Jessie, Putting the Mauretania II aside for the moment, I found some stuff on the Wakefield on : http://www.cofepow.org.uk/pages/ships_uss_wakefield.htm As you said earlier, the Wakefield fits your original criteria, leaving Boston on 10 Nov 1944 & arriving Liverpool 17 Nov 1944. " The repairs and alterations began in the fall of 1942, and lasted through 1943. On 10 February 1944, /*Wakefield*/ was re-commissioned at Boston, with Capt. R. L. Raney, USCG, in command. She departed Boston on 13 April, beginning the first of 23 round- trips in the Atlantic theatre and three in the Pacific. Between 13 April 1944 and 1 February 1946, /*Wakefield*/ transported 110,563 troops to Europe and brought some 106,674 men back to America-a total of 217,237 passengers. In many cases, /*Wakefield*/ operated as a "lone wolf," except for air coverage a few miles out of a port. Her primary port of call in the European theatre was Liverpool visited so often in fact that the transport's crew nicknamed her/* "The Boston and Liverpool Ferry*/". The average round-trip voyage took 18 days." I couldn't find anything on the Mauretania II the for that same period either, but it would be a strange coincidence if both ships made the same trip in & at the same time. Regards, Dave JbarL@aol.com wrote: > Still trying to find the sched of the Mauretania. > Jessie > > > >

> In HONOR of ~HUGHIE L. (DUGAN) MARTIN, Coffee Springs, Alabama~ > United States Army > Served with the Infantry in the Philippines WW II > Earned the following Medals: > Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct,=20 > American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal,=20 > Asiatic-pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal, > National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, > Combat Infantryman Badge, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, > United Nations Service Medal and Honorable Service Lapel button WW 11 > Born: January 3, 1915 In God's Hands: April 8, 1994 > Submitted with love by: Dick Smith

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fort.htm

Thanks to every one trying to help me to find the troopship that my late husband sailed on in Nov 1944 from Boston POE to England. I have not yet been able to pinpoint the proper vessel so if anyone was connected with the 1261st Engineer Combat Battalion and knows either the name of the ship or the exact sailing dates and destination in England I will be everlastingly grateful. Jessie, Calif

I have come across a relative who was killed in the November of 1942. From the War Graves site, it stated that he was buried at the St John the baptist Churchyard, Scampton, Lincolnshire. Does anyone have any leads to find out more on the unit he was with (57 (R.A.F) Sqdn RNZAF) at the time of his death. I presume from the rank of Sergeant (Nav.) he was a navigator? I would also like to find out more about his job details. The guy's name was James Harold BARRY & aged 22 at his death. Many thanks for any help provided. I am still searching through Google to try & find anything as well but wondered if there is something I am missing. Barbara D Auckland NZ

57 Sqdn was a Bomber Command unit based at the time at RAF Scampton. It operated Lancaster Mk. I bombers and in Nov 1942 was carrying out raids into Germany, also mine-laying (an operation known to the RAF as 'Gardening'). Mines were air-dropped along known coastal convoy routes and port/harbour approaches and river mouths all along the North Sea and Channel coasts. Sgt J H Barry, RNZAF, was the navigator aboard Lancaster Mk. I serial W4262 which departed Scampton at 17.21 on 10 Nov 1942 on a mine-laying 'op' to the mouth of the River Gironde. Returning from this, it crashed into high ground at Burgh on Bain, near RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, (and not too far from its home base) at 22.23 hours, in poor visibility. All seven crew died. As was he custom, those who could not be returned to their UK home town for burial were interred in the parish churchyard serving their base. Richard Goring visit my website at http://www.goring1941.freeserve.co.uk for: The Register of Essex-Related Dead of World War II [ROERDOWW2] The South-East Essex War Memorials & Monumental Inscriptions Project ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara Dennis" <tdennis@ihug.co.nz> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 1:22 AM Subject: [WORLD WAR II] RAF burial Lincolnshire > I have come across a relative who was killed in the November of 1942. From the War Graves site, it stated that he was buried at the St John the baptist Churchyard, Scampton, Lincolnshire. > Does anyone have any leads to find out more on the unit he was with (57 (R.A.F) Sqdn RNZAF) at the time of his death. > I presume from the rank of Sergeant (Nav.) he was a navigator? I would also like to find out more about his job details. > The guy's name was James Harold BARRY & aged 22 at his death. > > Many thanks for any help provided. I am still searching through Google to try & find anything as well but wondered if there is something I am missing. > > Barbara D > Auckland NZ > > > ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== > We are an international list! Please, always tell the list what country your ancestor is from. This helps all of us, especially you! If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >

