1
25
9
-
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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/2688/48036/MFiskertonMem-190219-010002.jpg
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https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/2688/48036/MFiskertonMem-190219-010003.jpg
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Title
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Fiskerton Memorial
Description
An account of the resource
17 items. The collection concerns (Royal Air Force) and contains propaganda leaflets and photographs.
The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Charles Parker and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
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2019-02-19
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Fiskerton Mem
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The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Luftpost Extrablatt
G93
Description
An account of the resource
This special edition deals with the Moscow Conference between the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union. There is said to be a full consensus over a joint approach to military and political aspects both during the war and in the post-war period. Declarations were signed by the three foreign ministers and the text of the communiqué, published on 1st November 1943, is included. Reference is made to the decision-making process. There is a photograph of the ministers, ambassadors and officials.
The three countries would continue their close co-operation and joint warfare planning into the period after hostilities had ceased to maintain peace and encourage prosperity.
The Chinese Ambassador signed the declaration during the conference. The declaration outlined the principles for a comprehensive system of international co-operation and security, including all peace-loving nations. It was decided to establish a European Advisory Commission in London to consider European questions. There was to be a further Advisory Committee on Italy, including representatives from Greece, Yugoslavia and France. The Allied governments wanted democracy to be restored in Italy and fascism to be eradicated. They wanted the Italian people to determine their own form of government. The ministers also desired Austria’s independence but would take account of how much Austria had contributed to its liberation, particularly in view of its arms production for Germany. They furthermore declared that German war criminals would be returned and face justice in the countries in which they committed their crimes.
The Four Great Powers are said to be united in their quest to create future peace and security with a worldwide organisation, the United Nations. They will continue hostilities against the Axis powers until their unconditional surrender. It is said to thwart Hitler’s hopes for disunity. The German people are becoming aware that Germany has no prospect of winning the war.
A statement on Italy, and declarations on international security and Austria are included, as well as a declaration on war crimes. With evidence of mass murders and executions in several countries, including by retreating armies, the three Allies, on behalf of the 32 United Nations, declare that Germans involved in war crimes will be returned and tried in the country where their crime was committed. Those committing crimes in more than one country will be judged jointly by the Allied governments.
This is a warning shot to those who have not committed any war crimes, so that they do not become complicit in the Nazis’ attempt to prolong the war and postpone their day of reckoning.
Date
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1943-11-06
Coverage
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Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
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deu
Type
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Text
Format
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Two double sided printed sheets
Identifier
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MFiskertonMem-190219-010001, MFiskertonMem-190219-010002, MFiskertonMem-190219-010003, MFiskertonMem-190219-010004
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
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1943-11
1943-10
1943-11-01
Spatial Coverage
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Germany
Austria
France
Russia (Federation)
Russia (Federation)--Moscow
Conforms To
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Pending text-based transcription. Other languages than English
Contributor
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Sally Coulter
propaganda
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/2669/47487/SBoxDC1578987v20023-0001.2.jpg
7ece28491c453f4166ff68f87ef64c80
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/2669/47487/SBoxDC1578987v20023-0002.2.jpg
05b8cf1f960643244348061de83939f5
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Box, Douglas Charles
Box, D C
Description
An account of the resource
219 items. The collection concerns Sergeant Douglas Charles Box (b. 1922, 1578987 Royal Air Force) and contains his log book, documents, correspondence and photographs. It includes <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2677">an album of prisoner of war photographs.</a><br />He flew operations as an air gunner with 75 Squadron and became a prisoner of war. <br /><br />The collection was loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Ian Box and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
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2018-11-06
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Box, DC
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Letter from Doug Box home 1 November 1943
Description
An account of the resource
Doug wishes his parents a Merry Christmas. He asks after friends and family. He asks them to write to his squadron to get his kit back.
Creator
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Doug Box
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-11-01
Coverage
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Civilian
Royal Air Force
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Text. Correspondence
Format
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One double sided printed sheet with handwritten annotations
Identifier
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SBoxDC1578987v20023-0001, SBoxDC1578987v20023-0002
Conforms To
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Pending text-based transcription
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
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1943-11-01
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Poland
Poland--Żagań
aircrew
prisoner of war
Stalag Luft 3
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/2559/43577/SLambertBrownP19330417v10003.1.pdf
ffc1125b58cb57991dbec86e6204283b
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Lambert-Brown, Peter
P Lambert-Brown
Description
An account of the resource
12 items. The collection concerns Peter Lambert-Brown (b. 1933 Royal Navy). A collection of documents compiled for the Admiralty detailing the bombing of the Royal Navy Dockyards in Malta. The collection covers the siege of Malta and includes the various vessels and docks that were damaged, and the repairs that were undertaken carried out.
The collection was donated to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Jacqueline Sherman and catalogued by Benjamin Turner.
Date
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2023-05-12
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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LambertBrown, P
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] APPENDIX I [/underlined]
[underlined] MALTA DOKYARD- PERIOD OF SIEGE 1940-1943 [/underlined]
During the first 9 months of the war nothing unusual took place at Malta xcept [sic] the withdrawal of the Fleet to Alexandria and the Levant.
2. When Italy entered the war, however, Malta became a very accessible target, situated only some 60-70 miles from Sicily, and during the greater part of the next 3 years the Maltese Islands were surrounded on all sides by enemy occupied territories.
3. Air Raids commenced at daybreak on the day on which Italy entered the war- 11th June 1940 – and continued intermittently for over 3 years, the Aerodromes, Dockyard and Harbours being the principal targets. ( [underlined] NOTE [/underlined] : There were 3328 raids, 1106 of which were at night)
4. These attacks reached their peak during the first half of 1942. Their strength and frequency then gradually diminished with the success of the Allied Arms in North Africa, and had ceased altogether by October 1943 after the surrender of Italy.
5. During this period the Dockyard establishments, maintained their constant effort to keep H.M. ships in service dealing with damage repairs, defeats, fuelling, storing, equipping and generally servicing as required the ships of operating forces, convoys and their escorts.
