Jim's War Diary

Discussion in 'General' started by Fact Not Fiction Films, Sep 2, 2010.

  1. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    I was wondering whether anyone could help me. I have recently acquired a family heirloom which is a family members diary from his days in the army including his days fighting in WW2. He briefly mentions his days at Dunkirk, in India before the second world war and in France and England during the Battle of Britain. He typed it all up before he died into a readable story for his family to read but I think that it would be of interest to other people. It is a fascinating personal account of someone working for the Army during WW2 and clearly shows how different society was then. Does anyone know how I could go about getting it published for others to see?
     
  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Yep....Post it on here :D
     
  3. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Out of curiousity...Who was he serving with at Dunkirk?
     
  5. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    I cant quite work out what regiment he was in at the time, he found it hard to write about Dunkirk in his initial book so he wrote it as an added section at a later date and didnt mention what regiment he was in, just about his officer and friends - all typewritten. He talks about a couple of his fellow soldiers though being Charlie Coombs, Buster Brown, Captain Lofts and Bob Mellish. Not very helpful Im sure, I will try and place the added section into the book to try and work out more clearly what regiment he was in at the time.
     
  6. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    His name was Jim Miles by the way.
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Interesting. Does he mention any regiments that he served with during the war or better still are there any pictures with the info you have?

    Shame you can't ID the unit at Dunkirk-I would have checked the units War Diary.

    Regards
    Andy
     
  8. Vitesse

    Vitesse Senior Member

    You could get it E Published, have a look here http://magellanbooks.com/
    This is just vanity publishing under another name, I'm afraid. From their FAQs:

    We do not charge you for editing and formatting your work.

    Or, to put it another way:

    We do not actually do anything in the way of editing and formatting your work.

    Will you help me promote my book for free?
    Yes. As Magellan grows, we will be actively encourage you to get your author
    page seen and show you simple, do-able tactics to increase your visibility
    (and sales) as an author.


    And I will be actively encouraging you to get the grammar on your website right. But I note that you won't actually do anything to actively help promote my book.
    Will my ebook appear on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or iPad databases?
    Magellan Books operates independently of these suppliers. This may change
    over time.
    So that's a "no" then ...
     
  9. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    I know he started with the 16th Foot which he clarifies as being the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, he signed up with his friend Len Almond. He doesnt state a date but it looks like it could have been 1929/1930. He has included some pictures in his book, mainly of him and his friends and his travels to India. Does any of this help?
    Thanks Andy
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Owen (Amongst others) is the one who knows all about the 'Foot' units before the war. (Its a bit before my time) I have the 2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment's War Diary from Sept 39 to May 40 in France and they were the only Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Battalion to serve in France 1940. That said a lot could have happened in the ten years between joining and going to France.

    Does he have a rank?
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Does he mention being at a place called Malicorne in September 1939?
     
  12. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    Not that I can see, I will keep looking. He states that when he was called back to the Army when the war started he had to report to the Bedford Depot from where he went down to Gravesend and then the Shornecliffe Camp. He began as a 'batman' for Lt Young (an officer at the depot). He went first to Boulogne in France by ferry and then onto La Fleche. They stayed there for 3 weeks then went to Carvin where they stayed in Civvi digs. After about 9 months or so they eventually ended up in Bethune after a brief leave. Is any of this helpful?
     
  13. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    The first encounter he had with the Germans were in Kemmel where he went as far a the Albert Canal before they had to retreat.
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I'll look in the WD for a Lt Young...It lists officers in the Field Returns.
     
  15. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    Fantastic, thanks very much Andy
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Looks like 2 Beds and Herts is a very strong possibility.

    There is a 2nd Lt. P. Young listed in the returns:
    [​IMG]

    That siad he later disappears from the field returns and another Young appears - Lt L C Young.
    [​IMG]

    Oh and just to confuse things even more both turn up on this return-I suspect they are on leave or a course in the other returns.
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Fact Not Fiction Films

    Fact Not Fiction Films Junior Member

    Fantastic!! He unfortunately never refers to his first name, looks likely this was the battalion he started with though. He later states that his officer was captured and that he was claimed by Lieut. Sutton and he joined the Pioneer Section. He then moved to the 2nd Echelon detachment in Calais where he finished his service. All fascinating stuff!!
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    No Sutton listed. I'll ask PoW expert if either of those Youngs went into the bag.
     
  19. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Andy

    LC Young & P Young are on all of the officers returns.;)

    Looks like 2 Beds and Herts is a very strong possibility.

    There is a 2nd Lt. P. Young listed in the returns:
    [​IMG]

    That siad he later disappears from the field returns and another Young appears - Lt L C Young.
    [​IMG]

    Oh and just to confuse things even more both turn up on this return-I suspect they are on leave or a course in the other returns.
    [​IMG]
     
  20. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Back to the drawing board, Brian (ADM199) listed all the Youngs that went into the bag and non match either of out two Youngs.
     

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