Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Fallen of St Peter's, Kells, Whitehaven.















Photographs:
(Top): Belfry, St Peter's Parish Church, Kells, Whitehaven, Cumbria
(Bottom): WW2 War Memorial, St Peter's, Kells.


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Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Lille V.C. that never was

1. "For Valour": a Victoria Cross
2. Two photographs of Captain Michael Trotobas
(Better known in northern France as 'Capitaine Michel')

[Courtesy of the Bondues Resistance Museum, France
3. 'Sylvestre-Farmer' Resistance Memorial
(Lille Southern Cemetery)
 4. CWGC headstone for 'Capitaine Michel' 
(Captain Michael A.R. Trotobas)
(Lille Southern Cemetery)
[Photographs taken with permission]
__________________________________________
SOE agent Captain Michael Alfred Raymond Trotobas, known in northern France as "Capitaine Michel", died as he lived - as a hero. Although his name was put forward for a Victoria Cross, without the presence of a senior officer to witness his gallantry, the award was refused. He died fighting off the Germans who stormed his 'safe house' at Lille, northern France.

Because of strictly adhered requirements of the Victoria Cross warrant many gallant men and women have not been awarded that honour. Captain Michael Trotobas, head of the 'Sylvestre Farmer' resistance network in the Lille district of northern France was one of them.

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

The French 'Army of the Shadows'



















Photographs (Top to bottom):
1. Fishing boat 'Monarch in Whitehaven Harbour.
[Miss Monique Marchais, Resistant, came here in 1946]


2. A young WW2 resistant from Lanvollon, Brittany.
[Miss Monique Marchais at Whitehaven in 1946]
Photograph courtesy of 'The Whitehaven News'

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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Japanese Prison Camp Victims





















Photographs (Top to bottom): 
1. Remembrance of Eric R. Carey and Robert E. Carey 
(Whitehaven WW2 'Book of Remembrance') 
2. Lance Bombardier Robert Edward Carey, R.A.
3. Gunner Eric Roy Carey, R.A
[Photographs 2 & 3 courtesy of 'The Whitehaven News']

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