6. As many skilled workmen as would volunteer transferred to Alexandria to man up the dockyard there and for other eases in the Eastern Mediterranean. Technical and Clerical Staff were also transferred for the same purpose.
7. The Dockyard also did a considerable amount of work for the other Services in Malta. Repairs to vessels, plant and machinery and manufacture of many thousands of articles, fittings and spare parts which were either not obtainable from the United Kingdom, or if shipped failed to arrive.
8. The Dockyard machines were adapted with considerable ingenuity for these purposes which in many cases were completely different from their normal functions.
9. In addition to the above, services performed for the Civil Government, included conversion of machinery at the Generating Station and the Breweries to oil-fuel burning, and provision of expert advice and assistance for the following vitally important services:
Flour Mills
Generating Station
Shelter Construction Department
Organisation for Co-Ordination of Supplies (C.O. SUP: )
10. Numbers of workmen were loaned to the other services as necessary for various urgent requirement. For example :-
(a) Servicing aircraft until such times as the necessary ground-staff could be obtained.
(b) Clearance and restoration work at the aerodromes, often under conditions of hardship and much danger.
(c) Skilled work at R.E.M.E Workshops etc.
11. [underlined] DOCKYARD ACTIVE DEFENCE ORGANISATIONS [/underlined]
[underlined] DOCKYARD DEFENCE BATTERY [/underlined]
In September 1939 the Dockyard Defence Battery (30 th L. A. A. Battery R. M. A (T) ) WAS formed from amongst the Dockyard Officers and Workmen for the purpose of manning the Anti-Aircraft guns allocated to defend H.M. Dockyard from attack by low flying aircraft.
12. The Battery ….
[page break]
12. The Battery attained a strength of some 15 officers and 412 O. R’s, showed a fine fighting spirit and did excellent work throughout the period of air attacks on Malta. Its success [deleted] are [/deleted] [inserted] is [/inserted] evidenced by the number of honours given to its members: -
[underlined] O. B. E. [/underlined] – Major L. B. Bolton, Officer Commanding
[underlined} M. C. [/underlined] – Lieutenant F.W. Angle
[underlined] M. C. [/underlined] – Major L. T. H Cooks R. A. (O.C)
[underlined] M.M. [/underlined] – Sergeant L. Atap
[underlined] M.M. [/underlined] – Sergeant H. Andrews
[underlined] M.M. [/underlined] – Bombardier G. Balzan
[underlined] Mention in Despatches. [/underlined] – L/Bombardier M. Castles
[underlined] Commendations by H. [deleted] indecipherable [/deleted] [inserted] E [/inserted] the Governor for gallant conduct. [/underlined]
L/Sergeant R. Vella
L/Bombardier S. Cacciottolo
Gunner W. Atkins
Gunner C. Zammit (1)
Gunner A. Pool
Gunner L. O’Toole
Gunner Zammit (2)
Gunner V. Sultana
Gunner P. Mangion
Gunner G. Tabone
13. With the exception of a few men who rejoined the battery on a regular enlistment, all the Officers and men were returned to their normal Dockyard employment in July 1942.
14. [underlined] ANTI-PARACHUTIST COMPANY (“PARASHOTS”) [/underlined]
In May 1940 a Company was formed from amongst the English Officers and Agreement Workmen, with the Captain of the Dockyard ad Commandant for the defence of the Dockyard against attack by airborne troops. All members were trained in the use of the rifle and organised in platoons conforming to the A. R. P. sectional organisation.
15. [underlined] DOCKYARD GUARD [/underlined]
In June 1941, consequent on the stationing of a detachment of troops in the Dockyard, the “PARASHOTS” were disbanded and a new corps, called the Dockyard Guard was organised, composed of all fit Agreement Workmen (in fulfilment of their Agreements) and a number of Dockyard Officers who volunteered for this service.
16. The Duty of this Force was to co-operate with the troops in the defence of the Dockyard, and all members underwent a course of training to equip them to carry out their role efficiently. They formed a reserve available to reinforce the troops in emergency, and when fully trained could be employed in the important duty of providing guards for vital points in the Dockyard as the circumstances might require. ( [underlined] NOTE: [/underlined] In this connection it is interesting to note that according to local records there was a Malta Dockyard Battalion of Artillery in 1852-1855, and it is believed that clause 7 of the agreement for service at H.M. Naval Yards abroad was introduced then owing to the refusal of a workman to undergo training. The formation of the Dockyard Guard in 1941 was the first occasion, since that period, of implementing the defence clause in the English Workmen’s Agreements by the formation of such a corps.)
17. [underlined] CONDITONS DURING BOMBING PERIOD [/underlined]
Meanwhile it was vitally necessary to excavate rock shelters for the protection of personnel and important plant, and to get as many workshops and offices as practicable sited underground as quickly as possible. This work was pressed forward with the limited labour available for the purpose.
18. Many of the….
[page break]
18. Many of the families of Naval and Civilian personnel from the United Kingdom were evacuated in 1939 and early 1940 to the Near East, South Africa and United Kingdom. A large number of families still remained in Malta, and took up residence, some 5 miles away from the Dockyard, at the St. George’s Barracks which were allocated by the Army Authorities for this purpose. There they were able to organise Messes [deleted] s [/deleted] , and although there were no rock-shelters but only slit trenches they and their men folk were able to feel some degree of confidence in that they were away from the main targets of the enemy.
19. It was not until April 1942 that the enemy concentrated air attacks on these barracks, which were then very severely damaged and had to be evacuated.
20. It had been necessary from the start to provide living accommodation in the Dockyard for staff required for A. R. P. and Fire Services , and for emergency work. As the enemy attacks increased, the bulk of the population of the Three Cities were evacuated to more distant places in the Island. This resulted in the withdrawal of the shopping and domestic services which were necessary to enable staff to live in these towns, and accommodation had to be improvised in the Dockyard for the majority of the Officers and Agreement Workmen. Emergency Messes were formed, but the conditions under which the Officers and Men had to live were not only devoid of comfort, convenience and means of recreation but positively unhealthy due to the damp.
