)

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'Out of the night': D-Day 6 June 1944

Private John Slater who served with the 12th Parachute Regiment during WW2.
During the night of 5 / 6 June 1944 John parachuted into Normandy
John had previously been at Dunkirk in the late spring of 1940.
In June 1944 John appeared ‘out of the night’ and returned to France
The long years of waiting were over …

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Normandy Veterans honoured

Henry Wormstrup (Mayor of Copeland) and Jamie Reed (MP for Copeland)

With some of the Normandy Veterans honoured at a recent medal ceremony

(Held at St Nicholas Chapel, Whitehaven, Cumbria, Friday 22 January 2010)

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New Book about southern France in WW2

Catherine, one of the contributors to this Second World War Blogspot has recently (December 2009) had a book with three fictional tales about the latter part of the Second World War in the 'Alpes-Maritmes' region of southern France. Written in French and entitled 'Histoires floues' (which one may translate as 'Fuzzy stories') the book is composed of three stories about survivors of the Nazi Occupation and their descendants.

Based in the area where Catherine lives, the themes in the stories have been thoroughly researched. They are set within the context of what happened in France during the Nazi Occupation of the Southern Zone, and the remembrance of these years, which may be fuzzy (or blurred if you like) looking back from the present time.

Well done on getting the book published, Catherine!

Unwelcome intrusions

As you can see above, I have the Comments permissions set to 'Anyone - includes Anonymous Users', I think the other choices are rather too restrictive. To stop auto-spammers contributors have to manually copy a sequence of obscure letters. It seems that a persistent oriental spammer is not deterred by this and is taking advantage of our free access, so for the time being all comments will have to be approved by me before they can be read by the public. I am sorry about this.

Click on the images to view them full size.

Commemorative Award to Normandy Veterans

Normandy Veterans Association Badge
(Photograph used by courtesy of the former NVA)

The Normandy Council for Veterans is based in Caen, Calvados (Normandy), France. In June 2009, coinciding with the 65th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings, known surviving veterans were awarded a commemorative ‘bar’ (or badge). Many Normandy Veterans made the pilgrimage to Normandy for the commemorations and a number of ceremonies were arranged to honour the veterans.

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Calypso: Revival of a legend

Calypso - used as a ferry between Malta and Gozo in the 1940s.

Jacques Cousteau's research vessel for 46 years, the Calypso is now being restored at a French shipyard.

Thanks to the late Captain Jacques Cousteau's films and television documentary seriesm the nautical research ship Calypso has been turned into one of the most famously filmed and well-known vessel in the world.

Prior to Capt Cousteau's acquisition in 1950 when she was found in a Malta dockyard for surplus ships, she had been a World War II minesweeper operating with the 153rd Minesweeping Flotilla.

Built in Seattle, she was launched on March 21, 1942, Calypso was part of the American Lend-Lease scheme. In February 1943 she sailed from Seattle bound for Gibraltar via San Francisco and Freetown - a voyage of 16,000 miles. She took part in the initial assault convoy to the beaches of Sicily in Operation Husky escorting and supporting the vast Allied invasion, sweeping close to the beaches to enable the landing craft to move in.

In 1944 she was renumbered BYMS 2026 and based in Taranto, Italy. She was decommissioned in 1946 and laid up in Malta where she was acquired by Joseph Gasan, a Maltese businessman who used her commercially for a short period as a car ferry in the 1950s. Later her name was changed to Calypso G.

It had been Captain Cousteau's wish that Calypso would be restored to her former glory and end her days in the Mediterranean where he first clasped her wheel in 1951.

From timesofmalta.com Edited from the article by John Buchanan Wednesday, 13th January 2010

The Isle of Man during World War Two

The modern day 'Ben-my-Chree' ferry going into Douglas harbour, I.O.M.

During WW2 civilians who were born in enemy countries were sent to internment camps in the Isle of Man. Prisoners of War from the Axis countries were also sent to the island and detained in POW camps. Many of these people travelled to the island from mainland Britain in one of the Manx Steam Packet Company vessels, such as a previous 'Ben-my-Chree'.

