大象传媒

Updated:1/2/2006

The time is now 07:50 and to my surprise I am still able to edit this article!
I wonder if a 'reprieve' has been granted.

SECTION 1 ALTERNATIVE SITES AFTER TODAY
SECTION 2 MY PERSONAL DETAILS
SECTION 3 ARMY CAREER from 1942 to 1947
SECTION 4 MY POSTINGS LISTED CHRONOLOGICALLY
SECTION 5 AN INDEX OF IMAGES
SECTION 6 LINKS TO 'FRIENDS' ON THIS SITE
SECTION 7 HOW TO CONTACT ME

SECTION 1 ALTERNATIVE SITES

After this site becomes an ARCHIVE I remind friends that I will be using the following forums:

Second World War :http://2ndww.blogspot.com/

This new site has been created by the "Gang of Four", namely (in Alphabetical order) Tom Canning,Peter Ghiringhelli,Ron Goldstein and Frank Mee and will be operative from the 1st of February 2006.

The site will hopefully cater for all those who have been using the existing 大象传媒 site for serious discussion and research into WW2. Old and new friends welcome.

h2g2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/
This 'sister' site that was linked closely to the People's War site and duplicated everyone's Personal Page.

WW2 Forum at:http://www.ww2talk.com/index.php?showtopic=2035
Another well run WW2 site that already has contributions from users of this site.

Also:http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbhistory/F2233811?thread=1794704
or I can be contacted by e-mail (scroll down below for details).

SECTION 2 PERSONAL DETAILS:
(as on date shown above)

I am a product of my times,and as this site became an archive, was an active 82 yr old. I am happily retired with a lovely wife and a delightful family (two married daughters and five grandchildren) and ever anxious to place on record how my family served their country during World War 2.

I was born on the 16th of August 1923, left school at the age of thirteen and had a variety of jobs before war broke out when I had reached the tender age of sixteen.

I'm computer-literate as the result of a year's Open University (on the Fundamentals of Computing) which, in 1988, started me off on a new hobby. My other earlier hobby is the study of Ancient Coins and through the generosity of Peter Ghiringhelli my collection is listed on his super website "Weborama". link:http://www.petergh.f2s.com/coinshistory.htm
If you wish to go directly to this beautifully organised site use this link:
http://www.petergh.f2s.com

For the benefit of future researchers, here is as good a place as any to thank Peter G. for the inestimatable assistance he has given to countless enquirers and writers of articles on this site. This is research at its best.
Well done that man !

SECTION 3 ARMY DETAILS:

I was called up on 1/10/42 and my army records show that I was released on 12/4/47 and posted to 'Y' list. My length of service is shown as 4 years 294 days
My rank on discharge was W/Corporal and my service number was 14300260.
My medals are as listed below:
1939-1945 Star
Africa Star
Italy Star
Defence Medal (I was in Civil Defence in 1942)
Victory Medal

To read any of the articles listed below,all of which now have images attached, click on the highlighted links shown in brackets.
The two numbers in brackets, e.g.,(01) are purely for my own reference as I have taken the precaution of saving all my articles as a single MS-WORD document

Most of the 77 photos indexed below have been taken from my Army Album and I suppose that I have in effect transferred my Army Album into the Public Domain. A piece about my album can be seen here:
(55) http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A2612567

The simplest way to learn about my WW2 background is to look at
(02) 'Ron's Grand Tour' (A2156564)which also includes a map. You could also look at the Chronological Index below which lists the stories I have posted and sets them into a time scale.

SECTION 4 ARTICLES POSTED, CHRONOLOGICALLY

Sep 3, 1939
(03) Five Sons, all serving in H.M.Forces (A2025028)
(04) Waiting to be called up (A2416268).

Oct 1, 1942 Bury St.Edmunds, Called up, aged 19 and Posted to 53rd Primary Training Wing
(05) Early Army Days,October 1942 (A2176616)

Nov 鈥�42 Whitby, Yorkshire Posted to 52nd Anti Aircraft Driver Training Regiment,Royal Artillery to be trained as a Driver/Wireless Operator
(06) Training to be a Driver/Wireless Operator (A2065853)

Feb 鈥�43 Haltwhistle, Northumberland Posted to 112th L.A.A. Regiment.
(07) Tip and Run Raiders, Hove 1943 (A4208816)

Mar鈥�43 Hove, Sussex, Congleton, Cheshire, Woolwich (Where the overseas draft REAYK assembled), London, Home for embarkation leave.