21. The local workmen were now dispersed to living centres away from the Dockyard but means of transport for them were reduced to a minimum owing to general shortage of petrol, loss of supplies and loss of vehicles by enemy action. The daily journeys of the workmen between their homes and the Dockyard had to be made on foot for the most part, and were arduous journeys and full of uncertainties. As enemy action might at any time have resulted in some thousands of men being unable to leave the Yard, perhaps for some days, [deleted] and [/deleted] preparations to meet such a situation were organised and emergency food dumps prepared in suitable positions with the co-operation of the Civil Government.
22. On 23rd February 1942, owing to the shortage of petrol and need for economy in transport, a 5 day working week was adopted throughout the Island. To conform with this the Dockyard working hours became 9 1/2 hours daily, Monday to Thursday inclusive, and 9 hours on Fridays and this arrangement worked very smoothly. The establishments reverted to the normal 6 day working week on 1st November 1943.
23. After each bombing raid prompt action was taken to clear debris and fill craters, so as to keep the roadways and wharves as clear as possible to allow of the passage of the fire engines and other vital traffic.
Electric Light, power and telephone cables were broken and the installations put out of action time after time. These vitally important services however were always restored in a short space of time.
24. The water and gas services were put out of action early in 1941. Improvis [sic] [indecipherable arrangements for supply of water throughout the Dockyard were organised by means of water-carts and tanks placed in shelter under rock as far as possible.
25. The town of Senglea was completely isolated except b passing through the Dockyard, and was completely deprived of water supply. A tank vessel from Victuall [sic] Yard was placed alongside Senglea Marin [deleted] e [/deleted] [inserted] a [/inserted] to keep the remaining inhabitants supplie [inserted] d [/inserted] with water.
26. As much undamaged machinery as could be so dealt with was transferred [inserted] under [/inserted] rock shelter. Damaged machinery was rescued and brought into use again either [inserted] under [/inserted] rock shelter or in its original position [deleted] . [/deleted] [inserted] , [/inserted] [deleted] T[/deleted] [inserted] t [/inserted] he damaged shops being patched up [inserted] to [/inserted] provide the necessary protection from the weather.
27. Aggregations of large parties of personnel in the open or in exposed buildings were to be avoided. The Muster and Pay Stations had been demolished by enemy action, and lost muster-tickets could not be replaced. Ordinary mustering [inserted] was [/inserted] therefore impracticable and alternative arrangements were introduced. Payment of wages was made under rock shelter, but even so, currency notes were sometimes scattered by bomb blast.
28. The cumulative…..
[page break]
28. The cumulative effect of the damage mounted rapidly with the increasing force of the raids. Docks were put out of use, cranes and machinery throughout the Yard were destroyed or rendered useless, tugs, lighters and boats were sunk, workshops demolished, and stores and storehouses destroyed.
29. In order to maintain effective working, the Dockyard developed methods by which work usually done by machines, was done by hand. Though slow in operation, this meant that effective functioning was still maintained.
30.[underlined] EFFECTS OF DAMAGE [/underlined]
The air attacks on Malta reached their peak in April 1942 during which month there were no less than 283 raids.
31. The situation then was as follows: -
(a) All docks out of action. The only one capable of being used in the near future was No. 1, provided masonry could be repaired satisfactorily and if power supply to the pumping station could be kept in repair.
(b) The whole electrical distribution system, including underground and overhead lines for power, lighting and telephones had been repeatedly and severely damaged. Limited electric supplies were restored intermittently in the Nos: 4 and 5 Docks area round No. 1 Dock. Power could only be supplied with any reliability to the following, which were underground: -
M. C. D’s Small Ship Fitters’ Shop and Hand Benches
M. E. D’ s Optical Instrument Repair Shop, Tool Room, Coppersmiths’ Shop and Foundry
(c) No. 1 Ship Fitting Shop was severely damaged and completely out of action, and machines were being transferred to the first chamber of the underground shop, the incomplete excavation work being suspended for the purpose. Excavation of the second chamber was commenced.
(d) A limited amount of joinery and smiths’ work could be undertaken by hand.
(e) Pending extensive repairs to air mains, compressed air supply was dependent upon portable compressors loaned from salvage plant and by Civil Government, about 5 compressors being serviceable at any one time.
(f) Electrical Engineering work was limited by lack of material rather than damage. The damaged workshops were in process of moving into prepared sites underground or into such excavations as could receive them for the time being.
(g) Most of the Naval Stores were under masses of debris. Both diesel fuel lighters were sunk, and R. F. A. ‘BOXOL’ and two furnace fuel lighters damaged.
(h) Three tugs and one mooring vessel had been sunk, leaving only one tug and one mooring vessel available. The tug was undergoing extensive machinery repairs.
Many boats and lighters had been destroyed and many severely damaged. There were some 34 wrecks in the docks and harbours, besides remains of various lighters and small craft.
(i) The Victualling Yard and other adjacent establishments were without light, power and telephones, the cable routes and distribution having been damaged in far more places than it had been possible to cope with.
(j) The Armament Depot was without power and light, and all hydraulic cranes were out of action. A few hand cranes were expected to be useable when the wharf could be cleared, but all railway lines were broken. All of the workshops were demolished and all the above-ground stores and laboratory rooms damaged. Some gun and mine spares were recoverable. Half of the lighters had been sunk.
(k) The greater
[page break]
(k) The greater part of the Yard area was pitted with orators and strewn with debris, which in many places was of a massive nature and tangled with girders. Frequent air raids still continued to do damage.
32. [underlined] RECUPERATION [/underlined]
At the end of July the situation was as follows: -
[underlined] Docks [/underlined]-
No. 1- In full use, with power supply and welding facilities.
No. 2)- Repairs to caissons well in hand and pumping serviceable.
No. 3)
No.4- Out of Use.