Don't think so, if it was in the US, the eagle always had a Olive branch - that does go to the main page for the cemeteries, I think it has a list of states, click on Alabama, then if it lists counties, go to Calhoun, but I think the people who did the cemetery listings are the ones who have the photo of the eagle and that e-mail (not sure how old it is) is where you can get her to send you a copy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Hinkle" <pdhinkle@yahoo.com> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 9:00 PM Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] German/Italian POW's | D: Unforunately the url did not take me to a photo, It was a home page for cemeteries. Can you resend the photo ? NOTE: During WW2 German POW s were allowed to wear the swastika, this may have been the eagle with one in its claws Paul HInkle | | GERMAN ITALIAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY | FORT MCCLELLAN, ANNISTON, CALHOUN COUNTY, ALABAMA | | The information from the stones was written down in August 1998. This | cemetery has been unused since the end of World War 11. The cemetery is in | good condition since it is on what is currently Fort McClellan, but since | the fort is closing and the land is being returned to the City of Anniston, | we cannot predict what will happen at the completion of the base closure. | All the stones in the cemetery are typical military stones (white and in | straight lines). It is a pretty but small cemetery. At the entrance to the | cemetery, there is a stone marker that has a symbol of an eagle with | something in it's talons. The symbol was not familiar to either of us. We | have a dark picture of the symbol if anyone wants/needs to see it. | Written by: Aaron and Johanna Bock Abock74@aol.com | web site: | http://www.internment.net/data/us/nat/al/calhoun/german_italian.htm | | GERMANS | Adler, Alfred, died ll Nov 1944, CPL | Barthelmess, Albert Hienrich, died 04 Dec 1944, Sgt Air Force | Beck, Marcel, died 14 Nov 1943, Corporal | Bornmann, Paul, died 26 July 1944, Gefreiter | Christoph, Alfred, died 28 Sept 1944, Obergefreiter | Clemens, Fritz, died 07 Feb 1944, Gefreiter | Elflein, Werner, died 18 July 1944, Gefreiter (Iron Cross) | Fischer, Willy, died 31 Jan 1945, First Lieutenant | Frank, Karl, died 21 Aug 1945, Cpl | Gnau, Peter, died ll Nov 1944, Cpl | Hoever, Gunter, died 25 Aug 1943, L. Cpl. | Jaeckel, Otto, died 16 Sept 1945, Soldat | Jaeckel, Richard, died 03 Nov 1945, Obergefreiter | Knopf, Kurt, died 01 May 1945, Sgt. | Kohl, Josef, died 25 Jan 1944, Gefreiter (Iron Cross) | Krause, Karl, died 08 Jan 1945, Hilfszoll Assistent | Lienert, Walter, died 30 April 1944, CPL | Nachtigall, Erich, died 20 Feb 1946, CPL | Ott, Waldemar, died 20 July 1944, Ober-gefreiter | Rauschenberg, Friedrich, died 18 Aug 1943, PVT | Reinke, Heinz, died 13 Sept 1944, PVT. 1 CL | Schneider, Rolf, died 06 Aug 1943, Sgt. | Schorr, Hienrich, died 28 May 1945, PVT | Schuberth, Hans, died 04 Apr 1945, Brig . General | Ulrich, Otto F., died 12 Sept 1943, L. Corp. | Waechter, Willi, died 29 July 1943, Obergefreiter (Iron Cross) | | ITALIAN | Iacoboni, Giuseppe, died 04 Mar 1944, Captain | Spera, Resorie, died 24 Aug 1943, PVT | Vernacchio, Vincenzo, died 17 Feb 1944, PVT | --------------------------------------------------- | | | NOTE: I don't know when Fort McClellan closed, but it has been a military | storage facility and is now something else. | The thing the eagle is holding is a Olive leaf | | | ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== | To post queries/answers to the list, send an email to: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. | | ============================== | New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429 | | | | | Yahoo is my non-personal mail. For personal mail only use <pdhinkle@radiotower.net> | | --------------------------------- | How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. | | | ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== | http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military/WORLDWAR2.html | This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. | | ============================== | Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the | areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. | Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx |

