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#4484176 - 07/26/19 08:47 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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My maternal grandad fought in Africa (met him I think once when I 5....)
My paternal grandad was on the AA guns in London during the blitz then went to Normandy in day 3 of the landings. We never met, he sadly passed before I was born.
My step grandad, (maternal) was merchant marine, North Atlantic. He never spoke about it...

Other family members I know of, a great uncle who was on HMS Hood (he passed with the Hood) and my other great uncle who's with his spitfire in the Channel...

Modern times, 2 uncles RAF (one Sargent, one squadron leader) and a cousin who was army (transport)


My dad was prevented from serving (rheumatic fever when he was 13) but for a time was a celebrated military artist (a lot of award figurines were sculpted by him, para, royal engineers etc)

I'm the drop out, I don't have the mindset to follow orders....

Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#4484182 - 07/26/19 10:28 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: Mad Max]  
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Naunton Beauchamp Worcestershi...
Originally Posted by Mad Max
You didn't have to be in the services.
my mum used to tell me how you could go to an open space at home in 1941 at night and see both Manchester and Liverpool burning , the sky all red with black clouds. Thank you Mr Goering.


Thank you indeed Fat Hermann for my existence!
If my 22 y.o. mother had not gone to stay with an aunt in Epping, whilst slight damage was repaired to the house she shared with my granny in East Ham, London, in December 1940, she would not have gone to a dance and met my Dad! One can see the bomb responsible recorded on the 'London Bomb Map'.

Imagine my father's delight in 1939 on seeing a poster calling for 'mechanically minded motorcyclists' to enlist as despatch riders in the Royal Signals; fed and paid to do what was his passion! Better to enlist and choose a branch that you liked the sound of, rather than wait for conscription.
Despite receiving injuries leading to a full leg amputation 'up the Blue' (North Africa) in May 1943, he felt he had a 'lucky war'. If he was not succesful in his application to become a Don R' he would of probably gone back to sea as he was a trained telegraphist, with his chances of survival considerably reduced in the Merchant Marine.
Also, before his wounding, he smoked as much as 60 a day. Possibly because of the strange after-effects of anaethesia, he stopped smoking completely, perhaps avoiding lung cancer which enabled him to live to 95.
In 1940, as liaison between the forces in 'Eastern Command' during the threat of invasion, stopping for a crafty 'cuppa, wad and a fag' he avoided a large raid on North Weald airfield which he would of been in the middle of if it was not for his tardiness.



#4484185 - 07/26/19 10:35 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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"Cuppa, wad and a fag".



Ok the first one is "cup of tea" and the last one is a cigarette but you've stumped me with "wad". smile


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4484188 - 07/26/19 11:02 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
"Cuppa, wad and a fag".



Ok the first one is "cup of tea" and the last one is a cigarette but you've stumped me with "wad". smile


I would say paper money.


There was only 16 squadrons of RAF fighters that used 100 octane during the BoB.
The Fw190A could not fly with the outer cannon removed.
There was no Fw190A-8s flying with the JGs in 1945.
#4484189 - 07/26/19 11:24 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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Last edited by RedToo; 07/26/19 11:27 AM. Reason: added web site.

My 'Waiting for Clod' thread: http://tinyurl.com/bqxc9ee

Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
Elie Wiesel. Romanian born Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, Holocaust survivor. 1928 - 2016.

Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. C.S. Lewis, 1898 - 1963.
#4484190 - 07/26/19 11:29 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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Thanks RedToo. smile


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4484193 - 07/26/19 12:04 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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Neither of my parents were WW2 vets. Mom was a teacher at the time. Dad was in the Royal Nfld Constabulary in 1939. Dad used to tell this story: When war was declared every single cop volunteered. The chief told them that even though there was a war on there still had to be cops to uphold the law and that only 1/2 of them could go. They literally put all their names in a bucket drew them out and listed them. Then the chief drew a line half way down the list and said that all above the line could enlist. dad said his name was third under the line. He was really disappointed at the time but later figured that he was actually lucky. Of the cops that enlisted almost 1/2 never returned. One of his buddies came back but was so badly 'shell shocked' that he never worked again.

I have told you before about my late friend Doug who joined the RN in 1939 and never saw home again until 1946 and saw action in every ocean where the RN had a role including the Pacific.


Archie Smythe

carpe diem
#4484222 - 07/26/19 04:47 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: Nixer]  
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Ice Cold in Alex or Eating in ...
Originally Posted by Nixer
Originally Posted by KraziKanuK
Nixer, you might find this link of interest, https://warsailors.com/convoys/index.html.



Thanks KK.

