The War-Time Archives

In 1966, the US Air Force accidentally dropped 4 hydrogen bombs in Spain, resulting in 0 detonations.

On the lead up to the D-Day landing of June 6, 1944 (the largest seaborne invasion in history) much of the south coast had become littered with men and equipment of the Allied armies. This interesting picture shows the contrast between the quaint life of England and the military zone that it had become. Here we see Annie Bagg and her parents tending to their garden on Hill Road in Southampton while American machinery rests beside them. What a waste 🕊 📸 Picture: © IWM NYT 27247

RIP

WW2 era vehicles; Willy's MB and Ford GPW Jeeps

To consider the hell inflicted upon Europe during the world wars as some kind of victory is to praise the devil's who caused them. What a waste 🕊

Upcoming Pub/History Walking Tour https://pubandhistorywalkingtours.com Westminster 🚶‍♂️🚶🚶‍♀️ 🗓 30th May (SATURDAY) 👥 Westminster Station 🕦 11 AM Hampstead 🚶‍♂️🚶🚶‍♀️ 🗓 13th June (SATURDAY) 👥 Hampstead Station (On Northern Line) 🕦 11 AM Rochester, Kent 🚶‍♂️🚶🚶‍♀️ 🗓 27th June (SATURDAY) 👥 Rochester Station 🕦 11 AM St Pancras 🚶‍♂️🚶🚶‍♀️ 🗓 4th July (SATURDAY) 👥 The George Pub (Eversholt Street, by Euston Station) 🕦 11 AM

Upcoming Pub/History Walking Tour https://pubandhistorywalkingtours.com Westminster 🚶‍♂️🚶🚶‍♀️ 🗓 30th May (SATURDAY) 👥 Westminster Station 🕦 11 AM   This is completely different from my last Westminster tour which focused on the Strand. On this tour, we will explore some of picturesque, and of course, historic parts of Westminster around Parliament Square, Whitehall, and St James's Park. Each tour will last roughly between 3-1/2 to 4 hours (or more) and will include several pubs that we will both visit and pass. We will be visiting some of #London's most famous and impressive locations, and of course, pubs, whilst venturing into various historical epochs. If you need to leave early, then please let me know at the time, and I'll direct you.  Prices: £20 per person (for over 18s),   16-18: £10  Under 16s: Free (If accompanied by a paying adult)  Ps. Thank you all so much for all of your custom, and support. It means the absolute world to me. 🤝

On a French Marshal of the Empire

There's a fine line between respecting one's elders and repeating their mistakes.

Emily Chitticks to her fiancé Private William Martin (WW1) ⌛️🌹 'My Dearest Will, I feel I must write you again dear altho there is not much news to tell you. I wonder how you are getting on. I shall be so relieved to get a letter from you. I can't help feeling a bit anxious dear. I know how you must have felt darling when you did not get my letters for so long. Of course I know dear you will write as soon as ever you can, but the time seems so dull and weary without any news of you, if only this war was over dear and we were together again. It will be one day I suppose. Don't think dear I am worrying unnecessarily about you, because I know God can take care of you wherever you are and if it's his will darling he will so are you to come back to me, that's how I feel about it dear, if we only put our trust in Him. I am sure he will. I wonder how your Cousins are getting on dear. We are feeling very anxious about George, as no news has come from him yet. We can't understand why his wife doesn't write. How are your hands now dear? Mine are very sore, so chapped, and my left hand has got several chilblains on it and they do irritate. I could scratch it to bits. Have you been receiving the books I have sent you dear. I am very pleased to say dear I am keeping very well indeed, and I trust you are the same. There has been a bit of a fuss over Arthur this week. He has been trying to get in the Army unbeknown to his parents, but Mrs T. thought his parents ought to be informed about it, so she wrote and told them about him and he had to go home in hot haste last night. I guess he got in a fine row, but he won't say today. He is as miserable as anything. Really Will I never saw such a boy as he is. I am afraid he is going to the bad. I don't know if Mrs T. will keep him on or not. He says he has to join up in a fortnight, but as he is under age I suppose his parents could stop him. I don't know whether they will or not. For my part I hope he does go, he will be a jolly good riddance for there is nothing but rows and deceitfulness going on where he is. Well darling I don't know much more to say now, so will close with fondest love and kisses from your loving little girl. Emily. P.S. Cheer up darling, and don't worry about me. I am quite alright, only anxious to get your letters. There is good news in the papers. Love from Mum and Dad.'

'Dear Daddy, I hope you are not alarmed, you should not be, unless you know where one of the Zepps went. I have heard that it raided London (up the Strand) and caused heavy causalities. But this I know because I saw, and so did everyone else in the house. Here is my story: I heard the clock strike 11 o'clock. I was in bed and just going to sleep. Between 2 'clock and 2.30 o'clock, Lily (the servant) woke Miss Willy and told her she could hear the guns. Miss Willy woke Poolman and told him to wake me. He did so. Miss Willy helped Mrs Willy downstairs. We were all awake by now, we had a Miss Blair staying with us for the weekend. We saw flashes and then heard "Bangs" and "Pops". Suddenly a bright yellow light appeared and died down again. "Oh! It's alright" said Poolman. "It's only a star shell". That light appeared again and we Miss Blair, Poolman and I rushed to the window and looked out and there right above us was the Zepp! It had broken in half, and was like this: it was in flames, roaring, and crackling. It went slightly to the right, and crashed down into a field!! It was about a 100 yards away from the house and directly opposite us!!! It nearly burnt itself out, when it was finished by the Cheshunt Fire Brigade. I would rather not describe the condition of the crew, of course they were dead - burnt to death. They were roasted, there is absolutely no other word for it. They were brown, like the outside of Roast Beef. One had his legs off at the knees, and you could see the joint! The Zepp was bombed from an aeroplane above, with an incendiary bomb by a Lieutenany Robertson (Johnson?). We have some relics some wire and wood framework. The weather is beastly but Mrs and Miss Willy are jolly people, hoping you are all well, love to all. Your loving son Patrick. Please don't be alarmed, all is well that ends well (and this did for us). We are all quite safe.' - Schoolboy Patrick Blundstone to his father during WW1 (September 1916)⌛️

The emotional, and moving model of Talbot House, located in the Crypt Museum of All Hallows by the Tower in London, commemorates the work of Reverend "Tubby" Clayton and the founding of the Toc H movement during World War I. It represents the original "Upper Room" in Poperinghe, Belgium, which served as a place of rest, fellowship, and communion for soldiers.

Ancient Styled Parade-Armour;

This towering gent is a Serbian soldier who, in full uniform, had come down to the Tower Hill Naval Memorial in Trinity Square Gardens which is dedicated to civilian merchant seafarers and fishermen who died in the 'World Wars' and who have no known grave but the sea. Seeing as he paid his respects to our fallen, I paid my own to him. 🇷🇸 🤝

Clip from the movie Michael the Brave; wherein there were 10,000 extras from conscripted military.

One of Britain's Miniature Armored Trains of WW2;

Some MG-42's on their Lafette 42 Tripods;

An old Caspian Sea Monster.

US OQ-19 Target Drones, 1950's;