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Letter to Mrs Layne from the Red Cross
Glad to know that she had heard from her husband and noted his camp address. Mentions that they had been informed that her husband has been promoted and has a new service number. Includes information on posting letters and parcels to prisoners of war…
Letter to Mrs Layne from the Red Cross
Thanks her for her letter. Advises her to continue to address letters to Stalag 357 in case his move to Stalag Luft 3 did not take place.
Letter to Les Pickford's Father from the British Red Cross
The letter acknowledges that Les is a prisoner of war in Tripoli. It advises the procedure of sending mail and parcels to Les.
Letter to Les Pickford's Mother from Red Cross
The letter expresses delight that Les has arrived safely in the UK.
Canadian Red Cross Society Voluntary Blood Donor Service Enrolment Book
A booklet with records of blood donations and dietary advice when giving blood.
Letter to Mr and Mrs Geach from his station Chaplain
The letter to David Geach's parents expresses sadness that he is missing. The Chaplain offers his sympathy.
Interview with Frank Wilcox
Frank Wilcox was born in Wales and worked in aircraft manufacturing. He was later called up and served in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Anzio and became a prisoner of war. When he was released and returned to the UK…
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 Jack Kenneth Lyon
Jack Lyon was a navigator/ bomb aimer and a prisoner of war for almost four years. Born in 1918, he was employed with the London Gas Company as a bookkeeper until August 1939 when he transferred to Shell. At the outbreak of the war, Shell closed…
Interview with James Douglas Hudson
James Douglas Hudson followed a friend to join the RAF. He trained as a navigator and was posted to 101 Squadron at RAF West Raynham. On his final operational flight with the squadron he ran out of fuel and crashed. He was taken prisoner by the Vichy…
Interview with Les Rutherford
Les Rutherford was called up for the Army just short of his twenty first birthday. He was in France at the time of Dunkirk and made it to the beach of St Valery where they were under constant bombardment. He and another soldier found a door and…
From Hackney lad to air bomber
Written by his nephew, a narrative of Reg's early life, his participation in student exchanges in Germany, joining the Royal Air force, training, life on the station and the crash in which he died, together with air gunners Sergeant Leslie Johnson…
Letter from Donald Baker to his mother
First letter as prisoner of war. Says he is well and that he would number letters. Suggests she should make sure from Red Cross what she might send him. Asks for photographs with letters. Requests: towels, soap and toothbrushes in first parcel and…
Letter from Donald Baker to brother Harry
Writes he is OK and asked that he persuade mother and father that he was OK despite shock when he was reported missing. Says he misses freedom and worried that time would hang, but in fact he had plenty to do. Hopes he would see them all in England…
Post card from Donald Baker to his mother
Writes that he is OK and in camp and well treated. Says Red Cross do them well and asks her to send cigarettes. Mentions friend who is OK.
Postcard from Donald Baker to Uncle Jack
Writes that he is well and that he had received no letters as yet. Writes that they had a merry Christmas as were allowed some beer. Mentions entertainment and seeing new year in. Says contact Red Cross or post office for most suitable writing paper.
Letter from Donald Baker to his mother
Reports arrival of letters and writes it was good news about Italy but they had no celebrations. Says they get war news from German papers or over radio and ignore what they do not like. Mentions coming winter and that the blankets she sent would be…
Notice from Red Cross
Due to conditions in Germany no longer allow transport and delivery of next of kin parcels, those still in hands of GPO would be handed back to Red Cross and returned to sender.
Letter to Eric Sanger's father
From casualty branch expressing regret that his son was missing as result of air operations on night 25/26 February 1943 when his Lancaster failed to return. Enquiries would be made via the Red Cross.
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…
Upon leaving school, and unable to obtain employment in his chosen career, his father arranged a bound apprenticeship with a…
Interview with Laura Hickey
Laura Hickey was living in Tottenham at the outbreak of war and was evacuated to Suffolk. Her brother, Charles Henry Clarke joined the RAF and was shot down, becoming a prisoner of war and enduring the Long March. She tells of her times as an…
Book 5, Return to UK
Fifth and final diary kept by David Geach chronicling his time training and on operations. He writes about his return from Canada on the Queen Elizabeth then his training in England which began with arriving at the Posting Centre in Pannal Ash,…
Interview with Andrew Carswell
Andrew Carswell volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force in his native Toronto. He trained as a pilot and on arrival in the UK and completion of his further training he was posted to 9 Squadron. His first operation was to Berlin. On their final…
Interview with Eileen Widdowson
Born in Peterborough, Eileen Widdowson’s father died when she was quite young, which resulted in the family moving to Grantham. With the East Coast main railway line and also a munitions factory, Grantham was a regular target for the Luftwaffe.…
Interview with John Cox
John Cox grew up in Lincolnshire and worked in banking before he joined the Royal Air Force. After training as a pilot in the United States, he served as an instructor for almost three years. He flew 20 operations as a pilot with 626 Squadron,from…