Search results for ""Imperial War Museum""

In the summer of 1940, the Battle of Britain rages in the skies over southern England. Nineteen-year-old Pilot Officer Peter Stuyckes arrives at RAF Westhill and is immediately put to the test. Based on the author's own service as an RAF Flight Engineer,Squadron Airborne takes place over one unforgettable week that summer, depicting with intensity and brilliance the work of the many ground-crew and other staff as they support the Few in their fight against the Luftwaffe. The novel is published to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in September 2020.

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He stared desperately into the dark trying to force his eyes to see, so that they ached more than ever . . . He sensed that the eyes of men were drilling into the back of his neck, so that it felt prickly. Being lost when you are the leader is the worst thing of all. He hated them because he was lost . . . Rage and despair were welling up inside him . . . 1943, the North African desert. Major Tim Sheldon, an exhausted and battle-weary infantry officer, is asked to carry out a futile and unexpected patrol mission. He'd been on many patrols, but this was to be the longest and most dangerous of all. Fred Majdalany's superb novel of the men who fought in the North African campaign puts this so-called minor mission at center stage, as over the course of the day and during the patrol itself, Sheldon looks back on his time as a soldier, considers his future, and contemplates the meaning of fear.

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More than 170,000 British prisoners of war (POWs) were taken by German and Italian forces during the Second World War. Conditions were tough. Rations were meagre. The days dragged and there was a constant battle against boredom. The men, but not officers, had to work, often at heavy labour. Guests of the Third Reich will provide an overview of what daily life was like for prisoners, from staging theatre productions to keep morale up to working allotments and planning audacious escape attempts. Utilising IWM’s collections of letters, diaries, memoirs and sound interviews, this gripping, poignant narrative conveys the story of those in captivity in Germany during the Second World War in a personal and engaging way. Also featured are a selection of photographs from the IWM archive, giving a rare glimpse inside these infamous internment camps.

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Showcasing IWM's extensive collection, this book includes works from the major artists of the time such as John and Paul Nash, Orpen, Spencer and Singer Sargent as well as other artists who are less familiar to us today. With an introductory essay by the late Roger Tolson, former Head of Art at Imperial War Museums, this book offers an insight into the huge range and power of wartime art during the First World War.

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IWM's exceptional collection is one of the most important representations of twentieth century British art in the world, comprising many great works from the British government war art schemes of the First and Second World Wars. However less widely known is IWM's contemporary art collection, as today the museum continues to commission artists such as Steve McQueen,Roderick Buchanan and Langlands & Bell. Art from Contemporary Conflict provides an introduction to this remarkable collection, showcasing a range of powerful works responding to the changing nature of contemporary warfare and conflicts including Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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A delightful reminder of the techniques for household economies extolled by the wartime government. First published in 1943, all of the tips can be used to spruce up your wardrobe today. Old fashioned remedies for everything from washing silks and mending your clothes, to repelling the ‘moth menace’!

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This gift book is collection of delightful and unusual recipes from the Second World War. Taken from the archives of IWM, the recipes show the ingenuity and creativity behind dishes rustled up out of meagre rations - from austerity recipes such as scrap bread pudding, potato pastry and sheep's heart pie to hearty English favourites including Lancashire hot pot, Queen's Pudding and crumpets. With colour images of wartime posters throughout and an introduction by an IWM historian, it is a fascinating look into what people ate in wartime.

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Autumn 1943. Realising that his feelings fro his sweetheart are not reciprocated, Major John Overton accepts a posting behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Albania. As he struggles to complete his mission amidst a chaotic backdrop, Overton is left to ruminate on loyalty, comradeship and the futility of war.

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This anthology provides a new approach, focusing on the best poems by the poets who were actually on the front line. It includes the most famous poets - Owen, Sassoon, Brooke - in greater than usual depth, plus rising stars such as Gurney and Blunden.

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Since the first show in 1973, IWM Duxford's air shows have established a reputation as the world's finest celebration of aviation history and culture. Every year, tens of thousands come to Duxford's iconic shows to see legendary aircraft from around the world take to the skies. Decade by decade, 50 Years of Duxford Air Shows charts the key aviation highlights of the past 50 years through a rich array of vintage photographs and archival material from the original programmes. Fabulous shots of the air shows are complemented by interviews and anecdotes from the partners and individuals, including Ted Inman, the Duxford Aviation Society and John Romain, who restored popular flight to Duxford's historic airfield. Each chapter showcases the event's vibrant history and traces its evolution across five decades. From the rare Spitfires of '75 to the arrival of Concorde and the dawn of Flying Legends, this pictorial celebration recalls Duxford's golden moments.

