Hi Guys, Thought this might interest some of you. Brithm http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350-6th-AIRBORNE-DIVISION-Photo-ALBUM-1944-46-PARACHUTE-REGIMENT-Bulford-DZ-YMCA-/140967928382?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item20d257e23e "You are looking at a very rare and original photograph album from 1944 - 1946 (though a couple of pictures predate this). A quick head count came to around 350 images with a few German bank notes included at the back of the album for good measure. I would guestimate that around 10% of the images are touristy, mostly from the Middle East etc., but the rest contain images of the troops and equipment of British, American and German origin. There are several images of 'abandoned' German aircraft, including ME 109s and FW 190s, along with a few vehicles etc. There are also lots of JEEP pictures, including some with odd (to me at least) details I have not seen before, such as a 'half' cover for the rear of a jeep and blanked out driver's side head lamp. A good number of these pictures show the specialist clothing and specific badges for the Airborne Divisions and Parachute Regiment in very good detail, certainly good enough for proper reprinting. One image from Bulford Camp in 1944 appears to have a 'visiting' Canadian Officer, all stood in front of a YMCA Tea Car. Obviously with 350ish images it isn't possible to preview them all, but I have just included some of the ones I thought interesting. The photographs are from many locations such as; Ostend, Wismar Pier and Port, the Rhine, Calias, Weert (Holland), Bulford Camp, Salisbury Plain, Allepo (Syria), Sarafand, Gaza, Haifa, Tripoli, Jafa, Tel-Aviv and Toulon in Italy, Oh and his Wedding. The album is hand decorated on various pages and a very nice pegasus on the inside front cover. The other decoration is generally geometric. There are a couple of spaces that have lost pictures in the past. I haven't looked at the rear of most of the images, so I don't know how many are named or anotated with a date."
brithm. Wow what gem and in fairly good condition! There's a vehicle prominently displayed on the opening page which may indicate what unit he was with. It's hard to know if the seller doesn't know who the man was or perhaps just doesn't want to say publicly ...? It's heartening to think there are more items like this that have yet to come to light. Thanks for drawing our attention to it ... Cheers ...
Looks like the guy who bought the album has made a DVD available containing 210 scans. DVD OF PARACHUTE REGIMENT WW2 PHOTO ALBUM 1944-46 6TH AIRBOURNE PALESTINE JEEPS - Ebay It's not me by the way, but I thought it might be of interest. Regards ...
Hi Steve, My best guess is the album shows one of the 6th Airborne divisional units. The lack of wings is evident on some uniforms, though it's hard to tell from the sample pictures. The seller doesn't know who exactly they are and is interested in finding out more. You really have to wonder how these albums become adrift from the original family owners. Although it may not be 2 Para related (?) the Palestine aspect could still be of interest as I know you are always seeking info for that period. Is that an Austin of some kind the two fellows are standing beside in the sample? Regards ...
Hi Cee, Just bought a copy, looking forward to seeing pics that have not been in the public domain. Is it an Austin Champ? When my grandfather went to Palestine with 2 Para he was detached to 1 Para Bde Defence Platoon according to his military records that i have just received. If the bloke who bought the album wants to find out more about the Units and blokes in the pics he is going to have to post some of the pics for people to look at. Regards Steve
Steve, I bought one as well. As you say he would have to post or allow us to post a few pics to get a discussion going. The closest I could find to something similar for the vehicle is linked below. It's titled a "British Bedford Truck" ...? BRITISH BEDFORD TRUCK - Blitz and Peaces Equipment Regards ...
wtid45, I'll do that at some point after viewing them ... or Steve can? The seller is in the business of collecting albums of one kind or another and offering digital versions online, so I would think any kind attention to drive eyes to his store would be to his advantage. For me the per pic cost including overseas postage is about 12 cents. It would be even cheaper in the UK. The last time I bought a single 300 dpi digital image from the IWM it was 6 pounds ... Regards ...
Having had a look at the pics this evening first clues i have to the Unit is that it may be 8th Parachute Bn, that is going by the REME pics. Steve
Quite an interesting batch of pictures with some excellent portraits and group shots. The one titled "Wismar 1945 8th L.A.D R.E.M.E" is as Steve mentioned the only named unit shot (13 men). Also some group shots of what appear to be REME men in oily overalls. There are many Para badges and vehicles to be seen throughout. Place names mentioned - Bulford, Salisbury Plain, Weert, Ostend, Wismar, Calais, White Cliffs of Dover, Toulon, Tripoli, Jerusalem, Gaza, Aleppo (aerials?). Otherwise most are numbered without name. I quite enjoyed this album. There's something very real about it, perhaps due to the casualness with which many of the shots were taken. There are some LAD REME units named in the various 6th Airborne orbats, none of which go by the "8th" which makes me think this possibly a concoction to indicate who they were attached to ...? Steve seems to be thinking along the same line. Later ...
Hello lads , I have been contacted by Chuck concerning this thread . I had long since forgotten that I had previously signed up to this forum site . I'm Jim and the owner of the album you are discussing here . I was surprised to see it come up for sale on feepay and even more surprised when I actually secured it . I thought it would have sold for much more than I paid . I'm very much a generalist and have much to learn . I realised original WW2 Parachute regt photos are extremely rare , but thats just about all I know . So any info would be greatly appreciated . I would especially love to discover the original owners name . Interesting albums do surface from time to time . Recently , I purchased another fine album which belonged to Major Lonsdale -Cooper of the Hallamshire battalion , York and Lancaster Regt ..real " Band of Brothers" stuff. Feel free to let me know if I can be of any help . Jim
Hello The copyright owner is not in favour of posting lower resolution photos from the album after suffering abuses when pics from other forums were posted on eBay at exorbitant prices. The only way forward at this time is perhaps using cropped images. I'll offer up an intruiguing one for starters that could possibly show Richard Todd. The same man is visible in two casual group shots. Best guess is that it shows Todd in the autumn of 44 when he was with 6th Airborne Divisional HQ rather than 7 Para. The comparison is to the April 44, 7 Para Battalion photo. Possibly two photos of Todd never seen before. The units shown from the predominance of "81" (solid background) on vehicles are probably connected to the 3rd Brigade HQ. I have a positive identification of the Canadian Para appearing at the 1944 Bulford tea truck and a possible lead on a RASC Captain. The marriage photo dated June 9th, 1945 (No. 123) has led to one connection but with the name "Johnson" it is hard to nail down and may be just be a coincidence. See the story here: A FEW MEMORIES FROM JOYCE AND HER HUSBAND - BBC WW2 People's War Still out on a limb really and it's such a shame that these albums are lost with time. Regards ...
Hello, A little bump to inform those interested that the photo album is available for viewing on the Pegasus Archive. http://www.pegasusarchive.org/varsity/pHugo2.htm Also attached a comparison study of Capt. Alec Rossiter of 1 Can Para taken from ParaData and the photo album. Regards ...
Major John Thornicraft Woodgate I believe the officer seen standing on the rear platform of a caravan wearing sunglasses is Staff Capt John T. Woodgate of 3 Para Brigade HQ who not long after the Rhine Crossing was made Deputy Assistant Adjutant General of 6th Airborne Division HQ. He talks about moving into a caravan and sharing it with another Officer in his IWM interview. John Woodgate passed away January 23rd, 2015. Regards ...