No. 5- Preparations in hand for an attempt to repair the breach in dock walls. One pump serviceable.
[underlined] Power Light Telephones [/underlined] –
Restoration proceeding satisfactorily. Cables being led through excavated rock passages to minimise future risk of damage. Limited supplies of power and light restored to adjacent establishments but no E. H. T supplies yet possible.
[underlined] Shops & Plant [/underlined] –
Many motors for driving machine tools repaired and others in hand. Sufficient machines in operation to meet current requirements.
Compressed air available in No. 4 and 5 Docks and Factory area, and being extended to No. 1 Dock.
Eight fixed and travelling cranes restored and operating.
[underlined] In full working [/underlined] :-
Underground Compressor and Oxygen Plant
Underground Tool Room
Underground Gunmounting [sic] Shop
Underground Fitting Shop
Tube Shop
Welding Tube Shop
Temporary Smithery
Main Electrical Shop (Underground)
Extempore electrical workshops for mains, and telephones.
[underlined] Working with limited output [/underlined] :-
No. 1 Ship Fitting Shop
No. 3 Ship Fitting Shop (Underground)
Joiner’s Shop (extempore)
Foundry (Underground)
Coppersmiths’ Shop (Underground)
Boiler Shop
Saw Mills
Drawing Office- M. E. D. (Underground)
[underlined] Stores & Fuelling [/underlined] –
Recovery of Naval Stores proceeding. ‘BOXOL’ and two barges repaired and one of the barges reserved for diesel.
[underlined] Armament Depot [/underlined] –
Light restored, also limited 440 volt D.C. power. One 2 ton derrick and two 1 1/2 ton hand cranes operable.
Road and single rail facilities restored.
All workshops functioning by hand in improvised accommodation. No machines working.
Above ground stores and laboratory in partial use.
Recovery of buried material progressing.
18 lighters in service.
33. On 1st August 1942 the following signal was addressed to the Admiral Superintendent by the Vice-Admiral, Malta : -
“The recuperative power of the Dockyard, and steady progress are most satisfying.
“You and all others are concerned deserve high praise for what has been accomplished
“in so short a time. Please convey my congratulations to all. “ (T. O. O. 1129)
34. At this…….
[page break]
34. At this period the further restoration of the electrical system was hampered by shortage of cable and other materials. In the case of the telephone lines, undamaged lengths of cable were recovered from other routes and used for the repair of the most important lines.
35. Repairs to buildings were rendered difficult owing to shortage of materials and the slowness of removal of spoil from underground excavations, this being handicapped by lack of fuel.
36. The next 5 months showed a steady increasing rate of progress towards normal working capacity, in spite of the continual air raids, shortage of supplies and plant, and the demands on the Yard arising out of the development of Allied Operations for the liberation of North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
37. The great anxiety now was the shortage of food supplies in the Island. The August convoy brought partial relief and supplies were carefully husbanded, but by October the outlook had become very grave.
38. Civilian rations had been reduced until there was scarcely anything beyond a small ration of very poor quality bread and a very insufficient amount of corned beef. The arrival of the famous November convoy towards the end f November 1942, brought the much needed relief just in the nick of time, and removed what threatened to become the main weakness of the Island’s defences.
39. The situation at the end of December 1942 was as follows :-
[underlined] Docks [/underlined]
No.1 – In full working
No.2- In use for small craft. Wreck of ‘LANCE’ had been floated and redocked on 29th October and undocked 12th December. Dock then occupied by Caisson of No. 3 Dock for repairs. Power and welding facilities available.
No. 3- In use as a wet berth for small craft only as wrecks outside preclude [inserted] d [/inserted] entry of anything larger than a trawler. Expected to be available with power and welding facilities about end of March.
No. 4- Repairs to Caisson and face of groove in hand. Expected to pump out mid January and commence work on wreck of ‘KINGSTON’ .
No. 5- Repairs to masonry well advanced. Expected to pump out about 26th January.
[underlined] Electricity and Telephones [/underlined]
Restoration progressing satisfactorily to meet all requirements. Supplies of power to Armament Depot and Rinella not yet restored owing to lack of material.
[underlined] Compressed Air [/underlined]
Leads extended to No. 1 Dock via Cospicua, Store Wharf, Church Tunnel and M.C.D’s Fitting Shop. All M. E. D’s underground shops supplied and work in hand to supply to Boat House, Canteen Parlatorio Wharves.
[underlined] Workshops- Percentage of normal capacity [/underlined]
[underlined] C.D. Dept. [/underlined] –
Sail Loft 50
Rigging House (re-sited) 70
[underlined] Constructive [/underlined]
Smithery 85
Joiners 60
Paint Shop 90
Plumbers 90
Sawmills 40 (steadily improving)
Boat House 60
Welding 90
No. 4 & 5 Dock Shop 60
Destroyers Workshop 90
Ship Fitting Shops 60 (one underground)
Submarine Workshop 20
[underlined]Engineering[/underlined] …….
[page break]
[underlined] Engineering (Aboveground) [/underlined] –
Fitting Shop 40
Foundry 70
Coppersmiths 50
Motor Repair Shop 80
Tool Room Nil
Pattern Shop 75
Yard Machinery Shop 30
Gunmouting 40
Tube Shop 90
Other Boiler Shops 20
Smithery All hand work. Low output. No heavy forgings
[underlined] Engineering (Underground) [/underlined] –
Tool Room & Fitting Shop 100
Coppersmiths 50
Foundry (Not yet complete)
No. 60 Fitting Shop 100
No. 60 Gunmounting Shop 100
[underlined] Electrical [/underlined]-
If adequate supplies of material and stores were available 90
[underlined] Cranes [/underlined]-
Following cranes had been repaired and in full operation :-
Burmola Wharf 20 tons
Boiler Wharf 50 tons
No. 4 Dock 10 tons
Machinery Wf: 5 tons
(Six other 10 ton and 5 ton travelling cranes but limited by damaged tracks.)
