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Interview with Ronald Last
Ronald Last grew up in Dorset and worked as an apprentice for the local Gas and Water company before volunteering for the Air Force. He attended the reception centre at Lord's Cricket Ground and describes the medical tests and inoculations recruits…
Interview with Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson reminisces about John Blair. He discusses family life in rural Jamaica as a mixed-ethnicity person, highly respected by everyone. He was a qualified teacher, a lawyer, and a farmer. Reminisces other Caribbeans who volunteered and served…
Interview with David Jackson
David Jackson tells of his father, Norman Jackson VC, born in Ealing, London in 1919 and who worked in an engineering company when the war broke out. After initially trying to join the navy, he then joined the RAF and classified as a fitter on…
Interview with Stan Instone
Thomas (Stan) Instone was working at a factory making Bristol Hercules engines but volunteered to be aircrew as soon as he was of age. Initially his application was unsuccessful but he persevered and trained as ground crew. He later remustered as a…
Interview with Ronald Indge
Ronald Indge was a wireless operator on 578 Squadron and became a prisoner of war after his Halifax aircraft was shot down. Upon leaving school, and unable to obtain employment in his chosen career, his father arranged a bound apprenticeship with a…
Interview with Eddie Humes
During the war, Eddie Humes flew as a navigator on Lancasters with 514 Squadron. In May 1939, he chose to join the RAF instead of going to work in the mines. He was initially expected to be posted as a rigger on aircraft but was then sent to a…
Interview with Janet Hughes. Two
After flying as a spare, Reginald Wilson (Hughes’ father) formed a new crew and completed their first operation to Berlin on the 29th December 1943. During their second operation to Berlin on the 20 January 1944, the aircraft was shot down. Upon…
Interview with Fred Hooker. Two
Fred Hooker was a mid-upper gunner on 102 Squadron at RAF Pocklington, where he flew three operations before being shot down. Born in Hartley Wintney in 1924, Fred’s first experience of the RAF was visiting RAF Odiham as a member of the Air…
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 George Hextell
George Hextell joined the RAF as a flight engineer and flew operations with 51 Squadron on Halifaxes. After being shot down over Holland, he became a prisoner of war. Gives a detailed account of how his capture, imprisonment and liberation. Describes…
Douglas Hudson Royal Air Force personnel document
Contains personal information and postings/locations from joining to discharge on 28 February 1947. Notes that he was reported missing on 27 August 1940, was subsequently interned in Tunisia. Notes he was recommended for commission.
Letter to Toussainte
Douglas thanks Toussainte for the news, and compliments her English. Mention of how Christmas and New Year were spent, and of receiving letters from England. He wishes to continue the correspondence.
Additional information about this item was…
Additional information about this item was…
Letter from Douglas Hudson to Marcelle
Letter to Morcelle wishing to meet again for walks, to teach each other French and English, and to have a photograph taken together.
Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Letter to Douglas Hudson in Le Kef
Letter from French girl to Douglas Hudson while he was interned in Le Kef. Thanks him for his letter and hopes war will be over in 1941 and he can return to England. She writes she will keep the button he gave her and asks if he will send her his RAF…
Letter to Douglas Hudson in Le Kef
Letter from French girl to Douglas Hudson while he was interned in Le Kef. Pleased that he has received news from England. Writes about weather and her ability with English language. Hopes he will be home soon and will keep gift he gave her. Writes…
Letter to Douglas Hudson in Le Kef
Letter to Douglas Hudson asking that he no longer writes to a French girl because she is in trouble over the amount of correspondence she is receiving.
Letter to Douglas Hudson in Aumale
Reply to letter he sent to a French girl asking why he did not come and see them before moving to Aumale and reflecting on how she felt after their departure. Continues with hope he is alright and asks if there is anything she can send him.
Letter to Douglas Hudson
Letter in French to Douglas Hudson while he was interned. Letter sent by French girl. Additional information about this item was kindly provided by the donor.
Obituary for Sergeant Air Gunner D W Randall
Reports death in active service of Air Gunner Douglas William Randall who was previously a fellow inmate of Laghouat internment camp where he produced the camp newspaper and helped organise sport.
Rescued from Vichy's grasp
Account of Douglas Hudson's safe arrival home after two years internment in French North Africa. Notes squalid conditions in camps and two escape attempts.
Two years in Prison Camp - airman's ordeal in Tunisia
Sergeant observer J Douglas Hudson resting at home after being released from spending two years in French North African internment camps. Freed after British and American troop landings in November. Tells of force landing in Tunisia, internment in Le…
Rescued from North African Internment Camp - Burnley Boys Home after great ordeal
Account of release of two Burnely men (Ordinay Seaman G Taylor and Marine C Latham) amongst French North Africa nternees freed by American Forces. Both had been aboard HMS Manchester which was torpedoed in Mediterranean on August 13th. Tells of…
Prisoners dig 187-ft To Freedom
Relates how after tunnelling 187 feet to escape from internment camp in Algeria, 29 soldiers were recaptured. Tunnel took seven months dug in relays 24 hours a day. After escape Arab guards tracked them down and they were sent back to prison.
Laghouat (Alger) - Caserne Margeritte
View from a hill of a military camp surrounded by a wall. Camp contains many single story buildings with arched promenades. In the background mountains. On the reverse 'Our prison camp occupied part of this caserne and was "barbed wired off"…
Laghouat - Vue Général
Walled town in a valley, In the background a forest and other buildings. On the reverse addressed to Mr and Mrs H E Hudson and writes that he is fit and well and he has written another letter with more news.