Photos WW2 British & Commonwealth Forces

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HMS King George V returning from Artic convoy duty as seen from an unidentified Illustrious class carrier. The picture is dated from April 20th, 1942 which would be Arctic Convoy PQ14 which had just reached Murmansk on April 18th, 1942. I believe the carrier is question has to the HMS Victorious because it was the only carrier escorting the convoy and by the setup of the OF 4.5 gun mountings.

A severely damaged HMS Liverpool after being torpedoed by Italian bombers, October 1940

 

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Typical 'Aussie' humour is reflected in this sign erected on the El Alamein road by Australian troops, 14 September 1942.

 

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19yo Princess Elizabeth standing in front of an Austin K2/Y ambulance during her time in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, 1945

 

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HMS Valiant in 1943

 

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HMS BELFAST, fully fitted out, in July 1939.

HMS Duke of York running speed trials, November 1941

 

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Interior of the fuselage of Handley Page Halifax B Mark II, JP321 'V', of No. 614 Squadron RAF, showing some of the many holes caused by splinters from an anti-aircraft rocket which hit the aircraft during an early pathfinding operation over central Europe. The aircraft was successfully flown back to the Squadron's base at Celone, Italy, but was struck off charge as a result of the damage. All crew members survived.

 

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RM crewed Bofors gun, HMS Prince of Wales

Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, Commander in Chief British Pacific Fleet, watches battleship HMS Duke of York enter Sydney Harbour, 1945

HMS Duke of York

 

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HMS Whaddon (L45) was a Type I Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy built by Alexander Stephen & Sons of Linthouse, Govan and launched on 16 July 1940. She was laid down on 27 July 1939 and commissioned 28 February 1941

HMS Whaddon laying smoke, Mediterranean, March 1943

HMS Renown underway as seen from HMS Duke of York

HMS Formidable and HMS Renown, probably off North Africa, circa Nov-Dec 1942

Albacore aircraft of No. 820 Squadron, British Fleet Air Arm taking off from HMS Victorious, which was on distant cover for Arctic convoys, Mar 1942

HMS Duke of York

HMS Duke of York's forward turrets

 

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December 1939: Damage done to HMS Exeter during the Battle of the River Plate against Admiral Graf spee

HMS Exeter seen after her 1940 refit, note the tripod masts.

HMS Exeter seen in the early 1940's.

HMS Anson at Devonport, March 1945. Note that unlike her elder sisters, she carries new Mk VI director and Type 275, giving her 5.25"/50 full blind fire capability.

 

[morris]

25-pounder guns of B-Troop, 14th Field Regiment, being pulled through dense jungle on the Kokoda Trail; Papua New Guinea.

The 2/27th Australian Infantry Battalion moving forward across a valley in Papua New Guinea.

A wounded Australian soldier is being loaded into an aircraft for transport back to a base hospital. - Papua New Guinea.

 

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Inside a 5.25" turret on board HMS KGV in 1943

HMS Howe on a visit to Auckland, New Zealand, in Feb., 1945

 

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Town class cruiser HMS Gloucester, newly completed in 1939

HMS King George V as seen in 1940

 

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County class cruiser HMAS Australia, as seen from the USS Wasp, 31 August 1942

 

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17 May 1944. A pair of snipers from the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion pose in their Ghillie suits

 

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Battleship HMS Howe, at Fairbanks shipyard shortly after completion, August 1942

 

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HMS Ark Royal with her Swordfish parked on her flightdeck

Aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, October 1945, showing the many AA guns

 

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"The gun crew loading the single 4 inch Mark IX gun of HMS VERVAIN whilst she is on active service." July 1942

On 20 February 1945 at 11.45 hours Vervain was escorting a homeward-bound convoy when she was sunk by a torpedo from a U-boat, U-1276 under Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Wendt, about 25 miles south-east of Dungarvan, Ireland, south of Waterford. Vervain sank after 20 minutes. The commander, three officers and 56 ratings were lost. Three officers and 30 ratings were rescued. In turn the U-boat, U-1276 was sunk with depth charges by HMS Amethyst. The action resulted in the loss of all 49 of the U-boat's crew.

Calibrating the guns of HMS Newcastle near Trincomalee, Ceylon, April 3, 1944. An Ordinance Officer lowers the weight down the barrel of one of the 6" guns preparatory to sponging out before the shoot.

 

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View attachment 246773
25-pounder guns of B-Troop, 14th Field Regiment, being pulled through dense jungle on the Kokoda Trail; Papua New Guinea.

I have very similar original pics from my two great uncles who were in 4 Field Regiment. Pulling guns and jeeps up slippery jungle tracks. Who'd be in the Artillery?

 

[morris]

Pulling guns and jeeps up slippery jungle tracks

Add to that some steep slopes, constant high humidity and every scratch on your body becoming an ulcer.

 

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The whole show has knobs on it.