The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with O.

Surnames Index


This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.


If you enjoy this site

please consider making a donation.




    Site Home

    WW2 Home

    Add Stories

    WW2 Search

    Library

    Help & FAQs


 WW2 Features

    Airfields

    Allied Army

    Allied Air Forces

    Allied Navy

    Axis Forces

    Home Front

    Battles

    Prisoners of War

    Allied Ships

    Women at War

    Those Who Served

    Day-by-Day

    Library

    The Great War

 Submissions

    Add Stories

    Time Capsule

    TWMP on Facebook



    Childrens Bookshop

 FAQ's

    Help & FAQs

    Glossary

    Volunteering

    Contact us

    News

    Bookshop

    About


Advertisements











World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

F/Lt. John Yuill Taylor Ogle DFC,.     Royal Canadian Air Force No. 433 Squadron   from Toronto

F/Lt. John Ogle 433 Squadron, RCAF

My father John Ogle was posted to 433 Squadron, RCAF in February 1944. He flew as an air gunner in a Whitley bomber over Beauvais, France on 24th of March 1944. He continued to fly as an air gunner on Halifax and Lancaster bombers. His 30th and last mission was his most eventful. On 9th of April 1945, Lancaster L, Little Lulu, was flying a day mission over Kiel Bay, planting mines. My father, as rear gunner, and Flt.Sgt. Watson, mid upper gunner, hit an attacking FW190 fighter with accurate fire on two of its passes at the bomber. The fighter was seen to be hit and damaged, probably destroyed. Father was discharged from the RCAF and returned home in September, 1945.




FB Ogley .     British Army Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

FB Ogley served with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




OGrady .    




R Ogston .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

R Ogston served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




J Ohara .     British Army Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

J Ohara served with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




WO2 John Henry "Jack" OHara .     British Army 1st Btn Royal Berkshire Regiment   from Clewer

(d.8th Mar 1945)

Jack OHara

Jack OHara was my grandmother's brother. He was a pre war regular and was with the Regiment in France in 1940. There is a brief glimpse of him on a Pathe News reel alighting from a boat at Margate on return from Dunkirk, wearing only a great coat, the narrative had not long said the men of the rearguard. This was pointed out to my mother by her mother and then to me.

He was sent to India with the rest of 2nd Division where they saw some action in 1943 before being called upon to lift the siege at Kohima and Imphal in 1944. Fighting all the way to the gates of Mandalay, our Jack died of wounds two weeks before the Berkshires were withdrawn from the line for good. My Nan Mary bore the loss of her brother for the rest of her life




John Brendon "Ginge" OHare .     South African Air Force 31 Squadron   from Armagh

John O'Hare joined the SAAF I think because he was born in the Irish Free State and therefore not eligible for UK forces at the time although I am not sure about this. He was 21 at the start of the war but I think joined later. He had many memories of his time training in Palestine and time spent in Lebanon as well as Egypt. He was a navigator on Liberator bombers flying missions over Greece as well as the Middle East and North Africa. He would occasionally talk to us about this, but not often. He was shot down over Tobruk causing an injury which left him partially sighted. He was briefly captured and held in a holding camp but with others escaped into the desert, surviving on rations gleaned from the packs of fallen men. He was able to rejoin his squadron and later spent time in Italy with the USAF, his memories of that time were mostly of how well fed the Americans were compared to the sparse rations he was used to.

Post war he came to England and joined the British Army and was a member of REME for 30 years, he retired to Bournemouth and passed away in February 2011 aged 93. I have photos from his time in the Middle East and North Africa.




Cpl. Thomas Okane .     British Army 1st Lothian & Border Yeomanry

Cpl.Thomas Okane served with the 1st Lothian & Border Yeomanry British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




UC Okeefe .     British Army

UC Okeefe served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




DRJ Okey .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

DRJ Okey served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




John Herbert Olah .     British Army 1st Btn. att 26th Btn. Royal Fusiliers   from Clerkenwell

(d.13th Jun 1917)




Signaller. Olby .     Royal Navy HMS Forfar

Sig. Olby is listed in the cast of the revue "Get Sailing" which was performed onboard the Forfar on the 19th of June 1940.