Canteen Wharf, one fixed, 4 tons
Hamilton Wharf, one fixed, 4 tons being erected with 120 feet travel.
[underlined] Naval Stores [/underlined]
Recovery progressing steadily.
Greatly increased fuelling requirements being met successfully despite restricted facilities. Length of 12’’ fuelling main to Dolphins, 250 feet recently renewed.
[underlined] Armament Depot [/underlined]
Greatly increased commitments being met despite disabilities. Laboratory work reduced by weather pending repair to buildings. Mine Shop, capacity (Aircraft Mines 100%, Moored Mines 60%). Work of supply much hampered by lack of Hydraulic Crane System pending receipt of parts.
40. The limitations in general Yard capacity at the end of December 1942 were mainly due to :-
(a) Lack of berths alongside, owing to submerged wrecks.
(b) Lack of docks (situation improved by early April).
(c) Lack of welding and compressed air facilities at available berths.
(d) Lack of sufficient portable air compressors and welding sets.
(e) Lack of lifting facilities at available berths.
(f) Lack of materials and stores.
41. The redevelopment….
[page break]
41. The redevelopment undertaken was dealt with on the following general lines :-
(a) Underground excavations to be provided as an alternative for all the more important workshops and plant.
(b) Re-conditioning of normal workshops and provision of temporary aboveground accommodation for those items in (a) which had, of necessity, received a low priority, and for which it was not possible to provide rock cover in the immediate future.
42. Much of the progress was achieved by salvaging damaged machines and scrap materials which were freely used in extemporisation.
43. At the beginning of 1943 further progress was limited by the following factors:
(a) Civil Engineering Labour, of which there was a marked shortage due to heavy demands by all the Services and the Civil Government. This seriously affected excavation of underground shops, sub-stations etc, and repairs to buildings, roadways, mains etc.
(b) Lack of materials for repairing and re-roofing damaged buildings.
(c) Shortage of stores of all kinds.
(d) Lack of experienced salvage party with full equipment adequate to clear sunken wreckage from approaches to wharves and docks.
(e) Additional supervising staff was required by all Departments in order to expedite the redevelopment programme.
44. On 18th January 1943 the Commander-in-Chief sent the following message to the Vice-Admiral, Malta and the Admiral Superintendent :-
“I have read with much interest and pleasure the account of the present state
“of H.M Dockyard at Malta, contained in the Admiral Superintendent’s signals
“………and V. A. M’s letter ……….. and signal ………….
“The immense strides made in the way of recuperation since the days of
“intensive bombing have been clearly due to special efforts on the part of
“every Officer and man to achieve so much in such a short space of time, and
“reflects the greatest credit on all concerned. (T. O. O. 2136)”
45. Nos. 3 and 4 Docks were brought into use again early in April 1943, but the use of Nos. 2 and 3 Docks was still restricted by the presence of wrecks in the approaches. The repairs to No. 5 Dock were satisfactorily completed so that on 4th July the Dock was ready to take a Tribal Destroyer and on 24th July ready to take a cruiser.
46. In January 1943 in order to make the best use of the man power available, the employment of women in the Dockyard was introduced for the first time. They were allocated to jobs which were normally performed by men, but which were well within the capabilities of women, thus releasing men for other work of a nature requiring men’s efforts. At one time as many as [underlined] 700 [/underlined] women were employed, with success, but it could not be described as a popular venture as the industrial employment of women is not in accord with the traditions and beliefs of the Maltese people generally.
47. A Salvage Party arrived in February 1943 and set to work on the clearance of the dock approaches and harbours.
During the period prior to the advent of the Salvage Party, the Dockyard had salvaged the following vessels, in spite of the lack of adequate salvage plant, by persevering efforts and resourceful improvisation :-
[underlined] Number Salved [/underlined]
Tugs 4
Drifters 2
Trawler 1
Steam & Motor Boats 29
Lighters (Dockyard) 32
Lighters (Civil Govt: ) 104
[underlined] Put back into Service [/underlined]
Tugs 4
Drifters 2
Trawler (scrapped)
Steam and Motor Boats 7
Lighters (Dockyard) )
Lighters (Civil Govt : ) ) 121
48. Whilst.
[page break]
48. Whilst recovery was in the progress the Dockyard was faced with additional problems connected with the preparations for the invasion of Sicily and Italy for which Malta was the assembly port.
49. At this stage the receipt storage, and disposal of Naval Stores became a particularly difficult matter. Malta came into use as a storage and transit port for vast quantities of stores of all kinds destined for various future advanced bases. The lost storehouses could not be rebuilt, and space was not available in the Dockyard. All suitable accommodation elsewhere had already been taken up.
50. As general clearance progressed and nissen huts could be obtained and erected, some improvement took place, but the vast quantities of stores and materials to be dealt with continued to increase, presenting a formidable problem.
