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Interview with Franco Nocchieri
Franco Nocchieri recalls his early years as an orphan living in several different towns in the Province of Pavia. He describes the bombing of the Voghera railway station, which started while he was heading to school. He goes on to explain how he and…
Interview with Rob Carter
Rob Carter was born in the village of Scampton and reminisces about his life on the land before the war. He recalls the foundation of RAF Dunholme Lodge, which his house overlooked. During the war, he served in the Auxiliary Fire Service. He was…
Interview with Jim Auton
Jim Auton grew up on Royal Air Force stations and joined the Royal Air Force at 17. He trained as a pilot navigator and bomber at RAF Ansty near Coventry, then in South Africa under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He trained on B-24s at Lidder and,…
Bombing of San Giorgio di Nogaro
A group of civilians takes shelter in a ditch at night. In the middle distance, a bare landscape with sparse trees is illuminated by bursts of anti-aircraft fire and flares.
Label reads “93”; signed by the author; caption reads “9 Gennaio 1944. S.…
Label reads “93”; signed by the author; caption reads “9 Gennaio 1944. S.…
Anti-partisan action at S. Giorgio di Nogaro
In a barn full of animals, an exchange of gun fire is taking place between fascists disguised as partisans and civilians. The soldier in the foreground has been badly shot and another soldier is running out through the barn doors.
Inscriptions…
Inscriptions…
Interview with Helga Cent-Velden
Helga Cent-Velden (b. 1926) recounts her life in Berlin, living under constant threat of bombing. She describes how her father tried to locate a suitable air raid shelter for the family and, especially, how he ruled out the Shell House because of a…
Interview with Marino Ferrari
Marino Ferrari recalls his early life as an engineer at Pavia arsenal, and later in Catanzaro and Verona. He describes his life as an Italian military internee in East Prussia, working in different lumberyards. Marino speaks with affection of the…
Interview with Alessandra Rivalta
Alessandra Rivalta recalls her early life, first as member of Opera Nazionale Balilla then as an undergraduate student at the faculty of humanities. She describes the start of the war, early anti-aircraft precautions and wartime life: food shortages;…
Interview with Paolo Bottani
Paolo Bottani recalls wartime memories as part of a working-class family in Milan. He describes the widespread enthusiasm for the declaration of war, followed by a relatively calm period. He remembers the alarms being greeted, initially, with joy…
Interview with Fausta Maggioni
Fausta Maggioni recalls memories of her wartime life in Milan. She describes a sizeable shelter reinforced with wooden props; a little bag with the few valuables she had always to bring along; as well as the many duties of her father, as warden, who…
Interview with Ferdi Righi
Ferdinando Righi recalls his early life in Monfalcone, brought up by his mother while his father served as a submariner. He describes daily life in wartime: how he used to sleep fully clothed, waiting for the air raid siren. His mother would put some…
Interview with Maria Malagni
Maria Malagni (b. 1921) remembers her difficult childhood and chequered schooling history. She recalls wartime episodes: the death of her fiancé, an airman shot down over Brindisi; fascists seizing supplies; the capture of two partisans that her…
William Barfoot with a dog at Langley Moor
Leading Aircraftsman William Barfoot is sitting on a wall outside a church at Langley Moor. He has a dog sitting on his lap, wearing a side cap with white flash.
The description of this item is partially based on information provided by the donor.…
The description of this item is partially based on information provided by the donor.…
Interview with Efrem Colombi
Efrem Colombi recalls his care-free childhood, initially in the Bergamo countryside and then in Milan. He emphasises his life-long, radical, anti-Clericalism and recounts how he ran away several times from Catholic boarding schools due to his…
Interview with Tino Luparia
Tino Luparia (b. 1930) chronicles the first daylight bombing of Turin which was aimed at the SPA industries, which was then a defence contractor. He describes the effects of a massive, unexploded bomb which pierced all floors of a building and…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father with general conversation about attending St. Paul’s School in Darjeeling. Describes buying some new spikes, the school fair being a great success, where horse racing took place and Sylvia Cox visited. Recounts…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father with general conversation about attending St. Paul’s School in Darjeeling. He writes that he is hoping to buy a puppy and Mrs. Pelly held a party which was a great success. Has been invited to his friend Sylvia…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father with general conversation about attending St. Paul’s School in Darjeeling. The weather is getting colder, but goes out horse riding and a visit to the pictures. New rector at the school, Mr Goddard, previously a…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father with general conversation about attending St. Paul’s School in Darjeeling. Informs that he has bought his mother perfume for her birthday. Travelled by train to Ghoon and weather is better there. No more horse…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father with general conversation about attending St. Joseph’s College, Naini Tal. Starts with a conversation about the high rainfall for the year, then discusses having been in trouble with the police, regarding an…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father with general conversation about attending St. Joseph’s College, Naini Tal. David writes that his younger brother and he have just returned from the annual camp, having won ten cups for sporting activities. He…
Letter from David Boldy to his father
Letter from David Boldy to his father about losing his father’s dog, Prince; applying to the Royal Air Force; and leaving the farm to move back to London as war looks inevitable. He comments that the city is calm and will send some photos of himself,…
Interview with Angela Bianchi
Angela Bianchi remembers wartime life in the outskirts of Pavia, where she lived on a farm with other families. She recalls her experiences of being bombed while working in a clothes factory, situated close to one of the most important Ticino…
Letter from David Boldy to his parents
Letter from David Boldy to his parents. General conversation about life at St. Paul's school in Darjeeling, with references to schoolmates having beetles, quarantined pets, and new watches.
Interview with Guido Dell’Era
Guido Dell’Era recollects daily life in wartime Milan, stressing inadequate war preparation. He describes a disciplined, regimented society which later turned to disillusionment. He recollects the declaration of war, the fall of the fascist regime…