The Battle of Normandy came to an end 80 years ago today, hence me now taking down my D Day picture.

The East Lancs Regiment who originally formed in Huyton were heavily involved in the tank battles, went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge and became one of the first to cross the Rhine in the biggest amphibious assault since D Day... lots of local lads, many became bus drivers on demob.

Here's a picture of the boys from one of my books... I haven't found a picture of "Bolton" yet...

Durham Light Infantry 1917

Another uncle of my mum is last on the right back row. Sadly didn’t make it back home

My dad’s dad on HMS Constance in WW1. Back row second from the right
 

The brilliantly named Horatio Nelson Houghton. Can’t quite remember how he’s related to my family but my mum has photos of him. Think he was from Bury

Was sent to S Africa I’m guessing in the build up to the first Boer War. Pictured in Durban. Died in Natal 1878

@Dimron you did ask…. 

17 hours ago, BobyBrno said:

That’s a good question. Not being a naval man myself, I don’t know. It’s not the Jap flag though. The photo and account of the attack can be found here. 👍
https://www.armouredcarriers.com/hms-formidable-may-4-kamikaze

Cheers pal. Obviously we can't tell what colour the disc on the flag is on a B/W photo. Probably part of a semaphore system. Green disc means "Put your fucking helmet on!".

Wonderful photos. A bit dusty here in my study at the moment. The pride which the last generation or two can never feel thanks to wokes and the teaching profession. No doubt they can even twist this into something to be ashamed of.

On 01/09/2024 at 23:45, Dimron said:

The lads in my pictures were in the Rouen region 26/27 August pushing towards Le Havre and the next big battle.

I read that one night outside Le Havre they largered down on a big field with a Panzer Division at the opposite end, it had been agreed the Germans would surrender at first light. In the dark an over enthusiastic sentry called out "Achtung, Who goes there"... the response from the other side of the field was a very tired Lancashire voice "Fuck off Fritz" with a following "Yah okay Tommy"... the rank and file troops are all the same when it boils down

This reminded me very much of this:

 

American soldier describing the British Army:-

Those Brits are a strange old race. They show affection by abusing each other; will think nothing of casually stopping in the middle of a fire fight for their 'brew up' and eat food that I wouldn't give to a dying dog but, fuck me, I would rather have one British squaddie on my side than an entire battalion of spetznaz!

Why? Because the British are the only people in the world who, when the chips are down and there seems no hope left, instead of getting sentimental or hysterical will strap on their pack, charge their rifle, light up a smoke and with a calm and wry grin say "Well, are we going then you wanker?".

Edited September 5, 20241 yr by bolty58

13 hours ago, bolty58 said:

This reminded me very much of this:

 

American soldier describing the British Army:-

Those Brits are a strange old race. They show affection by abusing each other; will think nothing of casually stopping in the middle of a fire fight for their 'brew up' and eat food that I wouldn't give to a dying dog but, fuck me, I would rather have one British squaddie on my side that an entire battalion of spetznaz!

Why? Because the British are the only people in the world who, when the chips are down and there seems no hope left, instead of getting sentimental or hysterical will strap on their pack, charge their rifle, light up a smoke and with a calm and wry grin say "Well, are we going then you wanker?".

Many commentators have said that the lack of progress by the Brits was because when we reached our objective we did not keep pushing on but sat down and  had a brew instead... "consolidation" is the technical description.

There was a notorious incident at Villers Bocage when a column the 7th Royal Tanks had moved into the town, whereupon they settled by the roadside and got the kettle on... A single Tiger tank commanded by the very experienced commander Michael Wittman discovered them, "topped and tailed" the column and then destroyed the trapped vehicles. The casualties were relatively light but he succeeded in single handedly knocking out almost 30 vehicles (half of them tanks), I read in an account his remark to his crew when he saw them parked up brewing tea was something like "bloody hell, the British think they have won the war already"

15 hours ago, MancWanderer said:

My dad’s dad on HMS Constance in WW1. Back row second from the right
 

This is Alf...

One a green recruit who had only ever been as far as Blackpool on his holidays from Belmont Bleach Works and the other as a seasoned soldier on leave after the Normandy campaign... "war maketh the man" I suppose

15 hours ago, MancWanderer said:

My dad’s dad on HMS Constance in WW1. Back row second from the right
 

Christmas 1944... My lads had been planning for this, procuring pigs and chickens and booze for a big party in a Dutch village hall.. even had a band booked and were inviting the local talent... then on Christmas Eve Hitler broke through the line and off they went again to the Ardennes in Belgium to what became known as the Battle of the Bulge

WWII related. This is a nice touch by the city of Prague.

Translation.

Official opening of the pedestrian and cycle street named after Nicholas Winton in Prague 7.

14 hours ago, BobyBrno said:

WWII related. This is a nice touch by the city of Prague.

Translation.

Official opening of the pedestrian and cycle street named after Nicholas Winton in Prague 7.

Great recognition. Saved nearly 700 kids from the Nazi death camps.

On 02/09/2024 at 00:14, MancWanderer said:

You asked so in for a penny and all that……

My mum’s uncle in the trenches at The Somme 1916

That pole on the right of the photo, leaning against the sandbags, is what was known as a corkscrew picket. In the early days of trench warfare soldiers would hammer wooden posts into the ground to create a barbed wire barrier. Unfortunately for them the hammering gave their position away and they were picked off by German snipers. The corkscrew allowed them to erect the barrier quietly 

I have a screw picket at home. Dug up near High Wood on the Somme (I didn't dig it up by the way). Along with a few shell cases that I found, also near High Wood.

On 01/09/2024 at 15:03, BobyBrno said:

Talking of visiting historical sites rather than reading about them, anyone going to Prague must visit St Cyril and Methodius Cathedral. Scene of the final stages of Operation Anthropoid. A few films have been made about it but to actually be in the crypt where it came to its conclusion is eerie. If you go after 11th November, there will be many poppies placed inside by various British Legions in the UK. 
https://www.praguego.com/honest-tips/church-of-ss-cyril-and-methodius/

Went to that church a few years back, riddled with bulletholes. Got loads of photos somewhere.

35 minutes ago, Traf said:

Went to that church a few years back, riddled with bulletholes. Got loads of photos somewhere.

Yep. That’s when we first became aware of it on an early visit. Went in and read the account of the operation and its aftermath. Tragic. 
I’ll be going again next week to show my sister and her partner. 

When I was a kid my gran used to speak about an old  woman who lived near us who was a bit nuts that her son had been "shot at dawn" it was years later that as an adult I realised what she was talking about. 

Some mad shit went on