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Images relating to World War 2


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Members of the 'Mainwarinings Mob' re-enactment group who recreate a unit of the British Home Guard during WW2. Although too old to join regular units and some have argued of potentially limited value during an actual invasion, they were of great mor...
History at Murton - Murton Park, York, England. April 2008

This particular example was used by General Sir Brian Horrocks, one of the British commanders of XXX Corps during Operation Market Garden
Aldershot Military Museum, Hampshire, England, May 2007

A display of infantry weapons used during World War II. From the left the weapons areas follows: - The wooden stock sub-machine gun at the bottom is an elderly German Bergman MP18 dating back to WW1 (but used in WW2). - The pistol with lanyard ...
Taken at the York Castle Museum, York, England, 2003

This Marder III Ausf-H is run by the 21st Panzer Division re-enactment group ans is depicted in the desert colours of the Afrika Korps of 1943. It was armed with a 75mm PaK 40/3 anti-tank gun and a Czech 7.92 MG37 machine-gun in the front hull. The ...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

This image shows a German Panzergrenadier in traffic control, equiped with a Schmeisser MP-40 Submachine Gun and dressed in foul-weather uniform with his gas mask canister across his chest. He is a member of the 21st Panzer Division re-enactment grou...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

A depiction of a Red Cross aid post by members of the Joint War Organisation. The post is shown with nurse, tent and all necessary medical equipment and supplies.
History at Murton - Murton Park, York, England. April 2008

A memorial to more than 20,000 aircrew of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Air Forces who died in the second world war and who have no known grave. It takes the form of a quadrangle of cloisters, approached by a long drive leading to three arches...
Runnymede, near Windsor, Berkshire, UK. February 2005.

Alnwick, Northumberland, UK. August 2008

The beautiful, sweeping curve of the West Australian green granite wall at Hyde Park Corner has the 24,000 names of the home towns and villages of the Australian service personnel who fought in both world wars. By use of subtle highlighting of some l...
London, England. June, 2005

A collection of Naval Memorials positioned on the banks of the River Mersey at Georges Dock Pierhead in Liverpool. They commemorate the vital part the city and it's shipping played in the survival of the British during the Second World War. The firs...
Georges Dock, Liverpool. Feb 2005

The 40mm L/60 automatic anti-aircraft gun was designed in Sweden by Bofors in 1928. It became so successful it was simply known as a 'Bofors gun' and in various guises has been used by many armed forces up to the present. This particular example date...
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

The main LMG used by the British during World War 2, this is a Bren mark II from 1942.
The Museum of Manchester's Regiment, Ashton-under-Lyne, UK. March 2004

The 25lbr Mk II QF gun was the standard British divisional field gun from the 1940's up to the late 1960's. It could be used in both the close support and anti-tank roles. The large wheel-like disk mounted horizontally under the body of the carriage ...
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

These images show a 25 pounder gun with it's tractor, the Morris C8 Field Artillery Tractor (FAT) known as the Quad in WW2 colours. The Morris Quad was based on a pre-war 4x4 and continued inservice along with the 25lbr through the Second World War a...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

A medium cailbre artillery piece brought into service in 1941 (this one dates from 1942) was still being used in the 1970's. It could fire a 45.4 kg shell up to a range of 14,810 metres or more than 9.2 miles.
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

Two members of the Normandy Arnhem Society portraying officers of the 9th Airborne Field Company, Royal Engineers during Operation Market Garden - the paratroop attack on Arnhem in the Netherlands in 1944. They are pictured in front of their Willy's ...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

The Churchill was designed before the war and early, unreliable versions were rushed into service, proving disastrous. Between 1942 and 46 however they were improved and were used as heavy infantry support tanks in North Africa and Italy, then later ...
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

Re-enactors from the Victory in Europe Re-enactment Association (VERA) as a paratroop heavy weapons platoon in action in north-west Europe, 1944. They portray soldiers of the 1st Battallion, The Border Regt. And are demonstrating how a crew would adj...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

A monument erected to the 'Cavalry of the Empire', regiments commemorating those who fell from those regiments in both world wars. Features a triumphant St George, sword upraised over the vanquished dragon. The low wall behind the statue lists the re...
Hyde Park, London, England. June 2005

A monument dedicated the men of Cirencester who lost their lives in both the First and Second World Wars. It is particularly unusual in that the normal memorial cross is positioned next to the wall of the church which itself has the inscriptions of t...
Cirencester, England. Summer 2007

Clifton near York, UK. November 2008

Awaiting further details.
Midlands Aircraft Museum, Coventry Airport, Baginton,England. March '07 & March '08

Awaiting further details.
Midlands Aircraft Museum, Coventry Airport, Baginton,England. March '07 & March '08

The original control tower of the former RAF Bomber Command airfield at Elvington, near York. It has been restored to it's original condition as it would have been during World War 2 when this base was home to 77 Sqn of No. 4 Group RAF which flew Han...
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York, England. Easter 2003

