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Sgt. Harold John Wesley . British Army 8th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment from 67 Lealand Road, Tottenham, Middlesex There are many stories about Harold Wesley, but the one I found most intriguing was that my father was blown up while in Italy in his tank (one of the three occasions) and suffered severe leg injuries. He was then captured by an Italian unit and taken to a medical post. The Italian doctor disinfected and bound the wounds. Three weeks later the Americans arrived and liberated the medical post (which may have been a POW camp, but I am not sure of that). By then my father's injuries had become infected so the American doctor gave my father the choice of having his leg(s) removed or try penicillin treatment. Despite being used since 1941 penicillin was not exactly an everyday item. My father agreed to try the penicillin treatment and it saved his legs from amputation. He was also free again after his mother had received a telegram stating "missing in action".
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Arthur Ernest Wesson . Royal Navy I have a photo of my father, Arthur Wesson, in Class 222 at HMS Royal Arthur. I think he may have been involved in signals and he spoke about twice being sunk on destoyers.
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Sqd Ldr. West . Royal Air Force 32 Squadron "Can anyone help with identifying this crashed aircraft? The origional photo is 2"" by 1"" and the serial number is not all that visible. On the back is written Sgt Bernard 25th August 1941. I know that it belongs to 32 Squadron and that the pilot is not listed on the war graves site. UPDATE: Looking at the aircraft, it seems to be a Mk1 Hurricane (straight tailwheel leg with ventrical fin is Mk1, wing too thick and T/E of wing at root too square for Spitfire, and fuselage aft of cockpit sloaping down to fin, pilot hand hold location in the ""G"" etc. etc.)
The only record I can find of an accident within 32 Sqdrn, is on the 22nd August 1940, when the plane was destroyed in a landing accident flown by Plt Off J.Pfeiffer (Polish), who was unhurt in the incident.
That plane, P3205 was delivered to 32 Sqdrn at Hawkinge in August 1940 and it was a Mk1 Gloucester built unit .
I am puzzled however, by the prescence of a wing fuel tank, and the apparent sloap on the field, and the steam roller, and the way the wings have come off.
It makes me wonder if this plane was blown over, and the wings blown off by bombing, and the roller is trying to repair the field?
Either way, the date of 25th August 1941 seems at odds with the mark of aircraft, plus the only Bernard I can find of the Battle of Brittain era was an F.A.Bernard who was a Czech who served in 238 and 601 Sqdrn.
Mark Morley
UPDATE: I have since found out that Sgt Bernard was a Czechoslovakian pilot who fought during the battle of Britain, apparently he crashed the aircraft on a night flying exercise at Angle Airfield, Pembs. 1941. He did survive the crash and the war, commissioned in 1942, released after the war but rejoined in 1950. Mentioned in despatches 6/3/56 for distinguished service in Kenya, retired from service as Flight Lieutenant 23/7/64, 5 months after I joined the service.He was born on the 23/7/1914, died on the 17/7/80 in New Zealand, .
There are some other bits and pieces still to find but I now have another address to try, in New Zealand, as one person said, perhaps he has family out there who may like the photograph, who knows but I will keep trying, all off the information has come from sites like your own and it is thanks to you that people can find out about our recent history and what the people went through.
When I found this photograph, I had no idea that I would come so far with it, I thought that it would remain one of those forgotten incidents and be confined to a drawer somewhere, I am glad I took up the challenge.
Eddie Smith. "
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Tpr. AH West . British Army East Riding Yeomanry Tpr.AH West served with the East Riding 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.
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Pte. Arthur West . British Army 7th Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry from Chesham (d.23rd January 1944)
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C West . British Army C West 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.
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Rfmn. Charles West . British Army Kings Royal Rifle Corps My late Father-In-Law Charlie West, Kings Royal Rifle Corps was a pow in xv111a in 1941-43, bit of a singer so presume he was doing his bit in entertaining, I have come across a photo, on back is written L\Cpl Gordon Simpson (Dick) 14247 Stalag V111B, E196 Germany.
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Pte. Cyril Henry West . British Army 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment from 15 Earls Road, Fareham, Hampshire  My dad, Cyril West, didn't talk much about the war, but I gleaned snippets from him at times and adding those to his Certificate of Service and other regimental records I have a rough idea of his service.
He enlisted on 23rd of August 1937 at Portsmouth and spent his first year in the UK. He was deployed to India between December 1938 to June 1939 and I believe he would have been posted somewhere around Landi Kotal? He attributed this time to his love of very hot curries!
