Browse Items (119 total)

  • Spatial Coverage is exactly "England--Somerset"

AAtkinsonA150623.mp3
Arthur Atkinson was born in Lancaster, and worked in the local Co-Op until he joined the Royal Air Force. He trained as a wireless operator and served at RAF Ringway before being posted to RAF Coningsby and later RAF Skellingthorpe with 61 Squadron.…

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AYeandleBA181229.mp3
After leaving school, Bertram Yeandle joined the RAF apprentice scheme and trained as an engine fitter at RAF Halton. After completing his apprenticeship at RAF Cosford, he was posted to 148 Squadron, RAF Harwell, where he serviced Wellingtons. In…

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PBainH1602.jpg
Bettie was born in Wakefield. The family moved to Doncaster when she was eleven and at 21 she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service. While in Doncaster she helped at the YMCA café as part of the war effort and that is where she met and married…

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PBrettDT1501.jpg
Dennis was born in 1924 and joined the Royal Air Force in November 1942. He trained as a flight mechanic airframe at RAF Locking and was responsible for the whole of the aircraft, apart from the engines and the guns. Dennis explained the emergency…

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ATylerEA171208.mp3
Elizabeth Anne Tyler talks about her family’s farmland, its history and when it was purchased by the Air Force for the construction of RAF North Luffenham. Mentions various episodes of wartime life around Edith Weston, as reported by family members…

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PHarrisonEW1903.jpg
Eric William Harrison joined the RAF in 1943 and trained as a flight engineer at RAF Locking, RAF St Athan, and RAF Chedburgh, where he flew Stirlings and recollects that they were a terrifying aircraft compared to Lancasters. Harrison formed a crew…

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PHarrisJ1901.jpg
Jack Harris resumes describing his post-war career in the Royal Air Force. In October 1955, he became the commanding officer of 542 Squadron, a special duties squadron responsible for sampling radioactive fallout produced by American and Soviet atom…

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PCulkinJ1702.jpg
Jean Culkin grew up in Sunderland and worked as a tea girl and then a typist in a reserved occupation. She discusses her life and her wedding to her husband, John George Mackel Culkin. He was an apprentice at RAF Halton before becoming a fitter…

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PGreenJ1901.jpg
John Green was born on the 22nd of September 1921 in Penge, South East London. He registered for the Royal Air Force to prevent being called up by the Army and was drafted in 1942. He was posted to the Isle of Man, where he volunteered as a drogue…

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ABrandonJP180302.mp3
June Brandon was born in India, returning to England when her father died. She joined the WAAF and went into the Photographic Section, loading cameras on Spitfires then carrying out development of the films. She served at several RAF stations,…

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PLindleyK1801.jpg
Kenneth Lindley was born in Hillsborough, Sheffield in 1926. Before joining the RAF Kenneth was an engineer’s apprentice, and often helped the Air Raid Warden by acting as a messenger. He reminisces joining the Air Training Corps as a teenager.…

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AFerdinandoP151005.mp3
Pauline Fernando, widow of Harold William Fernando, reminisces her late husband. His father was posted in Germany after the First world War, where he met his wife. During the war he was stationed at Binbrook, Bath, and other stations, carrying out…

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PLambertRW1801.jpg
In 1943, when Richard was 17 and a half, he cycled into Guildford to sign up to volunteer for the Royal Air Force. He reported to Lords cricket ground to collect his uniform and gear and then went for training at RAF Hednesford for a six-month…

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PGerardJA1801.jpg
Tony lived in South Pool before moving to Liverpool with his job in a bank. He also belonged the Air Training Corps. After about a year he decided to sign up for the Royal Air Force. His assessment and medical were at Liverpool. He was called up to…

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LCotterJDP168678v1.pdf
Royal Canadian Air Force pilots flying log book for J D Cotter, covering the period from 11 January 1942 to 22 April 1944. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RCAF Caron, RCAF North Battleford, RAF Swanton Morley,…

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SWeirG19660703v030002.pdf
Pilots flying log book for J S Ross covering the period from 21 January 1943 to 12 March 1946. Detailing his instructor duties, operations flown, flying training and post war duties with 246 Squadron and 511 Squadron. He was stationed at RAF…

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MHayleyCA146347-160303-010004.jpg
On the left two newspaper cuttings with announcement and details of wedding at Weston Turville. Bottom left a photograph of a single story cottage with dormer windows, a garden in front and trees behind. Captioned 'Our first home in Yewtree Cottage,…

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LAllenJH179996v1.pdf
Royal Canadian Air Force pilots flying log book for J H Allen, covering the period from 2 December 1942 to 14 January 1947. Detailing his flying training, operations flown, instructor duties and post war squadron duties. He was stationed at, RCAF…

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PFirthJB1607.jpg
Head and shoulders portrait of John Firth in tunic and side cap. On the reverse 'AC1 Locking, 1943'.

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LKennedyJL19210211v1.pdf
Pilots flying log book for John L Kennedy, covering the period from 2 February 1942 to 30 November 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Induna, RAF Kumalo, RAF Perth, RAF South Cerney,…

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PThomasAF20010004.jpg
The first two are the same and are captioned 'possibly on occasion of their Golden Wedding 1921'.
The third photo is wife of Charles Thomas.
All are family members of Arthur Thomas.

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SWatsonC188489v1-1.pdf
A memoir written by Cliff Watson divided into 20 chapters.

The Earliest Years.
Born in Barnoldswick, then in Yorkshire, now in Lancashire in 1922. His father ran a wireless business until 1926. He describes his years at schools and a move to…

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PThomasAF20010038.jpg
Photo 1 is Sergeant Len Jones, Home Guard at Banwell in 1943.
Photos 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are ships forming up for a 1941 convoy from Boston. The photographer is Arthur's friend Cecil Reid.

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EAkrillWEAkrill[Mo]420504-0001.jpg
Writes about exams and passing. Mentions leave possibility and church parade. Speculates over embarkation and writes of being re-equipped. Starts writing about a friend's experience of a bombing attack on Bath but then breaks off. Resumes to write of…

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SBakerDA19210428v20172-0001.jpg
Writes that he would be leaving for Rhodesia in a couple of weeks and have option of sea or air. Mentions visiting relatives in Somerset and catches up with family news and tells of activities. Also mentions a visit to Torquay to see friends. Says…
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