I was born in 1944 when my father was away in the army. He died some years ago at the age of 64. Apart from my imagined memories of the war and what I gleaned (or chose to believe)of his experience and which I have posted in the form of A POEM CALLED 'MY FATHER's WAR'as my story. I have a large quantity of memorabilia which I have listed below:
The following is a list cataloguing the collection of items relating to Trooper Eric Summers’ war experience in the 26th Armoured Division of the 6th Army. Most of the material is from the Italian campaign which ended at Udine in May 1945.
Khaki Letter case belonging to
7912285 Summers, E Tpr.
H.Q. Squadron
26th Armoured B’gde
6th British Arm’d Div. and containing
Identity disk
RAC hat badge
Postcards: mainly scenes of Naples including Vesuvius:
several of Rome
two of Cesena dated March 1945
In a box:
Soldier’s service and pay book + details of leave etc.
Folded photo case with pictures of wife and daughter
Soldier’s release book (1st March 1946 Barnet, Herts)
Three cloth badges with clenched male fist
Photo souvenir books of Venice, Assisi and Florence
Concertina of souvenir pictures of Repubblica di S Marino dated March 1945
A Soldier’s Guide to Venice leaflet
Leaflet on Florence and Bologna issued by Education HQ 8th Army
Vere Fotografia of Florence and Venice Lido
Photo album of Austrian alpine landscapes (probably originally belonging to
someone else)
Photo portrait of Trooper Summers in uniform
One red armband with gold swastika, short sword and wreath of oak leaves
One green and white armband with swastika, shield and words:’STEIRISCHER HEIMATBUND’
Three race cards for meetings: 6th British Armoured Division’s 3rd Race meeting in Austria 4th August 1945
6th British Armoured Division’s 5th Race meeting in Austria, 1st September, 1945
Aiello 1st Autumn Meeting 20th Oct 1945
Aiello 2nd Autumn Meeting 29th Sept 1945
Greetings Card and envelope for Christmas 1944 from his foster parents
Patriotic Christmas card from his wife, amended by him to record his total war service
Various airgraphs to and from Tpr Summers and his family, and from his employers,
Original airgraph form showing Hitler gripped by a 26th armoured brigade armoured hand, with explanation of airgraph process on reverse
Menu and guest list for H.Q. SQD. Fare Well Dinner 31st Oct 1945 Aiello + 14 signatures on reverse, all but one in pencil
8th Army Service of Thanksgiving +flags of associated brigades and divisions etc. identified by Trpr Summers
Propaganda leaflets — German? ‘What the hell is this all about?’
booklet of poems: ‘ I want to go home’
‘The PoW will safely return/ the dead will never return!’
‘Tough going soldier, take a laxative……’
‘Where will Russia stop?’
London and V1
Churchill loots India — aimed at Indian troops
Messages from Army Commanders:
Personal message from Lt General Oliver Leese Aug 1944 (marked on back ‘Keep this in a safe place; only a few of us were lucky enough to get one’)
Farewell message from Lt General Oliver Leese 1st Oct 1944
Special message to all ranks 5 Corps from R.L McCreery GOC 8th Army
Special Order of the Day by Major Gen. H Murray DSO commanding 6th British Army Division, Udine 5th May 1945 ‘The campaign in Italy is over.’
Book of cartoons published by British Army Newspaper Unit sold at 20 Lire with a number of additional cut out cartoons
Booklet ‘Finito the Po Valley Campaign’ published 1945 by US 15thArmy Group
A programme of musical comedy ‘Pardon Me’ produced by US Army Special Service, Florence 1944
Greetings card in Italian from friends in Florence 194[5]?
Italian business card + various annotations including Co-op number and route from Udine to Calais
Record of Service card
An envelope containing miscellaneous army release documents, including three medal ribbons
Booklet: ‘Release and resettlement’
Various photos of Trpr Summers
Various newspaper cuttings recording the progress 6th Armoured Division
Did anyone, know my father?
Let me know if you have a similar collection.
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