I learned right on here that Darwin was bombed by the Japanese - my history lessons at school back in the 1950s and 60s concentrated on British royalty and Ancient Rome - nothing about either world war, and definitely nothing about Australia being attacked. (In fact, in the very brief period since joining, I've learned more on here about WWII than anywhere/anything else. Top info here.)
I have learned that the WW2 British Uniform designs are not as easy to understand as at first sight. So many variations worn as changes were made and old stocks used up. Regards Tom
Jon, I too went to school around the same time and no WW1 or WW2 History was taught. Perhaps too much of a recent memory, particularly WW2 where most of our class's father's were in the services. Regards Tom
I just recently learned about the airwar over Poland 1939 and that the polish air force was NOT defeated at once on the ground but flew for quite some time during the "Polenfeldzug".
I learnt today than an Australian. Bruce Dowding was part of the Pat Line working with Albert-Marie Edmond Guérisse (Lieutenant-Commander Patrick O'Leary) however a sad demise was in store for him. See more here. CHRISTOPHER A LONG - SOE, MI9 & Bruce Dowding SOE, MI9, Bruce Dowding & Pat Line By Peter Dowding (1998) The following account of the escape and evasion exploits of Bruce Dowding in World War ll France, including his experiences with Pat O'Leary, Dr George Rodocanachi, Ian Garrow and others in Marseilles, was sent to me by Peter Dowding. Kenneth Bruce Dowding (Bruce) was born in Melbourne Victoria Australia on the 4 May 1914 . His father was John McCallum Dowding (b. 28.11.1880) and his mother Margaret Kate née Walsh (b. 25.03.1880). He had two brothers: Mervyn (b. 1910) and Keith (b. 1912). Bruce was educated at the Glenhuntly State School where he was Dux in 1925. From 1926 to (?) he attended (?) and then, in 1929, went to Wesley College Melbourne. Read more at the link above:
The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Name Dowding, Bruce Rank: Corporal Service No: 131722 Regiment: Intelligence Corps Theatre of Combat or Operation: The London Omnibus List for Gallant and Distinguished Services in the Field Award: Mention-in-Despatches Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 05 December 1946 Date 1946 Catalogue reference WO 373/102
Just finishing reading Wings on Windermere: The History of the Lake District's Forgotten Flying Boat Factory White: Amazon.co.uk: Allan King: Books and found an fascinating brief chapter in it. Titled Sunderland EJ155 vs Uboat U-387, it examines an attack by the 330 Squadron Sunderland on the U boat on July 19th 1944. The part I found interesting is the account is drawn from 330 Squadron's Operational Record Book and U-387's log book and published side by side so you compare the two accounts of the attack.
I was very surprised to learn recently that antibiotics only started to be mass produced during WW2, even though they had been in use for about 15 years before! Shocked also to learn just how many lives were lost due to the shortage of them during the war years.
I learned that Germany took over 100,000 Carcano rifles back to Germany after the Italian armistice. They were issued to the Volksstum in the final phase of the war. The most interesting part, for me, is that many were rechambered to the 7.9 Mauser round with the magazines blanked off so that were only single shots. Desperate measures.
The rumour about burnt German corpses washing up on the south coast in 1940 seems to have a counter-part: did some Japanese land on Australia's north coast in 1942...
I have encountered it a few times before in a few POW books , but it always amazes me how little comradeship there was between allied POW menof different nationalities in especially jap camps, but you see it also in Colditz. Little or no contact, but instead a lot of distrust between brits, Ozzies, Dutch, Americans, local colonials (Kulis) , etc. Everyone to themselves. Distrust especially from lower ranks, but -more importantly - also between higher ranking officers of different nations...they should have known better. ..Occasionally an army doctor of the one would lend or borrow something from the other, but that was kind of the limit. No real "allied" spirit in the (jap) POW camps.
This topic has been discussed over the years. Axis naval activity in Australian waters - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Regards Tom
I have learned that the internet still is swarming of people believing WWiII myths and Reader Digest stories,as: -the Italians were worthless -after Dunkirk,the British Army was inexistent etc,etc,etc
before watching an edition of Heir Hunters this week I had never heard of HMS Curacoa and her sinking by collision with SS Queen Mary ...
I realised that the remnants of WWII are sometimes closer to home than we think... After visiting the Bulge since childhood, and more recently Normandy, I found a renewed interest to the happenings closer to home. Kind regards, Jos
this week I was surprised to learn that at the end of the war the Panzerlied became the battle hymn of the 2nd Regiment of the French Foreign Legion (with lyrics changed)
I haven't read all 11 pages, so not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but my biggest discovery lately has been the Auxiliary Units - I'd never heard of them before! There are only a handful of books on the subject - reading one at the moment - 'With Britain in Mortal Danger', by John Warwicker - and awaiting delivery of another, 'The Last Ditch' by David Lampe. The utter secrecy of the project seems to have endured a long time, and I do wonder if that's because some of the projected activities were less than savoury; eliminating collaborators/informers, for example...