Apr鈥�43 Liverpool, S.S.Frankonia, The ship that took us to North Africa. Algiers.
Posted to 49th Light Anti Aircraft Rgt. at Tunis
(08) Not my worst night, by any means (A1996860)
(09) Algiers, April 1943, Our first sight of Africa (A7050520)
Cap Matifou, Ghardimeau, Medjes El Bab, (Tunisia)

May 鈥�43
(10) A Driver/Op in Light Ack Ack (A2077274)

June 鈥�43 Carthage, Guelma, Hammamet Boarded ship for the invasion of Sicily.
(76) Dining out in Guelma
(11) Sicily, then on to Italy (A2370674).

July鈥�43 Syracuse, (Sicily), Bronte, Adrano, Messina.
(12) Lt.Whitfield's directing debut (A4268658)
(13) Lt.Whitfield and the butterfly spring (A4565423)
(14) A Postcard from Sicily, 3rd Sept 1943 (A6924170)

Sep鈥�43 Reggio di Calabria, Invasion of Italy, Crotone, Bari, Foggia, Termoli.
(15) Dive bombing-A memory confirmed (A3232621)
Dec 鈥�43 Carovilla, Cantalupo, Agnone, Riccia, Campo Basso, Bagnolia.

Jan'44 New Years Day 1944
(16) Snowed in at Carovilli (A3443113)

Feb 鈥�44 Ortogna, Mignano, Cassino (The Regiment was responsible for smoke laying beneath the monastery), Caserta, Afragola, San Vittorio.
(17) Monte Cassino, March to May 1944 (A2293616).
See also 'Return to Cassino' (A4062386)
(18) Gunner Burnard and the Brigadier (A3757854)
Mar 鈥�44
(19) Two weeks in dock in Naples and not a wound to show for it (A2274761).

Apr鈥�44 Vanairo, Vanafro, Ceprano, Lake Trasimeno, Rome.

June '44
(20) Day leave in Rome (A1941383).
Baschi, Tiber, Frosinino, Taranto. Pulled out of the line.
(21) The 78th Div goes to Egypt to re-fit and re-form (A2515475). S.S.Empires Pride The ship that took us to Egypt to reform and re-equip.

Jul鈥�44 Alexandria,(Egypt), Cairo, Ishmalia, Amiryah
(22) Day leave in Alexandria (A3060677)
S.S.Homer Lee The American ship that took us back to Italy
Augusta, (Sicily) Assisi (Italy), Vasto, Termoli, Sangro, Pescara, Scarperia, Florence, Firenzuolo.

Oct 鈥�44 Sienna, Tavernelle, Naples, Ancona.
Nov '44 Firenzuola
(23) Commandeering billets in Italy (A5370987)
Dec鈥�44 Rieti Posted to Royal Armoured Corp Training Depot for re-training on tanks
(24) Transformation from Gunner to Trooper(A2601839).
(25) Collapsible Beds (A3326726)
The correct height of Tank Drivers and the use of KRRs (A5233727)

Mar鈥�45 Posted to 4th Queen鈥檚 Own Hussars as Loader/Wireless Operator.
(26) Joining the 4th Queen's Own Hussars (A2310003)
Gubbio, Ravenna, Rocciano, Rimini.

Apr鈥�45 Comacchio, Traversare, Ferrara, Lugo, Santerno, Reno.
(27) German Propaganda Leaflets (A2297333)
(77) More on German Propaganda (A7458636)
(69) The day my brother Mick nearly killed me (A2352647)
(28) Diary entries 11th April 1945 (A2017630)
(29) The day I should have died (A2513134)
(30) Charlie 4 is not answering my signals (A3142694)

May鈥�45 Venice, Ferndorf,(Austria) (Set up a POW camp for SS Cavalry Division), Lienz, Spittal Paternion, Grafenstein, Trieben,Villach,
(31) The War ends in Italy, 2nd May 1945 (A2039113)
(32) VE Day, as seen from a field near Venice(A2324189)
(33) Keeping a Diary in Wartime (A2509021)
(34) Shows running in London during 1945 (A4904994)