It was common practice for the big, fast passenger liners and many fast cargo ships to sail 'independent'. The theory was that they could outpace any U-boat, even one running on the surface. The theory was good unless by pure chance the ship was spotted by a U-boat that was already ahead of her course and able to position itself to attack as the 'independent' passed by. In that case the 'independent', being the sole target and with no escort, became a sitting duck. Quite a number were lost in this way. That is probably why the two 'Queens' and some of the others not only sailed a zig-zag course but often had a Royal Navy cruiser or other fast ship as escort for at least part of their voyage. As many will know, the 'Queen Mary' actually rammed, chopped through and sank her escorting cruiser HMS 'Curacao' when the two got their zig-zags out-of-synch in 1942 when the Queen was heading into home waters bound for Greenock. As laid down in her sailing orders, 'Queen Mary' did not stop and some 300 men on the cruiser died, mostly drowned. The subsequent court of enquiry laid the blame on the bridge watch of 'Curacao'. ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Dixon" <dixond2@bigpond.net.au> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 6:34 AM Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] Troop ship > The Mauretania II was a new ship & presumable, like the QM, was too > fast for convoy sailing. Convoys were made up of ships of more or less > the same speed, & traveled at the top speed of the slowest. > Regards, > Dave > > JbarL@aol.com wrote: > > Rick, I know that they sailed alone, no convoy. > > Jessie > > > > > > > > > > > ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military/WORLDWAR2.html > This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > >

I need some help to confirm if the 10th Air Force Disarmament Squadron-WW2 is the correct name for this squadron that my father served, in WW2, he was in Eisenach Germany, and was part of the concentration camp US liberation troops. Thank you Janice UK

I am researching the production of target maps for the RAF during WWII. My emphasis is on RAF Medmenham, where the Central Interpretation Unit was based. I would be grateful if anyone could help me with the following: A picture of RAF Medmenham Which squadrons flew reconnaissance missions for the CIU Which squadron(s) took aerial photographs of Peenemunde and the Berchesgaden Which aircraft were used, with pictures of these aircraft. An overview of the technology used - cameras, film, and how the aircraft were adapted to take photographs I would be grateful for any assistance. James. --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.

