Infantry? Tanky? High Command? Adolf's Laundryman after the ramifications of Stalingrad & Bagration sank in? What say you? ~A
Commando as they were ordered to be shot on site if Germans captured them (ordered directly from hitler)
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!
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
1. Bomber Command crew had no option to dig in under fire. 2. Those waiting at home for that telegram.
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.
A Fairey Battle crewman during the Battle of France 1940. Fairey Battle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Or Boulton Paul Defiant crew during the Battle of Britain. Boulton Paul Defiant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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.
Or PoWs. Especially Japanese POW's. Now that I reconsider the list, it would be hard to imagine any worse sustained hardship than that.