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Mr Bunting at War sheds a light on the wartime experiences of the quiet ‘everyman’ and his family on the British Home Front, during the Battle of Britain and beyond.

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IWM holds approximately 11 million photographs in its archives, covering the causes, course and consequences of modern conflict from the First World War to the present day. Animals in Wartime highlights 50 images from this vast collection and illustrates the many and varied ways that animals have played their part in wartime over the past century. Vital in moving supplies, sending messages and in many cases for the morale boost they gave, animals have often been subject to the same dangers faced by their owners during conflict. This unique selection of images depicts incredible animal bravery and features some of the most heart-warming stories found within IWM’s photograph archive.

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Enjoy amazing facts, stories and fun activities! Find out the answers to a whole host of things, including: • What happened to Tirpitz the pig? • Who was drawing pictures during the Falklands War? • Why did Alfie Knight write to Lord Kitchener? • Where would you find an Anderson shelter? • Who would wear a demob suit? • Whose helmet saved his life in Iraq in 2004? • What sort of dog was Wolf? • How do you avoid the Woolly Bear?!

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Thirty new and classic cocktail recipes inspired by the colorful and controversial Winston Churchill. This charming book from the Imperial War Museums features dozens of cocktail recipes, each accompanied by detailed instructions, an ingredients list, and a short description of how the drink is inspired by British former head of state Winston Churchill. Photographs of the cocktails at Churchill War Rooms or the Churchill Bar accompany each recipe, and archival images of Churchill himself, drawn from the Imperial War Museums collection, tie the volume together. Published in association with the Churchill Bar at the Hyatt Regency Churchill in London, this is the ideal gift for anyone who likes a glass of something strong mixed with a splash of history.

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Reproductions of one hundred rare, full-color images from the archives of the Imperial War Museums bring new life to World War II Britain Britain at War in Colour showcases one hundred of the best rare and original color images from the Imperial War Museums' unparalleled collection. Bringing together the most striking photographs from Ian Carter's bestselling War in the Air and The Second World War in Colour, alongside new and never-before-published images, this powerful visual collection shows us a new-or at least long-forgotten-World War II.

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A new edition of Cecil Lewis’s 1944 aviation classic. Over the course of a single night in 1942, the crew members of a Wellington bomber reflect on the paths of their own lives as they embark on a fateful mission deep in the heart of Nazi Germany. Based on his own experience as a World War I fighter ace, Cecil Lewis’s stunning novel examines the life of each man, rendering a moving account of each as not merely a nameless crew member, but as an individual with a life lived: “A life precious to some, or one. . . . These men with dreams and hopes and plans of things to come.” This new edition of the 1944 classic includes a new introduction from an Imperial War Museums historian that puts the novel in historical context and shines a light on this vital and sometimes contested aspect of Britain’s involvement in World War II.

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London, 1942. Flight-Lieutenant David Heron, home in London on convalescent leave, awakes to the news that a murder victim has been discovered in the garden of his boarding house. With a week until his service resumes, David Sets out to solve the murder. Drawn into a world of mystery and double dealing, can he solve the mystery before his return to the skies?

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Allied victory in the Second World War owed much to air power. The success of military and naval operations invariably hinged on control of the skies, and the rise to dominance of the Allied air forces meant that the Nazi war machine was effectively doomed. Following the success of The Second World War in Colour, this book presents a further selection of original colour photographs from the IWM collection, focusing on Allied aircraft and airmen. Alongside these striking images, War in the Air examines how crucial aviation was to winning the war, from the defence of Britain’s skies and maritime trade, to battlefield support in North Africa and Europe and the strategic bombing offensive over Germany. Shot from the ground and from the air, these powerful images bring a vital aspect of the Second World War to life.

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IWM holds one of the most significant collections of British art anywhere in the world - a collection whose artists and artworks have uniquely shaped our understanding of war. Visions of War charts the manifold engagement between artists, art movements and a century-plus of conflict since 1914. Its richly illustrated pages uncover the intricate and changing history of IWM's art collection, from its inception during the First World War to its consideration of the causes, course and consequences of conflict today. It illuminates some of the museums's most powerful stories, from the provocative, heartfelt statement of William Orpen's To the Unknown British Soldier in France to the frontline challenges for contemporary war artists, including Steve McQueen. This book brings together iconic and previously unseen works to tell the authoritative story of modern war art. Artists featured include Paul Nash, C R W Nevinson, David Bomberg, Anna Airy, John Singer Sargent, Walter Sickert, Wyndham Lewis, Eric Ravilious, Laura Knight, Henry Moore, Evelyn Dunbar, Linda Kitson, Peter Kennard, Gilbert & George, Colin Self, William Crozier and Rosalind Nashashibi.