LOTS of sunken ships. To this day, many Russians still deny any allied effort to help them. sigh


Quote
( Austin Byrne ) He has been back to Murmansk in 1987 with his wife Marian after he had found Bill Short. “I
needed Marian with me very much to hold my hand when I stood by the graves of the lads who had
been in the same lifeboat as me, and died alone in the hospital.”

We were deeply touched by the letter that the survivors from the “Induna” had written to the
Soviet doctors and nurses in October, 1942. William Short sent this letter to us. It is addressed to
doctor Kozikov and it is full of gratitude to the Russians. From this letter we got some information
about three seamen from “Induna”: Walter Baxter, John Carney and W. Pike. All of them had
survived, but Carney and Baxter lost a foot and Pike lost both legs below the knee. “You said that
Short, Pike, Baxter and Carney were among the worst frost-bite cases you’d ever seen. But they all
say it was worth going through, what they did to help the Russians.” All the sailors wanted to help
the Russians. Pike, Short and Campbell decided to work in a war factory. “If they can’t take cargoes
to the U.S.S.R. they can make weapons for some of those Soviet soldiers we met in hospital. They
were grand chaps, full of fight. All they wanted to do was to go back to the front and kill more
Fascists.” The British sailors wrote that they would never forget their Russian friends to whose
kindness and love they owed their lives. They were proud to have received their wounds for such
wonderful people.


http://www.russianconvoyclub.org.nz/SS%20Induna%20-%20Alexey%20Kozin.pdf

The war factory that Bill worked in made torpedoes, I have always thought that it was quite ironic, after him being sunk by one.

https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/1483.html


While looking for some other results I found this oral history of him at the Imperial War Museum, I must contact them to see if it is possible to get a copy of it. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80011032


Chlanna nan con thigibh a so's gheibh sibh feoil
Sons of the hound come here and get flesh
Clan Cameron
#4484224 - 07/26/19 05:09 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
"Cuppa, wad and a fag".



Ok the first one is "cup of tea" and the last one is a cigarette but you've stumped me with "wad". smile


You might equally be stumped by an 'egg banjo' biggrin Quite a popular thing my ex-submariner mate tells me.


EV's are the Devils matchbox.
#4484226 - 07/26/19 05:25 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: Chucky]  
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Originally Posted by Chucky
Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
"Cuppa, wad and a fag".



Ok the first one is "cup of tea" and the last one is a cigarette but you've stumped me with "wad". smile


You might equally be stumped by an 'egg banjo' biggrin Quite a popular thing my ex-submariner mate tells me.



Ok so based on the list Red Too posted, an “egg” means a hand grenade while a “banjo” is a spade entrenching tool.

So hand grenade + entrenching tool? I’m still stumped!


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4484235 - 07/26/19 06:49 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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Although my Dad knew I had an extreme fascination with all things WWII, he chose not to discuss it with me. I really can't tell you what he did or experienced. The reoccuring theme amongst all the men (Uncles, Dad's friends, etc) that served was "you don't talk about it."
I wish my Uncle whom I worked with 5 nights a week for 3 years would have talked about it. The best thing he gave me was that he was in a machine gun squad after D-Day. They were on a hill above a small village (think Band of Brothers, village where they got shelled)
The Germans occupied the town, the GI's dug in, and he unleashed hell on the town with his .50 M2 He told me they would swap barrels, drop the red hot barrel in the mud, or pee on it, to cool it off, and start firing again. And he killed a lot of Germans that day. AND THAT is all I ever got out of him. frown
I had 3 other Uncles that were in Europe on the front lines. One did the Pacific, and participated in one of the Island invasions. I GOT NOTHING.


~Bill

In my defense, I was left unsupervised...
#4484236 - 07/26/19 06:53 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
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After having seen real video footage of what human bodies look like when hit by things like high caliber bullets, mortar shells, mines, artillery shells and grenades, I can't say I blame any combat veteran for not wanting to talk about their experiences.

Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 07/26/19 06:55 PM.

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4484239 - 07/26/19 07:01 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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I had two uncles who fought in the Pacific. One still had shrapnel in him from Okinawa until the day he died. He never liked to talk about it either. Another two were stationed in Europe. One was tank mechanic and the other was a MP. My dad was too young, but he served in Germany from 1950 to 1952. He drove a munitions truck carrying mortar rounds. He has many friends who served in Korea. I have heard some stories from there after they have had a few drinks. Very chilling stuff, to say the least.

My grandfather served in Europe in WWI. Before he could see action, he got sick with the flu that was so deadly at that time. Almost killed him.

