Linda Parker will be giving another Zoom talk on behalf of Thames Valley WFA on Tuesday May 26th at 7.00 p.m Topic “Woodbine Willie, Padre Poet and prophet “.
To register for this talk please e-mail [email protected]
Our friends from Mission Fraternite 2020 will be hoisting the flags of the Republic of France and the United Kingdom at the cemetery from sunrise on Wednesday 20th until sunset on Thursday 21st May on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the death of the airmen which occurred on 20th may 1940 at around 11:30pm. The Ode of Remembrance will be read in from of the graves.
We thank the Mission Fraternite Team for such a fitting tribute to these brave airmen.
Driffield Town Council will mirror the tribute on May 20-21st the flag to be risen in the presence of the Mayor at sunrise and then lowered on the 21st with the Last Post being played. We will record the event and perhaps stream in live on social media.
The Whitley V N1380 DY-R for Robert took off from RAF Driffield in an attempt to help stem the German onslaught through Northern France in 1940 and it is assumed was hit by Flak near the target area and crashed near Hamégicourt carrying its five crew to their deaths. They were Flight Lieutenant David Owen (22), Pilot Officer Dennis Holbrook (20), Sgt Duncan Barrett, LAC Reginald Newberry (20) and AC2 Michael Dolan (19).
For further details of Whitley “R” for Robert and the brave airmen on the images.
Some more of the stories that have come in over the last week…The Wavy Navy, Surrender at Singapore, Falklands – The Battle for Darwin, D-Day Diary, Great Uncles of WW1, Massacre by the Japanese, Surrender of the U-Boats, Royal Naval Patrol Service and Dad’s Story of Dunkirk.
Some are very moving, some stirring, some amusing, and some tales of ordinary people doing both ordinary and extraordinary things. Also seeing some more international ones from Australia, USA, Canada and the Netherlands.
A big thank you for sending your articles in to us. Please ask your friends, relatives colleagues and neighbours to send in their contributions to Operation Bookworm.
With all BMMHS talks cancelled for the summer and hoping to resume in September, we have decided to put the ample time we all have our hands at present to produce a book with the main content being from articles, memories, anecdotes of military experiences (serving or civilian) of our members or their family members and friends.
We will also look to include articles and book excerpts from various authors and historians. The working title at the moment is ‘Glimpses of War’. All the net profits will be donated to the Blind Veterans UK charity.
Please keep them coming…Send them into us at [email protected]
The British Modern Military History Society salutes all those men and women who fought and contributed to Victory in Europe on 8 May 1945. We all owe a great level of gratitude and thanks for the trials, sacrifices and suffering that generation went through to win the war against an unspeakable Nazi tyranny.
However, we must not forget that World War 2 did not finish on VE Day. The war in the far east against the Japanese continued for 3 more months until August 1945 and the dropping of the two atomic bombs. Many British, Commonwealth and other allied servicemen and woman fought and died in that period, and we must not forget them.
Enjoy VE Day celebrations today, but let’s make sure we celebrate and remember VJ Day in August.
Stay safe and well.
The BMMHS Team
Do you have any recollections of VE Day that you or your family wish to share with us for Operation Bookworm
Please send them to [email protected]
BMMHS Raising funds for Blind Veterans UK
A few more in recently including all manner of experiences so far, ranging from heroic deeds in WW1, living through the Blitz in Romford, serving in Iraq in 2003, life as a POW of the Chinese, life on board RN submarines and a nurse serving on the hospital ship Uganda in the Falklands, Some are very moving, some stirring, some amusing, and some tales of ordinary people doing both ordinary and extraordinary things. Also seeing some international ones – Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, France and Austria.
With all BMMHS talks cancelled for the summer and hoping to resume in September, we have decided to put the ample time we all have our hands at present to produce a book with the main content being from articles, memories, anecdotes of military experiences (serving or civilian) of our members or their family members and friends.
We will also look to include articles and book excerpts from various authors and historians. The working title at the moment is ‘Glimpses of War’. All the net profits will be donated to the Blind Veterans UK charity.
Please keep them coming…Send them into us at [email protected]
The range of things we have received have been fascinating… a grandmother who was a nurse in WW1 and was torpedoed in the Channel, an aunt who was in Austria when ‘liberated’ by the Russians in 1945 and even the story of a royal hub cap !.
With all BMMHS talks cancelled for the summer and hoping to resume in September, we have decided to put the ample time we all have our hands at present to produce a book with the main content being from articles, memories, anecdotes of military experiences (serving or civilian) of our members or their family members and friends.
We will also look to include articles and book excerpts from various authors and historians. The working title at the moment is ‘Glimpses of War’. All the net profits will be donated to the Blind Veterans UK charity.
Please keep them coming…Send them into us at [email protected]
During World War II the US War and Navy Departments published an extensive series of pamphlets for use individually by military personnel travelling to Great Britain. These are basically travel guides with a military/World War II twist.
Initially (1942) the pamphlets were titles “A Short Guide to….” Later the names were changed to “A Pocket Guide to….” The booklets include appropriate geographical, cultural, monetary information, a local language guide and other information that would be of use. Additionally, the booklets include political and military information which is from a decidedly United States 1942-1944 point of view.
Thank you to Nigel & Fred Schwan OH, USA for this BMMHS Public Information
Do you have any items/snippets of interest that you wish to share with us ? Email Us:- [email protected]
“Keeping us going through the great Isolation”
Starts today…
We are looking to produce a book with profits to the Blind Veterans UK charity comprising a bit of your own family history – it could be your own experiences, your Father or Mother’s, your sons, your grandads, an aunt or uncle.
We only want a short article – from a couple of paragraphs to 3 pages ideally with some photos/documents – certainly not War and Peace or a lengthy, detailed history of a military career.
Please get writing & send them to us [email protected]
Your help is for a great cause and can keep you focussed during these challenging times of lockdown and self isolation.
Any questions please do not hesitate to contact us [email protected]
The BMMHS Team
“Keeping us going in the Great Isolation”
Operation Bookworm is coming soon…something from the BMMHS to help us get through these challenging times.
Details will follow in the next few days.
Watch this space.
The BMMHS Team
Hopefully these won’t be coming back into fashion during this current crisis…. Sadly, I couldn’t find the loo roll tokens though!
Do you have any items/snippets of interest that you wish to share with us ? [email protected]
