stephen.stallebrass
Registered user
My Grandad served on HMS Mauritius... any info you might have on this ship between D-Day and 1945 would be most appreciated.
WW2 YOUR DAD/GRANDFATHER
- Thread starter bardicastle
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My Grandad served on HMS Mauritius... any info you might have on this ship between D-Day and 1945 would be most appreciated.
'HMS Mauritius' was also the British Navy Base in Mauritius from the late 50's to the 70's. had to be one of the best navy postings on this earth.My Grandad served on HMS Mauritius... any info you might have on this ship between D-Day and 1945 would be most appreciated.
My Grandfather was wounded while fighting in Malaya against the Japanese. They gave him a terrible beating that he was being treated for right until his death. He spent the rest of the war building the railway including the bridge over the river kwai. Theres a brief summary here http://www.royalleicestershireregiment.org.uk/have-you-a-tiger/record/20295/ He went back to Malaya a couple of years before he died to visit the places he fought.
His brother fought as a Chindit with the 2nd Battalion of The Leicestershire Regiment.
His brother fought as a Chindit with the 2nd Battalion of The Leicestershire Regiment.
Started to read this thread from the start. Got something really irritating in my eye so can't focus. Will have to comeback to it.
Respect
Respect
My Dad is 3rd from right on front row. He saw service on defence of Great Britain and then in N. Africa and Italy. He "left" a lot of the others in this photo in various places on the way (D-Day Dodgers !!!!).
323 battery RA. Taken at Sharpness in 1941. he met my Mum within days of this photo and they're still together now (bless them).
He's still very much alive and made 90 last October.
Going back to WW1. here's my Grandfathers.
Jim Pegler was on Western front 1914 -18 incl. and Tom Preston was LieutCmdr RNVR ("Wavy Navy" as he was a trawler skipper in civillian life) and commanded HMS Drypool in the Med (and I think off Gallipoli).
Jim Pegler was on Western front 1914 -18 incl. and Tom Preston was LieutCmdr RNVR ("Wavy Navy" as he was a trawler skipper in civillian life) and commanded HMS Drypool in the Med (and I think off Gallipoli).
gets you like that doesn't it.
This is a summary of the battle where my Grandfather was wounded. He had a load of pictures from when he revisited, dissapeared into the family somewhere, I'd love to know who has them.
The fighting became fierce with Japanese and British positions taken and retaken at the point of a bayonet. Japanese casualties were heavy with a continuous stream of wounded passing Colonel Okabe's headquarters.
The ferocity and confusion of the close-quarter fighting around the British Battalion was especially violent in the forward positions. Lieutenant Edgar Newland, commanding a platoon of 30 Leicesters, held the most forward position of the battalion. His platoon was surrounded and cut off for most of the battle but Newland and his men fought off all attacks and kept hold of their isolated position throughout the two days
ELIMINATOR
Registered user
My Dad was in the Royal marines. Got torpedoed in the Med. on board HMS Birmingham.
After the war he was in Malaya during the war, oh no it wasn't a war, silly me! His photo album had one of his mates holding a severed head and smiling. FFS what must they have gone through to be able to do that?
My late grandad replied that he had a great time in WW1! he was a Royal Marine bandsman, don't think he saw any action.
After the war he was in Malaya during the war, oh no it wasn't a war, silly me! His photo album had one of his mates holding a severed head and smiling. FFS what must they have gone through to be able to do that?
My late grandad replied that he had a great time in WW1! he was a Royal Marine bandsman, don't think he saw any action.
My dad came from a mining family in Bentley (just outside Doncaster). As such he went down the mines at age 14 I believe. But he and his best friend hated it and ran away and joined the army. He was in the RE's.
His war was: British Expeditionary Force in France. Dunkirk. North Africa. Anzio. Hospital ship. Then Italy again.
After the war he was sent to Palestine.
That was followed by the Atom Bomb tests in Montebello - he had vivid memories of the journey out to and back from Oz, as it was in a flat bottomed tank landing craft which did not like being in open sea!
Later it was the hydrogen bomb tests in Christmas Island.
I have memories of sitting in bed with my Dad and my brother on a Sunday morning as re recounted his 'war stories', which actually told us nothing, as he rarely talked about his real experiences.
Unfortunately now, at the age of 91, he is in a care home and suffering from worsening dementia.
