Andy Actually ref the first chap drinking I can see something on closer inspection on his eppaulette. Is it a crown rather than a pip? For my money, it's a pip, one of at least two, if it's the same chap in the 2nd photo. Having fun Brian ? Ron .
Thanks Owen... You Sir, are a Gentlemen. Certain, for I recall it very clearly. We got a boat and had a look underneath to see if the blown bridge would collapse.... I also recall that the bridge ends were safe. A bit of nostalgia Ron, For it shows us when we were young.... a but different now? Cheers Briam
I still keep forgetting WW2 was fought in colour. It looks like yesterday when I see those pics. Don't they look young eh? http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26614&d=1269896957
Nearly 66 years on, many of those young men will have passed on. In the first place, very few got through to the end at Bremen. Old age will have accounted for the rest But I am grateful to those who very kindly found the pictures for me. And to Owen for making them available to put on my "pictures folder. Don't they look young? yet these very young men went through all that could be thrown at them. Sapper
I can clearly see the subdued Engineers cap badge on the right but what are the centre two? They look a bit different to the badge I'm familiar with. A
1st Suffolk's. Drew mate. I recall while we were there the water wagon went straight on ans d was never seen again. W also lost one man (vanished) that was picked up by Enemy patrol and never saw him again Sapper
Found this in Faces of WW2. Caption reads: Royal Engineers lay a Bailey Bridge across the River Orne.
On page 5 there is a query about a arm badge.I think it is the RE airstrip company. There were REs with the sole job of creating airstrips for the Spits to land and refuel. I found one in a drawer upstairs, its the same Sapper
Then photo in Weert The infantry men may have been East Yorks men though I fancy Suffolks.The photo of the Orne bridge could gave been any one of several RE crews At the time we helped to put a bridge over the area was under fire, and men were forced to go to ground... We were engaged with eh pontoon bridge. Sapper
Hello I also think that those first photos posed, I in the Finnish army in 70s a sapper who would have probed earth like the front man in the second picture he would have got a rocked from his squad leader, his grip is altogether wrong. And if the after end of his “ski” had tricked a A/P mine like Laatikkomiina m/42, Schu-mine or the original Soviet P6M or whatever mine his balls would have been in danger. The mine in the 3rd picture is a German magnetic A/T mine Juha ex Finnish army Combat Engineer /Sapper squad leader, we have compulsory military service, you know
Gday sapper My grandfather cpl joe priestley ERY was also at caen then onto goodwood as a despatch rider. He had painted the word " Hull " on his fuel tank. Regards steve oz
Steve Perhaps your posting will bring "Sapper" out of hibernation ? (His last posting was on Jan 2, 2016) Ron
Gday Ron Many years since ive be on site. Hope sapper is still with us So glad you still are. One of the best sites ive been on. Been mia myself due to personal reasons but back again now.. Hope Drew is still about.. Im still trying to track down as much info as i can about ERY Was looking/marveling at your war diary and pics on here earlier today... Yourself and the other vets on here are what keep me coming back for more. Cheers from Australia Steve
He eventually settled on a Facebook page, after becoming briefly more visible on ArRSe as 'Swordman'. Last news on the FB group (from daughter) was that failing sight means pooter use very difficult. https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1031407733556871&ref=content_filter