Videos tagged with ww2

MyStory - WWII Tobruk: Rommel and Churchill

MyStory - WWII Tobruk: Rommel and Churchill

In 1939, Ronnie joined the Royal Marine Commandos and in this story he recalls a serving in Tobruk, fighting in the deserts of Egypt, encountering Rommel's forces in the Egyptian deserts and Churchill visiting the troops in Cairo. Firstly, Ronnie recalls being positioned in Tobruk and being directly involved in the raids at the time. Two large ships were launched from Alexandria and sent out to execute a raid on Tobruk, only to come under unexpected fire from the enemy following the news being leaked to the Axis Forces! Ronnie and his Commandos continued on their mission to circle Tobruk in their endeavour to secure the precious harbour. Ronnie describes trudging through the unforgiving desert terrain of Tobuk and meeting enemy soldiers face-to-face, however with the enemies with their backs to the Commandoes they did not shoot but relinquished their artillery and sent them on their way,. Ronnie also excitedly recalls the responsibility given to him to accompany a Hurricane pilot whilst fighting in the desert as means of locating the exact position of where Rommel's troops were positioned and advancing from. Despite the undoubtedly frightful situation asked of Ronnie he obliged and carried out his mission, returning unscathed and with the necessary information gathered which subsequently aided in unearthing Rommel's advancement tactics. Following from this, Ronnie recalls a few days of a lull in the fighting in which his squadron were given a couple of days leave to visit Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. Unbeknown to the troops at the time, this also coincided with a Churchill's trip out to The Middle East, and consequently Churchill formally addressing Ronnie and the Commandos stationed there. After what Ronnie recalls as the briefest of announcements, comprised of general commandments on how well all the British Troops were performing out in the desert, Churchill and his safeguard soon disappeared, much to the muted jeers of a number or Ronnie's Commandos!

MyStory - World War Two: Entertaining the Troops

MyStory - World War Two: Entertaining the Troops

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Ronnie joined the Royal Marine Commandos and in this story he recalls a travelling to India and the horrendous conditions travelling on the ships to these faraway lands -- although, unlike the majority of the ship load, Ronnie actually quite enjoyed the journeys across the seas. After arriving at in India Ronnie recalls being situated near large intimidating jungles in order to train for the possibility of enemy attacks within the jungle environment, Ronnie has vivid recollections of crawling through the India jungles whilst training and encountered the numerous forms of life which inhabit such a climate, giant snakes to mention one! Fortunately for Ronnie and his squadron they did not encounter any enemy forces whilst situated at next to the Jungles in India. Ronnie then moves on to inform us on how the troops were often subjected to local entertainment events in the evenings whilst away o service with the Commandos. He remembers one particular formal event in Poona, and on arriving at the event being one of the most opulent episodes of his time in service! Somewhat depreciating the lavish event as dull and boring, with there being no dancing or morale boosting merriment , Ronnie and his friend (Fritzie) took it upon themselves to get up in front of the troops, cracking jokes and causing general mischief, which would no doubt land them in hot water later with Sergeant Major, regardless of the other troops' amusements! It was whilst in Egypt that Ronnie and the Commandos were called back to England, having being given the brief that they were to now embark on the invasion of Holland. As a Royal Marine Commando it was the duty to be first in the line for such invasions and the distress and disgust on Ronnie's face when recalling what it was like during those unimaginably traumatic times is plain to see.

MyStory - Pre war and war time memories from Lancaster

MyStory - Pre war and war time memories from Lancaster

A MyStory film uploaded by DHE Solutions. [ A higher quality version of this film with subtitles can be viewed here -http://www.mystories.eu/stories/story/88/show Born on Long Marsh Lane in Lancaster, Mrs Clegg describes her early years including watching her Grandfather Haaf netting the River Lune, watching Barrow-in-Furness being bombed and befriending the evacuees and refugees. She describes the poverty which affected many people brought on by the depression in the 1930s. www.mystories.eu www.dhesolutions.co.uk

MyStory - Training to be a Sailor at 12 years of age

MyStory - Training to be a Sailor at 12 years of age

A MyStory film uploaded by DHE Solutions. [ A higher quality version of this film with subtitles can be viewed here - http://www.mystories.eu/stories/story/62/show ] On seeing how well his uncle; a ships boatswain, lived on board ship, Bill pestered his parents to go away to sea. He started training on the training Ship 'Indefatigable' at the age of 12. When war came he joined the Merchant Navy becoming a signalman. He later moved to the Royal Navy. The training he received on the Indefatigable held him in good stead for his life as a sailor. www.mystories.eu www.dhesolutions.co.uk

MyStory - A pacifist's war - Working with the Quakers during the London blitz

MyStory - A pacifist's war - Working with the Quakers during the London blitz

A MyStory film uploaded by DHE Solutions. At the outbreak of war, Lilian Cadoux was on holiday in Eastbourne. She was also eighteen and of call up age. To do 'her bit' for the war effort, she was assigned duties at a first aid post. Here she took up training to be a nurse. Later she presented herself to the 'Friends House' (The Quakers movement) She describes her work with the Quakers and her journey to various hospitals helping the sick and wounded. After the war she did further training and moved with the Quakers to Germany where she met her husband. Lilian describes her experience of living in Germany just after the war. She laments the fact that people so much alike in a place so much like England, should have to fight each other, 'If I had been blindfolded and dropped from a plane, where should I think I was -- Kent.' Lilian concludes from the point of view of a lifelong pacifist, and eloquently argues why war is wrong. www.mystories.eu www.dhesolutions.co.uk