Souvenirs (memories) of WWII - incl. Lancaster shot down, 1943

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by Gabriel, May 23, 2011.

  1. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    I was a kid during WWII (born 03/18/1933), living in Southwestern France.
    I got many souvenirs of these times.
     
  2. Jakob Kjaersgaard

    Jakob Kjaersgaard Senior Member

    Welcome aboard Gabriel. Feel free to share any photos you might have of your souvenirs.
     
  3. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello and welcome Gabriel. Post away-we are always looking for new photos and stories of other people.

    Lesley
     
  4. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    Welcome aboard Gabriel. Feel free to share any photos you might have of your souvenirs.

    Thanks Jakob! :)
     
  5. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    Hello and welcome Gabriel. Post away-we are always looking for new photos and stories of other people.

    Lesley

    Thanks to you also Lesley! :)
     
  6. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    welcome from the netherlands, look forward to any photographs
     
  7. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    welcome from the netherlands, look forward to any photographs

    Thank you Philip. Infortunately I don't have many pictures taken during the years 1940-45.
    In these days, taking pictures was less important than found food! ;)
     
  8. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Bonjour Gabriel, bienvenue sur le forum
     
  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    welcome to the forum
     
  10. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    Bonjour Gabriel, bienvenue sur le forum

    Merci stolpi (hé hé)

    and CL1
     
  11. ronald

    ronald Senior Member

    Welcome Gabriel, ive been in St Julien en Born, is that close to you, nice
    beaches there.


    Ron
     
  12. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum Gabriel - enjoy!

    Absent photographs, maybe you could share your memories of WWII; searching for food included?

    My dad was 7 years old when WWII started and was evacuated from Newcastle Upon Tyne to the Lake District, and he too went without food - starved in fact and ended up in hospital with plurosy and other ailments...

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  13. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Welcome to the forum


    Cheers
    Paul
     
  14. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    During the night of april 28 1943 (I was 10 years old) I witnessed with my dad and my brother (12), a Lancaster shot down by the "flak" (AAA).
    The plane crashed close the beach of Erromardie (2kms north of St-Jean-de-Luz) at about 500m from our house. The following day, my brother and I went to "visit" the crash site dispite the presence of the germans. We first noticed 4 bodies laid by the germans at the base of the wall by the beach. Then later on we saw an other body among the weckage.

    In 1957 during a visit to the cemetery Du Sabaou at Biarritz, I noticed some kind of a "little cemetery" in the cemetery. I learned then that it was the resting place of the crew (8) of the Lancaster. At that time, there were only wooden whites crosses, now replaced by headstones.

    PS: Please forgive my poor english writing. I can do better in french! ;)
     
    dbf likes this.
  15. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    Thanks for your welcome Ron, Steve and Paul.

    Ron, excellent surfing on the Landes's beaches.
    But I'am now to old for that!
     
  16. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    Welcome to the forum Gabriel - enjoy!

    Absent photographs, maybe you could share your memories of WWII; searching for food included?


    I won't dare tell you what was on the menu some times.

    I don't want any trouble with the SPCA! :D
     
  17. AussieNipper

    AussieNipper Member

    Hi Gabriel, welcome to the forum

    Regards,

    Nipper.
     
  18. PA. Dutchman

    PA. Dutchman Senior Member

    Greetings,

    Your English is fine and welcome to the Forum, I am fairly new also.

    There is much to learn here from some GREAT folks on this Forum.

    I am looking forward to reading more of your entries.
     
  19. Gabriel

    Gabriel Junior Member

    Greetings,

    Your English is fine and welcome to the Forum, I am fairly new also.

    There is much to learn here from some GREAT folks on this Forum.

    I am looking forward to reading more of your entries.

    Thanks Dutchman! :)

    Hi Gabriel, welcome to the forum

    Regards,

    Nipper.

    Same to you Nipper! ;)
     
  20. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hi! I have some souvenirs of WW2 they are called shrapnel, and I am still finding bits and pieces. Even today, 67 years on.
    Big Grin
    sapper
     

Share This Page