What did you do in the war?

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Everyone,

My fathers side of the family. Grandfather & great uncle were doughboys in France with the AEF in the Great War. During WWII, one son was a LT in the USAAF (stateside), one landed with the 1st ID on Omaha Beach (had his fingers shot off by an MG-42), another was in the Army SOS. Sisters served in the Red Cross. My father was too young & enlisted in the USN in 1947, served on the USS MISSISSIPPI & then on occupation duty in Eritrea during the Korean Conflict.

Mothers side of the family. They (grandparents and children) escaped from Singapore just ahead of the IJA. They had been managers of the Goodyear rubber plantations in Ceylon and Malaya (Straits Settlements). Uncles served in the USAAF, one was shot down over Ploesti - first a guest of the Romanians, then the Russians in Odessa "awating transport" until 1946 (i.e. hostages). He later died in a B-25 crash in Santa Monica, CA.

Wife's family mostly perished in the Holocaust (Latvian Jewish) though her father as mentioned elsewhere was a USAAF Bombardier (Capt.) flying in Medium (B-25/B-26) & Heavy (B-17/B-24/B-29) bombers. One brother was in the US Army (ETO). Another brother was a LT first in the USAAF (ground) and later as a LT(jg) in the USN during the Korean Conflict serving on the Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42).

Me? I'm a Salvage Sailor who served in the Junk Boat Navy, Cold Warrior (and a tin can sailor too!)

Anchor's Aweigh
Craig

[Cpl Rootes]

I have found out some more:

On my Dad's side, my Grandfather was a Flt Engineer in 207 Sqdn RAF, and his wife was a Nurse. I also have found out that his wife lost some of her brother in the war, but i don't know anything about them except their surname: Slade. My Great-Uncles (William and Reginald) were the founders of the Rootes Car company and produced trucks and armoured vehicles - such as the Humber, which used a Rootes six-cylinder engine. That is all i know so far (remember i'm only 14), but if anyone can find out anything i would be very appricative.

On My Mum's side my Great-Great Uncle Andrew served in the Gordon Highlanders during the 1st world war. Both my Mum's pearents were to young to work in WW2 but my Grandfather was called up for National Service with the Royal Signels. He served at the Suez Canal and was recently awarded his Suez Medal.

[Jim Clay]

Dad served first in the Pay Corps (someone had to do it ), reached L/Cpl, then driver in Signals for the rest of the War. Attached photo shows Dad (seated right on cab roof) with his mates outside Venlo Repeaters (telephone exchange) in Holland in '45/'46.

His younger brother was in the RAF - he rejoined after demob, and stayed in till early 1960s. Dunno about his elder brother.

Mum's brothers: Jim, pte in KOYLI, served N. Africa and Italy, where he was KIA 1944. Jack, commando at Hill 170, Burma in '45.

Jim

[Cpl Rootes]

have found out even more:

On my Dad's side, my Grandfather was a Flt Engineer in 207 Sqdn RAF, and his wife - Stella Howe - was a Nurse. She had 3 brothers involved in the war. Gordon Howe served in the Royal Navy at was at Dunkirk. Robert Howe was in the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps). He was captured in Africa at Tebruk. He was sent to work in an Italian hospital. While working their the hospital was bombed by Americans. He died and is beried in Austria i think. John Howe was in the Merchent Navy and was Lost at sea. There was a forth Brother callled Marcus Howe, but i know nothing about him at all, altough i think that he was old enough to serve during the war i have no information about him at all.
. My Great-Uncles (William and Reginald) were the founders of the Rootes Car company and produced trucks and armoured vehicles - such as the Humber, which used a Rootes six-cylinder engine. That is all i know so far (remember i'm only 14), but if anyone can find out anything i would be very appricative.

On My Mum's side my Great-Great Uncle Andrew served in the Gordon Highlanders during the 1st world war. Her other Great-Great Uncle - Thomas Alexander - served in the Black Watch and was KIA in Tunisia.
Both my Mum's pearents were to young to work in WW2 but my Grandfather was called up for National Service with the Royal Signels. He served at the Suez Canal and was recently awarded his Suez Medal.

[jayhawker]

My father served in the CBI theatre as an airborne engineer building airstrips at Assam India and later at Bhamo Burma. An uncle served in Europe as a combat engineer in Patton's 3rd Army. My father's brother served as a Marine in China.

[spidge]

Great history of family participation. Did they all survive the war?

[handtohand22]

Paternal Grandfather Robert Gamble, 2nd Boer War and WWI Enniskilling Fus
Maternal Great Uncle William McSheffery, 2nd Boer War and WWI Enniskilling Fus
Mother Martha Gamble, WWII WAAF Barrage Balloon operator and then Canteen Supervisor after women were stopped from operating the balloons.
Father William Gamble, 6 LAA Battery gunner '39 - 45
Uncle Tom Gamble, 6LAA Battery gunner '39 - 45
Uncle Robert Gamble, 1st Airborne then Arhhem in the 21st Independent Parachute Company.
Uncle Jim Gamble Cameronian, Enniskilling Fus, 1st Airborne, 21st Independent Parachute Coy Section Sniper, Arnhem etc
Uncle George McLelland, Royal Horse Artillery gunner
Uncle Sam Park, HAA Royal Artillery gunner Italy
Uncle Davy Watton, Royal Engineers dispatch rider Western Desert
Me Ronnie Gamble, Royal Navy 1962-1972, Ulster Defence Regiment 1974-1992

[andy007]

All of my grandparents were ethier to young or too old, I did have a few Great uncles who fought in WWII.
L. A Diamond, 2NZEF 23 Battalion, fought on Crete died of wounds in 1942 just before the Alamien offensive
R Brown RNZAF 115 squadron, died when his Wellington Bomber crashed in Wales in December 1940
Uncle Joe (thats how I know him) served with the NZ forces in North Africa then in the Pacific as an engineer.
Bill Sheely, was Pastor with NZ forces in North Africa, was captured in 42? spent the rest of the war in Italian and German PoW camps.

[ADM199]

My Father served with the R.A.S.C in the Middle East. Firstly in Egypt then Syria before going into Lybia. He was attached to the 7th Green Howards when Tobruk fell,and was taken prisoner. Like most other P.O.W. at this period he was taken to one of the transit camps at Benghazi,where he stayed until 26th October. From Benghazi he was transfered to Campo Benito in the Tripoli area until the 13th November,when he and 1,000 or so others were taken to the Docks to board the S.S.Scillin. 195 were lucky enough not to board the ship. Of the 814 on the Scillin 787 died the following evening when the ship was sunk off the coast of Tunisia.

My Mother worked in a munitions factory for the duration of the war.

[sapper]

I was in the Blitz in Southampton where I joined the Home Guard. Transfered to Poole still in the Home Guard.
Joined the army saw action from Sword to the German Border.
Was wounded near Vire, in Normandy, S mine. Still have some of that with me. Took part in the Market Garden operation. Was wounded again in Holland on the Overloon Venraij road. very serious injuries.
I am now 100% war disabled.
Sapper