|
|
|
|
|
The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
- 22nd April 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263973 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
- Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please read our Family History FAQ's
- The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
|
We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates.
If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
|
|
Want to know more about Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps? There are:1670 items tagged Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
|
Cpl. Henry Joseph Rubery Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps Henry Rubery served in the South Staffordshire Regiment during 1914-1918. At 49 years of age at the beginning of WW2, he joined the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps on the 25th of October 1939, but was discharged as a Corporal 158 days later on the 31st of March 1940, due to not being able to meet the physical requirements.
He died in 1953
|
Pte. Robert Smith Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (d.17th June 1940) Robert Smith was my grandfather. He died when HMT Lancastria was sunk on 17th of June 1940.
Robert enlisted at Paisley in 1925 aged 18 years. His civilian employment prior to enlisting was listed as labourer.
In 1927 his battalion moved to Jamaica until September 1929 when the men moved to Northern China. They embarked from China on the troopship HT Neurala February 1933 for the UK for his transfer to the Army Reserve; a reserve of trained and disciplined military personnel for use in an emergency.
Robert married Agnes in 1934. Robert's job at the time is recorded as Tramway Car Conductor.
In 1939 Robert rejoined the Argylls and was attached to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps before being sent to France.
HMT Lancastria was a Clyde built Cunard cruiser that became a troopship, involved in Convoy Alabaster and Operation Arial, the evacuation of troops from Europe. Bombed off the coast of St. Nazaire, France and sunk in approx 20 minutes. Approx 2500 people rescued. Loss of life estimates range from a conservative 2,500 to 6,000.
Robert Smith's body was never recovered and his name is on the memorial at Dunkirk North. Robert died aged 34 years leaving 4 children aged under 5 years. There are now four generations of Robert's descendants in Scotland and Australia.
|
Pte Harry James Taylor Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (d.17th June 1940) Harry Taylor was my grandfather. He served with the Auxilliary Military Pioneer Corps in WW2.
All my father knew was that he thought he had died at Dunkirk. It was only fairly recently that we found out that he died on the SS Lancastria. We were able to get his name added to the War Memorial in the Castle Grounds, Guildford, Surrey.
|
Pte. Stephen Crawford Burrows Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps Stephen Burrows was the son of Stephen Burrows and Agnes Barclay.
He was born in 1902 in Kinning Park, Glasgow.
He married Elizabeth Kennedy in 1923 and together they had 9 children. Samantha Burrows Collings
|
George Arthur Field Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (d.20th May 1940) George Field was my grandfather I never knew. My father said he was killed in action at Arras defending the withdrawal of troops at Dunkirk. His body was never found but he is listed on the war grave at Dunkirk.
|
Pte. Sampson Jones Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (d.7th Aug 1940) Sampson Jones was 26 when he died and is buried in the Easky (Roslea) Cemetery, Co. Sligo, Ireland.
|
Pte. Emyr Prytherch Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (d.7th Jul 1940) Emyr Prytherch was the son of John and Margaret Prytherch, of Holyhead, Anglesey.
He was 26 when he died at sea and is buried in Doohooma Catholic Graveyard, Co. Mayo, Ireland.
|
Lt. Mervyn Charles Mason Aux. Mil. Pioneer Corps (d.8th August 1940) Lieutenant Mason was killed after his ship was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland. He was the husband of Evelyn Hester "Eve" Macleod, Baroness Macleod of Borve.
He is buried in the Kilmacshalgan (St. Mary) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Kilmacshalgan, Co. Sligo, Ireland.
|
Pte. John Irvine 50 Coy. Aux. Military Pioneer Corps (d.17th Jun 1940) I have a newspaper cut out relating to the death of my great uncle John Irvine, no dates are given. My grandmother told me he died as the result of some sort of automotive accident, the day before he was to be sent home. On the cut out it mentions that his father (my great grandfather) was a member of the military police and died at Dunkirk, 1940. My grandmother told me that someone from the same area they lived, in Belfast, had last seen him in the water and in turn told my great grandmother this on his return. It was presumed he drowned as he couldn't swim.
|
Pte. Albert Clarence Wickham 73rd Coy. Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (d.17th June 1940) My grandfather was aboard the Lancastria when it sank. He left behind nine children. My dad was eight years old when his father died. After my grandfather's death all nine children were placed in the care of the Ministry of Pensions who separated all the children putting them into different children's homes. In 2001 the brothers and sisters got together for the first time in 60 years.
My Grandfather was in "73 Coy, Aux. Mil. Pioneer Corps". He was Private 6394471 Albert Clarence Wickham.
If anyone should have any stories or photos please contact me so that I may pass the information on to my family.
|
Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
|
|
|
Site Home
Add Stories
