Browse Items (87 total)
- Temporal Coverage starts with "1940-06"
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Interview with Margherita Franco
Margherita Franco (b. 1934) remembers listening to the declaration of war on the radio while her father kept working in the garden. She describes her mother preparing a bag with food and other necessities and hanging heavy curtains at the windows as…
Interview with Jim Wright. Two
John Wright was born in 1932. He was evacuated from West Ham during the war, along with his mother and two brothers. His father joined the Royal Air Force as an Observer Bomb Aimer with 207 Squadron. His aircraft was shot down over Switzerland on…
Interview with Gerald Rich
Gerald’s father, Wilfred, joined the Royal Air Force in January 1920 and stayed until about 1927 training as an aircraft fitter. He re-joined in June 1940 at RAF Cardington. In 1944, upon completion of training, he went to No. 1 Air Gunnery School…
Interview with Ernest Holmes
Ernest Holmes joined the RAF and served as a pilot, flying operations first with 76 Squadron and then on Pathfinders. Gives a vivid and detailed account of when he was shot down over Holland: how he was given shelter by a farmer’s family and moved…
Interview with Eraldo Bessone
Eraldo Bessone (b.1925) describes the bombing of an industrial area close to the Lingotto district in Turin. He tells how it was completely unexpected and stresses how the population was totally unprepared. Eraldo describes his attempt to reach a…
Interview with Anna Maria Baccolini
Anna Maria Baccolini (b. 1933) recalls the first bombing of Turin, aimed at the Lingotto industrial area. She describes the impressive sight of the city burning and highlights the effects of nearby hits. She remembers the tender gesture of her father…
I saved my baby from the Nazis
Newspaper page from Daily Sketch with account of a father who went to Normandy in France to rescue his wife and one year old son. Describes bombing of Le Havre and German advance. Goes on to mention aircraft machine gunning refugee columns.
Hitler and Mussolini decide France's fate
Mani article - subsidiary headline: Petain orders fight on, Nazi white flag advance. Report on Hitler and Mussolini meeting when agreed attitude towards French request for armistice. Other headline|: French army of 500000 escapes, France bound by…
Harry Aspinall's service record
The service record of Harry Aspinall from 21 June 1940 to 23 April 1944.
Hampden aircraft and crews
Left page.
Top left - head and shoulders portrait of Sergeant Stephen Dawson wearing tunic with pilot brevet and side cap. Captioned 'Brand new wings, June 40'. Top right - looking down on aircrew wearing flying helmet in the rear gunners position…
Top left - head and shoulders portrait of Sergeant Stephen Dawson wearing tunic with pilot brevet and side cap. Captioned 'Brand new wings, June 40'. Top right - looking down on aircrew wearing flying helmet in the rear gunners position…
H W Bennett’s RAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book. One
H. W. Bennett’s RAF Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, from 23 April 1937 to 14 June 1943, detailing training, operations and instructional duties as an Air Observer, Air Gunner, Bomb Aimer and Navigator. Includes bombing and…
Four Bomber Command Intelligence Reports
All marked 'Secret'. They are dated 6th June and give situation reports about the Allied lines and enemy ground, air and rail activity.
Five men in a Battle
Account of possibly the last Battle aircraft to escape from France before the country fell to the Germans in June 1940. Tells of the aircraft of 88 Squadron being repaired after being force down at Poitiers. Took of from Fontenoy-Le-Conte near La…
Ewakuacja z Francji, czerwiec 1940. Statek "Arrandora Star". St Jean-de-Luz - Liverpool
Photo 1 is the ship 'Arandora Star'.
Photo 2 are seagulls and clouds
Photo 3 is some men at the side of the ship as it is cruising along.
Photo 4 is three men in uniform on the ship.
Photo 5 is a building at the side of the river.
Photo 6 is a…
Photo 2 are seagulls and clouds
Photo 3 is some men at the side of the ship as it is cruising along.
Photo 4 is three men in uniform on the ship.
Photo 5 is a building at the side of the river.
Photo 6 is a…
Evacuation
Pages from Jack's diary for 6 June 1940 to 21 June 1940 describing the withdrawal through France and his subsequent evacuation from Jersey by ship. He describes the advancing Germany Army, crowds of refugees, packing and destroying equipment that had…
Edward Nevill's decorations
A frame containing Edward's five medals, a head and shoulders portrait and a newspaper cutting about his award of a DFM.
Decorations are: Distinguished Flying Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-1945.
Decorations are: Distinguished Flying Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-1945.
Dunkirk leaflet
Map of northern France showing surrounded pocket with their backs to the French coast, in French and English suggesting that as they are surrounded they should surrender.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No…
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No…
Drei Machte ein Kriegsziel
The leaflet observes that Britain has been joined by the United States and Soviet Union with their leaders sharing Churchill’s vision and words, seeking freedom and peace for all people. Churchill has undertaken to help everyone who fights against…
Donald Baker's war time story taken from letters which he wrote to his mother in Rhodesia
Stars in June 1940 based on letters written to his mother. Tells of life in Rhodesia before being called up and travelling to England, Discusses war as well as work and social life and initial training in Rhodesia. Goes on to describe a little of…
Britain's middle east army: we stand firm
Main article - covers order to middle east army by Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Wavell and Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Longmore to fight on and that Egypt had been asked to declare war on Italy. Other headlines: ford to make 6000 air engines,…
Britain's hour of destiny
Page 7 - editorial comments with photograph of a Whitley production line. Other headlines: Britain will fight on, munition worker's pay
Battle of the Espero convoy. Part 7
The searchlight of a Royal Navy vessel casts a yellow beam onto a group of survivors. Some of them are swimming, others are on a raft. In the foreground, a life craft can be seen on the turret on the deck of another ship. A second Royal Navy vessel…
Battle of the Espero convoy. Part 6
Two life rafts are packed with survivors, some clothed others almost naked. The life raft in the foreground carries approximately nine men. Two others are being helped to climb on board. Two of the men appear seriously injured and one holds a pistol.…
Battle of the Espero convoy. Part 5
The badly damaged operations room of destroyer Espero, with a gaping hole in the ship's side and pieces of machinery engulfed in smoke. Five men are visible in total, three officers dressed in white uniforms and two seamen in blue with red stripes…