The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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238389 Cpl. Gordon Whyte Collins MID. Royal Air Force 126 Squadron from:Ilford, Essex My father, Gordon Collins, was on the ship, HMS Welshman that arrived in Malta as the siege of Malta started. He had volunteered to take the place of another young airman who had a young family because he was a single man. Unfortunately, my father died in 1960 still a young man, so all I have are many photos of Malta, Grottaglie and Sicily and his wonderful books on mechanics (mainly Spitfires). He joined the RAF because he wanted to be a pilot, but he was severely colour blind so he was ground crew. He was a wonderful artist and I believe he painted a lot of ensignia on planes, lorries, etc. The illustrations in his mechanics books are wonderful. The names of some of the men he was friendly with are: Dick Pulford, Alex Haggerty from Perth, Nobby Porter from Putney, Ginger Gilbert and Bill Stewart from Killiecrankie. He was offered a commission after the war to teach mechanics, but by then he had met my mother at a dance in Saffron Walden and had had enough of the Air Force. I was only thirteen when my father died so my information is very patchy, but I would love to know more about his time during the war. Susan Robins Add to this record.  Related Content: No. 126 (Persian Gulf) Squadron Royal Air Force Siege of Malta Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. 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. Contact us. 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.

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