The Worst Job in WW2?

Discussion in 'General' started by von Poop, Feb 24, 2013.

  1. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Infantry?
    Tanky?
    High Command?
    Adolf's Laundryman after the ramifications of Stalingrad & Bagration sank in?

    What say you?

    ~A
     
  2. The Cooler King

    The Cooler King Elite Member

    Clearing mines or defusing bombs would have to be up there!.....
     
    spindrift likes this.
  3. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Casualty Clearing Stations would have been grisly duty.
     
    James S likes this.
  4. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Infantry as they had little chance

    Cheers
     
    von Poop likes this.
  5. Blutto

    Blutto Banned

    Tail gunner in a Wellington
     
    Bancroft likes this.
  6. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I don't even have to think twice about my own personal choice.

    A field operative in SOE

    Ron
     
    geoff501 likes this.
  7. hutchie

    hutchie Dont tell him Pike!!

    Commando as they were ordered to be shot on site if Germans captured them (ordered directly from hitler)
     
  8. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    My father never watched war films -with tongue in cheek, he would say he was at the 'full dress rehearsal' what do 'I want to watch actors doing it for real?' If asked about the Battle of France,Britain the Western Desert Air Force or Italy, he would say I only know what we were doing, anything else you can look up just as well as me. When I became a regular soldier he did open up a bit more. His introduction to a 'worst job'. came when he was a young under training Fitter/Armourer, he told of a Hawker Fury 'piling in' - the next day the foreman instructor took his lads out to the aircraft to see what could be salvaged - my father said he was not alone leaving his breakfast on the airfield, blood and bone was still to be seen. 4 years later at Tangmere he saw much more of it and for years to come. early 1960s Hursley near Winchester we were out for the Sunday afternoon drive to wherever he had planned to visit. A small yellow open top sports car cut across the main road and overturned, the remains of two young sisters were left on the road, as people got out of their cars a lot of people were becoming distressed my father took over (he was a special constable) and got someone to go and make a call. He eventually got back into the car, sighed and said OK lets go, My mother asked if he was OK, he was either a good actor or he could put it into a compartment in his mind. Just before he passed away we visited the RAF Museum at Hendon, I turned to ask him something and noticed the stream of tears - I left him with thoughts that I will never know. He was awarded the MiD for clearing mines and ordnance when captured aircraft needed making safe. After the war he was employed in a government agency. Called in and asked if he would like to hold the certificate for explosives - he said I had a firm NO in mind until the monthly retainer on my salary was mentioned - the suitcase was packed and off I went to make bangs again, he held that ticket with renewal course for many years after!
     
    orange55 likes this.
  9. CommanderChuff

    CommanderChuff Senior Member

    I think that one mans worst job is anothers dream job, and it's good job that there were the right men in most jobs, otherwise we would be in a different job altogether, but I personally believe that small jobs are just as important as big jobs, and on that note, tout-a-loo,

    David
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Grave Registration Unit?
     
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  11. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    1. Bomber Command crew had no option to dig in under fire.

    2. Those waiting at home for that telegram.
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    2. Those waiting at home for that telegram.

    True-Probably one of the few things that's never changed apart from they get a knock on the door now.
     
  13. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    canuck likes this.
  14. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Along with all the others mentioned.
    The Civilians carrying on their daily life whilst their family members were away in service possibly always expecting the worst news.
     
  15. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    Or PoWs.
     
  16. Enigma1003

    Enigma1003 Member

    A Doctor with no medicines in a Japanese POW Camp.
     
    von Poop likes this.
  17. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Fire Service AFS/NFS on the Home Front
     
    Bancroft likes this.
  18. KOF

    KOF Junior Member

    Having to write the letters to families saying their loved one is dead.
     
  19. wowtank

    wowtank Very Senior Member

    Any body who did Triage but I don't think you can differentiate people fears and suffering. Saying that Joy Division or the inmate Kommondo that had to do the gassing.
     
  20. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Or PoWs.

    Especially Japanese POW's.

    Now that I reconsider the list, it would be hard to imagine any worse sustained hardship than that.
     
    Bancroft likes this.

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