" 1914-1919 - In honour of the men of Farsley who gave their lives in the Great War" Also includes the names and a dedication to those who fell 1939-1945.
Farsley, West Yorkshire. Nov 2018

A cheap and effective sub-machine gun issued to Allied special forces (as demonstrated here) during the Second World War. The Australian model had a vertical magazine rather than the usual horizontal configuration.
History at Murton 3 - Murton Park, York, England. April 2009

The premier, multi-purpose gun of the second world war, the German 88 was respected and feared wherever it was encountered. A high muzzle velocity, good accuracy and penetrating ammunition, as well as plentiful production meant that this AA gun could...
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

Various German artifacts from WW2 including an MG42 machine gun and infantry helmet.
The Regimental Museum of the Royal Dragoon Guards & The Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire. 2

This tank destroyer from 1943 was based on a Pzkpfw 5 Panther chassis and mounted a powerful 88mm anti-tank gun, the equal of almost all allied armour during the war. This particular example was knocked out in Belgium in 1944.
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

Used on all fronts throughout the second world war the 5cm pak38 was the mainstay of the German infantry's anti-tank artillery. Designed in 1940 it fired a 2.2kg armour-piercing shell up to 2,650m range.
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

A pair of vehicles maintained by the 21st Panzer Division re-enactment group. The first is a representation of a KS750 Zundapp Motorbike and side car mounting an MG 34 light machine gun in the sidecar. Zundapp produced around 18,000 of these agile, p...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

The Hurricane went into service with the RAF in 1937 and proved to be an excellent all-round fighter-interceptor, particularly in the Battle of Britain during which it claimed 80% of the RAF's kills. This replica Hurricane painted in the colours of '...
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York, England. Easter 2003

The Hurricane went into service with the RAF in 1937 and proved to be an excellent all-round fighter-interceptor, particularly in the Battle of Britain during which it claimed 80% of the RAF's kills. This replica Hurricane painted in the colours of '...
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York, England. Easter 2003

Hexham, Northumberland, UK. January 2009

This memorial is dedicated: "In memory of the five million volunteers from the Indian Sub-Continent, Africa and the Caribbean who fought with Britain in the two World Wars." It was inaugurated on 6 November 2002 by Her Majesty the Queen. The four p...
London, England. June, 2005

This halftrack produced during the war under the lend-lease agreement could carry 3 crew and a section of 10 infantrymen with a reasonable firepower. It has a .50 calibre machine gun on a ring mount above the crew compartment (unfortunately covered w...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

Lindesfarne Island, Northumberland, UK. August 2008

Developed during WW2 as a replacement for the out-gunned Stuart Light Tanks, it was designed ito carry a heavier 75mm gun to take on the German armour. Although it actually saw little service other than the the later stages of the war in NW Europe, i...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

This British version of an American tank was used in the North African desert campaigns of 1941 and fought at El Alamein. It was originally armed with a 75mm gun in the hull, and a 37mm gun in the turret which gave it a fighting chance against the Ge...
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

Between 1942 and 1946, 40,000 of these important tanks were built, pouring much-needed Allied armour into the push against the previously indestructable German Panzers. This one is in the colours of the British Guards Armoured Division and was armed ...
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

The monument on Tower Hill in London to the Merchant sailors from both World Wars who have no known grave.
London, England. June, 2005

The Morris 6x4 Tractor was brought into service in the 1930's to tow heavy field guns like the 25 pounder but was not as manouverable as the later Morris Quad which replaced it. Many CDSW's were left on the beaches at Dunkirk after the evacuation and...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

A memorial garden dedicated to these two battalions with strong Hexham connections.
Hexham, Northumberland, UK. January 2009

Two re-enactors of the 8./ Grenadier Regiment Grossdeutschland demonstrating an MG42 and its firing position with the no.2 feeding the belt ammunition int the breech.
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank weapon or PIAT for short was used by British forces during and after World War 2, particularly by paratroopers when no other anti-tank guns were available for example at Arnhem and Pegasus Bridge. It had to be loade...
North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, England. October 2004.

The monument to personnel of the Royal Navy from both world wars who have no known Grave. The Inscription across the base of the Obelisk reads : 1914 - 1918 1939 - 1945 ALL THESE WERE HONOURED IN THEIR GENERATIONS AND WERE THE GLO...
Southsea Common, Portsmouth, England. August 2007

A memorial in the station museum at Linton-on-Ouse to the squadrons and personnel who served there during the Second World War. The Royal Canadian Air Force ensign is included as the airfield was, during the war, home to RCAF units.
RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, England. May 2004.

These two hangars still used to house RAF Linton-on-Ouse's complement of Tucano T1 training aircraft are the original hangars built when the station first opened in May 1937 and are largely unchanged. Comfortably accomodating the Halifax and Whitley ...
RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, England. May 2004.