Jun 鈥�45
(35) Danke Herr Mix! (A2072350)

Jul鈥� 45 Velden, Klagenfurt,Salsburg,
(36) Life in wartime Austria (A2545517)
(37) Dale Carnegie's 'Pursuit of Happiness',courtesy of Stalag XVIII (A5894940)

Aug鈥�45 Munich, Ulm ( Germany) (Running staging camp for troops going home on leave)
(38) Running a staging camp in Germany August 1945 (A2062513), San Giorgio, (Italy)
(75) (A8594210) The Beer Cellar in Munich

Oct 鈥�45
(39) Trieste, October 1945 to January 1947 (A2166130)
(40) Riots in Trieste (A2843868).
(41) Trieste had its funny moments (A4578267)
(42) Sweating on being released (A4640285)
(43) Civil Police during the unrest (A6811931)

Nov鈥�45 Udine, Milan, Brig, Calais, Folkestone,London, (First home leave since Apr鈥�43)
(44) My Welcome Home (A2072477)
Folkestone, Calais, Milan, (Italy) Palmanova, Trieste,

Jun鈥�46 Milan, Calais, Folkestone, London, (My second home leave)
Trieste, (Italy) Monfalcone.
(45) Victory Celebrations, 8th June 1946 (A4768040)

Oct鈥�46 Milan, Dieppe, Dover London, Dover, Dieppe, Trieste (Regimental re-union with the Colonel , Winston Churchill in attendance)
(46) Churchill and Ron enjoy a meal together (A4644128)
(47) Keeping Pets in the Forces (A5062475)
(48) Ration Allowance (A5686419)

Dec'46
(49) Our first Post-War New Year's Eve (A2633500)

Jan鈥�47 Milan, Calais, Dieppe, London, Barnard Castle, York and finally DEMOB!
Mid '47
(50) The Infamous Demob Suit (A5875095)
(51)
(52)

A few more bits and pieces that do not fit neatly into the chronological time scale above and just written whilst I can still remember them or at the request of others.

(53) Getting your Army Records (A2098000)
(54) Army Transport (A2611937)
(55) Stick it in your Army....Album! (A2612567)
(56) 1939-1947 An'interesting' experience and fifteen minutes of fame (A2808083)
(57) Getting the facts right (A3169307)
(59) Keeping clean on Active Service (A3365273)
(59) Ice cold...but NOT in Alex ! (A3740276)
(60) Return to Cassino (A4062386)
(61) The Cambridge and Bethnal Green Boy's Club, the club that produced heroes.
(A4234583)
(62) The St.Johns Ambulance Brigade in WW2
(A4530016)
(63) Commemoration Parade, July 10th 2005
(A4524563)
(64) Tribute to Eddie Patman (A4847655)
(65) The correct height of Tank Drivers (A5233727)
(66) Looking back to 1939 from the relative safety of 2005 (A5986335)
(67) What did you eat in the Great War Daddy ? (A2301634)
(68) An Army Convoy on the move in Italy
(A6811742)
(69) Ron Goldstein鈥檚 War 鈥� A month at a time (A4281248)
(70) Sgt.Major Mick Goldstein (A7114349)
(71) An unlikely Post War meeting (A7270148)
(72) Letter to a Researcher in 2056 (A7394592)
(73) The last page in my Album (A7895370)
(74) Sgt.Jack Goldstein (A8461190)
(78) The photo in a serviceman's wallet (A8889042)
(79) I'll never forget that day (A8892598)
(80) The night our house was sliced in half (A8959099)

In addition to the articles listed above, it has been an honour to have posted various stories on this site on behalf of Martin Sugarman, Archivist of AJEX (Association of Jewish Ex-Service Men and Women). These stories are listed below:

A2665271 Jack Nissenthall- The VC Hero Who Never Was Part 1b (May 25, 2004)
A2665244 Jack Nissenthall - The VC Hero who Never Was Part 1a (May 25, 2004)
A2662607 A Jewish Hero in the SOE Part 2
A2662599 A Jewish Hero in the SOE Part 1
A2659368 Two Jewish Heroines of the SOE Part 4 (May 23, 2004)
A2659331 Two Jewish Heroines of the SOE Part 3 (May 23, 2004)
A2659322 Two Jewish Heroines of the SOE Part 2 (May 23, 2004)
A2659313 Two Jewish Heroines of the SOE Part 1 (May 23, 2004)

Further to the above, I have occasionally been asked to submit articles for friends and aquaintances who do not own computers or are unsure as to how they can post a story.
These are now listed below:

A5911724 Evacuated to Stoke Hammond (Max Lea M.B.E)
A5855880 Bernard Jaffa's Record of Service
A5299428 Childhood (Sandra Eros)
A4604384 Field Marshal Keitel's Surrender
(Nathan Sterrie)
A4343726 Jack Goulden and the Prayer Book
A6095649 The Day a V2 Rocket hit Tottenham Grammar School (Dr.Harry Lamsden)
A7838599 Henry Kay, Flying Instructor
A8892598 I'll never forget that day (Gertie Denenberg)
A8959099 The night our house was sliced in half
(Nita Goldstein nee Schneiderman)

SECTION 5 Index of images

For those who's main interest is in the pictures themselves I give below an Index of Images.
Nearly all these images have been taken from my Army Album.

1.(A2156564) A Map of my travels, courtesy of Ron Tee of 56 Recce Rgt.
2. (A2025028) A montage of the five Goldstein boys in uniform.
3. (A2416268) Dad's factory in London, showing Dad,Jack,Lou and I.
4. (A2176616) A page from my AB64 Part 1 showing innoculations.
5. (A2065853) My first Army photo, taken at Whitby, aged 19.
6. (A1996860) Studio photo sent home from Egypt.
7. (A2077274) No.19 wireless set, used in the LAA and the 4th QOH.
8. (A2370674) Street photo taken in Bari, Sept'43.
9. (A2293616) My old friend Larry and program of Passover service.
10.(A3443113) Aero-gram sent home to Mick in England
11.(A2274761) My Army album, still around after 60 years.
12.(A2515475) The Pyramids, I'm on the 3rd Camel from the right.
13.(A1941383) Street photo in Rome, 21st June 1944.
14.(A2601839) Pete Burns, myself and Ken Atkinson at Rieti.
15.(A2310003) 'A' Sdrn. 4th QOH, Official Photo, Austria 1945.
16.(A2297333) One of seven German Propaganda leaflets in my Album.
17.(A2352647) Mick and I on AJEX parade, 1992.
18.(A2017630) Me and my Bren Gun Carrier at Trieste.
19.(A2513134) Four diary entries in April '45.
20.(A2039113) On guard at our POW camp at Ferndorf.
21.(A2324189) Myself and the Clock Tower in Venice.
22.(A2509021) 4 more Diary entries for August '44.
23.(A2072350) 1936 photos of my billets in Austria, plus German troops.
24.(A2545517) Me and captured German Army vehicle.
25.(A2062513) A page from my album showing Ulm Cathedral.
26.(A2166130) Myself on a mine-sweeper in Trieste Harbour.
27.(A2072477) Snapped on the train bringing me home from Austria.
28.(A2098000) Army records showing 'charge' detail.
29.(A2611937) Myself on a Norton Motor Bike
30.(A2612567) A montage, including currency and medals.
31.(A2633500) The shooting booth at Monfalcone.
32.(A2843868) Riots in Trieste.
33.(A2808083) Nita and I on AJEX parade
34.(A5875095) Ron in his Demob Suit
35.(A3169307) Day pass to Florence
36.(A3060677) Bob Dunne and Ron in Alexandria
37.(A3142694) Propaganda leaflet when Roosevelt died
38.(A3232621) Group photo showing Larry and others
39.(A3326726) Ron at Rieti wearing American style Denims
40.(A3365273) Ron at Heliopolis swimming pool
41.(A4268658) Ron in rather dishevelled KDs
42.(A4062386) Ron returns to Cassino, the Cemetery
43.(A4234583) Mick and Donnie Carlton MM
44. (A4524563) Nita and Ron at Horse Guards
45. (A4530016) Nat, Sylvia and Alf (St.Johns)
46. (A4644128) Churchill and Ron at Regimental Reunion
47. (A4640285) Sgt.Atkinson and wellwishers
48. (A4578267) Ron at Goldoni Tunnel, Trieste
49. (A4768040) Page from Army Album on Victory Celebrations
50. (A4281248) Ron on AJEX Parade Nov 2004
51. (A4565423) Sketch of Bedford Wireless Truck
52. (A4847655) Ron and Eddie Patman in Venice
53. (A4904994) Shows running in London 1945
54. (A5062475) Queenie and Curly on the Half-Track
55. (A5233727) Postcard of City Gates at Rieti
56 (A5370987) 78 Div Flash (Battleaxe Div)
57. (A5686419) Chitty for 2 Day's Ration Allowance
58. (A5894940) Postcard of Hoentauern
59. (A5986335) Cyril, Ron and Lew, AJEX 2004
60. (A3740276) Ron on early morning walk
61. (A6811742) Route Card
62. (A6811931) Policeman in Trieste
63. (A6924170) Postcard from Messina,Sicily
63. (A7050520) Postcard of Algiers
64. (A7114349) Mick as Sgt in the Royal Fusiliers
65. (A7270148) Ron and Tom Canning
66. (A7394592) Ron ready for a 大象传媒 interview
67. (A7458636) German Propaganda Leaflet (Po)
68. (A7895370) Last page in my Album)
69. (A8065893) Trooper Tom Canning(Tom's own)
70. (A2301634) Dining Hall at Opicina
71. (A8461190) Alf White,Ted Hull and Ron
72. (A8594210) The Burger Brau Keller in Munich
73. (A8594436) Street scene in Guelma
74. (A8461190) Alf White, Ted Hull and Ron
75. (A8889042) Joe and Fanny Goldstein
76. (A8892598) Gertie Denenberg
77. (A8959099) Nita Goldstein (nee Schneiderman)