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This magnificent volume, now in a smaller paperback format, gives you exclusive access to behind the glass partition at Churchill War Rooms, bringing you closer than ever before to where Churchill not only ran the war - but won it. Go behind closed doors to sit at Churchill's desk, open long-abandoned drawers and sift through seventy-year old papers. See the anxious scratches on the arms of Sir Winston's chair, pick up the phone that he used to speak to the president of the United States, and examine the map that loomed over his bed as he took his famous afternoon naps. These are sights you can't experience on a tour of Churchill War Rooms; they are views that few people in the world have ever seen. But now you can walk where Churchill walked, and see what Churchill saw. Now you can discover the Secrets of Churchill's War Rooms.

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This magnificent new volume gives you exclusive access to the Churchill War Rooms, bringing you closer than ever before to where Churchill not only ran the war - but won it.

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As we mark the centenary of the end of World War One, this astonishing book collects over five hundred remarkable photographs and rarely seen material of the war from the Imperial War Museum archivesThe Great War was the first conflict to be documented in photographs. In The Great War: A Photographic Narrative, we follow the events of the war through extraordinary photographs, from the opening photograph of the gun that fired the first shot of the war to the final photograph of an audio recording showing the arrival of silence on 11th November 1918. Imperial War Museum houses one of the greatest photographic archives of conflict in the world. This unique book is divided into five sections, each prefaced with a detailed chronology of events and a historical summary, together with detailed captions for every picture.NOTE: Few pages are intentionally left blank.‘I have never seen or read anything that brings the First World War quite so vividly alive.’ Guardian

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Find out what life was like for the children growing up during World War II. With photographs straight from the archives of the Imperial War Museum, Jillian Powell looks at rationing, schooling and evacuation and how the daily lives of children were affected by the war. Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping struggling pupils not only to read, but to love reading Dual-banded books provide age-appropriate interest level material matched with a lower reading ability level Every book is levelled by reading expert Cliff Moon to ensure precise, systematic, measurable progression to help close the ability gap The books use a range of reading strategies: phonic, graphic, syntactic and contextual to build confident, accurate, fluent readers Designed to build speaking and listening skills, as well as reading skills, the books are highly visual and include incredible illustrations and photographs Every book has a Key Stage 2 look-and-feel to engage older pupils and avoid stigmatisation Topics are relevant for children in years 3-6 and connected to the curriculum and framework objectives for these years to support inclusion Progress titles contain a Reader Response page to encourage the pupil to respond to and recall what they have read. This offers an ideal opportunity to check comprehension Ideas for Reading, written by primary literacy expert Gill Howell are included in the back of every book to help you support the reading needs of each child This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader

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From pigeons and elephants to parachuting dogs – millions of animals helped in both world wars. This non-fiction book, with fascinating photographs from the archives of the Imperial War Museum, focuses on the animals that were involved and their bravery in the face of battle. Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping struggling pupils not only to read, but to love reading Dual-banded books provide age-appropriate interest level material matched with a lower reading ability level Every book is levelled by reading expert Cliff Moon to ensure precise, systematic, measurable progression to help close the ability gap The books use a range of reading strategies: phonic, graphic, syntactic and contextual to build confident, accurate, fluent readers Designed to build speaking and listening skills, as well as reading skills, the books are highly visual and include incredible illustrations and photographs Every book has a Key Stage 2 look-and-feel to engage older pupils and avoid stigmatisation Topics are relevant for children in years 3-6 and connected to the curriculum and framework objectives for these years to support inclusion Progress titles contain a Reader Response page to encourage the pupil to respond to and recall what they have read. This offers an ideal opportunity to check comprehension Ideas for Reading, written by primary literacy expert Gill Howell are included in the back of every book to help you support the reading needs of each child This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader

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'It wasn't until after he was safely back in the aircraft again that I heard that he'd actually been out on the wing to try to put the fire out ... Remember that we were flying at about 90 miles an hour at a height of 13,000 feet'Squadron Leader RP Widdowson on Sergeant James Ward, who earned his VC in 1941 The Victoria Cross, awarded to the most courageous and determined servicemen, is the highest military decoration that can be bestowed.In Forgotten Voices: Victoria Cross, first-hand accounts of soldiers, sailors and airmen describe the incredible events that earned these extraordinary men the VC in the last century.Captivating and often humbling, these stories depict exceptional acts of bravery in unimaginable situations, of men who would say they were just doing their duty.Introduction by General Sir Richard Dannatt.

