Any info on where i can find info about what it was like for soldiers from enlgand during world war 2?

Question

Please i would love it if you could give me links or book names! i really need this information!

Answer 1

You could go to the Imperial War Museums site, or get one of the 'Forgotten Voices' books by Max Arthur.

If you go to the forgotten voices web site there is a link to the Your Voice history forum with lots of first hand stories there.

Simon Garfield's books based on the diaries kept by people during the Second World War - Our Hidden Lives, We are at War and Private Battles illustrates the home front during WWII.

You could also look at books by Sir Max Hastings 'Warriors'  for instance.

Also look at Enemy Coast Ahead by Guy Gibson (of the d**n busters fame), or Reach for the sky by  Douglas Bahder.

Look at 'Pegasus bridge' about the glider troops who were the first allied soldiers in France on the D-Day landings (landing several hours before anyone else!!).

Hope this is helpful

Also try this sight - britishsoldierww2.bravehost.com/index.ht...

Answer 2

You don't say what type of information you are after.

British soldiers served in North Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia. There are other areas I have probably left out.

http://london.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav...

Answer 3

On top of some other good suggestions try ‘Quartered Safe Out Here’ by George MacDonald Fraser for a description of life in Burma with the ‘Forgotten Army’.

Answer 4

I agree with the first answer, but with one cautionary note.

In WW2 it took about eight soldiers to support one in the front line so if you pick any individual soldier, he is much more likely to have been transporting artillery shells, building roads, cooking food, servicing vehicles, storekeeping, etc.

...than manning a foxhole or a tank as a principle occupation.

Even near the front-line:

"Echelons. Reference is made to F, A and B Echelon. The transport for a battalion is divided into these groups. F Echelon vehicles are the fighting vehicles which go into battle as part of the action; for example command vehicles, armoured troop carries and anti-tank guns. A Echelon vehicles have the immediate needs of the battalion after the battle such as rations, extra ammunition, packs and cooking equipment. B Echelon in further back and has the longer term stores and workshops."

...there are few popular accounts even of A Echelon service.

Hard work, short rations, a risk of air raids, fatigue, boredom and disease...  Little glamour to attract a film-maker or a book-publisher.

I'm not sure either of these two fired a shot in anger during the whole war: but they did their duty.