GERMAN ITALIAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY FORT MCCLELLAN, ANNISTON, CALHOUN COUNTY, ALABAMA The information from the stones was written down in August 1998. This cemetery has been unused since the end of World War 11. The cemetery is in good condition since it is on what is currently Fort McClellan, but since the fort is closing and the land is being returned to the City of Anniston, we cannot predict what will happen at the completion of the base closure. All the stones in the cemetery are typical military stones (white and in straight lines). It is a pretty but small cemetery. At the entrance to the cemetery, there is a stone marker that has a symbol of an eagle with something in it's talons. The symbol was not familiar to either of us. We have a dark picture of the symbol if anyone wants/needs to see it. Written by: Aaron and Johanna Bock Abock74@aol.com web site: http://www.internment.net/data/us/nat/al/calhoun/german_italian.htm GERMANS Adler, Alfred, died ll Nov 1944, CPL Barthelmess, Albert Hienrich, died 04 Dec 1944, Sgt Air Force Beck, Marcel, died 14 Nov 1943, Corporal Bornmann, Paul, died 26 July 1944, Gefreiter Christoph, Alfred, died 28 Sept 1944, Obergefreiter Clemens, Fritz, died 07 Feb 1944, Gefreiter Elflein, Werner, died 18 July 1944, Gefreiter (Iron Cross) Fischer, Willy, died 31 Jan 1945, First Lieutenant Frank, Karl, died 21 Aug 1945, Cpl Gnau, Peter, died ll Nov 1944, Cpl Hoever, Gunter, died 25 Aug 1943, L. Cpl. Jaeckel, Otto, died 16 Sept 1945, Soldat Jaeckel, Richard, died 03 Nov 1945, Obergefreiter Knopf, Kurt, died 01 May 1945, Sgt. Kohl, Josef, died 25 Jan 1944, Gefreiter (Iron Cross) Krause, Karl, died 08 Jan 1945, Hilfszoll Assistent Lienert, Walter, died 30 April 1944, CPL Nachtigall, Erich, died 20 Feb 1946, CPL Ott, Waldemar, died 20 July 1944, Ober-gefreiter Rauschenberg, Friedrich, died 18 Aug 1943, PVT Reinke, Heinz, died 13 Sept 1944, PVT. 1 CL Schneider, Rolf, died 06 Aug 1943, Sgt. Schorr, Hienrich, died 28 May 1945, PVT Schuberth, Hans, died 04 Apr 1945, Brig . General Ulrich, Otto F., died 12 Sept 1943, L. Corp. Waechter, Willi, died 29 July 1943, Obergefreiter (Iron Cross) ITALIAN Iacoboni, Giuseppe, died 04 Mar 1944, Captain Spera, Resorie, died 24 Aug 1943, PVT Vernacchio, Vincenzo, died 17 Feb 1944, PVT --------------------------------------------------- NOTE: I don't know when Fort McClellan closed, but it has been a military storage facility and is now something else. The thing the eagle is holding is a Olive leaf

D: Unforunately the url did not take me to a photo, It was a home page for cemeteries. Can you resend the photo ? NOTE: During WW2 German POW s were allowed to wear the swastika, this may have been the eagle with one in its claws Paul HInkle GERMAN ITALIAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY FORT MCCLELLAN, ANNISTON, CALHOUN COUNTY, ALABAMA The information from the stones was written down in August 1998. This cemetery has been unused since the end of World War 11. The cemetery is in good condition since it is on what is currently Fort McClellan, but since the fort is closing and the land is being returned to the City of Anniston, we cannot predict what will happen at the completion of the base closure. All the stones in the cemetery are typical military stones (white and in straight lines). It is a pretty but small cemetery. At the entrance to the cemetery, there is a stone marker that has a symbol of an eagle with something in it's talons. The symbol was not familiar to either of us. We have a dark picture of the symbol if anyone wants/needs to see it. Written by: Aaron and Johanna Bock Abock74@aol.com web site: http://www.internment.net/data/us/nat/al/calhoun/german_italian.htm GERMANS Adler, Alfred, died ll Nov 1944, CPL Barthelmess, Albert Hienrich, died 04 Dec 1944, Sgt Air Force Beck, Marcel, died 14 Nov 1943, Corporal Bornmann, Paul, died 26 July 1944, Gefreiter Christoph, Alfred, died 28 Sept 1944, Obergefreiter Clemens, Fritz, died 07 Feb 1944, Gefreiter Elflein, Werner, died 18 July 1944, Gefreiter (Iron Cross) Fischer, Willy, died 31 Jan 1945, First Lieutenant Frank, Karl, died 21 Aug 1945, Cpl Gnau, Peter, died ll Nov 1944, Cpl Hoever, Gunter, died 25 Aug 1943, L. Cpl. Jaeckel, Otto, died 16 Sept 1945, Soldat Jaeckel, Richard, died 03 Nov 1945, Obergefreiter Knopf, Kurt, died 01 May 1945, Sgt. Kohl, Josef, died 25 Jan 1944, Gefreiter (Iron Cross) Krause, Karl, died 08 Jan 1945, Hilfszoll Assistent Lienert, Walter, died 30 April 1944, CPL Nachtigall, Erich, died 20 Feb 1946, CPL Ott, Waldemar, died 20 July 1944, Ober-gefreiter Rauschenberg, Friedrich, died 18 Aug 1943, PVT Reinke, Heinz, died 13 Sept 1944, PVT. 1 CL Schneider, Rolf, died 06 Aug 1943, Sgt. Schorr, Hienrich, died 28 May 1945, PVT Schuberth, Hans, died 04 Apr 1945, Brig . General Ulrich, Otto F., died 12 Sept 1943, L. Corp. Waechter, Willi, died 29 July 1943, Obergefreiter (Iron Cross) ITALIAN Iacoboni, Giuseppe, died 04 Mar 1944, Captain Spera, Resorie, died 24 Aug 1943, PVT Vernacchio, Vincenzo, died 17 Feb 1944, PVT --------------------------------------------------- NOTE: I don't know when Fort McClellan closed, but it has been a military storage facility and is now something else. The thing the eagle is holding is a Olive leaf ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== To post queries/answers to the list, send an email to: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. ============================== New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429 Yahoo is my non-personal mail. For personal mail only use <pdhinkle@radiotower.net> --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.

