Veterans Ads

6th Airborne Division Veterans

My name is Edward Tavares and I am a History student who is currently writing my dissertation at university. I have decided to tell the story of the British Sixth Airborne Division and I would hugely appreciate the help of any veterans who are willing to give me any experiences or accounts they have from June 1944 until the end of the war. Any kind of account would help me so much with my work and of course, would be exceptionally interesting to hear. I am extremely happy to visit, phone or mail any veterans willing to speak to me. If interested please email me at edtavares@hotmail.co.uk and hopefully we can sort something out. Thank you.

9th Battalion, Battle of the Bulge

I would like to receive any first hand stories of members of the 9th Parachute Battalion who were involved in the Battle of the Bulge. Durand, durand97@live.com

12th Devons

I would like to hear from anyone who knows about the 12th Batt. Devonshire regiment attached to the 6th Airborne division. Col. S. Butcher, Pte H Black, Pte G. Parsons, L Col E. Hammacott, Pte V Upham - I have a cutting from a local newspaper that tells of their landing. "We were hit by flak, but crashed uninjured into a German farm yard. We leapt out of the glider with wild yells and dashed straight through the double doors of the farm to shoot up any enemy who felt like giving the Airborne a scrap. As we went in at the front door, Germans were streaming out at the back, and coming pell-mell up the cellar steps to get away from the "Red Devills" They threw their weapons at our feet and surrendered". Anyone who can tell me if any of these men are still alive could they contact me on sanpete@frankle.freeserve.co.uk, Sandra Frankle.

13th Battalion 6th Airborne Division

Looking for anyone in contact with veterans of the 13th battalion. Eye witness accounts and war stories needed to complete my research and Roll of Honour. Normandy, Putot en Auge, Pont L'Eveque, Bure, Op Varsity, Far East, Mutiny etc. Also looking for maps, photographs or anything else of interest regarding the 13th battalion. roodymiller@btinternet.com

The Bande Massacre (advert placed 05/11/19)

The Band Memory Committee is organizing a week of remembrance this year. On 15 December 2019, a musical concert will be held followed by the inauguration of the exhibition retracing the history of the German massacre in December 1944 and the Battle of the Bulge. The exhibition will be open from 15 December to 22 December 2019 in the village hall. On December 22, 2019, a commemoration will take place. A ceremony followed by a meditation at the memorial where the massacre took place is planned, followed by a reception at the exhibition. In December 1944, Bande suffered a terrible massacre. 34 young people aged 17 to 32 were shot in the back of the head and thrown into the cellar of the Bertrand building located along the main road in Bande. The Germans concealed the crime under boards and it was on January 11, 1945, that the bodies were discovered. Only one of them, Léon Praille, was able to escape and hide in a nearby village until the arrival of the English on January 11, 1945. The British who were responsible for the burial and burial of the bodies were from the 9th Parachute Battalion of the 6th Airborne. We know today that a veteran of this battalion present in Bande in 45 and who took the bodies out of the cellar is still alive and that he would have been present in Normandy in June 2019. We know this because he would have discussed with someone in our area the facts that happened in Bande and explained that he was there. This veteran would have expressed his desire to return to Bande, which is why dear readers, if you know of a veteran of the 9th Parachute Battalion who participated in the Battle of the Bulge, I ask you to contact us, Bande Memory Committee. We would be so happy to share a moment, to discuss with a direct witness the facts that happened in our village. Let us put all our knowledge together to perpetuate the tribute to all these victims. If you wish to provide us with any information you can contact us by email at the following address; marjflix@hotmail.fr

May 3rd 1945. End of War in the North. Wismar Area

Who knows the names of those high rank officers (Russian, American, British) who took part in a meeting at the manor house of a farm estate called Neuhof near Wismar on May 3rd 1945? The Russian General came first, with a lot of tanks disappearing in the fields. After the meeting he declared that the war in the North had come to an end. Who knows anything of this meeting or where to find documents or photos? (Several war correspondents with cameras were present). Margarete Henzel, margarete-henzel@web.de

