Photos WW2 British & Commonwealth Forces
- Thread starter BravoZulu
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
Men of the 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, part of the 51st (Highland) Division, holding a position in the River Bresle area, France, 6 June 1940. The 51st later surrendered to the Germans at the conclusion of the Battle of France. A new 51st division was later formed in Britain.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
Queen Elizabeth II (at the time Princess Elizabeth) inspects an honour guard of the 2nd (Armoured) Battalion, Grenadier Guards, 5th Guards Armoured Brigade, Guards Armoured Division, 17 May 1944.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
Australian infantrymen in a shallow trench near the Libyan port of Bardia; captured on January 5, 1941 during Operation Compass against the Italians. The defeat of the Italians resulted in Rommel being sent to Africa. Bardia was exchanged several times during the course of the North Africa Campaign.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
Nurses doing what they can in St. Peter’s Hospital, Stepney, East London, to pick up after the bomb damage on April 19, 1941. Four hospitals, some say more, were among the buildings hit during a night of devastation. (AP Photo).
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
Major General H C H Robertson, GOC Australian 6th Division, at the ceremony at which the Commander of the 18th Japanese Army in New Guinea, Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Hatazo Adachi, signed the surrender document, accepting from Lt Gen Adachi his sword, symbol of the defeat of the Japanese. (Original is a hand-tinted print, held in the AWM archive store. A black and white negative is held at 096225.)
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
A Piat gun of "C" Troop, 1st Airlanding Reconnaissance Squadron, in position behind a tree covering a road near Wolfheze, 18 September 1944 on the second day of the Battle of Arnhem, during Operation Market Garden. Paras from HQ troop, 1st Airlanding Brigade, set up defensive positions near the railway station at Wolfheze
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
Australian soldiers from the 2/6th Independent Company display Japanese flags captured during the Battle of Kaiapit, New Guinea; 19-20 Sept 1943. The 2/6th Was one of twelve independent companies raised to conduct small scale raiding, sabotage, long-range patrolling and reconnaissance operations.
The Battle of Kaiapit was an action fought in 1943 between Australian and Japanese forces in New Guinea during the Markham and Ramu Valley – Finisterre Range campaign of World War II. Following the landings at Nadzab and at Lae, the Allies attempted to exploit their success with an advance into the upper Markham Valley, starting with Kaiapit. The Japanese intended to use Kaiapit to threaten the Allied position at Nadzab, and to create a diversion to allow the Japanese garrison at Lae time to escape.
The Australian 2/6th Independent Company flew in to the Markham Valley from Port Moresby in 13 USAAF C-47 Dakotas, making a difficult landing on a rough airstrip. Unaware that a much larger Japanese force was also headed for Kaiapit, the company attacked the village on 19 September to secure the area so that it could be developed into an airfield. The company then held it against a strong counter-attack. During two days of fighting the Australians defeated a larger Japanese force while suffering relatively few losses.
The Australian victory at Kaiapit enabled the Australian 7th Division to be flown in to the upper Markham Valley. It accomplished the 7th Division's primary mission, for the Japanese could no longer threaten Lae or Nadzab, where a major airbase was being developed. The victory also led to the capture of the entire Ramu Valley, which provided new forward fighter airstrips for the air war against the Japanese.
Australian soldiers from the 2/16th Infantry Battalion arriving at Kaiapit after the area was captured by the 2/6th Independent Company
Brigadier I. N. Dougherty (centre) and WO2 H. P. Seale of ANGAU (right) congratulate "Yarawa" (left) of the Royal Papuan Constabulary for his feat of single-handedly capturing a Japanese sergeant, Hideo Kadota, on 25 September 1943
Japanese dead at Kaiapit. After the battle 214 Japanese bodies were counted by the Australians around their positions.
