Learnt something shocking today - Anyone know much about WW2?

The unfortunate thing about all those iron railings which were removed for the war effort is that they turned out to be useless. Wrong grade of metal, or something. So most were simply dumped at sea.

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/historicrailings/historicrailings.htm

 

Not sure where it went for me, I ended up getting married to a half Geerman.

We have lots of stuf from WW2 that we found when renovating this house. Canadian soldiers were stationed in it for the duration.

We also have lots of german bits and pices as well, including a blood lines book for my wifes Gran and Grandad and many photos including these.



Look at the aircraft. The detail on the full size photo is quite amazing, as is the one of Hitler.

My wifes grandad would have been shot for taking the photos of the planes and Hitler, but I guess that he thought the risk was worth it.
He ended up being shot down over kent, taken a prisoner, and then never went back to Germany. He hadn't agreed with the war and was told that he either joined up or his family were going to be shot. Nice choice!!

 

I've still got the sirens now Shiney. We have retained firemen in our village. The station is just 60 or so yards away. A bit of a shock when the siren goes off when you're walking by. It sets all the local dogs off howling too.

 

My father-in-law was stationed in Germany just after the war, a military policeman. He married a German who was in Germany's equivalent of Fighter Command and worked in Radar tracking our incoming bombers.

 

Not heard an air raid siren?



Ok, in Essex it's used for flood warning, but its still a UK (air raid) siren

But the Americans, they have some weird sirens

 

Watergarden, my son emigrated to America last year and is living in a tornado zone in Columbus. He says the sirens there are really eerie and sound like German war sirens.

 

Those are not Bomb Shelters Clueless, they are PILL BOXES,
That is where the army had men living in them , with machine gun posts, to fight invaders landing on the beaches

Jack McH

 

The things I remember during war years,and after the war ended 1945.
I remember the tenements in Glasgow,dark winding closes ,no lighting,brick baffle walls built across the entrance,giving enough space to enter the close.
The baffle walls were built to cut bomb blast at the close entrance.(they done more damage to me than the bombs) I kept running into them.
I remember the Gas Masks, I think for kids they were called 'mickey mouse masks'.
I remember moving in to my next door neighbour for a spell,as we were a bit overcrowded when my dad had leave from the 'Arctic convoys'.
I remember the Air Raid Shelters,smelly,dark,damp overcrowded places,my mother stopped using them.We all went into a large cupboard,under the stairs until the All Clear went.
I remember the Church giving out food,when they could manage.
I remember the Apple consignments from Canada.
I remember the patches at the back of my trousers.
I remember the whistling Bombs,It's when they stopped whistling,as the saying goes,
That's when the S*** Hits The Fan.
I remember wearing rough itchy Balaclavas.
I remember ration books (they did not end till 1954) .
As I Mentioned My Dad served on the Russian Convoys.
I received a Posthumous Citation on his behalf for his time in the Arctic Convoys.
I received this 4DGTigerago. It Took Me @ 2 years writing to Downing St and the M.O.D. in recognition of him and many others who served their Country.
I placed the citation and the Arctic Star In His Grave.

 

I thought they were, but wasn't sure, so said nothing. Thanks Jack McHammocklashing

 

If you ever happen to be in Belgium, this is one museum that is worth visiting. http://www.december44.com/anglais/index.html
I've been there three times now, and for my first two visits the museum had a very elderly local taking the money. His delight in showing two English people around his pride and joy was very plain to see. I felt very humbled. Sadly he wasn't there on my last visit, and I would guess that looking at the now empty and very overgrown house next to the museum, that he has passed away.

Edit.. The sad thing is that in the scheme of things none of what happened is that long ago, and yet we have learn't nothing.





As said before, I have quite a collection of stuff left behind and or hidden by Canadian soldiers when they were sationed in this house, but one of my favourite things is this simple caricature.


The saddest items are the two carrier bags of torn up letters etc. It took me quite some time to work out what was wrong about all of them. They had never been posted.
I guess that the commanding officers felt that they were to iffy to post home, and simply tore them up and threaded them down between the floor boards.



The most useful thing left behind has been the two anti aircraft gun concrete pads and steps. Both are now paved over, and saved me alot of hard work.