His war was: British Expeditionary Force in France. Dunkirk. North Africa. Anzio. Hospital ship. Then Italy again.
After the war he was sent to Palestine.
That was followed by the Atom Bomb tests in Montebello - he had vivid memories of the journey out to and back from Oz, as it was in a flat bottomed tank landing craft which did not like being in open sea!
Later it was the hydrogen bomb tests in Christmas Island.
I have memories of sitting in bed with my Dad and my brother on a Sunday morning as re recounted his 'war stories', which actually told us nothing, as he rarely talked about his real experiences.
Unfortunately now, at the age of 91, he is in a care home and suffering from worsening dementia.
As an aside, my Dad rarely talked about his war. It's only in the last couple of years he's started telling bits. He now has PTSD and can't sleep without a light on and radio set very quiet. Apparently it's not uncommon for PTSD to set in later in life. I had it explained to me (by a Doctor) that it's due to them not needing to talk/explain to the many others of their generation who had had similar experiences (and not wanting to hear about other's experences). Life had to just go on. Now they are becoming fewer, they feel the need to talk. Problem is, once he starts, he can't stop and ends up getting quite upset.
Two particular stories he now keeps recounting are about two of the other guys in the photo (above post). One (top right) blew his brains out messing about with a revolver (playing Russian roulette) in front of an Italian farm family and another (his best friend during the war) hit a landmine during a forward position recce. Dad had to pick up just his mate's top half from the roadside. 3 days before they had been on leave in Rome together. How do they live with these images in their heads ?
Two particular stories he now keeps recounting are about two of the other guys in the photo (above post). One (top right) blew his brains out messing about with a revolver (playing Russian roulette) in front of an Italian farm family and another (his best friend during the war) hit a landmine during a forward position recce. Dad had to pick up just his mate's top half from the roadside. 3 days before they had been on leave in Rome together. How do they live with these images in their heads ?
GSGIRLY
Registered user
My Dad was a spitfire and hurricane pilot during WW2 and his dad (grandad) was a regular soldier in the Rifle Brigade prior to the outbreak of WW1. He was an 'old contemptable' and went all the way through the First WW. He got the DCM and the MM for his bravery.
Dad was shot down twice and got out via the Pyrenees helped by the Resistance. He was awarded the DFM and later the DFC. I can remember him waking the house up at night with his screaming - dreadful nightmares.. PTSD as its now called. Grandad suffered as well but in those days there was no help.
Im a volunteer for a charity called Combat Stress - set up at the end of the First WW to treat shell shock. Unfortunately we still have a huge amount of sufferers from all conflicts but at least we are here to help.
Dad was shot down twice and got out via the Pyrenees helped by the Resistance. He was awarded the DFM and later the DFC. I can remember him waking the house up at night with his screaming - dreadful nightmares.. PTSD as its now called. Grandad suffered as well but in those days there was no help.
Im a volunteer for a charity called Combat Stress - set up at the end of the First WW to treat shell shock. Unfortunately we still have a huge amount of sufferers from all conflicts but at least we are here to help.
the cakeman
Registered user
Both of my Grandfathers were reserved occupation during WW2 but my Great Uncle Thomas Hesketh served in the Grenadier Guards during WW1.
He was wounded at Passchendaele in July 1917 and died of his injuries a few days later in the military hospital at Wimeraux near Calais.
My wife and I visited the grave in the small town cemetary in July last year (there are two military cemetaries at Wimeraux, a large one just outside and one in the town which is part military and part local residents). He is buried just a few yards away from Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae who wrote In Flanders Fields.
I did take a few pictures (and left a message in the memorial book), but can't find them at the moment but I will post them later if I can dig them out.
One of the most emotional days of my life.
He was wounded at Passchendaele in July 1917 and died of his injuries a few days later in the military hospital at Wimeraux near Calais.
My wife and I visited the grave in the small town cemetary in July last year (there are two military cemetaries at Wimeraux, a large one just outside and one in the town which is part military and part local residents). He is buried just a few yards away from Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae who wrote In Flanders Fields.
I did take a few pictures (and left a message in the memorial book), but can't find them at the moment but I will post them later if I can dig them out.
One of the most emotional days of my life.
This one....
