Category Archives: World War II

Guest blog by Lottie Stoddart: K.B. Stoddart, prisoner of war

Posted on November 22, 2012 by secondbysecond

It is so often the case that we only begin to ask questions about a close family member’s war when it is too late. Such was the case with my Grandfather, Kenneth Bowring Stoddart (back row, third from left in … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 18–24 November 1940: Hungary, Romania & Slovakia join the Tripartite Pact

Posted on November 20, 2012 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, three more countries joined the German-Italian-Japanese ‘Axis’ by signing the Tripartite Pact: Hungary (20 November 1940), Romania (23 November 1940), and Slovakia (24 November 1940). Stalin had also been approached and was considering signing. Of … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 11–17 November 1940: French students march down the Champs Elysees in protest against the Nazi occupation

Posted on November 15, 2012 by secondbysecond

I do not wish Remembrance week to come to an end without mentioning 11 November 1940, Armistice Day, as it was then called. In German-Occupied France, the Nazi authorities were fearful that any formal observance of Armistice Day would incite … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 11–17 November 1940: Blitz on Coventry

Posted on November 14, 2012 by secondbysecond

When I was a boy, I went on day trips to all of the large cities around the Midlands, as central England is called. Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, and of course, Coventry—the latter being of Lady Godiva fame. They were big, … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 11–17 November 1940: Fleet Air Arm attacks Taranto

Posted on November 13, 2012 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on the night of 11–12 November 1940, Fairey Swordfish biplanes from British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious attacked Taranto Harbour, the principal naval base of the Italian fleet. For the cost of two aircraft shot down, the … Continue reading →

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In the news: Remembrance Day/Veterans Day—11 November

Posted on November 11, 2012 by secondbysecond

              Sunday 11 November 2012—Remembrance Day. Once again, we gather to remember that eleventh hour of the eleventh month of the eleventh year, when the guns went silent and the Great War ended. It … Continue reading →

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In the news: 237th Anniversary of the US Marine Corps—10 November 2012

Posted on November 10, 2012 by secondbysecond

The United States Marine Corps was created in Philadelphia, two hundred and thirty-seven years ago today, on 10 November 1775. The memorial shown to the left is dedicated to the men and women of the US Marine Corps who died … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 4–10 November 1940: HMS Jervis Bay goes down fighting

Posted on November 9, 2012 by secondbysecond

One of the enduring myths of the Royal Navy centres on the idea of a small British force—perhaps even a single ship—holding off a vastly superior enemy. Think Francis Drake versus the Spanish Armada. Think Nelson and any number of … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 4–10 November 1940: Election Day

Posted on November 4, 2012 by secondbysecond

As I write this post on Sunday 4 November 2012, I have no idea who will win Tuesday’s US election. Democrat incumbent Barack Obama is pitted against Republican challenger Mitt Romney, and the race is close. The economy and entanglement … Continue reading →

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In the news: Princess Noor Inayat Khan

Posted on November 1, 2012 by secondbysecond

Jane Martinson (The Women’s Blog with Jane Martinson 23 October 2012) recently reported in the British newspaper The Guardian that a statue is soon to be erected in London to honour Princess Noor Inayat Khan. The princess, who was descended from … Continue reading →

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