The Mauretania II was a new ship & presumable, like the QM, was too fast for convoy sailing. Convoys were made up of ships of more or less the same speed, & traveled at the top speed of the slowest. Regards, Dave JbarL@aol.com wrote: > Rick, I know that they sailed alone, no convoy. > Jessie > > > >

Dear listers: [also posted on ENG-LINCSGEN] I had posted awhile back asking for information about bombings at Mablethorpe in July 1942 and specifically a house named THE RETREAT on Windsor road. I received this morning from the Mablethorpe library confirmation of bombings and 4 houses demolished, 10 damaged and 6 persons injured. houses mentioned were SUNNYSIDE and CHEQUERS..[Chequers being nextdoor to THE RETREAT] I do not believe that anyone died as a result. [did not find any of the surnames mentioned on GRO index for [sept] 1942] or any of these names in cemeteries at Mablethorpe. Nevertheless, there were "12 homeless persons" and their lives would be severely impacted. The bombing happened on July 27 in the morning. I would assume that this damage to THE RETREAT necessitated the move of "our" relative and her newborn baby, to her mother's home in Peterborough by July 31. where she registered the baby's birth "by declaration". I would really appreciate exchanging info with persons who might have lived at Mablethorpe during the 1940s and can remember the episode or anyone who remembers any of the homes mentioned. I can also provide a few further details as in the "report" ... believed to be a Constabulary? report early after the bombing. I had asked Lincolnshire Archives for evidence of 1942 bombings but had specified "LOUTH" and I gather that Mablethorpe was in SKEGNESS constab? anyway! success!... sure hope to hear from SKS with memories of this..thanks liz of BC Canada

Still trying to find the sched of the Mauretania. Jessie

Hi Dave & Jessie: I remember my brother saying that the Mauretania II used to leave the Us and arrive in Britain in about five and a half days sometimes, in spite af the fact that she zig-zagged across the Atlantic to dodge the U-Boats and that was remarkable when you consider she was carrying thousands of troops. She was so sea-worthy, having great stabilizers both port and starboard beneath the waterline. Regards, Margaret ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Dixon" <dixond2@bigpond.net.au> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 1:34 AM Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] Troop ship > The Mauretania II was a new ship & presumable, like the QM, was too > fast for convoy sailing. Convoys were made up of ships of more or less > the same speed, & traveled at the top speed of the slowest. > Regards, > Dave > > JbarL@aol.com wrote: > > Rick, I know that they sailed alone, no convoy. > > Jessie > > > > > > > > > > > ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military/WORLDWAR2.html > This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > >

