Those long winter nights are drawing in and …

Discussion in 'Network Information, Suggestions and Feedback' started by dbf, Nov 26, 2011.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    it occurred to me after a few messages from folks here that some might need a only a little encouragement to pick up a small project of their own to do over the coming months. :)

    Why not investigate with the help of the forum names on a memorial near to you, or if there isn't one pick one of the list on this other thread? http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-cemeteries-war-memorial-research/22691-can-you-photograph-your-local-war-memorial-8.html

    Local cemeteries often have cwgc headstones which you could photograph, or research. Doesn't have to be anything too involved ... http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-grave-photographs/15383-lisburn-cemetery-war-graves.html

    Or how about writing up a tribute about a family member, etc and posting it in the new forum?
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/people-ww2/

    Have you got some war diaries or similar documents that might be helpful here? Even if you can't transcribe or attach images, what about just posting a thread in Unit docs describing what you have and offering a look-up?
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/

    If you've already done some work and it's lurking in a file or on the hard drive, please consider sharing, it might help others.
     
    dbf, Nov 26, 2011
    #1
  2. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Di

    You forgot to mention that the chances are that the project spreads from mere months to years! :)

    If the memorial is local to you the most rewarding aspect is when complete strangers stop you in the pub, in the street or in a shop to tell you of their interest and a story about one of names listed.

    I try to help anyone who asks for info I might be able to access. If anyone needs a look on Ancestry please feel free to get in touch.
     
    Jonathan Ball, Nov 26, 2011
    #2
  3. kiwigeordie

    kiwigeordie Senior Member

    Those long winter nights are drawing in and …

    What have you been smoking Diane!? Summer is just around the corner!:D

    It's a good idea though. NZ was 'occupied' by US forces as a training/jumping off point for their campaign through the Islands. Unfortunately, there is little left to show of their presence other than the old US Military Hospital at Silverstream near Wellington.

    If any of our US forum members would like to do a bit of combined research about US troops in NZ I'd be glad to do the local stuff and collect what pics I can.
    Pete
     
    kiwigeordie, Nov 26, 2011
    #3
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Di

    You forgot to mention that the chances are that the project spreads from mere months to years! :)


    ;) Shh, don't let on; nice offer of Ancestry help.


    What have you been smoking Diane!? Summer is just around the corner!:D

    It's a good idea though. NZ was 'occupied' by US forces as a training/jumping off point for their campaign through the Islands. Unfortunately, there is little left to show of their presence other than the old US Military Hospital at Silverstream near Wellington.

    If any of our US forum members would like to do a bit of combined research about US troops in NZ I'd be glad to do the local stuff and collect what pics I can.
    Pete

    Send some of your spring over then, I'll swap it any day for the Irish weather. Hope you get some like-minded to contact you Pete, that sounds like a worthy project. WW2ni has done similar research all around NI and it's going from strength to strength. Home - Second World War in Northern Ireland
     
    dbf, Nov 26, 2011
    #4
  5. Susan Smethurst

    Susan Smethurst Senior but too talkative

    Great idea Diane-I have started some grave hunting (albeit I have so far delegated the getting cold bit to Jonathan ;) (see Charnock Richard thread) and have some war diary projects in mind. I've ordered a death cert for a possible unattributed war death from my parallel addiction to Ancestry. In a year I may feel useful as opposed to just conversational!:)
     
    Susan Smethurst, Nov 26, 2011
    #5
  6. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Can I make a suggestion? If anyone reading this thread fancies researching their local memorial but finds that its already been done then an alternative can be to research the local boys who for whatever unknown reason were not named on it. The records are there to do this and allied to local newspaper archive searches can reveal some fascinating stories and results. As these lads begin to pass out of living memory your research will be both original and deeply satisfying. Its your chance to build THE memorial to their memory and ensure they are not forgotten.
     
    Jonathan Ball, Nov 26, 2011
    #6
  7. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Seems quite timely this thread, only today I was having a wander round my home town and while passing the War memorial I thought to myself (it does happen now and again!) what research could be done by taking note of the Poppy wreaths placed their on rememberance day........ especially if already checked out names dont tally to a regiment or name on said wreaths.
     
    wtid45, Nov 26, 2011
    #7
  8. kiwigeordie

    kiwigeordie Senior Member

    Send some of your spring over then, I'll swap it any day for the Irish weather.

    Sorry I can't send the weather over Diane but here's a couple of pics taken over the back fence this morning.
    If you look at them while infront of the fire you should get the effect.:D
    Pete
     

    Attached Files:

    kiwigeordie, Nov 26, 2011
    #8
  9. Ralph Goff

    Ralph Goff Junior Member

    Some day, maybe I will get around to putting my Dad's notes down into book form. I have his rough copy that he wrote down as he remembered it and I have it transcribed and saved to disk. So far I have put an excerpt out on the net on my blog and that is as far as I have gone with it.
    Mindless Ramblings: Memories of WWII
     
    Ralph Goff, Nov 27, 2011
    #9
    stolpi likes this.
  10. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Ralph, sounds like a story lots here would like to read and it looks like you might have some great photos too - please start posting it!
     
    Mike L, Nov 27, 2011
    #10
  11. Buteman

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

    I've decided to leave the photos and other things alone over the winter to get some work done on that RA Commemoration database I was going to get my teeth into. Lots of headstone photos have been posted thanks to Forum Members. It's easy to get distracted on here with so many things being posted.

    I've done a small amount of research into my village war memorial (the WW2 names) and handed the information over to a member of the local historical society. Since then, they have now published a booklet on casualties of all conflicts for the 4 local parishes, so a complete history is in place.
     
    Buteman, Nov 28, 2011
    #11
  12. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    I started a new SOE Indexing project - will take about six months to finish boring but worthwhile
     
    Jedburgh22, Nov 28, 2011
    #12
    Stormbird likes this.
  13. Stormbird

    Stormbird Restless

    Rather despite those long winter nights I have been out and about and photograped a few CWGC plots in my back yard.

    The dead young men were all downed aircrew. I am now struggling quite hard to find details about men and mission. It would be so much better to present a story, not just a headstone photo.

    I know about the sites of CWGC, Lost Bombers, World War II wrecksites in Norway, and the Australian searchable archives. (Thank you, nicks !)But is there any way to search RAF (bomber and drop in support to resistance) missions by date ? Any ideas most welcome
     
    Stormbird, Nov 28, 2011
    #13
  14. Ralph Goff

    Ralph Goff Junior Member

    Ralph Goff, Nov 29, 2011
    #14
  15. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Cheers Ralph, interesting reading.
     
    Mike L, Nov 29, 2011
    #15
  16. Susan Smethurst

    Susan Smethurst Senior but too talkative

    I think that as of today my winter project may be sorted! My uncle's recent death left me with photos but no means of explaining them-I have now been put in touch with someone who served with my father and uncle (aged 93!). So hoping I can meet him and talk through the photos and perhaps more. His name is Norman Shouler and as of 1st May 1942 he was Wireless Officer with 41st RTR with which my uncle was serving
     
    Susan Smethurst, Nov 29, 2011
    #16

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