Second World War

Remembrance

Sepoy Inayat Ali, Corps of Indian Engineers

Inayat Ali served in India and the Far East during WWII and was present at Partition in 1947, leaving memories of momentous events for his family.

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Remembrance

Through their eyes: 80 years on 

We have curated an exhibition of specially-commissioned portraits of WWII veterans and their memories of extraordinary times.

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Noreen Riols during a BBC broadcast with Colonel Buckmaster, Terry Kilmartin and Margaret Lerick

Remembrance

Memoirs from Churchill's Secret Army

Spies, Polish countesses and the legendary Colonel Buckmaster, Noreen Riols recalls her memories of the Secret Army.

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Gilbert Bradley photo with his collection of letters

Remembrance

The secret WW2 love letters between two men

Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher fell in love before the start of WW2; but when Gilbert joined the army their relationship survived through letters.

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Remembrance

Olga Hopkins VE Day Story

lga Hopkins, who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War, reflects with pride on her service and recalls how she celebrated the announcement of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, 80 years ago.

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Remembrance

Flying Officer Ludwik Paszkiewicz

The Battle of Britain raged across our skies 85 years ago. We remember the brave pilots and groundcrew who served.

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Remembrance

Capt Richard Akinwande Savage

Captain Richard Akinwade grew up in Scotland. He was the first person of West African descent to obtain an Army officer’s commission, serving as an Army Surgeon during WWII.

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Remembrance

Joshua's story

Joshua was 19 when he joined the Army in Gold Coast (now Ghana) and went on to serve in the Far East campaign in pre-partition India and Burma.

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Muhammad sitting in a chair during his interview

Remembrance

Coming Home - Muhammad's story

Born in pre-partition India in a village in Rawalpindi Muhammad Hussain, 95, was 16 years old when he ran away from home to enlist in the British Indian Army during the Second World War.

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Remembrance

Joseph's story

Joseph Hammond, from Ghana, joined the army in 1943 and bravely served In Burma in the 82nd West African Division, experiencing intense fighting.

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Remembrance

Camaraderie and Courage

The battle continued for weeks after D-Day in the villages, towns, fields and hedgerows of Normandy, with the allies experiencing heavy casualties.

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Remembrance

Logistics and Communications

Hundreds of thousands supported those at the front line. Here are their stories, from extraordinary feats of engineering to receiving communications from the beaches.

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A Sikh and a West African soldier at a Command Post, Burma

Remembrance

Commonwealth contribution

Commonwealth forces outnumbered British forces in the Far East, and they were essential in bringing the war against Japan to an end.

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Remembrance

Remembering Dunkirk - We were still soldiers by God

Harry Leigh-Dugmore was evacuated from Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo in May 1940. Read his remarkable story.

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Remembrance

Rajindar's story

Rajindar Singh Dhatt was born in Punjab and joined the army in 1941. He was part of the relief at Kohima and Imphal before serving in the gruelling Burma campaign.

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