• Sydney John Fletcher (RAF)

    My father, Syd, never talked that much about his wartime service with the RAF Regiment but occasionally reminisced about his mates, guard duties at the War Ministry in London, making friends with the mayor of a Belgian town, always the lighthearted side of wartime exploits.  13,811 total views

  • Nigel A. Kinnear (Red Cross)

    Prof Nigel A. Kinnear who died on July 19th was a man with many talents. He was a distinguished surgeon, a dedicated teacher who acted as a role model for a generation of young doctors and medical students, and a gifted sportsman who enjoyed life to the full with a sense of humour and a remarkable wit.  17,140 total views

  • AFPU OAKES Lawrie belsen

    Sgt Bill Lawrie (AFPU)

    The first AFPU team to arrive on April 15 consisted of Sergeants Mike Lewis and Bill Lawrie (film), and Sergeant Harry Oakes and Lieutenant Martyn Wilson (stills). They continued coverage until 26 April 1945, when another team took over.  8,710 total views

  • Iolo Lewis

    Iolo Lewis was part of the British 11th Armoured Division, which liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. Iolo wrote a poem based on his experience called ‘Belsen Silence’.  15,751 total views

  • Amy Russell QAIMNS

    A.R.R.C. London Gazette 21 June 1918. ‘Miss Amy Russell, Sister, Q.A.I.M.N.S.(R.), Mil. Hospl., Dover.’ R.R.C. London Gazette 18 February 1943. ‘Miss Amy Russell, A.R.R.C. (209113), Sister, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Leeds).’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 November 1945 (North West Europe). Medal group contains family medals, details at bottom of page Recommendation for the R.R.C. reads: ‘This lady has been attached to the Regular Nursing Service as a Reserve for almost unbroken service since the last war. Quiet, competent, and energetic, she has rendered expert and valuable service by her devotion to duty throughout her time in the General Hospitals of the Middle East. For the past six months…

  • James Learmonth Gowans: Medical Student

    Sir James Learmonth Gowans CBE FRS FRCP (7 May 1924 – 1 April 2020) was a British physician and immunologist. In 1945 while studying medicine at King’s College Hospital, he assisted at the liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as a voluntary medical student.  15,557 total views

  • The Heroes of Belsen

    The Heroes of Belsen “If you asked them to build a battleship overnight they’d produce it for you at breakfast!” Such are the expressions of praise made by Army authorities when referring to the magnificent work of relief done by officers and men of the 113th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA at Belsen Concentration Camp.  20,545 total views