On this day 23rd October 1944: Monday 23rd. October 1944 Sawing wood greater part of day for the cooks. All the rest of the chaps are working on the road. Billets are clean but crowded. Div cemetery is getting fuller. Sgt.Olsfield (Olsberg ?) is dead. To explain the reference to the Div cemetery; The farmhouse was sitting in a cleared area immediately under a hill. On the brow of the hill the Div had made an area to bury the dead in a temporary cemetery and we used to watch the graves unit digging holes in advance of attacks due to take place. On this occasion our own Regimental Padre was visiting us and he mentioned to me that, in his words, “We had to bury one of your lot the other day, a Sgt.Olsfield” by ‘one of your lot’ he meant a Jewish soldier and I made a note in my diary. In April 1995 , some fifty odd years later I was looking through Henry Morris’s book “We will remember them” and I came across the name Sgt.David Olsberg, 2nd Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers, Killed in action on 19th October 1944 at the age of 27 , buried in Castel-Del-Rio, Santerno. This must have been the same man.
Regimental Diaries 49th LAA Rgt. R.A. [FONT="]On 3 Nov[/FONT][FONT="] A and B Tps 84 Bty and A and B Tps 90 Bty supported the crossing of R Trigno by protecting the crossing points and by firing a fire plan which called for burst of between 12 and 18 rounds at intervals from 5 to 12 minutes until 1,812 rounds had been expended. [/FONT] On 5 Nov there was a raid in which a new type of approach was used, aircraft diving out of the sun with engines switched off. An officer and 3 ORs were killed and 5 injured. A tractor was destroyed. [FONT="][/FONT][FONT="][/FONT] [FONT="]On 5 Nov[/FONT] RHQ moved to S Salvo Station. On 6 Nov RHQ moved to east of Vasto. Air attacks continued and, unfortunately, not only be the enemy for [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]On 7 Nov[/FONT][FONT="] there were two separate attacks carried out by Kittyhawk fighters.[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
1944: The last great German battleship, 'Tirpitz', is sunk by RAF bombers in Tromso fjord, Norway. BBC - History - World Wars: Lost heroes of the 'Tirpitz'
My father left Glasgow on 11 Nov 1942: "On the dock, we bought a copy of the Daily Express which had headlines telling of an Anglo-American invasion of North Africa. We were to sail that evening and we guessed where. The date was 11 November 1942, the twenty-fourth anniversary of Armistice Day 1918.” “The sergeants were called down to the mess decks where the men were quartered. It was hot and crowded. The men’s kits, hammocks and life jackets were kept on long tables. A demonstration was being given of how to rig hammocks and how to stow them afterwards. I was glad I was on the boat deck. The saloon where the officers and WOs were to eat was luxurious and had been used by first class passengers. The officers’ cabins were in the 1st and 2nd class accommodation. The WOs were more closely packed. Our cabins were former third class and tourist accommodation and our mess was their former saloon. There were 3,000 people aboard. The majority, all below sergeant’s rank, had been packed into what had been the hold space which had been converted into navy-style mess decks.” “The Come to the Cookhouse bugle call was sounded over the tannoy and I went to the mess. Here, I was served the best meal I’d had for years. The WOs and officers had a peace-time menu. The men’s fare, though good, had to be eaten in the furnace below. We pulled away from the quay in the late afternoon, steamed into the Clyde estuary and down into the Firth of Clyde where we were joined by other vessels. We had lifebelt and boat drill and went to bed. As darkness fell, everything was closed up. We could use the boat deck but dare not show a light. I slept badly. I felt queasy though the sea was like a millpond.” “Next day, I could see from the boat deck the extent of our vast armada. It comprised about 80 vessels and spread over many square miles of ocean. I was able to identify the Orient Liner's Orion, the CPR’s Empress of Britain and many other great vessels as we steamed out into the Atlantic. We did not zig-zag a great deal as we were a fast convoy. Destroyers and other naval vessels moved around us sounding their sirens.” “Among the fleetwatchers was a major dressed in service dress with riding breeches and puttees. I was able to recognise his badge as the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. What was a vet doing with an armoured division, I wondered? I would soon find out (the British Army in Tunisia and Italy was to depend on mules). "
Remembering today 11 December 1943. 299 Squadron Ventura AE733 The aircraft crashed at Kingston Warren, Watchfield, Wiltshire during a snow storm. F/O. A H. Salt RAAF + F/O. J B. Selth RAAF + W/O 2. W R. Chester RCAF + F/S. J M Thomson RCAF + F/S. R L. Sanders +
