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Tom "Ginger" Todd . Royal Air Force I was stationed at Ossington during the 1940's.
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Tom "Ginger" Todd . Royal Air Force I was a little girl of five years old when I came in contact with Tex (Brian Bartindale), Ginger (Tom Todd I think) and Knobby, (don't know his baptised name). These guys were stationed at Ossington Aerodrome in the '40's.
I would love to know what became of them, they added a touch of magic to a little girl's war years, also to my sister who is 18 months younger. I have a vague recollection of a present of a tiny doll's tea set we were given and one of these guys caught me licking the pink top of matches to paint the white dots in dominoes and stopped me!
My mother and sister and I were from the North of England and were staying with an aunty in Sutton on Trent. It would be so lovely to know what became of them and to thank them or their relatives for a lovely wartime memory.
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Flt. Offr W. Wylton Todd . Royal Air Force Biggin Hill & Little Snoring 29th and 169th Sq from London, England My mother is the daughter of W. Wylton Todd. Wylton was an RAF navigator who designed the memorial for the fallen 50 officers who were shot after the Great Escape. It still stands in Zagan, Poland.
He was assigned to the North camp after being shot down in a Mosquito on Feb 15, 1944. The pilot was the famous Commander "Jumbo" Gracie, who unfortunately went down with the plane in Hannover. Cmdr. Gracie was an older, decorated pilot who was instrumental in organizing flight standards for pilots in Malta and North Africa. Wylton was older too, but lied about his age so that he could join the war effort. He was 38 by the time he was shot down.
Wylton was a piano virtuoso. He designed, wrote and produced several of the musicals during his capture (i.e., Messalina, Paulina Panic). He worked with Rupert Davies, Peter Butterworth, Talbot Rothwell and a few others. They signed his war log. I'm certain that theater kept him and many others sane.
He was not only a great musician, he was already a successful architect in London before the war. King Edward honored him with recognition at the last Levee in 1936. A remarkable distinction for the young professional.
Since he was first held in Dulag Luft, then brought to SL3, he would have arrived just before the great escape on March 25. My mother maintains that he told her that he worked on the tunnels and escape efforts. His drafting abilities and keen eye probably made him a good forger or mapmaker.
After the war, Wylton was commissioned to design a memorial at Biggin Hill, from which most of the Battle of Britain pilots tenaciously defended their country. He stayed in the UK to rebuild London.
He also designed a palace for a Maharaja in India, Redesigned The Elms in London, a mansion in Mexico and designed plans for a massive luxury complex for Arthur Vining Davis in Eleuthera, Bahamas. Unfortunately it never came to fruition because of political complications. He died shortly afterwards from a freak accident in 1961. I never met him, but have learned quite a bit about this amazing man.
I'm currently working on research about his activities in the North camp theater. If anyone knows more about him or particular info about the North camp theater I would appreciate it.
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F/Lt. Wemyss Wylton Todd . Royal Air Force 169th Squadron from London, UK On February 15, 1944, W. Wylton Todd and Cmdr Eugene "Jumbo" Gracie, from 169th squadron out of Little Snoring, were flying a solo Mosquito night raid to Berlin. They were hit by flak over Hannover, Ger. Cmdr Gracie ordered Navigator Todd to bale out, but sadly Gracie perished when he went down with the plane. Todd was delivered to Dulag Luft, interrogated, then brought to Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan, just before the Great Escape.
In order to join the war efforts, Flt Lt Todd had to lie about his age to enter the RAF. When shot down, he was already 38, an established London architect and a terrific musician. As an architect, he volunteered his services for any structural suggestions to the tunnelling efforts for the upcoming Great Escape. He also was involved in the later tunnel efforts underneath the theatre. After the Great Escapers were discovered and illegally murdered by the Gestapo, Wylton was asked to design a memorial for the 50 fallen officers. That memorial still stands in Sagan. There is also a growing museum which is accepting donations for further growth to honour all of the men imprisoned at SL3.
