What did your relatives do in WWII?

[david weston]

A neighbour of ours who although he had served in the war, said that he had always been against it. He always posed the question, 'why was war declared only on Germany when the Russians also invaded (eastern) Poland on 17.9.39, two weeks after the Germans, dividing the country between them ?' Few seem to be aware of this, or have an answer to it.

[Malvoleo]

A neighbour of ours who although he had served in the war, said that he had always been against it. He always posed the question, 'why was war declared only on Germany when the Russians also invaded (eastern) Poland on 17.9.39, two weeks after the Germans, dividing the country between them ?' Few seem to be aware of this, or have an answer to it.

 

Nice story but unfortunately Britain and France declared at 11.15 AM on the 3rd September 1939, which was 2 days after Poland was attacked and long before the Russian invasion so the story doesnt work.

 

Maybe he confused weeks and days?

Edited March 28, 2012 by Malvoleo
more info

[david weston]

The difference between the 1st and the 17th is just 16 days, not 'long before', and regardless, both dictatorships had earlier planned and agreed on carving up Poland between them under the Nazi-Soviet Pact, so that doesn't answer the question; they were both EQUALLY guilty.

[iamwoody]

Reading this thread I was surprised by how many men in Sheffield were in protected jobs in the steel industry. The way history is presented to us is that women took all the factory jobs to free up men for the armed forces.

 

It seems the story of protected jobs is untold.

 

too right it is they're having a statue made for the women of steel , its like you said all the men had gone to war ! NOT . my father was in a reserved occupation as a steel worker at Edgar Allans on the cliffe and was also in the home guard helping man a gun emplacement on parkwood springs as part of his duties no mention of a statue for these blokes !

[harvey19]

My father was a Captain with the R A O C he and his brother were at Dunkirk, got home safely. My mother was a Sister with the Q A R A N C, I recently had all their medals mounted. Sad part of all, is, military these days are encouraged to speak about what they see and hear, my parents didn't, like most of that generation, so I know little of what they did. The older I get the more I want to know........

 

You can obtain a persons service records from the armys historical records dept.. at Glasgow. Price £30.

You can also obtain a copy of the units war diary from the National Archives.

[bridget143]

Telegraphy, tank commander, Indain army Major, evacuee... lots of different things

[sand_dollars]

Ian,

 

of course we are interested!!!!

 

It's all part of our heritage, the people who sacrificed their youth...

 

http://www.hms.vengeance.btinternet.co.uk/remembrance.htm

 

we have a lot to be grateful for, toward those of our parents' and grandparents' generations, who made the sacrifices during conflicts and wars, including the 1st and 2nd WW's the conflicts in the middle east and korea etc, during the fifties and early sixties. As well as the Falklands, and the gulf-wars.. (and to a lesser extent, the spanish civil war)

 

I try to make a point of attending the Remembrance Day ceremonies by the City Hall, when I can make it (work, and health permitting) to pay my respects to the "fallen".

 

"For our tomorrows, they gave their today"

PT

 

Very good quote

Edited March 29, 2012 by sand_dollars

[harvey19]

Reading this thread I was surprised by how many men in Sheffield were in protected jobs in the steel industry. The way history is presented to us is that women took all the factory jobs to free up men for the armed forces.

 

It seems the story of protected jobs is untold.

 

I think it was 1941 or 1942 the government decided that if a soldier was no longer fit for active service but had a trade which was in short supply they could be discharged to use their trade in civvy street to enhance the war effort.

[denlin]

My Uncle Cliff was in Navy and was out in Middle East where the temperatures were scorching and he hadn't seen snow for 4 years when he got back here it had just gone - bet he wouldn't be glad to see it now if he were still here bless him :hihi:

[Amyvictoria]

On my paternal side both Grandparents were too young to serve in WW2. However, my Paternal Grandmother was born in Aden (Yeman) as her family were a military family stationed there at the time. I do not know what her father’s role was during WW1 or WW2.

 

On the Maternal side my Grandmother was a teenager during the WW2. She lived near Barnsley and talked about watching the bombs falling on Sheffield. My Grandmother seems to have spent most of the war going to dances to dance with foreign soldiers stationed here. Apparently, there was a very special Canadian but we do not know why they ended their relationship. Her father was a miner and so in a reserved occupation.

 

My Grandfather was in the RAF and stationed in Harare in Zimbabwe fixing aeroplanes. There were a lot to fix as this is one of the places that pilots were trained. It does not seem like he was in any danger but did not see his family for about 7 years as it was too far to travel on leave. He sent most of his pay home to his mother and sister as his father had died years before. When he talks about his war years he always talks about the Jewish families in Harare that took him and other Jewish service men in on a Friday night so they could have a proper Sabbath meal. My Grandfather says that the first time he ate bacon was when he joined up. At the time you ate what you were given as there wasn’t anything else.

 

He met my Grandmother after the war. Before the war my grandfather managed a carpet several carpet shops but he did not have job after the war and set up his own market stall. His Uncle served in the army in WW1 and was posted to Ireland. We have not been able to find out much about his service.