How many British WW2 Veterans are still around ?

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by 51highland, Oct 11, 2007.

  1. Wim

    Wim Member

    Hi dear community,

    Do you know if there are still any veterans around who served in the second battalion of the Gordon Highlanders? I am making a document (writing now, possibly a podcast later) for the living daughter of private John Burns, who died in 1944 during the liberation of The Netherlands. Would love to add input of one of the living war heroes from this battalion.
     
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  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Last edited: Apr 25, 2022
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  3. Lindele

    Lindele formerly HA96

    Great memory. I would love to interview Ken as well. From a German perspective, if ok with him. Where about in UK does Ken live?
    Stefan.
     
  4. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Arthur Pickard, Veteran of 5th (Scottish) Paras was 98 the other day.
    He's been in the residential home for the past few years but although he doesn't go out, he's still happy and it was lovely to chat again with him on the phone.
    Lesley
     
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  5. Lindele

    Lindele formerly HA96

    Lesley,
    would it be easier for me to chat with Arthur, or with Ken?

    Stefan.
     
  6. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello Stefan.

    I think you would need to get in touch with the York Normandy veterans association to contact Ken. They are on Facebook.
    York Normandy Veterans

    As regards to Arthur, I'm not sure he is quite well enough to do an interview, but member Sandra Doran interviewed him a while ago, so I suggest you send her a PM and ask her about her discussion with Arthur
    http://ww2talk.com/index.php?members/sandra-doran.75613/

    Lesley
     
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  7. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    An update. Tomorrow Howard will be 99 yrs old and today the retirement village and the residents where we live, gave him a party.
    His son is visiting from California and is standing in the background.
    Everyone here loves him. He is a perfect gentleman. Unfortunately his hearing and eyesight are not good.
    I wonder if he is the last man standing from the Flying Knights. The web www.flyingknights.net site is no longer available.
     

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  8. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

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  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Capturing war-time memories, before it is too late
    Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve them for future generations.

    Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has already spoken to many men and women who served during the War - you can watch their testimonies here.



    All around 3 minutes long. Why not longer, presumably more of the interview material has been archived...

    'I can remember to this day Urdu I learned in Army'
    Robin Rowland volunteered at 21 and asked to be posted to India.

    Marie Scott: 'I could hear men screaming'
    Marie Scott joined the Wrens in 1944, aged 17. Her skills as a trained switchboard operator meant her young age was quietly ignored.

    Harry Shindler: Hid in a hole to survive German attack
    Harry Shindler was conscripted into the Army and served in the North Africa campaign before taking part in the invasion of Italy.

    John Dennett: 'I'm lucky I've had 70 years of freedom'
    John Dennett served at every major Allied landing: North Africa, Italy, Normandy
    As a gunner on a landing ship, HMS LST 322, his vessel was vital for getting tanks and armour ashore.

    Max Embury: 'As a youngster you didn't have any fear'
    At just 18 years old, Max Embury commanded a scout car in the Household Cavalry as the Allies advanced through Italy in 1943.

    'I don’t remember any fear evacuating from Dunkirk'
    Anti-aircraft gunner John Hamilton was part of the British Army told to evacuate from Dunkirk in May 1940.

    'People from the Empire and Commonwealth died'
    As a teenager in Jamaica, Neil Flanigan was one of over 10,000 from the West Indies who answered the call to join the Armed Forces.

    'You had to work fast' on WW2 anti-aircraft guns
    By 1941, the Royal Artillery's Anti-Aircraft Command was short of manpower and it was proposed that women from the Auxiliary Territorial Service should be drafted in to new 'mixed' gun batteries, in roles other than firing.

    'I made a rather unorthodox landing in Normandy'
    Veteran Bill Gladden's arrival in Normandy on D-Day took an unexpected turn as he found himself spread-eagled on top of a tank being carried by a glider.

    I saw action on D-Day as a 16-year-old stowaway
    Don Duffield-Adby stowed away on a Bren gun carrier, landing on the beaches on D-Day as a 16-year-old cadet. His presence among the invasion force was only discovered by chance after several days in Normandy.

    'Luck of draw I survived D-Day as dispatch rider'
    Gordon Prime, from Pembrokeshire, was a dispatch rider for the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), the unit responsible for keeping the British Army supplied with provisions.

    'It was hell on earth'
    Life on the front line during World War Two was like "hell on earth", recalls veteran Walter Nixon.

    Concentration camp survivors' 'arms were just bone'
    Born into a south London Jewish family, Mervyn Kersh was among British troops involved in the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
     
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  10. Lindele

    Lindele formerly HA96

    Great collection of young men involved to free Europe of this terrible lot of Nazi.
    I wish I could interview them personally and thank them directly
    Stefan.
     
  11. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    It is with much sadness to announce that Arthur passed away peacefully in the care home with his family at his side, today 20th December, aged 98.
    I've enjoyed our chats and it has been a pleasure knowing you all these years.
    Rest in peace old soldier.
    Lesley xx
    :poppy:

     
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  12. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    On the 23rd July Howard celebrated his 100th Birthday with his son from America, family and
    friends in the retirement village.
    He is a wonderful gentleman.
     

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  13. Derek Barton

    Derek Barton Senior Member

    I have just finished mounting a set of replica medals for a gentleman who came into the Veterans Centre here in Wigan. His originals have been misplaced and he needs them for a trip to France next year for the D Day celebrations. James Belcher is 98 years young and was in the Royal Marines. He was a crew member on landing craft during the war, his medals will give you an idea of the actions he was involved in. He took part in D Day, landing troops on the beaches.
    The medals I have just mounted are:
    1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star and the War Medal.
     
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  14. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    I am sad to say that Howard passed away on Christmas Eve. He was taken ill with pneumonia not long after his birthday. He never fully recovered.

    The following link gives more insight into his service;-
    The Short Snorter Project - Howard R. Oglsby Short Snorter
    (I had never heard of a short snorter)

    He was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and 5 Oak Leaf Clusters.

    Rest in Peace Howard
     

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