Last edited by LB4LB; 07/26/19 07:49 PM.
#4484243 - 07/26/19 07:44 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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During WWII, my dad's father was a carpenter with the civil engineers in Newfoundland, building houses, warfs, and other military buildings.

My grandfather on my mom's side (who I look exactly alike) served with the Coast Guard off Newfoundland as quartermaster, picking up survivors from sunk cargo and troop ships, destroying mines, and dodging torpedo's from U-Boats when they tried to pick up bodies of the dead from the ocean. He had lots of stories especially one where they were chasing a U-Boat and ended up damaging their vessel and ended up shoaled and a perfect target until a Corvette showed up and saved them moments later. Not sure if he as Royal Navy or US or Newfoundland or Canadian.

Last edited by Mr.Fork; 07/26/19 07:48 PM.
#4484246 - 07/26/19 08:18 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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The Canadian Navy did not perform coast guard duties around Nfld in WW2. We were not part of Canada. The RCN had a base in St. John's where they assemble convoy escorts for Atlantic convoys. The RN did most of the coastal patrols, but AFAIK the USN or US Coast Guard may have been active as well. The USN had a base in Argentia south of St. John's and an establishment in St. John's after 1942.


Archie Smythe

carpe diem
#4484259 - 07/26/19 09:47 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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Ice Cold in Alex or Eating in ...
My mother's uncle Bill fought in WW1, he was in his 80s when I knew him, he did show me the scar he got from being bayonetted in the arm, he did end up in a POW camp but I cannot remember any more details about it, I was under 10 at the time and we used to play chess against each other, he was the one teaching me smile

My father's cousin George was in Africa, he was an engineer and got shot and captured during WW2, then shipped to Italy. He was one of the engineers working on the Forth Road Bridge, his speciality was concrete.


Uncle George is the one with an X above him. the pic was taken in Italy, just after they were liberated
[Linked Image]


Chlanna nan con thigibh a so's gheibh sibh feoil
Sons of the hound come here and get flesh
Clan Cameron
#4484289 - 07/27/19 05:33 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
After having seen real video footage of what human bodies look like when hit by things like high caliber bullets, mortar shells, mines, artillery shells and grenades, I can't say I blame any combat veteran for not wanting to talk about their experiences.


I knew this young guy, real young punk, but he had the testosterone to serve in Iraq. I think he was 19 at the time. When he got back he was still a bit of a punk, but definite change...

I asked him about his experience, he told me of WALKING from Kuwait to Mosul (I might have the details wrong, this was a long time ago)...

There was some incident where he saw a kid get killed, pretty brutally...

He'd stop talking there. It took a year to learn his story AFTER that incident.

This from a young punk who didn't usually hesitate to "talk about it"...

My Grandfather was no punk, but I think nowadays I almost understand why he never spoke to anyone about his WW2 experience...

#4484291 - 07/27/19 06:44 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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My grandfather was killed in Burma in March 1945. As a captain of the Hampshire regiment he serve with the Nigeria regiment (Royal West African Frontier Force, colonial troops) in Africa and was involved in liberating Ethiopia from the Italians. From there they were sent to Burma as it was considered suitable terrain for the African troops and apparently the Japanese were scared of them. On the day he died the regimental history merely notes that a lot of officers were killed. He's buried in Burma but no family members could ever afford the trip to visit the cemetery..

He planned to move to South Africa after the war having spent some time there in transit.

#4484307 - 07/27/19 01:20 PM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: F4UDash4]  
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My father was a Master Sgt. In the Army in WW2. He was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked.


Core i9 10900k @ 5.0GHz
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#4484353 - 07/28/19 09:08 AM Re: Are You a Descendant of a WWII Veteran? [Re: Vitesse]  
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Naunton Beauchamp Worcestershi...
Originally Posted by Vitesse
My grandfather was killed in Burma in March 1945. As a captain of the Hampshire regiment he serve with the Nigeria regiment (Royal West African Frontier Force, colonial troops) in Africa and was involved in liberating Ethiopia from the Italians. From there they were sent to Burma as it was considered suitable terrain for the African troops and apparently the Japanese were scared of them. On the day he died the regimental history merely notes that a lot of officers were killed. He's buried in Burma but no family members could ever afford the trip to visit the cemetery..

He planned to move to South Africa after the war having spent some time there in transit.


To the predominantly U.S. posters here who are citizens of a country that gives equal importance to both theatres of combat, here in the U..K. the Far East conflict is often referred to as the 'Forgotten War'. Veterans that endured much hardship against nature and a forbidding and relentless foe with no mercy, were rightly bitter and incensed at the lack of recognition of their travails.



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