Operations Gallery

Pistol, Welrod

Welrod Silenced pistol . 32, mk 2, serial no. 3247, 1944 (c). This pistol was probably used by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War Two. The receiver markings of a square and a star indicate it was made at B. S. A. (Birmingham Small Arms Company) It has a five round magazine. Associated with World War Two (1939-1945). The Welrod pistol derives its name from where some were produced; the Special Operations Executive Research Centre in Welwyn, Hertfordshire. The pistol is unique in that in its final stages, the designers realised that it was senseless to make a pistol then manufacture a silencer for it - rather, they designed a silencer first and then made the pistol mechanisms. Date: circa 1944

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library

Captain Charles Upham

Portrait of double VC winner, Captain Charles Upham (). Born in New Zealand, Upham was a sheep farmer who distinguished himself during World War Two on two occasions. On July 14th/15th 1942, Captain Upham led an attack on a strong enemy position at El Ruweisat Ridge in the Western Desert. Despite being wounded in one arm, he destroyed a tank and several guns and vehicles, returning to his company after his wound was dressed and remaining with them until he was severely wounded and captured. Previous to that in May 1941, he had won the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry during operations in Crete. He is one of only three men to have won the Victoria Cross and Bar since its institution in 1856. The other two, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake and Captain Noel Chavasse are also included in this picture

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10222834

Dunkirk Evacuation

FRANCE : Beaten back by the German advance, the British evacuate mainland Europe via the beaches of DUNKIRK, under heavy attacks from the enemy

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10048578

1940, 26, Advance, Attacks, Back, Beaches, Beaten, British, Dunkirk, Enemy, Europe, Evacuate, Evacuation, Events, France, Front, German, Heavy, Historical, History, Land, Mainland, Operations, War, Western, World