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In 1940 Britain was an island under siege. The march of the Nazi war machine had been unrelenting: France and Belgium had quickly fallen and now the British Empire and the Commonwealth stood alone to counter the grave threat. However, their fate would not be decided by armies of millions but by a small band of fighter pilots. It was on their shoulders that Britain’s best chance of survival rested. Above the villages and cities, playing fields and market towns, the skies of southern England were the scene of countless dogfights as the fledgling Fighter Command duelled daily against the might of the Luftwaffe. The Battle of Britain offers an in-depth assessment of the situation leading up to the summer of 1940, the strategies employed by the adversaries and the brutal aerial battle itself. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, contemporary art and posters, and accompanied by numerous first-hand accounts, this is a volume that captures the reality of a defining chapter in British history.

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Follow the conflict of the Second World War from 1939 to 1945 in this unique volume, published in association with Imperial War Museums, London, featuring historical maps and photographs from their archives, and fascinating commentary from an expert historian. Over 150 maps tell the story of how this global war was fought. Types of maps featured:• Strategic maps showing theatres of war, frontiers and occupied territories• Maps covering key battles and offensives on major fronts• Planning and operations maps showing defences in detail• Propaganda and educational maps for the armed forces and general public• Maps showing dispositions of Allied and enemy forces• Bomber and V-weapon target maps Descriptions of key historical events accompany the maps, giving an illustrated history of the war from an expert historian. Key topics covered include• 1939: Invasion of Poland• 1940: German invasion of Low Countries & France• 1940: Battle of Britain & German invasion threat• Dec 1941: Pearl Harbor• 1942: Turning points: Midway, Alamein, Stalingrad• 1941-45: Barbarossa and the Eastern Front• The War at Sea• The advances to Jerusalem, Damascus and Baghdad• The War in the Air• 1944: Neptune & Overlord; D-Day & liberation of France

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A clear and informative account of how the Second World War began, the infamous battles and the conclusion and aftermath of the war. Illustrated with maps, evocative archive photographs and illustrations. Includes descriptions of the most famous events including Pearl Harbor, Battle of Midway, D-Day and the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Part of series three of the Usborne Reading Programme for children whose reading ability and confidence allows them to tackle longer and more complex information. Produced in association with the Imperial War Museum, London.

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During the Second World War, bomber planes were used in combat. With photographs straight from the archives of the Imperial War Museum, discover what it was like to be a bomber pilot in preparation for a dangerous but important mission. Collins Big Cat Progress books are specifically designed for children at Key Stage 2 who have a Key Stage 1 reading level, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading. Text type: A non-fiction report Curriculum links: History This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

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It’s 1941 and you are a secret agent for Great Britain. Find out what training and skills you need to ensure you achieve your mission and return home safely. This instruction book was written by Jillian Powell, with photos straight from the archives of the Imperial War Museum. Collins Big Cat Progress books are specifically designed for children at Key Stage 2 who have a Key Stage 1 reading level, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading. Text type: A non-fiction report Curriculum links: History

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This fascinating information book, written in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum, explores how and why artists created images of the First World War. Covering everything from recruitment posters and camouflage art to poignant sketches by artist-soldiers, this book will encourage children to both appreciate and interrogate artwork. Collins Big Cat Progress books are specifically designed for children at Key Stage 2 who have a Key Stage 1 reading level, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading. Text type: An information book Curriculum links:

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Poems from the Second World War is a moving and powerful collection of poems written by soldiers, nurses, mothers, sweethearts and family and friends who experienced WWII from different standpoints.The Imperial War Museum was founded in 1917 to collect and display material relating to the 'Great War', which was still being fought. Today IWM is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present. They seek to provide for, and to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and wartime experience.

