Invasion of Italy 1943

Tales from a US Navy Ships Radio Operator

We were preparing for the landings in Sicily, the harbour was full of invasion craft and a certain young...

An Encounter with the Hangman

We were part of BTA. I was in charge of guarding the Semmering Pass, which was on the edge of the Russian...

Landing in Italy - Bay of Salerno

Jerry was trying to shell us, but the good old Navy was there; it was lovely to see them shelling Jerry...

Landing at Salerno - Villa Theresa

'A' Mess was based in the beautiful Villa Theresa, overlooking the bay of Naples... My father and...

Donald Delves' War, Part 10 : Postscript, Home & HMS Warspite "The Grand Old Lady"

On 23rd April 1947, my friend HMS Warspite "The Grand Old Lady" broke her tow and came ashore at...

Salerno Landings

I was called into the Army in 1940 and after training at Folkestone Barracks in the Durham Light Infantry,...

Serving in the RAF S Commando 1942-46

The requirement was basically for skilled technical personnel, mainly from fighter command, who would be...

The Letters of Harmon Buckley: Part 1- About Harmon Buckley

My grandfather, Harmon Leon Buckley, was born in Holdenville, Hughes County, Oklahoma on July 1, 1921......

Transporting Petrol

Just before the Salerno landings in Italy we acquired petrol tankers which were put onto the landing craft...

Watch It Jack!

I was about 20 in the crew of the Royal Navy. One of my mates said to me 'I wouldn't do that...

A Moving Experience

When I landed at Salerno, I had to drive through tomatoes growing on the ground and grapevines overhead. A...

Black Monday

Black Monday...

My Father - James Henry Friend: Memories of the Navy - Chapter 3

'The HMS Warsprite being towed from Salerno to Malta, after being put out of action by enemy bombs....