Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A Concentration Camp Liberator

Monsignor Patrick McGrath of New Jersey, USA (right)
During WW2 he was a chaplain with General Patton’s Army
In 1945 he was among the troops liberating a concentration camp
[Photograph courtesy of his kinswoman, Liz Barnett]

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Friday, December 18, 2009

Operation Tracer, Gibraltar

Photograph of Dr Bruce Cooper from October 2008
Dr Cooper was visiting the WW2 Tunnels in Gibraltar
He was one of a team involved in the 'Stay Behind' Project

The above photograph shows Dr Bruce Cooper, a retired GP from Preston, Lancashire duruing a visit to the WW2 Tunnels in Gibraltar. During WW2 Dr Cooper was part of a team who were ready to be sealed inside the 'Rock' in the event of the Axis Forces launching a successful attack to occupy Gibraltar. This was Dr Cooper's first visit back to Gibraltar in many years. At this time, in October 2008 he was 93 years old and the last surviving member of the team who were prepared to be sealed inside the tunnels with the intention of sending messages back to the Allies by wireless signal.

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HMS Malaya in WW2

Postcard of HMS Malaya
HMS Malaya was a Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship launched in 1915, and saw action in both World Wars. It was scrapped after WW2 in 1948. Its bell is on display at the East India Club, London.

I obtained the postcard photograph seen above in Gibraltar on behalf of Mr James ('Jimmy') Campbell of Whitehaven, Cumbria who served on HMS Malaya just before and during WW2.

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HMS Valiant in WW2

Postcard of HMS Valiant at Gibraltar

HMS Valiant was one of the Queen Elizabeth class battleships belonging to the British Royal Navy. She was launched on 4 November 1914 and completed in February 1916. Therefore, Valiant served in both World Wars.

The above postcard photograph shows ‘Valiant’ in Gibraltar sometime in the 1930s. I found this postcard of the vessel in Gibraltar on behalf of Mr James (‘Jimmy’) Campbell of Whitehaven, Cumbria, who served for a short time on ‘Valiant’ during WW2 after having previously served on a sister ship, ‘Malaya’.

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