Grand dad's WW2 Diaries
Discussion
My granddad died in the early 80's after many years of ill health. I have few memories of him, other than him smoking a pipe and watching bowling on the local green.
I never really got time to talk to him, and one thing that stuck in my mind was watching the TV series "World at War" and seeing him crying in the corner. He told me little about his experiences in the war, other than being in North Africa, Italy and then going to Austria on the way home.
Following the death of my father last year I've been going through some of his effects and I've got my grand dad's diaries and papers from the War.
I've posted a little of them in another thread - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... and as promised I will post up his diaries. It's mainly for interest and to see if anyone else has any memories or stories from that time.
The next question is, "what do I do with the original documents? Donate to a museum? Bin? Or just chuck in a drawer for the next 40 years?
The first of his diaries can be found here - https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ane9lOTY5nFrgpVFgt0Pf5W69jdlGQ... (.pdf file)
SD.
I never really got time to talk to him, and one thing that stuck in my mind was watching the TV series "World at War" and seeing him crying in the corner. He told me little about his experiences in the war, other than being in North Africa, Italy and then going to Austria on the way home.
Following the death of my father last year I've been going through some of his effects and I've got my grand dad's diaries and papers from the War.
I've posted a little of them in another thread - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... and as promised I will post up his diaries. It's mainly for interest and to see if anyone else has any memories or stories from that time.
The next question is, "what do I do with the original documents? Donate to a museum? Bin? Or just chuck in a drawer for the next 40 years?
The first of his diaries can be found here - https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ane9lOTY5nFrgpVFgt0Pf5W69jdlGQ... (.pdf file)
SD.
Edited by shed driver on Tuesday 6th August 21:38
Can I suggest getting in touch with a couple of enthusiasts?
Al Murray (yes the pub landlord Al…) and also James Holland run a great long running podcast called We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Where they talk about the war, interview vets and family of vets, read excerpts of books and also look over a fair few documents covered by the war.
They’ve also written a fair few books. You may have seen James or heard him talking on the recent BBC coverage.
They may want to cover some of his diaries in an episode or be able to give you a very good steer as to where to get them kept so that such experiences and history aren’t lost — as we can all learn and heed such.
Otherwise if he’s had any cross experience with the mechanised stuff I would advise to contact a place dear to my heart - the Bovington Tank Museum. They’ve got a huge historical archive down there.
Thank you to your Grandad for his service.
Al Murray (yes the pub landlord Al…) and also James Holland run a great long running podcast called We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Where they talk about the war, interview vets and family of vets, read excerpts of books and also look over a fair few documents covered by the war.
They’ve also written a fair few books. You may have seen James or heard him talking on the recent BBC coverage.
They may want to cover some of his diaries in an episode or be able to give you a very good steer as to where to get them kept so that such experiences and history aren’t lost — as we can all learn and heed such.
Otherwise if he’s had any cross experience with the mechanised stuff I would advise to contact a place dear to my heart - the Bovington Tank Museum. They’ve got a huge historical archive down there.
Thank you to your Grandad for his service.
Very much enjoyed reading the upload, many thanks.
I'm quite surprised how much they moved the troops around and in such a short space of time. Reading through, your Grandad kept a note of mileage and time to cover the distance, 200+ miles in around 6 hours which must have been fairly arduous as I don't think military vehicles were built for comfort back then.
It's also interesting to read how he and his oppo's spent their time off, visiting places of interest and managing to enjoy themselves despite being at War. Good note re Vesuvious erupting as well.
Many thanks for taking the time to upload , and respect and thanks to your Grandad for his service.
I'm quite surprised how much they moved the troops around and in such a short space of time. Reading through, your Grandad kept a note of mileage and time to cover the distance, 200+ miles in around 6 hours which must have been fairly arduous as I don't think military vehicles were built for comfort back then.
It's also interesting to read how he and his oppo's spent their time off, visiting places of interest and managing to enjoy themselves despite being at War. Good note re Vesuvious erupting as well.
Many thanks for taking the time to upload , and respect and thanks to your Grandad for his service.
robscot said:
Be wary donating to *local* museums, many are suffering large budget cuts. Others have had cases of theft or basically don't know what items they have. Some are not the bastions of history you would think.
All museums and archives have a cataloguing backlog. In many cases priority is based on the known prominence and physical state of the records submitted. Evanivitch said:
robscot said:
Be wary donating to *local* museums, many are suffering large budget cuts. Others have had cases of theft or basically don't know what items they have. Some are not the bastions of history you would think.
All museums and archives have a cataloguing backlog. In many cases priority is based on the known prominence and physical state of the records submitted. Squadrone Rosso said:
Please don’t bin them. Try the IWM or even a museum in the town where he lived first.
Never bin them. Even if no one finds them of interest for the next 4 decades. Someone will. That's how historical evidence sometimes survives in lofts and hidden in private hands. My Grandad, reserved occupation as a baker, kept black market pigs during the war, fed them on scraps and bits of waste from the business. Always amused me.
As others have said which Regt was he? There will be a descendant Regt that would love to have the diaries in their museum.
Some of the best stuff in the Sapper museum Is from those who were there.
Ubique.
As others have said which Regt was he? There will be a descendant Regt that would love to have the diaries in their museum.
Some of the best stuff in the Sapper museum Is from those who were there.
Ubique.
Here's my dad aged 20 (in the cockpit) on his Carrier HMS Formidable in 1944
When I was at the FAA museum in Yeovilton a couple of years back, I enquired if they wanted a copy, but they basically said they had enough photographs, and no room to display any more
I'll ask again next year.
.
When I was at the FAA museum in Yeovilton a couple of years back, I enquired if they wanted a copy, but they basically said they had enough photographs, and no room to display any more
I'll ask again next year.
.
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