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This non-fiction book explores what it was like to live through the First World War, from life in the trenches and the weapons used on the battlefield, to the war effort at home and the role that children played. This title has been written in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum and includes fascinating photographs from their archives. Collins Big Cat Progress books are specifically designed for children at Key Stage 2 who have a Key Stage 1 reading level, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading. Text type: A non-fiction recount Curriculum links:

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Following the success of Forgotten Voices of the Great War, Lyn Smith visits the oral accounts preserved in the Imperial War Museum Sound Archive, to reveal the sheer complexity and horror of one of human history's darkest hours. The great majority of Holocaust survivors suffered considerable physical and psychological wounds, yet even in this dark time of human history, tales of faith, love and courage can be found. As well as revealing the story of the Holocaust as directly experienced by victims, these testimonies also illustrate how, even enduring the most harsh conditions, degrading treatment and suffering massive family losses, hope, the will to survive, and the human spirit still shine through.

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Using official records from the National Archives personal accounts from the Imperial War Museum and other sources, Coastal Convoys 1939 - 1945: The Indestructible Highway describes Britain's dependence on coastal shipping and the introduction of the convoy system in coastal waters at the outset of the war. It beings to life the hazards of the German mining offensive of 1939, the desperate battles fought in coastal waters during 1940 and 1941, and the long struggle against German air and naval forces which lasted to the end of the Second World War. Reference is also made to the important role played by coasters during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 and the Normandy landings in 1944.

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Erlund Hudson's etchings, sketches and watercolours are nearly always concerned with women at work or at rest, in wartime, domestic or ballet scenes. After a mere 20 years as a professional artist Hudson abandoned painting and became involved in the world of ballet, working as artistic director at the Brooking School of Ballet with Nesta Brooking, her companion of almost 50 years. Although Hudson's output as an artist was relatively small, its significance is shown in that her work can now be found in important collections in Great Britain and North America, including the Imperial War Museum. In this first biography of Eleanor Erlund Hudson (1912-2011) Simon Fenwick creates a moving and informative portrait of the woman and the artist during her long life. The fully illustrated monograph also includes a list of her pictures shown by exhibiting societies during her lifetime.

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The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was one of the most innovative British creations of the Second World War. Its mission was to export resistance, subversion and sabotage to occupied Europe and beyond, disrupting the German war effort and building a Secret Army which would work in the shadows to help defeat the Nazis. Potential agents were put through intensive paramilitary and parachute training, then taught how to live clandestinely behind enemy lines, to operate radios and write in secret codes. They lived in constant fear of arrest, and of betrayal by treacherous collaborators. This book uses rare images from the collections of The National Archives and the Imperial War Museum to illustrate the lives of the men and women who made up the SOE, their rigorous training, the clever gadgets they used and their lives behind enemy lines.

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Outposts / Kandahar Province presents Donovan Wylie’s photographs of Forward Operating Bases constructed in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. From 2006 to 2011, Canada sent nearly 3,000 military personnel to Afghanistan in support of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. Serving alongside infantry and artillery, military engineers designed a network of outposts throughout the province. Built on natural promontories with multiple lines of sight, these outposts formed a protective visual architecture. They were frequently positioned on defensive locations established during earlier conflicts and represent reincarnations of past histories under new powers. The resulting images are the latest phase in Wylie’s interrogation of the architecture of modern conflict. The work was made on behalf of the Imperial War Museum in London and with generous support from the Bradford Fellowship in Photography.

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Poems from the First World War is a moving and powerful collection of poems written by soldiers, nurses, mothers, sweethearts and family and friends who experienced WWI from different standpoints. It records the early excitement and patriotism, the bravery, friendship and loyalty of the soldiers, and the heartbreak, disillusionment and regret as the war went on to damage a generation. It includes poems from Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, Vera Brittain, Eleanor Farjeon, Edward Thomas, Laurence Binyon, John McCrae, Siegfried Sassoon and many more. The Imperial War Museum was founded in 1917 to collect and display material relating to the ‘Great War’, which was still being fought. Today IWM is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present. They seek to provide for, and to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and wartime experience.

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Winner of the Military History Matters Book of the Year Award 2019 By August 1918, the outcome of the Great War was not in doubt: the Allies would win. But what was unclear was how this defeat would play out - would the Germans hold on, prolonging the fighting deep into 1919, with the loss of hundreds of thousands more young lives, or could the war be won in 1918? In The Last Battle, Peter Hart, author of Gallipoli and The Great War, and oral historian at the Imperial War Museum, brings to life the dramatic final weeks of the war, as men fought to secure victory, with survival seemingly only days, or hours away. Drawing on the experience of both generals and ordinary soldiers, and dwelling with equal weight on strategy, tactics and individual experience, this is a powerful and detailed account of history's greatest endgame.