Did you spot this tasteful memorial on the way through to the CWGC section of the cemetery?
the cakeman
Registered user
Yup, that's the one......My uncle is buried just in front and to the right of the memorial area in the right of your first picture.....
thank you for posting the pic.
thank you for posting the pic.
My hero
Hero's all of them. My hero and I am proud to say my friend is my farther in law. He is still with us aged a sprightly 90. He flew Wilcats in the Fleet Air Arm and was decorated twice (DFC and DFC and bar). The first DFC was for him and his wingman fighting off superior numbers of german aircraft on an island off Norway having gone to the aid of two Royal Navy corvettes who were trying to evacuate Norwegian civilians from the docks.
They both ran out of ammunition with his wingman resorting to wing tipping the ME 110s who were shooting up the docks which Dick Allen at the age of 23 flew behind him to keep the fighters off. His wingman didn't make it and to this day there is a plaque to both of them and the men on the two corvettes who risked their lives.....yet another unknown and forgotten action of great courage and heroism.
Typical of the man we found out about this on his 80th birthday when an old colleague of his had returned from Australia and came to the big family birthday bash and started telling us stories.....not even his wife new. They even printed a story in the Exmouth Herald that made him quite angry as in his words he was simply doing his duty like many thousands of others, many of whom were not lucky enough to survive.
Without wishing to get too deep, it is heart warming to see this thread and know that people are proud of what there relatives did for this country.... it is the memory of their sacrifice which honours them.
The story of the second DFC was even more incredible but I guess I am rambling on now so will sign off.
Cheers
Hero's all of them. My hero and I am proud to say my friend is my farther in law. He is still with us aged a sprightly 90. He flew Wilcats in the Fleet Air Arm and was decorated twice (DFC and DFC and bar). The first DFC was for him and his wingman fighting off superior numbers of german aircraft on an island off Norway having gone to the aid of two Royal Navy corvettes who were trying to evacuate Norwegian civilians from the docks.
They both ran out of ammunition with his wingman resorting to wing tipping the ME 110s who were shooting up the docks which Dick Allen at the age of 23 flew behind him to keep the fighters off. His wingman didn't make it and to this day there is a plaque to both of them and the men on the two corvettes who risked their lives.....yet another unknown and forgotten action of great courage and heroism.
Typical of the man we found out about this on his 80th birthday when an old colleague of his had returned from Australia and came to the big family birthday bash and started telling us stories.....not even his wife new. They even printed a story in the Exmouth Herald that made him quite angry as in his words he was simply doing his duty like many thousands of others, many of whom were not lucky enough to survive.
Without wishing to get too deep, it is heart warming to see this thread and know that people are proud of what there relatives did for this country.... it is the memory of their sacrifice which honours them.
The story of the second DFC was even more incredible but I guess I am rambling on now so will sign off.
Cheers
ww11
My mum's uncle was a rear gunner in a lancaster bomber. He was shot down and killed over Germany. His grave is in Hannover and none of the family have ever been. This is going to change. On the 5th of July my 3 brothers and I are riding to Hannover, my mother and niece are flying over. We will all be going to pay our respects.
My mum's uncle was a rear gunner in a lancaster bomber. He was shot down and killed over Germany. His grave is in Hannover and none of the family have ever been. This is going to change. On the 5th of July my 3 brothers and I are riding to Hannover, my mother and niece are flying over. We will all be going to pay our respects.
Good on you. You may find it more moving than you anticipated.
chad
Registered user
i remember watching a program about WW1 with British troops involvement in Russia and seeing the lads with these sheepskins on.
Brilliant thread and thanks for sharing all , i shall have to try to extract some info about my grandad as he was in the Navy and had a few medals
My Grandad was an anti aircraft gun instructor during world war 2, he never really spoke about it, but I never really asked.
If he was alive now I would love to ask him about it, he died a few years back at the age of 96, I miss him greatly.
I do know he was in Scotland for most of the war and had a great fondness for the place until he died. I would love to do some research to find out where he was stationed, maybe visit the place.
Not sure how to go about it.
Great thread, very emotional, but in a good way for most I hope.
If he was alive now I would love to ask him about it, he died a few years back at the age of 96, I miss him greatly.
I do know he was in Scotland for most of the war and had a great fondness for the place until he died. I would love to do some research to find out where he was stationed, maybe visit the place.
Not sure how to go about it.
Great thread, very emotional, but in a good way for most I hope.