My nephew Michael Goldstein C.B.E has posted various articles as a tribute to his father Jack Goldstein. These can be found here:

Personal page of mg1939 (A WW2 Child)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U2883517

The traumas of evacuation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A8256675

A wartime letter from my father
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A8453784

My only memory of my father
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A8250428

Our first trip to the war grave cemetery in Durnbach, Germany
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A8407857

The telegram: 鈥淢issing鈥︹��
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A8406597

The night my father was killed in action
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A8452190

Two fatherless children
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A8858497

and I have posted another picture at:

Sgt.Jack Goldstein, RAF Bomber Command
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A8461190

SECTION 6 "PERMANENT" LINKS TO FRIENDS
Adembo http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U1739765
Colin Hotham http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U539818
DerekElwell http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U1260105
driverharrymath http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U803367
footslogger http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U1378311
Frank Mee http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U241911
GerryChester http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U527490
Gordon Macmillan http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U1075159
Harold Pollins http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U522628
Harry Hargreaves http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U231528
James_Harvey http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U525047
Jim http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U529535
Larry (Lew) Fox http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U557316
Len(Snowie)Baynes http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U240737
Marksfoundation http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U1711179
martinsugarman http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U735138
Paul http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U529728
paul gill http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U238532
Peter http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U521078
quickroughrider http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U1004341
Simon B http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U198227
southernchap http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U692437
stemor http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U1685584
Steve Wright http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U230412
Trasksdad http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U515835
troopergeoff http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U671544
Tom Canning http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U519668
MG1939 http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U2883517
Peter Green http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U2957299
Ritson http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A4418732

SECTION 7 CONTACT DETAILS

I will always be delighted to hear from any ex-comrades or relatives of those who served in the 49th L.A.A or the 4th Queen's Own Hussars. I would also be grateful for any new information concerning my late brother Jack Goldstein who served in 166 Sqdrn of Bomber Command and who was killed in action over Nuremburg on the 15th March 1945.

Finally, when this site becomes a 'sealed' archive I can be contacted at
ron_goldsteinATbtopenworld.com (replace AT with the 'at' sign).

It would be appreciated if correspondence was limited to matters relevant to WW2 research.