How many British WW2 Veterans are still around ?

Adam

His stay was rather brief Ron.
Spam in the signature, & I'd say selectively quoting from previous posts to attempt to look legit.
(Cheers to CL1 for the heads up.)


They get cleverer by the day, don't they ?

Well spotted Clive !

Ron

 

To all the vets here.....keep your heads down, and look out for that ugly grey bearded old bugger, the one with the great big rusty old scythe.

Take care lads. What would be nice is a compo tin of bacon for Christmas?
Sapper

 

Sadly I come into contact with quite a lot of vets in my job on a weekly basis for all the wrong reasons. I have met vets from Dunkirk, Africa, Normandy, Italy, the Far East. As well as Soldiers, I've met vets from Bomber and Fighter Command and the Royal Navy and even a Polish Colonel who fought from 1939 right through to the end of the war in Italy, I posted a picture on here of his uniform with quite a few ribbons on it including the Polish equivalent of the British Victoria Cross.

I think the most moving chap I met was a Sgt with the 51st Highland Div., he was captured in 1940 at St. Valery and spent the rest of the war as a PoW. He was visibly moved that someone of my age had heard of what happened at St. Valery and could talk to him about it.

The only downside is my contact with these vets is far too short.

 

Andy

Thought your last posting (#61) was much too mournful for my, and I suspect other veterans, liking.

I'll make a pact with you...........................

If you get any reports that the old git in Cockfosters has finally kicked the bucket pay no attention to it whatsoever, unless I make a posting under "Gone but not forgotten" to confirm it

Best regards

Ron

 

Hi Ron,

The only downside is my contact with these vets is far too short.


I was refering to time spent in my company taking them home or vice versa. I only spend on average around 10 to 15 minutes in anyone's company whilst providing transport to a destination.

Cheers
Andy

 

Andy

I was refering to time spent in my company taking them home or vice versa. I only spend on average around 10 to 15 minutes in anyone's company whilst providing transport to a destination.




Phew! that's a relief

Ron

 

Take care lads. What would be nice is a compo tin of bacon for Christmas?
Sapper

Or perhaps a case of delicious M & V? Especially when washed down with the tea/milk/sugar combo!

Here's what Davey Fallis of the NIH Mustang Rover Crew wrote about this gourmet offering:
Gourmet Grub

Gerry

PS Being aboard the Squadron Leader's tank assured we got the much coveted boxes containg Spam. Army life did have a few privileges!

 

hello
i'm a first timer here.
i was wondering if anyone knows who is the highest ranking officer from WW2 still alive today?
i know of a Lt Colonel. would there be any higher ranks still alive?
thanks

 

Yes the last time In heard from the Sappers grape vine a WW2 officer in my company is still alive and a general...I shall get my Old platoon officers letter later.he will bring me up to date

 

Still with it. Joined up May 1940 aged15. Served Africa ,Italy, France and Germany. Pack transport drover. Despatch rider. Completed service Oct 46. NCO. IC. Stable of 20 horses. Glockenturm, Olympic Stadium. Berlin. Anyone out there served in Berlin 45/46?
Vyn 22.

 

I often thought of starting a collection of WW2 vets autographs as I meet quite a few in my job as a coin dealer. Sadly nowhere near as many now as 10 years ago. Heard some amazing stories but perhaps the most interesting chap I met was a Sergeant in the Royal Army Dental Corps, or was it just the Army Dental Corps back then.
As an aside I am quite freindly with a lady who's mother was QARANC in Africa and Father (sadly long gone) was a 1st Lt at Pegasus bridge with Lord Lovatt. She has his medals including a high bravery decoration although I can't remember which it was.

 

Without wanting to promote another website, if you search on forcesreunited.org.uk by unit and service dates you can find a good number of results e.g. RUR 1939-45 produces 75 matches although admittedly it covers more than 1 Battalion and probably half to two thirds of entries have been placed by relatives.....

 

VYN22

Welcome aboard !
Still with it. Joined up May 1940 aged15. Served Africa ,Italy, France and Germany. Pack transport drover. Despatch rider. Completed service Oct 46. NCO. IC. Stable of 20 horses. Glockenturm, Olympic Stadium. Berlin. Anyone out there served in Berlin 45/46?
Vyn 22.


Blimey !...................... you were young......... What was your LIAP or PYTHON group number ?

Best regards

Ron

 

To whomever god you choose, or not, God Bless You. Keep posting and keep sharing your information and stories. We are in debt to you all.

 

If the WW1 veterans are used as an example there could still be some D-Day/Burma veterans who are 85 now still around in 25 years time!

 

Great lads every one! Surely there are other Vets besides Ron and myself?
Sapper

I am new on this site but I am a WW2 Vet having enlisted Sep 3, 1939 as a Despatch Rider in Royal Signals, was commissioned in 1943 in that Corps and served until August 1946 in Berlin.

I was 18 when I joined but had to change my age to 21 to be accepted.

I served in France in 1940 and in Europe from D+11 until released in 1946.

All the close friends I made in WW2 are gone now with one exception and he, at 93, has the beginnings of alzheimers. Of my family, my eldest brother served in the Reconnaisance Corps in Africa, my elder brother served with me in Signals, my younger sister was in the ATS, my elder sister's husband was a Navigator-Air Gunner in Bomber Command, RAF, my father, a veteran of the WW1 in RGA in France and Belgium, served in WW2 as a District Leader in the Air Raid Wardens and finally my late wife was a member of the Land Army.

I emigrated to Canada with my wife and children in 1957......and have been retired for the past 28+ years!

 

Hi Nevil.
Great record mate..... You got your knees brown, long before us younger ones came on the scene
Wish you well
Sapper

 

I am new on this site but I am a WW2 Vet having enlisted Sep 3, 1939 as a Despatch Rider in Royal Signals, was commissioned in 1943 in that Corps and served until August 1946 in Berlin.

I was 18 when I joined but had to change my age to 21 to be accepted.

I served in France in 1940 and in Europe from D+11 until released in 1946.

All the close friends I made in WW2 are gone now with one exception and he, at 93, has the beginnings of alzheimers. Of my family, my eldest brother served in the Reconnaisance Corps in Africa, my elder brother served with me in Signals, my younger sister was in the ATS, my elder sister's husband was a Navigator-Air Gunner in Bomber Command, RAF, my father, a veteran of the WW1 in RGA in France and Belgium, served in WW2 as a District Leader in the Air Raid Wardens and finally my late wife was a member of the Land Army.

I emigrated to Canada with my wife and children in 1957......and have been retired for the past 28+ years!

Nevil

A big welcome from Toronto. We look forward to hearing more from you.

Best regards,

Randy

 

Welcome Nevil, you certainly joined for the long haul. [although it was supposed to be all over by Christmas my grandad said!]. Good to 'see' you on here. You long lived fellows are an inspiration. I met a gentleman last year who joined as a boy soldier in 1936, still standing and talking, and for a while longer I hope, all of you.
Best wishes
Matt Gibbs

 

Guess I was one of the lucky ones and was only 16 when the war ended. But made
Korea though, a different sort of war. And, of course the battle of the bordellos in
Japan in 1949.
David