Browse Items (1018 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "Poland--Żagań"

MElliottJD19200425-210211-01.pdf
Experiences of the prisoners of war in the Belaria camp of Stalag Luft 3 by Squadron Leader Bryce Cousens. It contains stories, poems and illustrations.

SBakerDA19210428v20169-0003.jpg
Writes she had had no letter from him since 24 June. Comments on how long war might go on. Wonders how he is and what weather is like. Writes that they were having a nice holiday in Cape Town and catches up with family news and talks about their…

YPattissonC1264245v1.pdf
Transcription of day by day account of activities from 19 April 1942 to 3 October 1942. Commences with photograph of Squadron in front of Halifax and of pilots on training course (Pattisson top left), Records daily activities, casualties, losses of…

MShepherdG167962-201007-350001.jpg
Page contains a b/w photograph showing three memorial stones listing the RAF Officers who gave their lives during the great escape from Sagan in March 1944. Included in text is the funeral oration of Pericles.

This item is available only at the…

PClarkeC1501.jpg
Charles Clarke joined the RAF aged 17 and began training as a pilot but he became ill with mumps and later trained as a bomb aimer. His aircraft was shot down on an operation to Schweinfurt and he became a prisoner of war. He took part in the Long…

ALyonJK180202.mp3
Jack Lyon was a navigator/ bomb aimer and a prisoner of war for almost four years. Born in 1918, he was employed with the London Gas Company as a bookkeeper until August 1939, when he transferred to Shell. Atfter the declaration of war, Shell closed…

APeelPAG170831.mp3
Philip Peel gives a detailed account of his father's RAF career, using logbook and letters, as well as recalling his father's anecdotes. Jarvis (then known as Mike) Peel was a Lancaster pilot and served on two squadrons before becoming a prisoner of…

AShackletonHL170629.mp3
Henry Shackleton listened to Chamberlain’s speech on the radio and hoped to be a Spitfire pilot. He began his training and was selected as a flying instructor and was posted to Canada. On his return to the UK he was posted to his operational squadron…

PSimmondsJE1701.jpg
Jack Simmonds was the son of an RAF serviceman. As a result, his childhood was spent moving around a great deal, including spending a few years in Egypt. He joined the RAF and began training as a pilot and then he joined 51 Squadron as a Whitley…

SHarriganD[Ser#-DoB]v260002.mp3
Les Rutherford was called up for the Army just short of his 21st birthday. He was in France at the time of Dunkirk and made it to the beach of St Valery where they were under constant bombardment. He and another soldier found a door and used it to…

SBakerDA19210428v20078-0001.jpg
Writes that he is in a new camp and life is tolerable there. Hopes to see an acquaintance there soon as he believes all air force prisoners will come there sooner or later. Says no letter from them yet but expecting soon. In a room with three South…

SBakerDA19210428v20079-0001.jpg
Reports arrival of eleven letters and thanks her. Latest was dated 8 March and came via Cairo. Not sure which direction was fastest. Discusses his mail to her and reassures her he is well. Ask her to contact anyone in Portuguese East Africa or any…

SBakerDA19210428v20080-0001.jpg
Writes that he had now received fifteen letters and that via Cairo was quickest. Although she still seem anxious hopes his recent letters have reassured her. Catches up on home news and talks about weather. Mentions he received a clothing parcel from…

SBakerDA19210428v20081-0001.jpg
Reports that he had now received most of her letters to 19 April as well as other mail which was taking between two to four and a half months to arrive. Writes about a recent variety show and a cricket match in which he played. Mentions also playing…

SBakerDA19210428v20082-0001.jpg
Reports arrival of latest letters and notes that via London they take four to five months. Mentions letters from others and catches up with news. Says do not worry about war and he is looking forward to seeing them again. Mentions playing cricket and…

SBakerDA19210428v20083-0001.jpg
Lets her know he fit and he had received no further mail. Mail from England was regular with some taking as little as ten days. Says there is not much in his letters as not much to write about. Mentions concert and that famous fighter pilots Tuck and…

SBakerDA19210428v20093-0001.jpg
Reports arrival of a number of her letters and mentions that Egyptian food parcels were coming through regularly. Writes that he had had two clothing parcels and discussing post routing. Mentions two book parcels. Explains recent incorrect…

SBakerDA19210428v20094-0001.jpg
Writes that no letters had arrived and wondered what she thought about him taking up farming after the war. Writes of potential future plans. Is keeping well and parcels arriving regularly. Catches up with family news.

SBakerDA19210428v20103-0001.jpg
Writes that he is well and mentions activities and future ambition to farm and asks for her views.

SBakerDA19210428v20104-0001.jpg
Thanks him for his letter and says not to worry about him. Will write again but limited post and nothing happens there anyway. Looking forward to seeing them again sometime.

SBakerDA19210428v20114-0001.jpg
Writing from Stalag Luft 3 where he arrived previous day. Catches up with news of friends. Disappointed at being sent back but living conditions were more comfortable there. Reports arrival of letters that arrived while he was at XXIB. and comments…

SBakerDA19210428v20115-0001.jpg
Reports arrival of letter from Uncle Jack with photographs. Notes friend arrival and now sharing room with six others. Catches up with other news and comments that air mail does not seem to make any difference to length of time mail takes. Mentions…

SBakerDA19210428v20116-0001.jpg
Writes of lack of mail, but mentions his birthday. Writes of a South African who had just returned after a couple of months in hospital. Talks of pompous fellow English prisoner as well as catching up on other news and gossip. Mentions playing rugby…

SBakerDA19210428v20117-0001.jpg
Reports letters arrived and transit time. Agrees with suggestion it would be better to wait until the end of the war to make decisions on farming. Describes weather and local trees. Inside compound is like a desert after 700 of them have trampled it…

SBakerDA19210428v20118-0001.jpg
Writes about mail to relations and receiving book parcels. Asks them not to send any more money to person sending book as the ones she sends are rubbish. Writes about a play he saw and mentions sergeants' theatre. Mentions that there were some…