The Battle of Kaiapit was an action fought in 1943 between Australian and Japanese forces in New Guinea during the Markham and Ramu Valley – Finisterre Range campaign of World War II. Following the landings at Nadzab and at Lae, the Allies attempted to exploit their success with an advance into the upper Markham Valley, starting with Kaiapit. The Japanese intended to use Kaiapit to threaten the Allied position at Nadzab, and to create a diversion to allow the Japanese garrison at Lae time to escape.
The Australian 2/6th Independent Company flew in to the Markham Valley from Port Moresby in 13 USAAF C-47 Dakotas, making a difficult landing on a rough airstrip. Unaware that a much larger Japanese force was also headed for Kaiapit, the company attacked the village on 19 September to secure the area so that it could be developed into an airfield. The company then held it against a strong counter-attack. During two days of fighting the Australians defeated a larger Japanese force while suffering relatively few losses.
The Australian victory at Kaiapit enabled the Australian 7th Division to be flown in to the upper Markham Valley. It accomplished the 7th Division's primary mission, for the Japanese could no longer threaten Lae or Nadzab, where a major airbase was being developed. The victory also led to the capture of the entire Ramu Valley, which provided new forward fighter airstrips for the air war against the Japanese.
Australian soldiers from the 2/16th Infantry Battalion arriving at Kaiapit after the area was captured by the 2/6th Independent Company
Brigadier I. N. Dougherty (centre) and WO2 H. P. Seale of ANGAU (right) congratulate "Yarawa" (left) of the Royal Papuan Constabulary for his feat of single-handedly capturing a Japanese sergeant, Hideo Kadota, on 25 September 1943
Japanese dead at Kaiapit. After the battle 214 Japanese bodies were counted by the Australians around their positions.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
Members of A Company, 2/10 Infantry Battalion and Matilda tanks of B Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment, moving through the oil refinery while clearing enemy troops out of the area during the OBOE 2 Operation.
The tank on the left is named "Bull Terrier" and the driver is Keiran MacRae. Also identified is Captain Norman Bent, directly behind the tank and partially obscured.
KEIRAN MACRAE, passed away 26 March 2014 aged 91. Served B squadron 1st Aust Armd Regt in New Guinea 1943-45 and in action at Balikpapan Borneo July 1945. As a Matilda tank driver. In FHQ troop under the late Captain Norm Bent
MAJOR NORMAN BENT MBE, passed away on 31st July 2006, aged 96. He joined the 1st Light Horse Regiment (Militia) in 1928, aged 18, leaving in 1932. He re-joined in 1938, when it had become 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Regt, Royal NSW Lancers. After promotions he was commissioned in Feb or March 1940 as a Troop Leader in A Squadron. He was promoted Captain in Oct 41. After becoming 1st Aust Army Tank Bn in May 42 and becoming AIF in in Feb 43, and then supporting 9th Division in New Guinea, Norman had become 2IC of B Squadron. It remained in reserve at Buna while A and C Squadrons successfully carried out operations. The campaign at Balikpapan saw B and A Squadrons involved, with B more so, and Norman saw plenty of successful action.
The tank on the left is named "Bull Terrier" and the driver is Keiran MacRae. Also identified is Captain Norman Bent, directly behind the tank and partially obscured.
KEIRAN MACRAE, passed away 26 March 2014 aged 91. Served B squadron 1st Aust Armd Regt in New Guinea 1943-45 and in action at Balikpapan Borneo July 1945. As a Matilda tank driver. In FHQ troop under the late Captain Norm Bent
MAJOR NORMAN BENT MBE, passed away on 31st July 2006, aged 96. He joined the 1st Light Horse Regiment (Militia) in 1928, aged 18, leaving in 1932. He re-joined in 1938, when it had become 1st Light Horse Machine Gun Regt, Royal NSW Lancers. After promotions he was commissioned in Feb or March 1940 as a Troop Leader in A Squadron. He was promoted Captain in Oct 41. After becoming 1st Aust Army Tank Bn in May 42 and becoming AIF in in Feb 43, and then supporting 9th Division in New Guinea, Norman had become 2IC of B Squadron. It remained in reserve at Buna while A and C Squadrons successfully carried out operations. The campaign at Balikpapan saw B and A Squadrons involved, with B more so, and Norman saw plenty of successful action.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
New Britain Campaign. Jacquinot Bay. 6 November 1944. Soldiers of B Company, 1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion aboard the former Hawkesbury River (New South Wales) vehicle ferry the Francis Peat. It will transport them to Pomio village where the unit will establish it's HQ
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
Scots Guards Sgt Victor Mutch (L) and Sgt Joseph Stephenson (R) inspect a knocked-out German Panzer IV tank after the Battle of Medenine, Tunisia; 6-March-1943. Between their respective anti tank guns they knocked out five panzers during the battle. Both men survived the war.