The Medics and Medicine of the British Airborne in the Second World War (advert placed 15/04/15)

My name is Edward Hutchison and I'm a fourth year medical student at the University of Birmingham. I have taken a year out of my medical studies to complete an intercalation degree in the History of Medicine. For my research, I am focusing on the medics and medicine of the British Airborne, from its inception up until D-Day. More precisely, I am studying the training and equipment of the newly formed Air Landing and Para Field Ambulances, as well as the role of 'airsickness' in the Airborne's development. I would love to hear from anyone who served in the RAMC within the Airborne during WWII, or from any troops who had experiences of airsickness during this time, including the 'swing tests' used for research. If you feel you could be of help, please contact me at exh197@bham.ac.uk. I would be extremely grateful. Thank you.

Operation Varsity and Wismar (advert placed 11/07/20)

I am hoping to interview British and Canadian military veterans who participated in Operation Varsity and/or were in Wismar during May 1945 regarding their experiences during the closing days of WW2. I am particularly interested in hearing about conditions in the town of Wismar, encounters with Wismar residents, German military, refugees and the Russian military. This is to inform a story I am writing about my father, whose name was Lt. David Graham. He was a member of the 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion and served in the Ardennes, Operation Varsity and the advance through Germany to Wismar. I am also seeking authoritative historical sources with detailed knowledge of events in Wismar from the vantage point of the British/Canadian military during May, 1945. Any assistance that you can provide would be sincerely appreciated. Mary Joan Graham, maryjoangraham@yahoo.ca

Palestine

My name is Josie Stein and I am working on a television documentary about the Exodus 1947 ship (aka President Warfield). The ship, filled with Holocaust refugees, tried to enter British Mandate Palestine on July 18th 1947. We would very much like to interview veterans from the 6th Airborne Division who participated in the mission near the Port of Haifa to stop the immigrants entering Palestine and I would welcome any suggestions as to how I can find them. I am interested to talk to anyone who was on board the Royal Navy Cruiser AJAX and the other British ships. Particularly those who actually boarded the Exodus 1947 ship in order to take control of the ship. Additionally anyone who helped to transfer the refugees to the more seaworthy ships- the Runnymede Park, Ocean Vigour and the Empire Rival. One of the commanding Officers was Lt MacPherson. Other names I have noted from my reading are: Lt A. Stein, Acting Lt KP Shallow RN, Sub Lt Ure RNVR, Petty Officer Harris, Lt R.B.W. Bundle RN, Stoker Petty Officer Fynn, Petty Officer Green, Stoker Moreton, Lt Gerard-Pearse, Lt. Gill. I would be very grateful for any assistance. Josie Stein, josiestein@me.com

Prisoner of War - 6th Airborne Division

I am looking to get in touch with Veterans, or family members of veterans, of the 6th Airborne Division who were taken prisoner in Normandy, the Ardennes offensive and Operation Varsity. I am interested to hear how, when and where paratroopers were captured. I am also interested in how the paratroopers were treated and what conditions were like in POW and working camps. Any stories or photos would be a great help. I can be contacted on sixthairborne@hotmailco.uk.

World War Two documentary (advert placed (05/03/15)

My name is Faye Boyle, a Student at Staffordshire University in England. Myself and others are working alongside a producer on a World War Two documentary, to talk to people who survived the war and how their lives were at the end of the war. I would like to make contact with anyone who can help. Faye, fayeboyle123@hotmail.com

Other Ads

Books Wanted

I am looking for Barley, Eric, "Para Memories, 12th Yorkshire Battalion in Europe and the Far East during the Second World War", Parapress, 1996. I am also looking for K. T. Darling, "The 12th Yorkshire Parachute Battalion in Germany 24th May-16th May 1945". People can contact Dutch major, Erik Jellema, Jellema104@hotmail.com