Wednesday 13th December 1944 Drew black beret & badge & also TT, TAB, Typhus & Vaccination jabs. Strangely enough feel OK after it. Played 'Joanna' (piano) at YMCA & nearly saw film. My diary page of 67 years ago reminds me of Rieti (the exact middle of Italy) and joining the RAC Training depot after my Light AA unit had been disbanded. Note the 4 jabs, all in one go, that was supposed to protect us from all ills More about Rieti here:BBC - WW2 People's War - Transformation from Gunner to Trooper Ron
Immediately prior to my joining the 4th QOH I was posted to the nearest FDS (Forward or Field Delivery Station ?) so that I could be picked up by my designated unit. In keeping with the title of this thread I looked in my diaries to see what I was doing today, 67 years ago, and see that I was just "treading water" before actually joining my ultimate unit. Thursday 22nd. March 1945 The 'Fantails' are now in the wood having been brought in one o'clock this morning. Weird looking things!. Spent greater part of day un-sheeting. Had to guide a new lot in at 9.30 pm. Friday 23rd. March 1945 Am now I/C grease point. Only got through four of the water buffaloes. Everyone needs a bath & some rest. At 8.30 met transporters, unloaded & guided in the 'jobs' Saturday 24th. March 1945 One solid day's work & then we had to go back after dinner till 8.30!. The staff officers are in one big flap. Parcel with wine in it. Ron
24th March, 1945 - Operation Varsity - The Rhine Crossings On this day in 1945 the largest single Airborne Operation in History was under-way. My father was amongst the armada. My mother at that time was a Wren based at Dover - in a letter written on 24.03.45., she describes the scene:- Stallisfield - 24.03.45. ..... My Darling, Such an exciting day. Began at about 7 o'clock this morning. I heard a drone and knew at once what was going on. So in one fair leap I was at the window and there they were dozens and dozens of Gliders, the sky was littered with them. I could see them way over Folkeston, infact they were everywhere. It made my heart leap to watch them. I sat for about an hour until the shivers got me, I thought the steady stream would never end. They came slap over the house and very low and I wondered Darling which one you were in. Feel sure you were there somewhere waving to me. They looked so stately and secure, gliding along through the cloudless sunny sky. It would have broken my heart to have missed such a sight, never shall I forget it for as long as I live. Even if you didn't pass over here it brought you very near and I felt very proud to think you were part of such a vast armada. At about 11.00 o'clock the bombers were still going over. Then the tugs began to come back in dribs and drabs, but no Gliders. Oh dear, such morbid thoughts slid through my head, but, I knew wherever you were, you would be glad about it, so I said a prayer Darling for you and all the boys. ..... Dad was one of the lucky ones to return home after Operation Varsity. Remembered today all those who lost their lives. Lindsay
29th March 1945 On this day, 67 years ago, I joined my final regiment the 4th Queen's Own Hussars. I wrote about it here: BBC - WW2 People's War - Joining the 4th Queen's Own Hussars Ron
You can do an 'On this day' search on Critical Past enter dd/mm/yy: http://www.criticalpast.com/stock-footage-video/3-september-1939 http://www.criticalpast.com/stock-footage-video/30-march-1945 http://www.criticalpast.com/stock-footage-video/30-march-1944 just a few!
Not WW II -6 April 1917 but important: Stock Footage - America declares war against Germany, April 6, 1917
The Sinking of the Blücher German heavy cruiser launched in 1937, sunk by shells and two torpedoes from the Oscarborg Fortress at the entrance to Oslo harbour while participating in the invasion of Norway (Operation Weserubung) After receiving many hits from the 280-mm guns and two torpedoes from the Kaholmen Fortress at the other side of the Oslo Fjord, the Blucher, which was carrying 882 military staff, the 163rd Infantry Division, and a team of Gestapo agents whose mission was to occupy Oslo and arrest the King of Norway and members of his government, turned turtle and sank at 7.30am. (Ironically the Fortress guns were made by Krupps of Essen in 1892) A total of 125 sailors and 195 soldiers and civilians lost their lives but her Commander, Vice Admiral Oskar Kummetz, survived. (Some sources say around 600 went down with the ship) Blücher remains where she sank in Oslofjord, about one kilometer north of Oscarsborg Fortress. She continues to leak oil, causing some environmental concerns. Two of the anchors of the ship were later salvaged. One of them is on display at the pier of Aker Brygge in Oslo, the other is in Drøbak. Source: WRECK WRAK EPAVE WRACK PECIO
Stock Footage - German paratroopers and cruiser Blucher in Oslo, Norway during the invasion of Norway by Hitler's Army.
