How many British WW2 Veterans are still around ?

I am trying to use the upload pictures bear with me!
sapper

Nice collection Sapper.

 

The number of Vets left? sadly all my old mates have gone. I have no one to natter to over the phone..... My friends were the salt of the earth. Men of great courage And real Gentlemen. I do miss them.
Sapper

 

Brian

Like yourself, I inevitably mourn the passing of old, good friends and this is brought home to me every year when I attend Remembrance Parade and, as in my case, Club reunions.

Whilst re-reading some of the items on this thread I was reminded of an article that I posted on another forum that seemed appropriate to re-print here..

The piece went as follows:

Whilst on the subject of friendship I'd like to mention (yet again !) my old boy's club, the C&BG.

I first joined the club in 1934 and still attend annual reunions where we "oldies" bask in nostalgia and the pleasure of good company and relive triumphs of yester-year.

We used to have a polished oak memorial board set up in the reception area on which were recorded the names of members who had passed away during the preceding year and one member, who was a professional artist, was given the job of keeping the board up to date.

One year I had arrived fairly early and discovered Len hard at work with a small pot of golden paint.

I couldn't resist asking him how he felt about having to perform this rather morbid task.

Len has long since passed away himself and we no longer display the board in the reception area but I can still remember his reply.

"Once a year I come here early with my little pot of paint. I unwrap the board, and as long as my name is not there, I'm a happy man !"

Cheers Len !

Ron

 

Ron,

How about old enemies, now new friends? Meet Wolfgang Kloth who was taken prisoner by the Russians.
The photographs during a visit the war museum at Auburn, Indiana.

http://northirishhorse.net/AMPS/P/Wolfgang-2.JPG

http://northirishhorse.net/AMPS/P/Wolfgang-1.JPG

Happy to say there are still a fair number of North Irish Horsemen still alive a kicking!

Gerry

 

Dear Gerry

Without any equivocation whatsoever I hold you in the highest esteem and consider your contribution to WW2 recorded history to be without parallel.

This entitles you, if anyone, to make your own decision regarding making friends with former enemies.

I believe however, that by inference, you were suggesting that I should do likewise. Regrettably I think that, given my background, this is hardly likely to happen.

In fact, as the sole survivor of five brothers who served in WW2, I am certain that it will never happen.

All best wishes

Ron

 

little point of some interest is that Gerry might have taken my place in Northern Italy .....my regiment - 145th RAC being a Territorial mob - was broken up for spares in Dec 1944...and at the same time 142nd RAC which was in 25th Tank bde along with the NIH was also broken up ....so NIH moved into our place in 21st Tank bde....51st RTR went on to become an Armoured Engineers bde...and I finished up with 16th /5th Lancers
A good friend of mine in "civvy" street was Terry McGrath of NIH - "C" squadron whereas Gerry was in "B" squadron.
One of the complexities of life in the British Army was the training schedule - initial Tank training at Barnard Castle was with Pursuit Tanks i.e Crusaders - Covenanters - Cromwell's etc - on arriving overseas to join the regiment - they had Churchill assault Tanks......on returning to active duty after hospitalisation..retrained on Armoured Cars ......on joining 16/5th Lancers ... they had Sherman pursuit Tanks !
Finally just before demob we had Armoured cars ...then I left..to be recalled for Korea in the Inns of Court regiment - an Officer Training regiment ! !
Heigh Ho... Cheers

 

Hey Ron,

I am sorry that my posting caused hurt. In no way was I inferring that you or anyone should forgive one-time enemies if the wish to do so is non-existent - some wounds are far to deep.

When I was on LIAP - the war in Europe was over when I was home - in a converstaion with father and Uncle Frank (probably the best known test umpire) I was going on about some of the SS we came across. Both of them said something to the effect that most of the enemy fought because they had to. Especially moving was Frank's comment, he having lost part of an arm at Salonika ending a certain play-for-England cricketing career, "Gerry, you cannot hate forever."

