Because it'll be the 70th anniversary of 1945 next year our Historical Society are staging a commemoration event next year. I've already started to trace the stories the men remembered on the war memorial and have met one of the brave men that guarded the Atlantic Convey's but I'm hoping someone here can suggest some sources I can look at to trace those men who came back to our area. Basically I'm trying to piece together the many and varied actions these 'ordinary' men were invloved in so that we can inform those of younger generations. I've already linked the Battle of Britain, El Alahmein, Burma, Anzio, Telemark and the Arctic Conveys to the area but suspect I've only just scratched the surface I know there are various records on the likes of Find My Past and Ancestry but I can't trace the records to our area without a name and that's what where I need a help to start. Cheers
good day vicinibstock.m,yesterday,07:14pm.re:getting to know the (i quote)the 'ordinary'men on atlantic convoys.as one of the ordinary men who was there on occasions,i just want you to know that we were all very ordinary.very young.and loved our job.as one who made it home.they were all great mates,hope you find your story,regards bernard85
Vicinbstock Your first port of call should be a letter to the secretary of your local British Legion or AJEX. setting out what you need the information for and asking whether or not there are any Artic Convoy veterans as current members. As Bernard has said above, they were all just "Ordinary men" Ron
Have you checked the local newspaper archives for during and just after the war years? For the kind of notices referring to veterans returning wounded, those returning to work, getting promoted, running businesses, getting married, and so on. Also if you haven't already, put an appeal in local press, church groups, care homes, day centres, (GP surgery, post office, chemist), etc for any info, either from veterans themselves, or their relatives. (I have been told by my kids' teachers that when they dealt with both WWs as part of the curriculum there was a great deal of info volunteered by the classes about whose relative did what. Getting a school involved might be rewarding for both parties.) An alternative would be to look at surnames peculiar to, or common in, the area and search for any link to your area through the already mentioned websites. Good luck.
Many thanks for these folks, some nice suggestions. To all those 'ordinary' men and women who were prepared to, and did, such extra-ordinary things so that my generation could ponce about, grew up learning English instead of German and not have to do such extra-ordinary things we owe you a big, BIG thank you and I just hope our little project does some justice.
I take it you are not just focussing on those on the War Memorial that died in WW2 but also those locals who came back? As dbf has suggested, your library may well have the local papers of the time and in which mention may have been made of local men being wounded, on leave or being Missing/PoW etc. They may even have books in their Local History section written either by or about local residents and what the area and population enduired during the War. Bernard speaks of them being "ordinary" but they did extraordinary things in extra ordinary times, thus not quite as "ordinary" as you and I!