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The Newfoundland Forestry Unit in WW2

Derwentwater and Borrowdale (English Lake District)
[Photo: J. Ritson]

During the Second World War about 3000 men from Newfoundland (now part of Canada) crossed the Atlantic to work as loggers in the British forests to help the war effort. The vast majority of the unit’s members were based in or near forests in Scotland and the English Border counties (i.e. Cumberland and Northumberland) and worked outdoors in all weathers. The above photograph shows a view towards some of the wooded areas of Cumberland (English Lake District), one area where the Forest Unit worked during the war.

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Seasonal Greetings to everyone !

A hearty Happy & Healthy New Year to everyone !

A Concentration Camp Liberator

Monsignor Patrick McGrath of New Jersey, USA (right)
During WW2 he was a chaplain with General Patton’s Army
In 1945 he was among the troops liberating a concentration camp

[Photograph courtesy of his kinswoman, Liz Barnett]

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Operation Tracer, Gibraltar

Photograph of Dr Bruce Cooper from October 2008

Dr Cooper was visiting the WW2 Tunnels in Gibraltar

He was one of a team involved in the 'Stay Behind' Project

The above photograph shows Dr Bruce Cooper, a retired GP from Preston, Lancashire duruing a visit to the WW2 Tunnels in Gibraltar. During WW2 Dr Cooper was part of a team who were ready to be sealed inside the 'Rock' in the event of the Axis Forces launching a successful attack to occupy Gibraltar. This was Dr Cooper's first visit back to Gibraltar in many years. At this time, in October 2008 he was 93 years old and the last surviving member of the team who were prepared to be sealed inside the tunnels with the intention of sending messages back to the Allies by wireless signal.

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HMS Malaya in WW2

Postcard of HMS Malaya

HMS Malaya was a Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship launched in 1915, and saw action in both World Wars. It was scrapped after WW2 in 1948. Its bell is on display at the East India Club, London.

I obtained the postcard photograph seen above in Gibraltar on behalf of Mr James ('Jimmy') Campbell of Whitehaven, Cumbria who served on HMS Malaya just before and during WW2.

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HMS Valiant in WW2

Postcard of HMS Valiant at Gibraltar

HMS Valiant was one of the Queen Elizabeth class battleships belonging to the British Royal Navy. She was launched on 4 November 1914 and completed in February 1916. Therefore, Valiant served in both World Wars.

The above postcard photograph shows ‘Valiant’ in Gibraltar sometime in the 1930s. I found this postcard of the vessel in Gibraltar on behalf of Mr James (‘Jimmy’) Campbell of Whitehaven, Cumbria, who served for a short time on ‘Valiant’ during WW2 after having previously served on a sister ship, ‘Malaya’.

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A Town Afloat and a Town Ashore

Photograph of book about Beverley by Geoffrey Blewett
HMS Beverley was the 'town afloat'
Beverley town (E. Yorks) was the 'town ashore'

The book "HMS Beverley: A Town Afloat (1940 - 1943) and The Town Ashore" by Geoffrey Blewett details the history of HMS Beverley in WW2 until the time it was lost and also the town of Beverley (East Yorkshire). It is a worthy tribute to those who served - and died - while serving on HMS Beverley as well as the communities with whom it had a special connection.

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Sign the petition to see Albert Göring honoured

This is an incredible story of Hermann and Albert Göring. We all know Hermann Göring spent the war plotting with Hitler to take over the world, yet little is known of his younger brother Albert who spent the war working tirelessly across Europe to save the persecuted. He saved hundreds - from humble to high ranking, Jew and gentile - yet died a forgotten and broken man. In some strange twist of fate his story took hold in the mind of 26 year old Australian, William Hastings Burke, who has spent the past four years travelling the world tracking down survivors, Gestapo reports and war records to try and piece together the story of Albert's life. The book he delivers Thirty Four, is gripping and explodes so many myths and misconceptions of the Göring brothers that its hard to put it down. William is now trying to get Albert formally honoured. There is a petition to see him recognised alongside Oskar Schindler by the Yad Vashem. Head to www.34thebook.com to sign. Help spread the word about this forgotten hero.