John Old .     Royal Air Force 32 Squadron

I served with 32sqd in Palestine from 1945 to 1947 under Sqd Ldr West. This a photo of 32 Sqdn in Palestine




H Oldbury .     British Army North Staffordshire Regiment

H Oldbury served with the North Staffordshire Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Anne Edith Louvain Older .     Women's Land Army

My aunt, Anne Edith Louvain Older , who died in 1999, served in the Women's Land Army from 24/07/1942 until 30/11/1950.

She used to tell us many stories of her time during the war and when we cleared her little flat after her death I found some memorabilia.

I found your web site to be most interesting and I know she would have loved to read all the memories, unfortunately we only got our first pc after her death and so she never saw these. I know that for part of her service she was on a farm in Sussex at Pevensey belonging to Mr. Knight where she was billetted with a Mrs. Churcher and she was also in Devon near Tiverton. We live quite near to Pevensey and I think the farm has long gone and been built upon.




A Oldfield .     British Army South Lancashire Regiment

A Oldfield served with the South Lancashire Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Cpl. Charlie Victor Oldfield .     British Army 8th Army

My grandfather served in the Desert Rats and was captured at Tobruk. He was interned in Stalag 344 (Stalag 8b).




Frank "Dan" Oldfield .     British Army 8th Army




Cpl. Frank Newland Oldfield .     British Army 5th Btn. Royal Norfolk Regiment   from East Dereham, Norfolk

(d.6th Aug 1943)

261940_Frank Newland Oldfield_5th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment

Frank was my second cousin once removed. Before the war, he was living at 3 Quebec Street, East Dereham, Norfolk with his parents and his sister, and was working as a draughtsman. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find out details of his time in the army. I know that he was taken prisoner and died of his wounds. He is buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.




Harry Lesley Oldfield .     British Army 5th Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment   from Sheffield

(d.6th June 1944)

My Great Uncle Harry Oldfield was in the first wave of soldiers that landed on Gold Beach at Ver sur Mer at 7.30am on the 6th June 1944, his name is on a plaque there, on a memorial on the beach with 28 others. He was the son of William Henry & Mary Elizabeth Oldfield from Sheffield & the husband of Ethel Oldfield (known as Freda). He is buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery.




J Oldfield .     British Army Reconnaissance Corps

J Oldfield served with the Reconnaissance Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt. John Anthony " " Oldfield .     Royal Air Force 76 Squadron   from Yorkshire

(d. )

On the evening of June 1,1942 a Halifax II, serial number W1064 Code MP—J from 76 Squadron took off from RAF Middleton St. George at 2306 on a bombing Ops to Essan. On its homebound journey the Halifax II's starboard engine began to seize. The aircraft was attacked by a night fighter and severely damaged, the tail section was described later as “virtually exploding”.

The pilot of the night fighter was Lt. Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer. Schnaufer would become the most decorated night fighter from W.W. II with 121 acknowledged victories. And this Halifax, according to the log, was the first bomber he shot down. The attack was certainly successful from his perspective and the Halifax bomber crashed at 0145 in the area of Bossutand Grez-Doiceau (Brabant) 15 km south of Leuven Belgium.

Two members of the six man crew were reported killed in action: Sergeant (Pilot) Thomas Robert Augustus West and Sergeant (Air Gnr.) John Robert Thompson. Four survived and landed by parachute. Two members of the crew, Sergeant W. J. Norfolk and Sergeant P. Wright, managed to evade capture and were eventually returned to the UK.

The other two members of the crew, PO Walter B Mulligan RNZA and W/O John Oldfield, were taken Prisoner of War. Mulligan, POW No 292 was transported to Stalag Luft 3 . Oldfield, POW No 518, like Mulligan, was first taken to the interrogation centre, Dulag Luft, then on to Stalag Luft 3. Oldfield was later moved to Stalag 357 from which he joined The March in 1945. Mulligan, due to his poor health, was repatriated to England in 1944 from Luft 3 as part of a prisoner exchange.