Wylton was also a talented composer. He quickly joined up with the Theatre Group where he proceeded to write two hilariously bawdy, original musicals with David Porter, Tally Rothwell, Peter Butterworth, Bobby Laumanns and Rupert Davies, all talented professional writer/actors in their post-war lives. The two musicals were named "Paulina Panic" and "Messalina." They were big hits in the camp.
The Red cross was a tremendous help in supplying food and materials to build the theater. This attention to the POWs strengthened the men's morale throughout their long captivity and instilled hope. They knew entertainment and an imaginary "escape" through the theater could help sustain the men. In return, after the war, Talbot, Wylton, Peter, Rupert, Bobby and many others, produced a musical in London's Stoll Theatre conglomerating all of best parts of their past performances into a 20-act musical called, "Back Home" The proceeds of which went entirely to the Red Cross. A wonderful payback for the hope that the Red Cross instilled in these magnanimous survivors.
Wylton went on to Design memorial for the Battle of Britain at Biggin Hill and commercial projects for Arthur Vining Davis, Sir Roland Robinson and a 98-room palace for a Maharaja in India. W. Wylton Todd died in 1961 and is buried near Wimbledon. He is survived by his daughter Virginia T. Eades and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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WY Todd . British Army WY Todd 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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. William Eric Toft . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 44 Squadron from Brighton (d.2nd Mar 1943) Eric Toft was my husband's uncle, who died before he was born and my husband is named Eric in his memory. He was a wireless operator on board the Lancaster. They were shot down over Germany, and the crew are buried in the Commonwealth Cemetery in Berlin.
We have visited the cemetery, it is a beautifully kept and peaceful place, and a fitting memorial to such a young and dedicated group of men. We have not discovered any more detail of the sortie, so if anyone does have information, Eric's surviving brothers and sister, as well as the rest of his family, would love to know more of his story.
Editor's Note: Eric's Lancaster was W4829, KM-V. They took off from Waddington at 18:46 on the 1st of March 1943. They crashed near Doberitz, from where the burials of all the crew were reported on the 15th of March 1943. The crew were moved to War Cemetry at Berlin at the end of the war.
They were: Sgt B.F.Forman - Sgt L.Farmer
- Sgt D.G.J.Coombes
- Sgt L.J.Holleron
- Sgt W.E.Toft
- Sgt J.Little
- Sgt B.F.Brown RCAF
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Flt.Lt. Robert Arthur Tofts . Royal Air Force 114 Squadron from Cambridge My father Robert Tofts was a sergeant in the Volunteer Reserves. He served with 114 Squadron in Blenheim IVs. His log books show a variety of aircraft and operations. He remained in the RAF until 1964 when he retired. He was also with 55 Squadron for a time. Whilst I have a variety of photographs I am attaching a picture of the entire 114 Squadron. I am not certain when this was taken but suspect it was circa 1940. I met Richard Rook (Dickie) who died approx 4-5 years ago.
Some people may recognise some of members of the Squadron in this photograph.
Father was commissioned in 1944 and retired as a Flt/lt.
I also attach two photgraphs of my father (extreme left) with W/C Monson, Flt/Lt Adam and Flt/Lt Bedford. This was taken in January 1946 in Elmas, Sardinia. The aircraft is a Buckingham which was on a test flight at the time.
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P/O. Robert Clayton Tofts MiD.. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Coastal Command My dad Robert Tofts was sent to Iceland early in WWII. He had been commissioned in the RAFVR as an operations controller in Coastal Command working with both RAF and Norwegian pilots.
He received a Mention in Despatches for his service. He told me the local Icelandics were very hostile and pro-German and that an invasion was expected but never came. He travelled back and forth on troop ships from Liverpool expecting to be torpedoed on every trip. He was later posted to Northern Ireland and then to Cornwall.