[FONT="]4th QOH Regimental Diary:[/FONT] [FONT="]18[/FONT][FONT="]th [/FONT][FONT="]April 1945[/FONT] [FONT="]A & B Sqns forming part of 2[/FONT][FONT="]nd [/FONT][FONT="]Armd Bde Grp advanced to form bridgehead across[/FONT] [FONT="]FOSSA SABBASOLA at 240665. A Sqn worked hard all day to be rewarded with[/FONT] [FONT="]excellent results. RHQ Tp did bulk of work but suffered 2 Kangaroo casualties. Air[/FONT] [FONT="]bursts over the 2[/FONT][FONT="]nd [/FONT][FONT="]i/c’s Honey badly wounded 2 of the crew. In general, the enemy[/FONT] [FONT="]were taken by surprise.. Many SPs & Mark Ivs were encountered but in conjunction[/FONT] [FONT="]with excellent fighter-bomber support throughout the day the majority were[/FONT] [FONT="]destroyed. [/FONT] [FONT="]Personal Diary:[/FONT] [FONT="]Wednesday 18th. April 1945 [/FONT] Stonked near wood for solid hour. Corporal Todd wounded badly in head when air-burst caught their Honey. Farmhouses burning, stuck in ditch. Excerpt from our family book "And then there were eleven" Wednesday the 18th had started with Busty going sick, I believe with an old wound, and he had been replaced for the day by Sgt. Broderick. Shortly after moving off at dawn we came under mortar fire from dead ahead, and Broderick rather craftily directed Hewie to place us under a knoll, or hillock, that was directly in front of the wood from which the fire appeared to be coming. It soon became apparent that we were safe, or relatively safe, as long as we stayed where we were. Every time we tried to move, however, the mortars landed within yards of us and we saw other tanks getting hit only yards away. They say that when you are about to drown all your previous life flashes in front of you. Well, that is how I felt that day and I could almost read the article that would appear in the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette. "We regret to announce the death of trooper Ron Goldstein on active service in Italy. It is ironic that whilst on leave in Egypt some six months earlier he had tried to see his brother-in-law Jack, without success. Only a few days before his death he had also tried to see his brother Mick, but again with no joy." By the time the long day had finished and it was dark enough for us to slip away I gradually realised that I had survived and that I was not due to be killed that day after all. Page 46 of my Army Album Actual diary entry shown below
Friday 11th. May 1945 Spent all afternoon in Padua, iced drinks, ices & ENSA show. Met lads of Mick's Brigade. Hear that Jack has been shot down over Nuremberg. The war in Italy had ended on May the 8th of May and then I got this terrible news from home
Regimental Diaries 4th Queen's Own Hussars 15th May 1945: Verbal orders received from 78 Div to establish POW camp at FERNDORF for 500 POW. Tuesday 15th. May 1945 Over the border at Thorn into Austria. Everything changed. Marvelous scenery. My first contact 'proper' with the German race. We are told 'No Fraternisation'-- quite unnecessary. Ron [FONT="] [/FONT]
In May 1941, HMS Hood (Capt. Ralph Kerr, RN, CBE, with Vice-Admiral Lancelot Ernest Holland, RN, CB onboard) in company with the new battleship Prince HMS Prince of Wales, she was sent out to search for the German battleship Bismarck, which had left Norway with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen for the Atlantic. On the morning of 24 May, the two British capital ships found the enemy to the west of Iceland. In the resulting Battle of the Denmark Strait, one or more of Bismarck's fifteen-inch shells got into Hood's after magazines. They erupted in a massive explosion. The great ship sank very quickly about 260 nautical miles east-south-east of Reykjavik, Iceland Allied Warships of WWII - Battlecruiser HMS Hood - uboat.net
"READY...AYE...READY" - British Pathé---- HMS Hood leaves Pompey. READY ... AYE ... READY - Cuts - British Pathé
