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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
- The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 25 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
- 19th Nov 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than
264989 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
- Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please read our Family History FAQs
- The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
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Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Want to know more about 58th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery ? There are:441 items tagged 58th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Bdr. Alfred Gray 58th Light AA Regt Royal Artillery My father, Alfred Gray, a prisoner of war, did not arrive home until April 1945 after three months forced marching.
Alf was taken prisoner in 1940 fighting in the rearguard action near Dunkirk to help our army to retreat to the beaches. My mother, Violet, received a letter in June 1940 from his Captain informing her that her husband was "still missing - last seen at Hazebrook on May 27th." At last a card came from the Red Cross, Geneva, dated 1st July 1940 stating that "Gray Alfred Ed. Bombardier 58th Light AA Regt. R.A. is interned in camp Stalag XXA. He is well." This must have been a great relief to know he was alive. I was 4 years old when my mother was going through this worrying time. There followed five long years of separation but they kept in touch with loving correspondence.
My father also kept a diary during his time as a P.O.W. I found the diary when I was clearing my parents' bungalow in 2000 after Dad had died, aged 90 years. He was 35 years in 1945 when he and his comrades endured their three months ordeal. Here are some excerpts of the graphic details:
- 20 Jan. 3 a.m. Forced evacuation march from Thorn - 32kilometres to Schulitz - slept in field of snow.
- 21 Jan. 6 a.m. 41k. Bromberg - sleep in garage.
- 22 Jan. 32k. Immenham.
- 23 Jan. 14k spend night in Fire Station.
- 24 Jan. 4k Vanburg
- 25 Jan. 40k big farm outside Flatow
- 26 Jan. Receive bread rations and polony.
- 27 Jan. 20k sledge breaks down, dump all kit, wet feet. move off 2.30 p.m. 10k.
- 28 Jan. Farm. tend skinned and frostbitten feet.
- 31 Jan. 40k gruelling march, hilly roads thick with snow. Boys all in. Still no hot meal.
- 1st Feb. 20k to barn. Hope terrible ordeal will soon be over."
It was not to be over soon. They marched into Northern Poland and then through Germany. They had very little food, often just potatoes. Some men were too weak to carry on. Dad was worrying about not being able to write home.
- By 16th February they had marched 571k. and survived heavy bombing. "lice among boys - no change of clothing or a bath"
- 16th March "I am still sticking it out. I am coming back."
- 18 March - total distance in 8 weeks 775k.
- 21 March pass over River Elbe. Pass refugee wagons, 13 dead horses on roadside.
- 24 March hundreds of our planes overhead.
- 26 March - distance marched 926k. CELLE.
- 28 March - air raids, entrain in goods wagons, 60 men in a wagon, 1 loaf to 6 men, very uncomfortable.
- 29 March Springe, split into working groups along railway line.
- 2nd April - Germans pouring back from West. Yanks outside Kassel. German troops rushing from East to stem attack. Still no chance to write home.
- 7th April - 5 a.m. march 43k through Hanover - people hungry, Jerries deserting.
- 11th April - Germans flee, only 12 guards.
- 12th April -It looks as if I will be home for Irene's birthday honey. (Every daily diary entry ended with a personal loving message)
- 14th April - Yanks 3k away WE ARE FREE.
- 16th April - with 2 friends commandeer tractor but halted by blown up bridge. Yank lorry takes us to Hanover. REMEs take us to camp.
- 17th April receive bath, delouse, burn all clothing and receive brand new outfit. Good dinner, sent Celle for transport home, three men to room, spring bed!
- 18th April 8 a.m. bacon and beans. Over 600 men here waiting for air transport.
- 22nd April leave in transport planes for Tilburn, change planes, cross Channel in Stirling bomber, Ostend to Clacton, land Aylesbury. Wonderful reception and tea by WAAFs then to Amersham in lorry to a Reception camp.
- On 23rd April after three months with no news Mam received telegram "DARLING ARRIVED SAFE SEE YOU SOON LOVE ALF."
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