World War 2 Collection (page 17)

Germany, Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie, US Army checkpoint and guardhouse reconstruction at the former crossing point between East and West Berlin

VJ Day celebrations
People dancing in the Trafalgar Square fountain on VJ Day

Damaged railway lamps, 1942
These rather forlorn looking lamps appeared in an article from the April 1942 edition of the GWR Magazine. The article looks at the daily toll of damaged and lost locomotive equipment

Coach No. 5189 in the Carriage Body Shop, 1946
Great Western coach No. 5189 is featured in this photograph undergoing refurbishment in the Carriage Body Shop at Swindon Works in the summer of 1946

War memorial at Paddington Station in 1949
This full length image of the newly rededicated war memorial at Paddington appeared in the December 1949 edition of the, by this time, British Railways magazine

Australian officers and sailors on a visit to Swindon Works, 1945
Officers and sailors from H.M.A.S Australia on a visit to Swindon Works on July 13th 1945 whilst their ship was docked at Plymouth awaiting repairs

Australian Navy visiting A Erecting Shop at Swindon Works, 1945
An image of the visit from the Australian Navy inside A Erecting Shop at Swindon Works, examining locomotive No. 3827. The officers

Unveiling of the World War 2 memorial at Paddington Station, 1949
On the 11th November 1949 the war memorial at Paddington which was erected following the First World War, was again the focus of a moving ceremony when a new plaque was unveiled by former GWR General

World War 2 booklet It Can Now Be Revealed, published 1945
Throughout the war the British Railways Press Office issued a series of booklets that outlined the official story of the railways at war

The Goods Yard at Cardiff Docks in 1943
The Goods Yard at Cardiff Docks in September 1943 is the subject of this image featuring a group of ladies stacking boxes that have probably just been off-loaded from a goods train

Swindon Works employees welding superheaters for locomotive boilers, 1942
A group of female employees are welding the superheaters for locomotive boilers in P1 Shop. As rail operation was essential to the war effort

US soldiers embarking a ship in a GWR South Wales Dock, 1942
The GWR docks in South Wales became busy points for the arrival and departure of US troops from mid 1942 when the first American ship to arrive at the Companys docks berthed at Swansea on the 18th

American Flag flying from Paddington Station hotel on July 4th 1941
This image shows the American Flag flying from the front of the hotel at Paddington Station on July 4th, American Independence Day, 1941

Chevrolet Thornton military trucks lined up at Caerphilly Works, 1941
This image taken in April 1941 shows five Chevrolet Thornton military trucks lined up outside the GWRs works at Caerphilly. These trucks were imported from the USA and arrived unassembled in crates

Railway carriage converted to an ambulance ward car, c1939
This internal view of an ambulance ward car gives a clear image of both the ingenuity used in converting rolling stock for medical use, but also the cramped conditions endured within these vehicles

A corridor brake composite carriage converted into a rail mobile emergency canteen, 1941
In November 1941 this 56 feet corridor brake composite carriage was converted at Swindon Works into a rail mobile emergency canteen

A paper recycling cart outside the General Stores at Swindon Works, 1941
A paper recycling cart outside the General Stores at Swindon Works in 1941. Bound bundles of paperwork and ledgers can be seen piled on the cart ready to be taken away to be pulped

Bomb damage to the GWRs salvage warehouse in London, 1940
In a cruel twist of fate, this image from the 15th November 1940 shows bomb damage to the GWRs salvage warehouse at Park Royal in north-west London

The 13th Battalion Home Guard at a rifle shoot at Liddington, c. 1942
The 13th Battalion Home Guard at a rifle shoot on the chalk ridge at Liddington, near Swindon. The Home Guard evolved to be a well-equipped trained army and would partake in numerous drills

GWRs Home Guard battalions on parade at Castle Bar Park in London, c. 1940
The Home Guard was originally known as the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV). The LDV was formed in May 1940, but in August 1940 the LDV changed its name to the Home Guard

