I started by researching my father's ww2 history - 1 Cameron Highlanders, but have now expanded this to include many more aspects of the war, including the ATS (with whom my mother served for 4 years)
One likes to think they are knowlwdgable on the subject, becoming a member of the forum has opened my eyes, the amount of information and exchange of facts is astonishing and I am still learning. By the way my area is Desert and Italy in between looking up the local war memorial 1939-1945 casualties. Also I am starting to carry out taking photos of war graves as and when on my travels
I came to the forum looking for info on my Guy in the 1st Bn Rifle Brigade, but as I have found more about him and in no short measure to your guys on the forum, i have gone sideways, to look at the other regiments/Bns that were alongside him, and his march into captivity, so really I think that you start with a specific area and then get side tracked along the way and end up learning more or more about the overall picture of the area of interest
Tons of knowledge in this place! Even though I like to learn as much as I can about modern military history as a whole, there are certain specific areas (talking about WW2 only) I like to dwell into: Pacific, mostly ABDA-CBI/SEAC-SWPA Med and all of its surroundings, before and up to "Tunisgrad" Middle East, rest of Africa and the Indian Sea, if in a different category than the MTO A tad of the first days of Barbarossa.
I started in one particular area, then you read some others bits and get side tracked, I never ceased to be amazed at what yopu guys know and come up with and wot a helpful bunch you are
My elder brother was an obsessive history buff/gamer of WWII, hence I know almost everything printable on WWII. My current facination is for those items suppressed for 100 years. For example, I am facinated about CPT Patrick Heenan, the white Japanese Spy of the Malasian Campaigne 1942. He got caught in the act of spying and taunted his guards that he would pi** on their graves. Days before Singapore fell, the guards drew lots, a Sargent walked him to the pier and blew his brains out. No charges were filed.
although I thought I knew a lot about ww2 I realise that im pretty short of the mark compared to you guys, it has been really interesting reading about what the members are posting then going away and doing some research myself, that said my main area of interest is bomber command but I have just started reading about the history of the SS. keep up the good work guys.
I have an interest in the whole of military history, from Roman tactics and campaigns to modern action in Afghanistan and try to glean as much information as possible however I have a specific interest in the RAF and particularly the RAF of WW2 and the European air war. I know such a broad range of interest does prevent truly in depth research of my preferred field however it has helped in other ways, like it being possible to compare Saladin's siege tactics with the Allied assault on Monte Casino ( obviously without the B17s ..) but it does show how it is possible to learn and adapt, making the level of interest incredibly deep.
Specific: North Africa/8th Army, but have an interest in WWii in general, puts everything in perspective.
You may have noticed, but specifically; I like machines. Materiel, equipment, whatever you call it, and it's design & manufacture just floats my boat more than anything else. That's not to say I ignore the fleshy bit that operates or drives 'em; I'll be interested in a veteran's story and moved by a cemetery almost as much as the next chap, but if for example a Sherman drove past... my attention may just wander off a bit... Secondary interest is probably the higher politics of the war, and the people that drove it.
I would say that my interests are specific-ish. Like, I imagine, a fair number of members, the reason I joined this forum was because I had specific queries related to the war time experiences of family members and I had pretty much exhausted what I could find out on my own. So my specific interests relate to- anything to do with the RAF Regiment in WW2, with particular emphasis on the role of the armoured car squadrons post-D-Day, and anything that might shed light on what my great uncle did as a CSM with the RASC. But the "problem" I have found with my specific interests is that they suddenly open up whole fields I didn't even know existed but that I need to find out about in order to understand my narrow interests. My great uncle is a brilliant example. A pre-war regular, who was with the BEF in 1939-40, then attached to a field ambulance as part of the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division. Invaded Madagascar in 1942. Mucked about India and the Middle East as part of PAI Force, then invaded Sicily in 1943! They aren't called the "Globe Trotters" for nothing! So now I've read Sebag-Montefiore on Dunkirk, England's Last War Against France by Colin Smith, several books about the RAMC - and I'm still none the wiser about what the heck my great uncle did! Unfortunately he died in July '43. But at least I don't have to get my head round the Italian Campaign. Add to that the fact my grandfather guarded RADAR units on the continent, may have been involved in the Battle of the Bulge, went over the Rhine into Germany, and probably was involved in disarming the Luftwaffe, and about all I'm missing is the Russian Front and the Pacific Theatre! So...have I become a "generalist"?!
personally i was always a generalist, but i seem lately to be finding my towards looking at the german and japanese sides of the operations which can be some times hard as they didn't document movements on paper as much as the allied forces.