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JM Togneri . British Army Royal Armoured Corps JM Togneri served with the Royal Armoured Corps 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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P/O William A Togwell . RAFVR. 426 Sqd. (d.5th Mar 1945)
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Pte. Daniel M. Toje . West African Frontier Force African Pioneer Corps (West Africa) (d.20th May 1942) Private Toje was buried in the Limbe Botanical Gardens Burial Grounds in the Cameroons.
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Pte. John Tolan . British Army Durham Light Infantry from Batley, Yorkshire John Tolan was captured in June 1940 at St Valery and liberated at Merkers Mine on 12th of April 1945
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Pte. John Tolan . British Army Durham Light Infantry from 18 Turners Rd., Batley,Yorkshire In May 1940, during the BEF withdrawal to Dunkirk, John Tolan was captured at St. Valery and subsequently interned at Stalag 9C in Bad Sulza, Thuringia, Germany. There, he worked at two salt mines, Kraja and Merkers. He was liberated from Stalag 9C in April 1945.
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F/Lt. Leslie Hall Tolchard DFC and bar.. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve My husband Leslie Tolchard served with the Royal Air Force, we were married in 1952. Les died 20th April 2010.
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GET Tolcher . British Army GET Tolcher 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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T Tolcher . British Army South Staffordshire Regiment T Tolcher served with the South Staffordshire 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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Alfred Tolhurst . British Army 8th Army from Leeds
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Able Seaman. S. Tolhurst . Royal Navy HMS Forfar S. Tolhurst survived the sinking of HMS Forfar in 1940.
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Albert C. Toll . United States Navy from Warminster, PA From 1944-1946 Albert Toll served as a U.S. Navy officer aboard several landing-ship transports in the Pacific Theatre
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Emily Alice Tollet . Womens Land Army My mum has recently passed away aged 83. Her maiden name was Emily Alice Tollet. In later years she used her second name Alice, but not sure if she used Alice or Emily when she was younger. She was born and raised in Southampton. Her father was in the Navy in World War 1. We know mum was in the land army on the Isle of Wight based at Whitecroft farm. This is where she met my father and spent the rest of her life living on the Island. Her married name is Taylor. We believe she may have been based in Devon originally in the land army, then moved to the Isle of Wight but we don’t know for sure.
In the picture of my Mum, she is the blonde haired woman on the right, we have no idea who is the lady on the left or where the photograph was taken.
If you have any info on my mum, the other lady or the location I would be very grateful to hear from you. The Devon part of mum’s story is what we as a family are interested in finding out about but any info would be appreciated.
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AW Tolley . British Army AW Tolley 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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EJ Tolley . British Army Royal Armoured Corps EJ Tolley served with the Royal Armoured Corps 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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H Tolley . British Army H Tolley 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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HJ Tolley . British Army HJ Tolley 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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VCA Tollhurst . British Army Royal Sussex Regiment VCA Tollhurst served with the Royal Sussex 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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AW Tolmie . British Army Royal Armoured Corps AW Tolmie served with the Royal Armoured Corps 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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PO John Andrews Tolmie . Royal Canadian Air Force 433 Squadron from Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (d.17th August 1944) Pilot Officer (Navigator) Tolmie was the son of Roderick G. and Mary M. Tolmie of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.
He was 25 when he crashed into the Sea west of Langeland, Denmark. He is buried in the Bagenkop Cemetery in Denmark, Row 14, Grave 115.
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G Tolson . British Army Royal Armoured Corps G Tolson served with the Royal Armoured Corps 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: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact 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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Roger Boys Tolson . British Army Green Howards from Darlington Durham
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Sgt. Thomas Fareg Toma . Royal Canadian Air Force 138 Sqd. from Chatham, ON My Dad, Thomas Toma was am airman in the Second World War. He never talked about the death or destruction, but of the fun he had with his squadron. His heart was heavy and sometimes sad as he thought about that war and the depression before.
My Mom was a Rosy Riveter during the war and worked in Detroit Michigan on Canadian Air Planes riveting the wing tips on the planes.
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