Standing down parade of 13th Battalion Home Guard, Swindon Works, 1944
By the end of 1944 the threat of invasion from Germany became unlikely and it was decided that the Home Guard could be stood down

Anti-aircraft platform at Swindon Station c. 1940
An anti-aircraft platform can be seen in this image of Swindon Station, but what is most intriguing is the very small Swindon Junction sign hanging in the centre of the platform canopy

Wartime shells being packed up in 24F shop, ready for transportation in 1942
By 1943 the majority of Allied munitions production was undertaken by America and Canada. This eased the pressure on British workshops as there had become a serious shortage of materials

Shell production for World War 2 in 24F shop at Swindon Works, 1942
An image of the shell production line in 24F Shop showing view of the workshop space for shell inspection during World War 2

War time work in Q Shop at Swindon Works, 1942
This image was taken in March 1942 and shows four women operating a large pressing machine in Q Shop. The women are making 4.5inch copper bands for ammunition shells

Welding Containers for Bombs, K Shop, 1940
Some rather intricate hot work is taking place in this photograph taken in K Shop, the Coppersmiths, in November 1940. The men are welding exploder containers for 250lb bombs that were ordered by

Midget Submarine superstructure, 1943
Also built in the Carriage and Wagon Works at Swindon were 50 of these midget submarine superstructures which were produced for the Admiralty

Anti-Aircraft Gun, Swindon Works, 1940s
This anti-aircraft 6-pounder navel gun was manufactured for the Admiralty in W Shop at Swindon Works during World War II. It comes with a mounting that would have allowed it to be fixed to

A Service Station - Seaplanes, Second World War, (1944). Creator: Charles Cundall
A Service Station - Seaplanes, Second World War, (1944). British aircraft of the Royal Air Force at the coast. Painting in a private collection. From " Britain In The Air", by Nigel Tangye

Map showing the movements of HMS Ark Royal, 1939-1941, (1942). Creator: Unknown
Map showing the movements of HMS Ark Royal, 1939-1941, (1942). Map of the Atlantic Ocean, western Europe and Africa, indicating journeys

The Ark is Launched on Merseyside, 13th April, 1937, (1942). Creator: Unknown
The Ark is Launched on Merseyside, 13th April, 1937, (1942). Her huge bows tower to her iron flight deck 800 feet long and 94 across

Desert Squadron - planes of the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War, c1943. The aircraft are Martlets...operating in the Western Desert with the Royal Air Force

Fleet Air Arm pilots, 1943. Creator: Unknown
Fleet Air Arm pilots, 1943. British pilots on board an aircraft carrier during the Second World War. The Fa is the section of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft

Titanine Aircraft Finishes, 1941. Creator: Unknown
Titanine Aircraft Finishes, 1941. Second World War advertisement for aircraft finishes made by Titanine Ltd of Colindale, London: Supplied for over 25 years

The Cierva Autogiro, 1941. Creator: Unknown
The Cierva Autogiro, 1941. The Cierva C.30 autogyro designed by Juan de la Cierva was built during the 1930s in Britain, France and Germany under licence from the Cierva Autogiro Company

Mule Train, 1947. Creator: Unknown
Mule Train, 1947. By Johnny Lange, Hy Heath, Fred Glickman, featuring Jimmy Miller and the Squadronaires, a band intended to raise morale and entertain the troops during World War II. [Chappell & Co

Winston Churchill talking to Captain Shakespeare of the flying boat Berwick, c1939-c1944 (1946)
Winston Churchill talking to Captain Shakespeare of the Boeing flying boat Berwick, c1939-c1944 (1946). Mr Churchill, in siren suit, talking to Captain Shakespeare

RAF Spitfire on the deck of an aircraft carrier on its way to Malta, World War II, 1942 (1944)
RAF Spitfire fighter on the deck of an aircraft carrier on its way to Malta, World War II, 1942 (1944). The Spitfires Come. From " The Air Battle of Malta"