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Why did the Second World War start? Who had the best weapons? Why were there no bananas? What was Shanks's pony? Why was food rationed? Could you still buy sweets? Why were spies important? Why should you keep ‘mum’? Why did it go on so long? How did it end? Find out the answers to these and a lot of other exciting questions in this brilliantly informative book which will tell you everything you ever needed to know about World War II. The Imperial War Museum was founded in 1917 to collect and display material relating to the ‘Great War’, which was still being fought. Today IWM is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present. They seek to provide for, and to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and wartime experience.

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The outbreak of war in 1914 was greeted with euphoria by many in Europe, and it was widely believed that the conflict would be ‘over by Christmas’. In the event, millions of men were destined to spend the first of four seasons away from their families and loved ones. Amid the shortages, tedium and dangers of life in the trenches, those at ‘the sharp end’ remained determined to celebrate Christmas as a time of comradeship and community, a time when war could be set aside, if only for a day. Unlike the famous Christmas truce of 1914, the Christmas experiences in other years of the war and on other fronts have received scant attention. Alan Wakefield has trawled the archives of the Imperial War Museum, National Archives and National Army Museum to provide a fascinating selection of first-hand accounts of the six wartime Christmases of the First World War.

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Johnny Henderson spent four years during the Second World War as aide-de-camp to one of Britain's most famous soldiers of the twentieth century, General Bernard Montgomery or Monty', as he was popularly known. Shortly before he died in 2003, Henderson wrote about his time with Monty at Tac HQ. In Watching Monty, his account takes the form of a series of insightful anecdotes and brief pen sketches that give a fascinating and often humorous window on life with Monty and those with whom he worked, or came into contact, during the war years. These people range from King George VI, Winston Churchill and Sir Alan Brooke to Eisenhower and the German surrender delegation on Lüneburg Heath.Drawing on his own private photograph albums and the photographic collections of the Imperial War Museum, Johnny Henderson relates his time as Monty's ADC, from the Western Desert to Berlin, in the form of a photographic anecdotal scrap book. His pithy observations of life at Tac H

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The biography of remarkable SAS Original Reg Seekings, from his humble beginnings in the Cambridgeshire Fens to his instrumental role in the success of the SAS during the Second World War. Starting at the very bottom of the ranks, Seekings was a farm labourer’s son who climbed from private to squadron sergeant-major and became one of the British Army’s most highly decorated non-commissioned officers of the Second World War. In short, Seekings was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things. His is a remarkable story - one of fierce ambition, camaraderie, inner strength and heroism as he transcended humble beginnings in the Fen fields of Cambridgeshire. And he was there from the very first day of the SAS, which was born in the late summer of 1941. Using audio material from the Imperial War Museum and previously unseen material from Reg’s collection of notebooks and handwritten accounts of operations, this is a comprehe

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A heart-lifting, heartbreaking story by Michael Morpurgo, the second-biggest children’s author in the UK. In the Imperial War Museum is a wooden Dachshund, carved by a German prisoner of war for the children of the British family with which he stayed after the fighting ended. This is the story of how it got there… When the Bismarck sinks, one of the only German survivors is taken on board a British ship as a prisoner of war. Sent to live with a host family, Walter must adapt to a new way of life, in the heart of an enemy country. Gradually, though, he finds a friend in ten-year-old Grace. So when the time finally comes to go back to Germany, it’s an emotional parting, with Walter leaving Grace with only a carved wooden dog to remember him by. The question is, will Walter and Grace ever meet again? In 1966, with the World Cup coming to Britain, that opportunity may just have come along.

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A unique guide to this famous warship, collating authentic period sources including design notes and information for sailors to provide a unique guide to this famous warship. A familiar sight on the Thames at London Bridge, HMS Belfast is a Royal Navy light cruiser, launched in March 1938. Belfast was part of the British naval blockade against Germany and from November 1942 escorted Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union and assisted in the destruction of the German warship Scharnhorst. In June 1944 Belfast supported the Normandy landings and in 1945 was redeployed to the British Pacific Fleet. After the war she saw action in the Korean War and a number of other overseas actions. She has been part of the Imperial War Museum since 1978, with 250,000 visitors annually. This fascinating book comprises a series of documents that give information on the building of the ship, her wartime service history and life on board in a handy pocket-sized format, ideal as a gift.

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