Mark - a new member / and researcher

So thank you for your welcome and now here I am a retired History Teacher now able to spend time researching those areas of my own special interest, notably my Mother's two amazing husbands, one a wartime romance with an airman, that lasted only 16 days; the other with a man who was my father until his death in 2011.

1. P/O John Bicknell DFC, 226 Squadron flying Bostons including Operation Jubilee, Dieppe Raid in August 1942, and then with 2TAF and some missions flying with Percy Pickard from RAF Sculthorpe, and later at RAF Hunsdon with 21 Squadron where he met my mother, and then at RAF Gravesend and RAF Thorney Island. KIA 1944, obituary to be posted soon ( 75th anniversary last week of his untimely death, 10th July 1944).

What a buzz this must have been for a 21 year old with the DFC awarded by King George V1 at Buckingham Palace, on 23rd December 1943 from 21 Squadron ORB, at RAF Sculthorpe :
"Weather poor in the morning breaking up and turning fair but squally by midday. Crews were again briefed early and after a postponement of takeoff by one hour took off to attack construction works in Northern France. The force of which the squadron was a part comprised 41 Mosquitoes led by G/C Pickard with A/V/M Embry following."

2. Major Robert Surridge, 1st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, 4th Indian Division, British Eight Army, active service at Monte Cassino and afterwards in Greece, until demobilised in May 1946.

Looking forward to community membership and sharing knowledge and research.

 

Welcome Aboard!

 

G’day Mark, Welcome to the forum. Mark

 

Welcome to the forums!

 

Welcome aboard...

 

Greetings from Arizona

 

Welcome to the forums!

 

Welcome to the forum. Rich A. in Pa.

 

Hey Mark how's it going, do you have a particular. I still think it's interesting how the Japanese navy and air force keeps on living in Japanese shows. arms nova blue water an alien force manifestates as wwii war ships of all the major navies of the world destroying anything on the water or over cutting off all trade and communication. Then strike witches aliens attack in 1939 and years later the Akagi and other ships are still fighting years later. Star Blazers sorry Japan Yamato did not sink intact but is scattered all over the ocean floor. And shows where freedom fighters or fighters against evil flying old wwii Japanese fighters. Did you read about that historical excavation on makin island to try to find the missing 30 marines. They found 19 and returned the remains to the states for id analysis. Suppose to be trying to form another expedition to find the other11. Supposedly they believe at least ten were taken to a nearby island and executed. I think it's great so long after the war or wars and they still have organizations trying to bring lost soldiers home, like those two British bomber crews they found their planes and remains. Too bad they never found that p40 pilot and the one crew of that 24 they said it was amazing they found most of the crew.

 

Cheers and welcome Mark! Kph

 

Welcome Mark.