Sgt Mutch was awarded a Military Medal for his actions at the Battle of Medenine. Sgt Stephenson was awarded a Military Metal for an earlier action at the Battle of Gazala.
Sgt Mutch was awarded a Military Medal for his actions at the Battle of Medenine. Sgt Stephenson was awarded a Military Metal for an earlier action at the Battle of Gazala.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2017
- Messages
- 39,000
- Points
- 463
2nd July 1941 Allied troops hold out in Tobruk despite dwindling resources. A stubborn force of force of 14,000 Australian and 10,00 British troops remained to garrison the besieged port. All their supplies had to come in at night, mostly on the decks of destroyers.
G
guest0001
Guest
During the "invasion alert" period, numbers of small defensive pill-boxes were quickly constructed at key points along Britain's coastline.
Here is one such example manned by a soldier of the 4th Battalion / Royal Norfolk Regiment near Great Yarmouth during the fateful summer of 1940 when the Battle of Britain was raging in the skies over southern England.
Note that he is armed with an M1914 American "Enfield".
Such pillboxes were brick-built and conformed to a standard hexagonal design with loopholes. They were designated type FW3/22.
Numbers of these still exist to this day, including two along the coast not far from my home.
These overlook the Bristol Channel.
See the additional images posted below. One was clad in the local stone to better blend in with its surroundings.
(IWM)
Here is one such example manned by a soldier of the 4th Battalion / Royal Norfolk Regiment near Great Yarmouth during the fateful summer of 1940 when the Battle of Britain was raging in the skies over southern England.
Note that he is armed with an M1914 American "Enfield".
Such pillboxes were brick-built and conformed to a standard hexagonal design with loopholes. They were designated type FW3/22.
Numbers of these still exist to this day, including two along the coast not far from my home.
These overlook the Bristol Channel.
See the additional images posted below. One was clad in the local stone to better blend in with its surroundings.
(IWM)
G
guest0001
Guest
Canadian-built Ram tanks undergo maintenance at No. 8 AFV Depot, Leicester, 25 April, 1944...shortly before D-Day.
In the foreground is a late production Ram II with a long-barelled 6 pounder gun, M4 style VVS bogies, welded-over sponson doors and a "smooth" glacis without the auxiliary turret.
Rams were mainly retained for training, though OP tank versions and of course turretless "Kangaroo" APCs did see service in NW Europe.
(IWM)
In the foreground is a late production Ram II with a long-barelled 6 pounder gun, M4 style VVS bogies, welded-over sponson doors and a "smooth" glacis without the auxiliary turret.
Rams were mainly retained for training, though OP tank versions and of course turretless "Kangaroo" APCs did see service in NW Europe.
(IWM)
G
guest0001
Guest
Another selection of slightly bizarre improvised camouflage clothing, but no less effective for that.
This time demonstrated by Army Cadets at Dartford, June 17th 1943.
(IWM)
This time demonstrated by Army Cadets at Dartford, June 17th 1943.
(IWM)
G
guest0001
Guest
Vigilant men of the Royal Scots Fusiliers atop a camouflaged concrete casemate containing a 6" coastal gun battery somewhere on England's east coast, July 1940.
(IWM)
(IWM)
Similar threads