From India he was sent to Malta where he spent three and a half years under the Luftwaffe siege. This was one part of the war that he did talk about, although he used to tell me about the clear waters around the island and how he learnt the hard way on how to pluck the hairy thorns from prickly pear cactus.
When the siege was broken, he was sent to Egypt in March or April 1943 according to his Certificate of Service, but online Regiment records seem to suggest it was Tunisia? Any ideas on this would be gratefully received. Then on to Sicily and Italy, before being whisked back to Blighty for the Normandy Invasion.
I know very little about his days in North West Europe as he was injured around the end of July or start of August 1944 (I believe he would have been fighting in the general area around Hottot-les-Bagues and Villers-Bocage going by online records of the 1st's encounters) and would never discuss it. He was discharged on medical grounds in December 1944 and spent several years in rehabilitation for his wounds. He died at home in November 1991, but I still miss him dearly 27 years later!
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E West . British Army Middlesex Regiment E West served with the Middlesex 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.
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Earl Cecil West . United States Army from Randall, MN I'm trying to find what battles my Dad Earl West was in. I know that he was in Africa - Casablanca, first, and then crossed to Sicily, Italy, up through France and then was wounded - maybe in Battle of Bulge? Can anyone help me build his path?
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Pte . Edward Ernest West . British Army 1st Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry from Derby Edward West was wounded in the leg on the 9th of February 1944.
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L/Bmdr. Eric Douglas West . British Army 140th Field Regiment Royal Artillery from Cheam, Surrey Eric West was captured after the Battle of Cassel on the 31st of May 1940.
He was a POW at Lamsdorf Stalag VIIIB from 1940 to 1945, in E72 Working Party at Bytom coal mine.
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L/Sgt Ernest Walter West . British Army 23rd Field Royal Artillery from Lockerley, Romsey, Hampshire (d.13th December 1944)
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GT West . British Army Highland Light Infantry GT West served with the Highland Light Infantry 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.
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Gnr. Harold Barker West . Royal Artillery from Halifax, Yorkshire My father Harold West was, I believe, captured at Dunkirk and was marched to Poland. My research suggests he was at Stalag 21A from 1940 to 1945.
I recall his stories of brutality on the march from Dunkirk to the camp.
He told me he attempted to escape twice and, on one of these occasions with a friend blundered, into a pub frequented by the Germans. After some time serving as the butt of the Germans' sense of humour they were sent back to the camp.
On the second occasion he was challenged after dark in an unknown town, narrowly escaped being shot and returned to the camp.
Harold was just 19 in May 1940. He was a physically fit young man being a swimmer and rugby player in his beloved county of Yorkshire.
Any photographs others may have of this camp may allow me to find him there.
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Able Seaman. Haydn Peter West . Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve HMS Forfar from Hull, Yorkshire (d.2nd Dec 1940) The above photo is from the album of Sub Lt Broadhurst. Ab Henderson (143lbs) vs AB West (146lbs) the match was a draw.
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SM Isaac Frederick Charles "Ivor" West . British Army Welsh Guards My father was captured at Dunkirk with the Welsh Guards.
Update
POW Book lists one West for the Welsh Guards:
Camp 21D (at Posen) POW No. 4801 West I.F.C. SM (Sergeant Major) 4073960 W.G.
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Cpl. Ivan Julius West . US Army from Austin, Texas, USA Ivan West enlisted in the army on 4th of February 1941 at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
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JB West . British Army JB West 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.
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Sergeant John Stainley West . Army 116th Light Ack Ack Co Royal Artillery from Stokesley, North Yorkshire This is very much a long shot, I am trying to research my late grandfather's time during WW11. There have been numerous articles in local newspapers regarding my grandfather and the information given in these is pretty much all I know as he never spoke to us regarding his experiences. To be honest I have no idea where to start but would be most grateful for any links or information that anyone could provide.
He was Sgt John Stainley West of Stokesley, North Yorkshire and was one of the first to land on the Normandy beaches in 1944, helping to clear minefields in northern France and other parts of Europe while serving with a division of the Canadian Army where he specialised in mine detectors and detonators. He also became a POW for half a day. On April 15th 1945 he entered Belsen as the Official British War Photographer. At the time he was serving with the 116th Light Ack Ack Company, Royal Artillery. My Grandfather spent 4 months in Belsen recording the scenes of the few victims left alive and also working in the maternity ward. He also helped collect bodies and supervise the burial of 23,000.
