Wednesday, 06 December 2023
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inmemoriam

Op Avalanche – the invasion of Italy 1943 at Salerno

PTE.14375398 Ronald Hickman.

9042353 orig Sherwoods3 Platoon B Company.
Batt. Sherwood Foresters

5th Dec 1943

Dear Mum, Dad


You must by now be concerned, not having had a letter from me for such a long time. Well the news of the landings in Italy must by now be well known all over England, so I am able to tell you that about seventy lads including myself were drafted into the Foresters to make them up to strength for the assault at Salerno. We only knew that it was for real when a dive bomber shot at us in the landing craft. We landed on the beaches in the early morning of the 9th Sept.

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Wednesday, 20 September 2023 20:32

The old guard passes : July - December 2023

Rose 10382129 10152575359311122 29431050027067224 oWe mark the passing of those who have served this country. Contributions from comrades and families welcome. Contact curator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Wednesday, 26 July 2023 12:19

Distant voices : Dimsie (DFC and Bar)

Dimsie unnamedSquadron Leader Donald (Dimsie) Stones DFC and Bar
19 June 1921 – 22 October 2002

Donald Stones was born in Norwich and attended Ipswich School from 1930 to 1937, writes Alan Wyatt. On the River Debden near the Felixstowe Ferry he met a Canadian RAF Wing Commander Percy Sherren and was inspired by him and his family to apply for a short service commission in the RAF. He was successful and started flying training in early 1939.

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Friday, 12 May 2023 15:33

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Latest from icasualties.org

British military casualties - Editorial policy

In the service of our country.

Eulogies for all personnel killed on UK operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere are posted as soon as they have been released by the UK Ministry of Defence. Each eulogy we publish for men down in operations brings a lump to the throat. We are losing the best of the best. Politicians must ensure that, when the newspaper cuttings have faded, their sacrifice has had some meaning, has helped bring about a good result. Anything else would be a waste for which they will be eternally condemned.

There is invariably at least a 24 hour gap between the official release of news of an event and the naming of the dead. This is to allow families to be informed and proper eulogoies to be produced. Occasionally families request no euologies or comment. We abide by guidance we receive on such sensitive matters. We regret that information on those who sacrifice almost as much through grave injury is seldom released by the MoD for operational reasons, and so we are unable to pay tribute.
 

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