Sincerely, Gerry

 

Hey Ron,
I am sorry that my posting caused hurt. In no way was I inferring that you or anyone should forgive one-time enemies if the wish to do so is non-existent - some wounds are far to deep.

Gerry

No offence taken or any hurt caused at all.

I was just making the point that I would not be able to follow your route simply because, amongst other things, of my conviction that only those who were offended against have the right to forgive.

Best regards, as always

Ron

 

I think that photo of Gerry and Wolfgang is a pure emotional statement that not all Germans were evil. He looks just like any other normal guy, doing his bit for his country.

 

The trouble with that statement, is that many of these people reveled in Evil. They could have fought their war as normal combatants, but they could never do that.

The number of massacres were far to numerous to say "They fought because they had to" (Crap).... Orador and Tulle make a complete mockery of " we only served" "We only obeyed orders"

What would the British army chain of command say about hanging 99 men from the lamp posts, and encouraging their Vichy French fellow travelers to hang on their dangling legs, to make sure they died?
Now who will tell me I am wrong? not to want to "Fraternise" Too late ...Far too late.

Like Ron. Who surely with what happened to people of his faith, let alone his family..... would find it very hard to come to terms with "Friendship"
My dear old friend Alan Westerman, gave me two descriptions of Belson. One official from the medical teams, and one where he walked around the outside of the camp writing about the scenes he witnessed. Everywhere there were signs KEEP OUT TYPHUS.....Still got them somewhere in the house.
Sapper

 

Not a veteran myself but my father, who was in the RN during WWII is still with us.

 

Maybe most members and visitors to this sight are like myself the off-spring of WW2 Vets, myself being the son a soldier.

 

The number of Vets left? sadly all my old mates have gone. I have no one to natter to over the phone..... My friends were the salt of the earth. Men of great courage And real Gentlemen. I do miss them.
Sapper

Brian, it's sad to hear that your close mates have all departed, but you may be surprised by the number of Vets still knocking about that you dont know about. Like yours, my local NVA had to hang up its colours a number of years ago do to dwindling numbers, so when we set out on trying to find those remaining who wanted to go to Normandy in June this year we started off with only 3, (Ironically 1 Army, 1 RAF regmt and 1 RN), but eventually tracked down 7, all still alive an kicking but had just lost contact in recent years.

As this only equates to Normandy Vet's, then the number is significantly higher in my area, especially as the South Lancs was the local regiment and therefore we have a higher number of Burmastar association members.

p.s With the help of the Chester and Wirral NVA, all 7 of the original NVA plus two widows are going back to Normandy in June.

On the subject of forgiveness, a number of years back there was a dispute between the Burma Star Members and the council, which led to the boycott of the 'offical' remberance day service. (They all attended but would stand off to oneside and lay their wreaths after the counciller had gone). The dispute was over a Grant given to a large Japanese Zip Manufacturer who had opened a factory locally, which resulted in a lot of publicity and photo oppurtunities that the Burma Star took offence too. (Rightly in my opinion)

ps. You have a few good friend's on here from what I can make out

Phil

 

Long may the old buzzards of WW2 continue. I love to see them around....Keep going lads........We only pass this way once
Sapper

 

My Great Uncle is still going strong at 91! ex RASC, North Africa and Italy .....

Donnie

 

Then give him my very best regards.
Sapper

 

Brian (Sapper)

There are two WW2 veterans that meet at the RBL every wednesday morning.
One RN and the other like you Royal Engineers, who I think was also at D-Day.
I will ask more questions and post them on Wednesday if I have the answers.

Syd the RN Veteran was also at D-Day with his LST and has recently had his medals returned from mounting by a firm in the UK. He is still waiting for his Arctic Pin.

He has a France and Germany clasp as he had an Atlantic star qualification before D-Day.

The medal on the extreme right is a Minesweeping medal which he earned post was in the Pacific.

Medals picture attached.

Regards
Tom

 

I've got a friend whose Dad was a 19 year Petty Officer (Wireless) on board HMS Bulolo, the command ship off Gold Beach on D-Day. Later served on HMS Belfast. He attended his local RBL branch until last year I believe but is now too frail to do so.