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Interview with Rinaldo Sarani
Rinaldo Sarani reminisces about the bombings of Pavia describing widespread damage at Borgo Ticino and people being extricated out of rubble. Stressed the importance of bridges: ponte della ferrovia, ponte vecchio, ponte dell’impero, ponte della…
Interview with a survivor of the Voghera bombings (informant C)
The informant recollects his wartime experiences in Voghera. Claims he has always had the gift of sensing impending events, the first episode being when he told his mother that aircraft are approaching before the siren had sounded, and therefore…
Interview with Luigi Cabrini
Luigi Cabrini describes his daily life in a rural community, stressing the labour-intensive nature of farming in wartime. He tells of Pippo bombing at night and reminisces about an interrupted schooling history in Pavia and Voghera, due to strafing,…
Leave or Duty Ration Card
A card issued to John for his rations.
Interview with Delia Del Corto
Delia del Corto (b. 1932) remembers daily life in wartime Tuscany, living in a family of ten. Provides details on rural life, especially home bread making, and stresses the difficult coexistence with feared German troops. Mentions many anecdotes in…
Interview with Marisa Bianchi
Marisa Bianchi remembers her wartime years at Sesso, a rural hamlet in the Reggio Emilia province. Stresses the abundance of locally farmed food and emphasises how billeted German troops were friendly and supportive, even if she and her family had to…
Interview with Leonardo Gravina
Leonardo Gravina describes his early life in the rural district of the Puglia region, near the towns of Foggia and S. Giovanni Rotondo. He remembers seeing formations of aircraft taking off and landing from an airfield nearby and speaks fondly of an…
17 auxiliary firemen with fire pump
17 auxiliary firemen standing in a group behind and to the sides of a fire pump which has large bore hoses on the front and coiled hoses on the rear. All firemen are in uniform tunic with belts and peaked hats. In the background a brick wall. Pump is…
Home Guard on parade
Group of home guardsmen on parade in three ranks. In front are two officers with peaked caps and one with greatcoat. Guard of honour of three men, two flankers with shouldered rifles stand in front of front rank. Bob Carter's father is right hand man…
Interview with Arthur Hydes
Arthur Hydes grew up in Ingham and his family were closely involved with the life of the RAF camp during the war, watching the airfield being built and operations from there. He talks about the village before, during and after the war, including…
Interview with Wanda Szuwalska
Wanda Szuwalska was born on a farm in Poland and was deported to Russia by train at the start of the Second World War. She talks of the journey to Russia, the time she and her family spent there, then coming to England and becoming a WAAF. Wanda…
Victory message from the King to all schoolchildren
![MCarterRH[DoB]-150629-080001.jpg](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/126/1266/MCarterRH[DoB]-150629-080001.jpg "MCarterRH[DoB]-150629-080001.jpg")
Notes that children had shared hardship and should be proud of their effort. Signed 'George RI'. On the reverse 'Important War dates' with table of dates fro 1939-1945.
Celebratory letter from King George
Letter from King George to all school-children, celebrating and sharing the victory of the allied nations. It is headed with the Royal Standard, in colour. On the reverse a list of 60 important war dates.
Interview with Harold Beech. One
Harold Beech was born in Middle Rasen, Lincolnshire. He was six when war was declared and saw the construction of many airfields near his home. As a schoolboy he also watched aircraft being transported on the back of Queen Marys. A lodger with his…
Interview with Walter Morris
Walter Morris was born in Kettering and started employment in 1939; after a while, older workers disappeared mostly to join the Territorial Army. He enlisted in the Air Training Corps, 101 Squadron, based at RAF Grafton Underwood. Walter reported to…
Interview with Adriano Landini
Adriano Landini (b. 1930) recalls his childhood living in the poor Santa Croce neighbourhood in Reggio Emilia. Describes the profound sense of solidarity in wartime, stressing the community spirit among the so-called "popol giost" (the salt of the…
Interview with Marina Zucco
Marina Zucco recalls wartime memories in Monfalcone: how her father rented a flat conveniently located above a shelter, in which they remained for hours eating food they had brought from home; the day the ‘all clear’ sounded immediately before a…
Letter from Giulio to Paolo Troglio
![ETroglio[Fam]TroglioP440418.pdf](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/square_thumbnails/782/9296/ETroglio[Fam]TroglioP440418.jpg "ETroglio[Fam]TroglioP440418.pdf")
Giulio Troglio is worried about the long silence of his on Paolo Troglio while he's held at Nidda prisoner of war camp in Germany. The situation is difficult to endure for mother who worries a lot. Stresses the difficulty of send him parcels, hopes…
Interview with Giglio Mazzi
Giglio Mazzi (b. 1927) recalls his early life in Reggio Emilia, born in a family with strong anti-fascist sentiments. Describes his first job at the Reggiane works, then at the local labour inspectorate where he was attached to a debris clearance…
Memories of War
Discusses life on the home front, the bombing of Hull, and her training and service in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force at RAF Driffield.
War damage documents
Page 1. Assistance Board making advanced payment to cover immediate needs only of £2 for clothing and £5 for furniture on 15 August 1941. Advice if further help required. Annotated at the bottom '1st advance £6 clothing 27 December 1940, 2nd…
Stanley Howard's supplementary clothing book
Stanley Howard's supplementary clothing book
War Damage Act Private Chattels Scheme
War Damage Act 1943 (Part 1). Issued after European war was over and covers answers to questions on when people will be paid, increases in compensation and payment of interest.
War damage act 1943 (part 2). Private chattels scheme
States that the government has decided to pay all deferred private chattels as soon as possible in next financial year to include the amount claimed, interest and a supplementary payment where applicable. Goes on to provide details. Payment aimed at…
Malcolm Staves' Supplementary Clothing Book
A ration book issued to Malcolm Staves.