Good morning, The BBC set up a web site for people who lived through the Blitz and the bombing to be able to send in contributions of their own personal experiences. Their contributions can be viewed on this web site. My own contributions based on my experiences as a young kid living in the South London area from 1939 to 1944 are there somewhere. We slept in our garden in our damp Anderson shelter for most nights during the worst of the bombing. My wife slept inside their house, they used their Morrison shelter as their dining room table. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/C54689 I believe that over 40,000 civilians lost their lives in London alone due to the air raids. On a personal note, my cousin has recently sent me a copy of a letter sent by Winston Churchill, By the King's order, to her grandfather, Alfred Joseph Thomas Segrott, informing him that his name was to be published in the London Gazette as commended for his brave conduct during an air raid on Grange Rd, in Bermondsey on the 17th. Sept. 1940. For most of us kids, our dads, brothers and uncles were already away fighting and in some cases dying in battles with the the Germans on the land, the sea and in the air and then came a further disruption to our lives as we were evacuated. I was lucky, for me the experience was very rewarding. Others, unfortunately, were not so lucky. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/evacuees_01.shtml Regards. Patrick. Perth, Western Australia.

Greetings, How delightful, thank you for the memories. I was in London, Southwark after the war, my father worked for the City of London Corporation and we got a flat in a failry modern block around 1946 so they must have been built prewar. Bombed buildings basements were converted to water holding tanks for fire fighting. There was little to scavange, but my father bought a nice grandfather clock at the time c/w a carpet inside. Later we moved to Bletchingly in Surrey, a new bungalow, where I terraced the sloping back garden and listened to my step mother saying how much work they had put into the place. It is of interest to me that the population of England endured the bombing, was there an alternative? Bomber Harris was equally convinced that the bombing of Germany would break their morale and the war would be won! Today there is little evidence of the devastation of those years. I very briefly visited Hamburg and found historical buildings with wonderful structural wood beams that had to be 'modern', in fact one such facade has a brand new building attached behind. Best wishes, Peter Frank Bullen wrote: > Hi! > > I enjoyed your reminiscences of wartime life in Pinner. On September > 3rd, 1939, we were just unpacking our things having t(the previous > day) moved into our "new" house at 21 Tudor Gardens, West Acton - not > all that far from Pinner. We broke for a cup of tea and turned on > the radio, only to hear Neville Chamberlain's broadcast annaouncing > that we were at war with Germany. > > The previous year, my brother and I, as Scouts then living in > Hornhurch, Essex, had assisted in the distribution and fitting of > gasmasks to the local people. We also had an Anderson shelter, in > our back garden at West Acton and, later, a Morrison shelter (the one > under the dining room table. The sides were not solid steel sheet, > but thick wire, welded in squares about 4 inches vertically and > horizontally). One (long) side lifted up for access. > > My father's office was in Old Change, a narrow street off Cheapside, > in the City, just round the corner from St. Paul's Cathedral. By the > end of the war, that office building was an island in a sea of > devastation. I could stand at the corner, looking across Cheapside > and the bombed sites on the other side of the road, and had clear view > of a few similar masonry islands stretching N.N.E. for nearly a mile. > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Geoff Lewin BLAXALL" > <Geoff-Blaxall@beeb.net> > To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 11:16 PM > Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] What iot was like for civvies > > >> Dear Peter, >> Your Mum was an "FEA" [Female Engineering Assistant] >> As a lad I worked with many of 'em ! >> Geoff >> All e-mails protected by Mailwasher + Norton AV2005. >> ============================================ >> ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter Monks >> To: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com >> Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 7:24 PM >> Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] RAF AIRFIELDS IN SCOTLAND >> >> >> Greetings, >> >> You