The following is an account taken from my father's diary and refers to how Christmas Day was spent in Camp 357 in 1944.

Christmas Day 1944:

After a month of skimping and scraping and almost literally starving, Christmas Day arrived. A fortunate last-minute issue of coal from the detaining powers enabled us to cook our meals for the day and a very pleasant day we had. The following is an account of our (that is Steve, Oggie, Peter and my day day.

Eight-thirty in the morning double-strength German coffee arrived from the cookhouse and Steve, noble fellow, arose and we had a good brew and two slices of bread and jam in bed. A cigarette and then a wash and shave prior to our early morning parade. It was bitterly cold out there on parade but a wintry sun was half smiling on us. The thought of a fire in the barrack to go back to cheered us somewhat and on dismissal we dashed back to prepare our Christmas Breakfast.

Oggie and Steve were soon at work on the stove and by ten fifteen we sat down to porridge, tea and an oat cake; a good grounding for our day’s feed.

Pots and tins to be washed, Peter and I soon had these done, and away we went on a few brisk circuits of the campground. Hands and feet were soon warm and our bodies glowed with the exercise.

After an hour walking it was “skilly” time and we returned to the room to eat our German soup which for once was really good. The soup was followed by a treacle tart made by Steve, our cook, and was enjoyable. The Christmas Spirit began to enter our souls. Again we perambulated, this time to call on friends. Everyone was happy and in every room a good fire was blazing and the aroma of cooking was in the air. On a quarter parcel issue the show our boys have made has been truly magnificent.

Once more we retired to our room, this time to partake of a mid-afternoon brew, a rare luxury, for this time it was accompanied by an oat cake. The pots washed, we commenced preparations for our Christmas Dinner.

Oggie now became Maitre du Table. Tins were opened and our Christmas Pud (made from crusts of black bread) was put on the stove to warm. All is scurry and bustle and within an hour our meal was ready to be served. After months of “belting”, what a meal: four ounces of bacon, two and half of Spam, a little scrambled egg, potatoes and swedes . . . all delicious and filling.

Then came the pud, a goodly portion each, rather burnt but do we care? No sir! Oggie has made us a little custard and with our spoons, away we go. Now we are really full, satisfied and contented and warm. If only we were home every meal would be like this one. We relax and smoke a cigarette. We are all drowsy and an hour soon passes. Soon we are again washing cups and plates and my duties commence. I am to prepare the table for our little gathering at seven thirty.

I took real care in the layout but at last it was done. A white table cloth, a Christmas Tree and a cake with a frill (made from toilet paper) around it. There was a menu card for each man and the effect was great.

At seven thirty we cut our cake (this of Steve’s making) and really delightful it was. We couldn’t eat it all at so something was saved for later. Then another cigarette and a natter about old times finishing at nine when, in coffee, we toasted Absent Friends. A walk around the compound and then to bed after a quiet but warm and un-hungry Christmas Day.




JT Oldfield .     British Army

JT Oldfield served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt. L. A. Oldfield .     97 Squadron




TW Oldfield .     British Army

TW Oldfield served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Oldham .     British Army Royal Engineers

Oldham served with the Royal Engineers British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




G Oldham .     British Army Reconnaissance Corps

G Oldham served with the Reconnaissance Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Pte. George Victor Oldham .     British Army Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment   from Oldham, Lancashire

George Oldham

During the war, George Oldham was captured by the Germans and interned at Stalag XVII-B in Gneixendorf, Austria. His POW number was 155543.




F/O J. W. Oldham DFM..     97 Squadron




L Oldham .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

L Oldham served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.





Page 8 of 17

     First Page   Previous Page   Next Page    Last Page    








Can you help us to add to our records?

The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them


Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area?

If so please let us know.

Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.




Celebrate your own Family History

Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.

Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.














The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items.

The website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.

If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.



Hosted by:

The Wartime Memories Project Website

is archived for preservation by the British Library





Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
- All Rights Reserved

We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.