The operations of Force Viper, Burma, World War II, 1942-1943 (1944). Creator: Unknown
The operations of Force Viper, Burma, World War II, 1942-1943 (1944). From " The Royal Marines - The Admiralty Account of Their Achievement 1939-43"

Captain Gilbert Rae, BOAC Mosquito pilot, World War II. c1939-c1944 (1946). Creator: Unknown
Captain Gilbert Rae, BOAC Mosquito pilot, World War II. c1939-c1944 (1946). Capt Gilbert Rae, BOAC Mosquito pilot, who later lost his life on the Stockholm run

Refuelling and re-arming Spitfire fighters, Malta, World War II, 1942 (1944). Creator: Unknown
Refuelling and re-arming Spitfire fighters, Malta, World War II, 1942 (1944). Each to his Station. - While the pilot waits, soldiers and airmen refuel and reammunition his Spitfire in its pen

British X-Craft midget submarine, World War II, 1945. Creator: Unknown
British X-Craft midget submarine, World War II, 1945. New Weapons. From " His Majestys Submarines". [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1945]

China meets Ceylon in London - Hsiao Ch ien and J. M. Tambimuttu, 1942 Creator: Unknown
China meets Ceylon in London - Hsiao Ch ien and J. M. Tambimuttu broadcasting in the Eastern Service, 1942. From " Calling All Nations", by T. O. Beachcroft

Omoba Adenrele Ademola, daughter of Alake of Abeokuta, Nigeria, calls West Africa, 1942
The Omoba Adenrele Ademola, daughter of the Alake of Abeokuta, Nigeria, calls West Africa, 1942. From " Calling All Nations", by T. O. Beachcroft

Physical Training at a Recruits Depot, c1943. Creator: Cecil Beaton
Physical Training at a Recruits Depot, c1943. The Womens Auxiliary Air Force (WaF), whose members were referred to as WaFs

British and Greek Ministers Confer in Athens, Christmas Day, 1944, (1945). Creator: Unknown
British and Greek Ministers Confer in Athens, Christmas Day, 1944, (1945). Anthony Eden, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and the Greek Regent

The Original War Cabinet, 1939, (1945). Creator: Unknown
The Original War Cabinet, 1939, (1945). British politicians at the start of the Second World War. Standing from left to right: Sir John Anderson, Lord Hankey, Leslie Hore-Belisha, Winston Churchill

The King and Queen with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE-Day, 8 May 1945

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"World War II: A Glimpse into the Triumphs and Struggles of a Global Conflict" St. Paul's Survives: Amidst the chaos, London's iconic cathedral stands tall as a symbol of resilience during World War II. Winston Churchill's V for Victory Sign, 1942: The indomitable leader inspires hope with his iconic hand gesture, rallying nations against tyranny. Red Army Soldiers Raise Soviet Flag over Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, April 30, 1945: A powerful image captured by Vladimir Grebnev marks the end of Nazi rule and victory for the Allies. USA B-17 Bomber Aircraft Cockpit in Salinas, California: The nerve center where brave pilots embarked on perilous missions to secure freedom from above. The Renown, Ark Royal, and Sheffield c1939-1941 (1942): Unknown creators immortalize these mighty warships that played crucial roles in naval battles across oceans. Lancaster Bomber with Spitfire Fighter Planes at Goodwood Revival 2011: An awe-inspiring sight showcasing aerial prowess and teamwork during wartime aviation operations. Westland Lysander 1941: This mysterious aircraft served valiantly behind enemy lines as part of covert operations throughout World War II. LMS Coach No. 6204 Converted to an Ambulance Train Car in 1939: Witnessing humanity amidst conflict as medical personnel transformed trains into lifelines for wounded soldiers. Runway Perspective (Eric Ravilious) - 1941 (1944): Artist Eric Ravilious captures the essence of airfields where bravery took flight and dreams soared towards victory. Bomb Disposal Unit in Action: Unsung heroes risked their lives daily to defuse deadly explosives left behind by enemy forces—a testament to courage under fire. The 8th Army Commander Bernard Law Montgomery, 1942.