General or Specific ? Never given it a thought before, but now realise that I am at my happiest dealing with specific areas in which I have had personal experience. As one of a dwindling band of "veterans" I feel that I have most to offer , or gain, when I am discussing subjects that I actually remember. As Maurice Chevalier once sang " Ah yes!........... I remember it well! Ron Ps It is 06:38 hrs here in London and I've just looked to see who else is on line. There is no-one else so I am literally talking to myself...... Is that not the first sign of insanity
In a long career going from being addressed as -oi you crow! Years of PBI -To the inevitable round of 'humour' that is the lot of the battalion HQ/staff bod. He knows Stonehenge, he was on Salisbury Plain when Stonehenge was a building site, or when turning out in full battle order the usual patter - annual personal weapons test - good grief -he is carrying a rifle - when was war declared? -smart asses! Battles were studied from a strategic view, intelligence, tactics used, admin and logistics. Here I would like to say this, before study we were taught how to study in a logical and questioning manner. Unit diaries/Reports,Intreps are of course good sources of information.However, it was suggested that only that which can be cross referenced to adjacent units,signal logs and yes we could often read reports from enemy sources (the US hold many German General staff papers) can be confirmed. Human nature dictates that if your unit cocks it up, the subsequent write up will be written in a more favourable light. Command and Staff, many times the British army bravely fought in a confused and haphazard way sustaining heavy casualties. The General staff - had seen slaughter before, the likes of Alan Brook.Montgomery and others knew that the fighting in terms of effort,in percentage terms the minor part of successful warfare. Leaving aside Montgomery's abilities on the battlefield, his overall grasp of supply and training was second to none. The old adage 'the war was won in the Quartermaster's stores!' Montgomery admired Patton's 'elan' his ability to crash into the enemy, what he abhorred was the lack of administration 'George would come to halt as he ran out of everything'. Tom Canning has pointed out many times that books are often written by historians who have not bothered to cross reference - to establish facts or as near as it is possible to be factual. The headline historian, that sounds good we will put it in! Hamilton's trilogy on Montgomery has marginal cross references to official sources so that at least shows research. Searching on the web for action reports from both sides is very interesting. The complexities of getting an army into the field and keeping it supplied was and is a science - the difference between winning and losing.
I am mostly interested on events on the Western Front (Eastern for you), although I gladly dabble on other affairs. Ron, you're not talking to yourself, you're leaving a record for your posteriority. Hmmm, strange choice of words...
General or Specific ? Never given it a thought before, but now realise that I am at my happiest dealing with specific areas in which I have had personal experience. As one of a dwindling band of "veterans" I feel that I have most to offer , or gain, when I am discussing subjects that I actually remember. As Maurice Chevalier once sang " Ah yes!........... I remember it well! Ron Ps It is 06:38 hrs here in London and I've just looked to see who else is on line. There is no-one else so I am literally talking to myself...... Is that not the first sign of insanity I know what you mean Ron - but how good is your memory? I find myself saying to SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) "Do you remember...?" She then proves to me A+B that it didn't happen when/where I thought it did. At least she hasn't yet said "That wasn't me you were with..." Pete
Pete If we are now talking about memory, I received this via e-mail the other day and it's so perceptive that it actually hurts to watch it, but don't let this stop you Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder - YouTube I am genuinely so pleased that I decided to write up so many of my experiences while I could remember them. Nowadays I simply chicken out and just give a link to the article Ron
A-AADD? Then I'm starting early, I'd be dead without my PDA, reminders in the mobile, post-it notes all over the place
My interest are Dunkirk (planning to go their next year), D-Day and Normandy, Arnhem, Stalingrad and the B17F and G Flying Fortess. Dont worry about your memory, Ron. If my memories turn out to be wrong, Mrs La-de-da-Gunner Graham makes me change them! Keith