A shot of a pair of Russian soldiers taking a mess break in a village, with a guard post mounting a M1910 Maxim gun in the foreground.
History at Murton - Murton Park, York, England. April 2008

Widely thought the be the best tank of the war, the T34 was designed in 1939 but first appeared in battle in June 1941. By the end of the war 40,000 had been produced and it continued to serve in various armed forces from 1943 right up to 1985. This ...
Imperial War Museum, London, England. October 2003.

From right to left: The PPSh 41 sub-machine gun, 7.62mm pistol round, wooden stock and 71 round drum magazine. A Mosin Nagant 7.62 carbine. The SVT 40 semi-automatic assault rifle, 7.62 rifle calibre, 10 round magazine. Displayed by the 13...
History at Murton - Murton Park, York, England. April 2008

He is shown here, holding a PPS43 sub-machine gun while a Mosin Nagant sniper rifle with optical sights rests across his lap. Member of the 13th Guards re-enactment group.
History at Murton - Murton Park, York, England. April 2008

Aldershot Military Museum, Hampshire, England, May 2007

One of the finest combat aircraft in service during the second world war, the Spitfire entered service in June 1938. This replica is painted in the colours of 'R6690' of No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron and serves as a monument to that squadron. The or...
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York, England. Easter 2003

One of the finest combat aircraft in service during the second world war, the Spitfire entered service in June 1938. This replica is painted in the colours of 'R6690' of No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron and serves as a monument to that squadron. The or...
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, York, England. Easter 2003

Items commemorating the 2nd Battalion, Manchesters Rgt, and their actions in Burma 1944-45. They include a pair of Japanese Infantry officers' swords, a Japanese prayer flag, and British headgear used in the campaign. Also shown are rough wooden cros...
The Museum of Manchester's Regiment, Ashton-under-Lyne, UK. March 2004

This evocative memorial of a stylised maple leaf with water cascading down its polished face remembers the contribution of the Canadian soldiers in both world wars. It was designed by Pierre Granche and is in Green Park, London.
London, England. June, 2005

The symbolic 'empty tomb' in Whitehall, London which is the focus of Remembrance Day commemorations in the UK. It was designed in 1919 by Sir Edwin Lutyens in Portland Stone, and is surrounded by the flags of the Navy, Army, Air Force and Merchant Na...
Whitehall, London. June 2005

A re-enactor from the The Victory in Europe Reenactment Association (VERA) showing the uniform and weapon of the British Home Guard during World War 2. He is dressed in the traditional serge 37 pattern battledress with Field Service cap. In these pic...
The Wheels and Wings 2006 event, Yorkshire Air Museum, York, UK. May 2006.

War memorial dedicated to the fallen from Towlaw, Thornley, Sunniside, Hedley Hope, East Hedley Hope and Satley in County Durham.
Towlaw, County Durham, UK. January 2009

The main Medium MG used by the British Army from 1912 through to 1966. It was tripod-mounted, water-cooled and belt fed. It could fire up to 450 rounds of .303inch ammunition per minute at ranges of up to 4,500 yards (over 4 kilometres) and was famou...
The Museum of Manchester's Regiment, Ashton-under-Lyne, UK. March 2004

A memorial cross to those of the parish of Acomb, near York, who fought in both World Wars. The names of the fallen of the First World War are listed on panels around the octagonal plinth on which the cross stands. The names of those who fell in the ...
Acomb Green, near York, England. August 2005

An elegant celtic cross war memorial to "The Men of Looe" in Cornwall of both the 1914-18 and 1939-45 wars. Also dedicated "In grateful appreciation of the services of those who returned".
Looe, Cornwall, England. Summer 2007.

A member of the 22nd Independant Company, 6th Airborne Div. "Pathfinders" sent in to Normandy early on D-day to hold the eastern flank of the landings. Seen here with a selection of the equipment carried by the paratroopers.
History at Murton 3 - Murton Park, York, England. April 2009

Kit and equipment of the 13th Guards Russian re-enactment group
History at Murton 3 - Murton Park, York, England. April 2009

A member of the 13th Guards Russian re-enactment group
History at Murton 3 - Murton Park, York, England. April 2009

Kit and equipment of the 13th Guards Russian re-enactment group
History at Murton 3 - Murton Park, York, England. April 2009

A member of the 13th Guards Russian re-enactment group
History at Murton 3 - Murton Park, York, England. April 2009

A russian sniper of the second world war era cleaning his Mosin-Nagant sniper rifle in camp, surrounded by other items of kit. Member of the 13th Guards re-enactment group.
History at Murton - Murton Park, York, England. April 2008

Placed just inside the doorway of the central post office in York.
York, UK. March, 2009

A memorial to the men of the North Eastern Railway who gave their lives on both wars.
York, UK. November 2009.