--------
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Appendix I. Malta dockyard - period of siege 1940-1943
Description
An account of the resource
When Italy entered the war in 1940, air raids were conducted over key military targets and peaked during the first half of 1942. Attacks ceased altogether by 1943 once Italy had surrendered. The various dockyards maintained efforts to keep ships in service, even though many workers were transferred to Alexandria and other docks in the Eastern Mediterranean. Workmen carried out numerous jobs for various branches of the armed forces and government. An anti-aircraft battery was also formed amongst the workmen of the dockyards. Various decorations received between members of the battery and dockyard workers formed guard units. Shelters were excavated in order to get facilities underground. Many families evacuated in 1939 and early 1940. Barracks were severely damaged, and living conditions were without comfort, many of the living centres were situated in the dockyards. Various utilities were damaged during the raids. In the height of the air attacks, docks were out of action, vessels sunk, yards covered in debris and depots without power. By July various docks were running with some still in need repair. Food shortages made the outlook grave. By December almost all docks restored and working capacity almost normal. By 1943, salvage and clearance of the dockyards finished whilst Malta became an assembly port. Storage became an issue whilst preparations for the invasion of Sicily and Italy took place.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1939
1939-09
1940
1940-05
1940-06-11
1941
1941-06
1942
1942-02-23
1942-04
1942-07
1942-08-01
1942-12
1943
1943-01-18
1943-02
1943-04
1943-10
1943-11-01
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Malta
Malta--Isla
Malta--Cospicua
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Navy
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Nine page typewritten document
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Benjamin Turner
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SLambertBrownP19330417v10003
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
E.W. Colvill
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
bombing
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1775/41460/SBeckettG622136v10084.pdf
1ad80d33a7a8300f60c8d66e7a83c316
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Beckett, Geoffrey
G Beckett
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2020-07-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Beckett, G
Description
An account of the resource
94 items. The collection concerns Sergeant Geoffrey Beckett (622136 Royal Air Force) and contains his diary, bible, notebook, correspondence, <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2271">an album,</a> photographs and details of his crew. He flew operations as an air gunner with 44 Squadron and was killed 17 December 1942. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Christopher Bruce Garden and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. <br /><br />Additional information on Geoffrey Beckett is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/101479/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[inserted] A SAD FOOTNOTE
A 1943 LETTER FROM A GIRL GEOFF BECKETT KNEW WHILE STATIONED AT RAF WITTERING . . .
[/inserted]
[postage stamp and postmark]
622136 Sgt G. Beckett,
c/o 48 Ashbury Drive,
Norton
Sheffield.
Please forward.
[page break]
From:- Miss. P. Perfett,
19, Gloucester Road,
Stamford,
Lincs.
[page break]
19, Gloucester Rd
Stamford,
Lincs
1-11-43.
Dear Geoff,
I expect you will be surprised to hear from me after such a long time but I often wonder how you are getting on these days so I thought I'd write to you. I think it was last Christmas-time when you wrote and wished me a marry Chrismas so I think its my turn this year to write to you.
Well Geoff, Im afraid I don't know where on earth you are stationed now, so I shall send this letter to your home address and hope that it will be forwarded on to you.
How is life treating you these days?
[page break]
2/
I think its just about two years since you were at Wittering, or should I say left Wittering although it doesn't seem so long as that. H
How is Peter getting on now. The last I heard was that he was training to be an observer [inserted] in Canada [/inserted] but I expect he is back in England now, isn't he? We all had some very happy times together did'nt we Geoff?
Did you know that Mary is out of the Waaf now. She is keeping house for her dad and brother. Her mother died about 6 months ago, after a very long illness and Mary came out the Waaf soon after. She has just started back at B & Co again on part-time work in the telephone exchange. I'm still on the same job too,
[page break]
3/
I often see the McCarthy girl and often Mary & I would like to ask her if she knows how you are but she looks at us so disdainfully that neither I, or Mary with all her cheek, have ever plucked up the courage to.
You would’nt find Stamford altered a great deal since you were here. By the way Geoff have you ever been here lately. There are'nt many Raf left at Witt now, it seems to be over run with Yanks and now and again you see a few sailors (I hope I'm not giving away vital information)
Now and again we go down to the dance at Blackstones on
[page break]
4
Friday nights but now were getting older(!) they don't seem to bother me so much. Let me see now, you must be nearly 23, getting old Geoff!
Actually I don't really know whether I'm writing to a married man or not now, because I think you said you were engaged the last time you wrote. Anyway I have’nt put anything bad in this letter have I?
I dont think you would recognize either Mary or I now, at least I should say you might recognize us but I feel much older and sensible [inserted] now [/inserted] than in the days when we knew you before. Remember the number of times we
[page break]
5
used to ring you up when you were on duty – It makes me blush to think of it!
Well, Geoff, I think I'll close now and if you can find the time to drop me a line I should very much like to hear from you.
Best wishes,
Peggy.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Peggy to Geoff Beckett
Sad footnote - 1943
Description
An account of the resource
Includes envelopes and 5 page letter from Peggy not knowing he had been killed, asking after Geoffrey Beckett and passing news of friends and acquaintances. Writes a little about Stamford and mentioning Wittering.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Miss P Pesfet
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-11-01
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11-01
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Northamptonshire
England--Yorkshire
England--Stamford
England--Sheffield
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Five page handwritten letter and envelope
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SBeckettG622136v10084
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Sue Smith
RAF Wittering
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1775/41305/SBeckettG622136v10085-0001.1.jpg
b2acd77b81ad024084db6f9291b21546
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1775/41305/SBeckettG622136v10085-0002.1.jpg
3467e360b84b1dbad10b3975d308847d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Beckett, Geoffrey
G Beckett
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2020-07-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Beckett, G
Description
An account of the resource
94 items. The collection concerns Sergeant Geoffrey Beckett (622136 Royal Air Force) and contains his diary, bible, notebook, correspondence, <a href="https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/show/2271">an album,</a> photographs and details of his crew. He flew operations as an air gunner with 44 Squadron and was killed 17 December 1942. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Christopher Bruce Garden and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. <br /><br />Additional information on Geoffrey Beckett is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/101479/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
In November 1943, a letter arrived at May Beckett’s, for forwarding to Sgt G Beckett. Written in blissful ignorance of the fact that he had now been missing for almost a year, the letter, from a girl he had known, is a poignant reminder of what a popular and fun loving young man Geoff was and how life and the war were moving on, without him.
19, Gloucester Rd
Stamford.
Lincs.
1-11-43
Dear Geoff.
I expect you will be surprised to hear from me after such a long time, but I often wonder how you are getting on these days, so I thought I would write to you. I think it was last Christmas-time when you wrote and wished me a merry Christmas, so I think it’s my turn this year to write to you. Well Geoff, I’m afraid I don’t know where on earth you are stationed now, so I shall send this letter to your home address and hope it will be forwarded on to you.
How is life treating you these days? I think it’s about two years since you were at Wittering, or should I say left Wittering, although it does’nt [sic] seem as long as that!!