wanted expeiences of war time happenings? >> >> When the war broke out we were living, I think, at 78 Tolcarne Drive, >> Northwood Hills, Pinner Middlesex. I do not remember much of the war, >> only that I was an 'expert' on enemy or friendly aircraft (whether >> right >> or wrong I still don't know.) We had two air raid shelters (a Morison >> and an Anderson), one was under the dining room table, it was a steel >> cage--the idea being that if the house collapsed, the table would take >> the brunt of the house fall and the steel cage would back it up. The >> second was a 'standard' corrigated iron semi circular affair that was >> half burried in the back garden and covered with soil. The one in the >> garden was often full of stagnent water, frogs etc. that took up >> residence. >> >> 1941 My mother, at second marriage to Bernard Russell, was an assistant >> engineer G.P.O. (General Post Office) and was installing the top secret >> 'scrambler' phones in places like Winston Churchill's office and the >> Admiralty war office. (Bernard went to Egypt with the RAF Winston >> Specials.) >> >> Mum said that she was 'bombed out' 3 times and 'blown up' in the street >> 5 times, or greater numbers depending on the discussions and >> occasion--traumatic at any time.Mostly the councilling was "Have a >> cuppa >> tea, love, and you'll feel better." >> >> Peter >> >> >> Delilah wrote: >> >> >Can you send a copy to the US - also since your wrote this, I would >> like to >> >hear more about how the people who lived thru WW2 lived, how bad >> was it on >> >them, etc. >> >delilah >> > >> >From: "Peter Monks" <arethusa@shaw.ca> >> >To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> >> >Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 12:34 PM >> >Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] RAF AIRFIELDS IN SCOTLAND >> > >> > >> >| Greetings, >> >| >> >| I was watching the war series attack on Monte Cassino yesterday, >> and the >> >| attack by each of the countries troops, and the Polish flag >> flying in >> >| triumph. >> >| >> >| I am reminded of an ex POW or displaced person who used to ask for a >> >| cheese roll at the canteen EVERY single day. Finally, he arrives >> and >> >| asks for 'Ham Roll Please', the lass asks do you want mustard with >> >| that?................Cheese Roll please. >> >| >> >| Ah, nostalgia! Ask a question, from many years back and get >> great feed >> >| back. Many thanks. I have an address: Col. G.M. Forteath, >> Marcassie, >> >| Forres, IV36 0RM (Being the owner of the ex farm in 1974) >> >| >> >| The information that you supplied is wonderful. I remember >> Forres as a >> >| small sleepy villiage where we got our accumulators charged that >> ran the >> >| radio. Where we took our cat whose leg was nearly severed by a >> >| trap......the vet returning the cat now on three legs said that >> it would >> >| never catch mice again. It never had before......... but did after >> >| becoming a parent!! I think that this apparition on three legs >> puzzled >> >| the mice until it was to late. >> >| >> >| Now on a nostalgia mode, we had an Italian POW camp near the >> farm, I >> >| recall the POW's coming to work on the farm, no guards as I >> recall, they >> >| seemed happy to be out of the war, it could not be far as they >> marched >> >| each day I think. Do you have any knowledge of the POW camp? Now >> >| another incident if I may bother you, memories of their swapping us >> >| fresh bananas (??????) for the banana powder that we were 'issued'. >> >| Seems that they were making ice cream and using the banana powder >> as a >> >| taste treat. ICE CREAM for the POW's??? Did the civilian >> population >> >| have such treats? Amazing how one query leads to more and more! >> >| >> >| May I send you a copy of my self published book "The Flying P Ships" >> >| being a history of the sailing era of the Laeisz Shipping Company of >> >| Hamburg, as a thanks for your excellent help? If you care to >> share your >> >| address, I have no commercial connections! Peter >> >| >> >| >> >| James Flemington wrote: >> >| >> >| >May I add a bit more? >> >| > >> >| >Logie would have been a very easy bike ride, about three miles, >> from >> >Forres >> >| >airfield which had no perimeter fence and therefore children >> could get >> >| >access to aircraft being serviced. Although the airfield >> remained Ir >> >| >ministry property for a long time after the war its use as an >> airfield >> >fell >> >| >off in 1944, presumably as training needs changed. The huts >> used by the >> >RAF >> >| >ground crew were handed over to the army and were used to >> accommodate >> >Poles >> >| >who had been conscripted