He had a photocopy of a Belsen record card, on the back of which were some brief notes compiled at the time. The following extracts illustrate only too vividly the grimness of the war which was nearing its end.
"We feel that some of you who were not here at Belsen from the beginning might like to see these notes. They give the most accurate facts available, We would liked to have produced them before, but we were one and all rather busy on the first main job of clearing the concentration camp. That job is now finished. On the 12 April 1945 the Chief of Staff of the 1st German Para Army approached the Brigadier General's staff of the British 8th Corps and said he had a terrible situation on hand at Belsen and that the place must be taken over. On 13 April 1945 the terms of a special truce were drawn up, although we must remember that a battle was going on all around the Belsen area. Under these terms, the British agreed to come in and take over the camp, a neutral area was defined around Belsen, the German SS camp staff were to remain, the British doing what they liked with them, and the Hungarians to remain armed and be used by the British until such time as they had no further use for them. It is believed that Brig Glyn Hughes, deputy director of medical services, was the first to arrive. The First British unit in was an Anti-Tank Battery which arrived on 15 April. The scene which met the first officers beggars description. There were an estimated 30,000 people in camp, of which about 10,000 lay dead in the huts or about the camp. Those still alive had been without food or water for about seven days, after long periods of semi-starvation. Typhus, amongst other diseases, was raging. Corruption and filth were everywhere. The air was poisoned. You have no doubt heard these terrible details from those who saw them. The tasks which faced the firstcomers must have appeared insurmountable. Nevertheless they were tackled with outstanding success when one considers the resources available.
The Document says that, eventually the Army took over control of all the concentration camps. All the living inmates of Belsen were moved into hospitals and transit camps. The total moved numbered 28,900, although 2,000 died later.
A memento which he kept to remind himself of man's inhumanity to man was a knife, fork and spoon wrapped in a cloth folder which belonged to the Nazi Commandant, the infamous "Beast of Belsen" I believe his name to be Kramer. My Grandfather confiscated it after being spat on by this officer during one of the morning parades.
He left the camp to return to England in September 1945 after contracting a disease at Belsen that attacked his nervous system and which kept him in hospital for 5 months. His illness affected him for the next ten years, resulting in loss of memory and repeated nightmares.
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LAC. John Ernest Astrella "Spike" West . Royal Air Force 104 Squadron from Shoeburyness, Essex John West served as an Electrical Mechanic with 104 Squadron.
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Rflmn. John Thomas West . British Army 1st Btn. Rifle Brigade from London John West joined the Rifle Brigade in August 1938. He was part of the BEF from 22nd to 25th May 1940. He was captured and taken to a POW camp on 26th May 1940 until 25th October 1943 (he may have been transferred in January 1943) when he was released on medical grounds, returning home until June 1944 when his army record ends.
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AC John Ernest A "Spike" West . Royal Air Force 104 Squadron from Shoeburyness Essex John West served with 104 Squadron Royal Air Force in WW2.
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WO1. John E West . British Army 6th Btn. North Staffordshire Regiment from Scunthorpe, Lincs (d.8th Aug 1944)
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K. West . British Army Ox & Bucks Light Infantry
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LBM West . British Army LBM West 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.
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Sgt. Leslie West . British Army 53rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery from Denaby Main Leslie West was my grandfather, I never met him, he died shortly after coming home. He was not the same man who returned. Excerpt from 'What Doncaster KOYLI did in the Desert War', by Cyril Bewley:
'With the Eighth Army: One of the oldest of the Eighth Army units now serving in Italy is the Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, formerly the Doncaster Battalion of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Converted to Royal Artillery in 1938 when commanded by Colonel - now Brigadier - Albert Smith O.B.E., T.D. they have since fought in France, Britain, Egypt, North Africa, Sicily and Italy - an eventful four and a half years in which they have fired 56,000 rounds: have confirmation of destruction of 95 enemy aircraft with 125 others probably destroyed; and won one D.S.O, four M.C.S, one D.M.C, eight M.M.S, one B.E.M, and 18 "mentions"'.
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Norman Basil West . Royal Marines 47 Commando Norman West served with No. 47 Commando from 1st of August 1943 to January 1946.
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Priscilla Rose West . Wrens
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Pte. Richard Eric West . British Army Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry
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