How is Peter getting on now? The last I heard was that he was training to be an ‘observer’ in Canada, but I expect he is back in England now, is’nt [sic] he? We all had some very good times together did’nt [sic] we Geoff?
Did you know that Mary is out of the Waaf now? She is keeping house for her dad and brother. Her mother died about 6 months ago, after a very long illness and Mary came out of the Waaf soon after. She has just started back at ‘B and Co’ again, on part – time work in the telephone exchange. I’m still on the same job too.
I often see the McCarthy girl and often Mary and I would like to ask her if she knows how you are, but she looks at us so disdainfully that neither I, or Mary with all her cheek, have ever plucked up the courage to.
You would’nt [sic] find Stamford altered a great deal since you were here. By the way Geoff, have you been here lately? There are’nt [sic] many R.A.F. left at Witt’ now, it all seems to be Yanks and now and again you see a few sailors. (I hope I’m not giving away vital information)
[page break]
Now and again we go down to the dance at Blackstones on Friday nights, but now we are getting older (!) they don’t seem to bother me as much. Let me see now, you must be nearly 23, getting old Geoff!
Actually, I don’t really know whether I am writing to a married man or not now, because I think you said you were engaged last time you wrote. Anyway, I haven’t put anything bad in this letter, have I?
I don’t think you would recognise either Mary or I now, at least I should say you might recognise us, but I feel much older and sensible now, than in the days when we knew you before. Remember the number of times we used to ring you up when you were on duty – it makes me blush to think of it!
Well Geoff, I think I’ll close now and if you can find the time to drop me a line I would very much like to hear from you.
Best wishes
Peggy.
It is not hard to imagine poor Peggy’s shock and grief, when she read the reply that Geoff’s mother will have sent her, or the sadness with which May herself felt, as she put pen to paper.
The following month, on the 17th December 1943, Sergeant G. Beckett’s Flying Log was officially annotated, ‘Death Presumed’ 17.12.43.
The word ‘MISSING’ had been written against the last target, NIENBURG, this signed by S/Ldr G. Haywood. O.C. ‘B’ Flight and dated 5/6/43.
The final acknowledgement of Geoff’s presumed death was the signature of Wing Commander W.A. Williamson. O.C. 44 Sqdn.
Geoff’s mother May Beckett, did not accept that her son was dead, until her daughters Barbara and Jean, made her face this very unpalatable truth. Geoff was not coming back. They did not know where or how he died, or if he had a known grave. They were not to know until nineteen fortyfive.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to Geoff Beckett from Peggy
Description
An account of the resource
Transcribed letter with information that it was sent a year after he had gone missing, unknown by the author, to his mother for forwarding to Geoffrey. Catches up on old times and asks after him. Relates news of mutual acquaintances. Writes about Stamford which had changed a lot. Continues with chat about friends. Note at bottom that it was not hard to imagine Peggy's shock and grief when she read the reply from Geoff's mother. Gives some details of official notification and return of annotated log book and reaction of his mother.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-11-01
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11-01
1943-12017
1943-06-05
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Stamford
Germany
Germany--Nienburg (Lower Saxony)
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page printed (transcribed) letter
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending text-based transcription. Under review
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SBeckettG622136v10085
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
44 Squadron
missing in action
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1319/31746/EGrundyGClagueL431202-0001.2.jpg
97c740b4459c0064b2be050c4ddb2012
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1319/31746/EGrundyGClagueL431202-0002.2.jpg
39b7f82b7149c086e6c2e3faa7598d5d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Grundy, Lillian
L Grundy
Description
An account of the resource
15 items. An oral history interview with Lillian Grundy (b. 1923), and documents, including correspondence from a prisoner of war and photographs. She worked in an Avro factory during the war.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Lillian Grundy and catalogued by Trevor Hardcastle.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-09-28
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Grundy, L
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Postkarte
[date stamp] 02.12.43.
Miss Lilian Clague.
2 NEWTON, ST, HEATON PARK
PRESTWICH MANCHESTER.
LANCASHIRE. ENGLAND
[sender]
Fusilier George Grundy
16632
E155
Deutschland
[page break]
1/11/43
Dear Sweetheart I recieved [sic] your welcomed letter and photo of Gertie and Collin and I think Gertie is looking youger [sic] on it. Sorry to hear you fell down those stairs but I hope you are all right now my love I am looking forward to taking you to a dance but you will have to show me some steps first With All My Love George
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Prisoner of war post card for Lilian
Description
An account of the resource
From George Grundy thanking her for her letter and comments on the letter contents.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
George Grundy
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-11-01
1943-12-02
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One postcard
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text. Correspondence
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
EGrundyGClagueL431202-0001, EGrundyGClagueL431202-0002
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
British Army
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Great Britain
Poland
Poland--Łambinowice
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11-01
1943-12-02
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Jan Waller
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
prisoner of war
Stalag 8B
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1281/20066/EValentineUMValentineJRM431101-0001.1.jpg
2145c6d0ba0b3ae3ab4cb5c3e463a5d4
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/1281/20066/EValentineUMValentineJRM431101-0002.1.jpg
dc1a6b04f07136837e6cdc6d4a054a98
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Valentine, John
John Ross Mckenzie Valentine
J R M Valentine
Description
An account of the resource
674 Items. Collection concerns navigator Warrant Officer J R McKenzie Valentine (1251404 Royal Air Force). The collection contains over 600 letters between JRM Valentine and his wife Ursula. It also contains his log book, family/official documents, a book of violin music studies and other correspondence. Sub-collections contain family photographs, prisoner of war photographs and a scrapbook of newspaper cuttings of events from 1942 to 1945.
He joined 49 Squadron in April 1942 and flew 10 operations on Hampdens. The squadron converted to Manchester in May when he completed two further operations. His aircraft was shot down on the Thousand Bomber raid of 30/31 May 1942. Five crew, including him bailed out successfully and became prisoners of war. The pilot and one air gunner were killed when the aircraft rolled over and crashed.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Frances Zagni and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-09-06
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Valentine, JRM
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Start of transcription
To Sgt JRM Valentine
British P/W No. 483
Stalag Luft VI via Luft III
Germany.