into the German army and were captured >> in France >> >by >> >| >the British army. Here they were screened and then drafted into >> the Free >> >| >Polish army which served with great distinction in France and >> Italy; we >> >| >remember their gallantry and sacrifice at Monte Cassino. >> >| > >> >| > >> >| >Jim >> >| > >> >| > >> >| >-----Original Message----- >> >| >From: Forrest Anderson [mailto:listmail@military-researcher.com] >> >| >Sent: 02 April 2006 19:04 >> >| >To: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com >> >| >Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] RAF AIRFIELDS IN SCOTLAND >> >| > >> >| >On Sun, 02 Apr 2006 11:52:30 -0500, Peter Monks <arethusa@shaw.ca> >> >| >wrote: >> >| > >> >| > >> >| > >> >| >>We lived on a >> >| >>farm property with buildings adjacent to the main farm >> house/farm sheds, >> >| >>this would have been around 1943 to 1945/6... >> >| >> >> >| >> >> >| > >> >| > >> >| > >> >| >>Around 1974 I... found the actual farm.... Now I cannot remember >> >| >>the name and address, but it might have been near Dava at the >> junction >> >| >>of A939 or was it B9007 and near Logie and A940?? >> >| >> >> >| >> >> >| > >> >| > >> >| > >> >| >>In my fathers service records he is >> >| >>listed as >> >| >>605 Sqdn 13/9/42 >> >| >>11 S. of TT 3 Feb 43 >> >| >>19 OTU 8/4/43 >> >| >>56 Base 4/11/44 >> >| >>19 OTU 26/4/45 >> >| >>6 (c) OTU 18/7/45 >> >| >>102 PDC Released 27/11/45 >> >| >> >> >| >> >> >| > >> >| > >> >| > >> >| >>As a child I recall being taken to see the aircraft... The >> aircraft was >> >an >> >| >>Anson I believe. Though I have dim memories of Lancasters, but >> where >> >| >>and when.....?? >> >| >> >> >| >> >> >| > >> >| >Having his Service Record is a major help! No 19 Operational >> Training >> >| >Unit, which was formed to train night bomber crews, was based at >> >| >Kinloss from the unit's formation in May 1940 to its disbandment >> on 26 >> >| >Jun 1945. 19 OTU also used the airfield at Forres as a satellite >> from >> >| >1940 or 1941 up to 22 Oct 1944. During its existence, 19 OTU was >> >| >equipped with quite a large variety of aircraft, including Ansons. >> >| > >> >| >After the departure of 19 OTU, 6 (Coastal) Operational Training >> Unit >> >| >moved to Kinloss on 18 July 1945, and was equipped with >> Beaufighters >> >| >and Mosquitos. >> >| > >> >| >Given that the airfield at Forres was less than 5 miles from the >> >| >junction at Logie, it rather looks as though he was based at Forres >> >| >and Kinloss airfields. >> >| > >> >| >Forrest >> >| > >> >| > >> >| > >> >| >> >| >> >| ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== >> >| Please do not send virus warnings to the list. If you have >> concerns about >> >a virus, contact your list admin or join >> VIRUS-DISCUSSIONS-L@rootsweb.com >> >subscribe in the subject line. We are an international list. Please >> >remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what >> country you >> >are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates >> please >> >help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 >> Nov 1944 >> >or Nov 4, 1944. >> >| >> >| ============================== >> >| Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added >> in the >> >| last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: >> >http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx >> >| >> > >> > >> > >> >==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== >> >To post queries/answers to the list, send an email to: >> WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com We are an international list. Please >> remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what >> country you are in now if different. 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For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. >> >> ============================== >> View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find >> marriage announcements and more. Learn more: >> http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >> >> ______________________________ > > > > > ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== > To post queries/answers to the list, send an email to: > WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com We are an international list. Please > remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what > country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you > give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. > For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > >

Rick, I know that they sailed alone, no convoy. Jessie

Rick , As usual you are a wonderful resource . Thank you. Jessie