[stamp GEPRUFT 25]
From Mrs Valentine
Little Close, Devon Road
Salcombe Devon.
1st November 1943
My own darling Johnnie,
I expected to be up in town today wrestling with the house-decoration, but the solicitors apparently couldn’t get it all fixed up for 30th October as at first arranged, so I’m still waiting. What [underlined] do [/underlined] solicitors do all day long? During the week I received your letter of Sept. 5th & one or two earlier cards. In this letter you write a good deal about the house at Bromfield & sound as enthusiastic about it as I was. What a pity that it turned out to be such a wreck! If only it had been as sound as it looked at first sight it would have done fine. Felmersham is definitely not so picturesque, it is only 12 years old, & it is hard for a semi-detached house to look picturesque. But it is built of brick, not rough-cast, which I dislike, & its garden is much bigger than the one at Bromfield though it hasn’t the old trees which were there. Anyway I was very glad to see from your letter that you approve of buying a house even tho’ it hasn’t all the land we wanted – we couldn’t have afforded it. I was also very pleased to see that you have ordered an extra allowance from the RAF for me. I haven’t heard from them about it – in fact they have just docked me my 3/6 London allowance six weeks in arrear – a wonderful system of accounts, truly! I will give you more exact descriptions of your new home-to-be when I get there – I have thought & dreamed & wondered & calculated such
[page break]
a lot about it since I saw it over 2 months ago that I really can’t remember any more what is fact & what wishful thinking.
It seems a long way off to Christmas but this letter may not reach you till then, so I send you my warmest Christmas wishes & a special big dollop of love. Its no good any Christmas pretending to be the real thing until you come home again. Frances & I will probably be down here again for the holiday, since Ba & Peter hope to be here too & Mother is very anxious to have the family united, so I expect there will be considerable jollification, but my heart will be with you, my darling. Mother & Daddy are ordering a book to be sent to you for a Christmas present, which will probably reach you for your birthday. I haven’t sent you anything apart from your quarterly parcel, but if funds allow I’ll buy you a present for the house or garden. I want to put in several fruit trees & bushes & am just waiting to see how much I have left over from the £40 I have put aside for the removal. While living here of course I have saved money but most of it is earmarked, £8 for paint, floor stain, brushes, kettles & other ironmongery bought in Kingsbridge & sent direct to the house (this includes paint for the outside woodwork which I hope to tackle in the spring) £5 for the Building Society’s solicitor, £8 to Mother for the green carpet which was in the back bedroom at Lido & is destined for our sittingroom – so it goes on. I have had 2 very nice letters from George Touche about your Rolex watches, but the matter isn’t settled quite yet, tho’ everyone is eager to help. Frances now wears a small blue ribbon to restrain the “curl right down the middle of the forehead.” She sends you a big kiss. Yours always Ursula
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter to prisoner of war John Valentine from his wife Ursula
Description
An account of the resource
Still waiting to move into their new house. Reports arrival of his letters written in September and writes describing their new house. Mentions finances and sends Christmas greetings and talks of future plans. Concludes with mention of daughter's new hair ribbon.
Date
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1943-11-01
Contributor
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Tricia Marshall
Format
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Two page handwritten letter
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Correspondence
Identifier
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EValentineUMValentineJRM431101
Coverage
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Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Devon
England--Salcombe
Lithuania
Lithuania--Šilutė
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11-01
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ursula Valentine
prisoner of war
Stalag Luft 6
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/458/8026/PColonnaB1601.2.jpg
e09401e927096ae064b806af42874de5
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/458/8026/AColonnaB161008.1.mp3
5eb85ed8d2540363aca12ab64ae4c997
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Colonna, Benito
B Colonna
Benito Colonna
Description
An account of the resource
One oral history interview with Benito Colonna who recollects his wartime experiences in Rimini.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-10-08
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Colonna, B
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Interview with Benito Colonna
Description
An account of the resource
Benito Colonna recalls the bombings of Rimini and other wartime experiences. He was with his mother when he witnessed the 1 November 1943 bombing: he saw aircraft approaching and bombing the town, targeting the railway station. People were unprepared, unaware of the danger and many did not manage to reach a shelter. He recalls the noise of the explosions, smoke and fires everywhere - nearly 60 people died that day. Another subsequent strike involved nearly 50 aircraft, but this time with less casualties and more damage. He stresses the strategic importance of railway lines. Benito explains how they were forced to leave their home when Germans established a military zone. He recalls German troops searching his home, where his father and a friend were hiding.
Creator
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Daniele Celli
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-10-08
Format
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01:01:51 audio recording
Language
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ita
Type
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Sound
Identifier
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AColonnaB161008
PColonnaB1601
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Italy
Italy--Rimini
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11-01
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Conforms To
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Pending OH transcription
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Maureen Clarke
bombing
childhood in wartime
home front
shelter
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/files/original/183/2373/PWoodC1604.2.jpg
9fd9da67b8c243b07b1ad98de3ee2a51
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wood, Colin
Description
An account of the resource
15 items. An oral history interview with Warrant Officer Colin Wood (1922 - 2021, 1451225 Royal Air Force), his log book, service record and seven photographs including pictures of some of his crew. Colin Wood trained in Canada and flew operations as a navigator with 106 Squadron from RAF Metheringham. His crew were:
428289 - Andy A Anderson, pilot
1593692 - D Evans, flight engineer
1451225 - Colin Wood, navigator
1564707 - G H McElhone, bomb aimer
1873924 - P Thomas Tobin, wireless operator
1584474 - Vernon R Grogan, mid upper gunner
1595586 - R O Day, rear gunner.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Colin Wood and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-03-25
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Wood, C
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Airman standing by hut
Description
An account of the resource
Unidentified airman standing outside a wooden hut.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1943-11-01
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PWoodC1604
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943-11-01
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
training