BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

8^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

108 – Care of Feet –

The attention of Officers Commanding Units is drawn to Circular Number 2, issued today.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

Kriegsgefangenenpost

            Mit luft Post.

                                                                                    Stamp GEPRUFT 33

                                                                                    Stamp PASSED P.W. 3001

                                                                                    No U.K. Postmark.

An                   Mrs. E. Wilkinson

                        Empfangsort:  1068 Bury Rd

                        Strasse:          Breightmet, Bolton

                        Kreis:              LANCASHIRE         

                        Land;              ENGLAND.

W

Gebuhrenfrei!

12-12-44

Sweetheart.  Thank you very much for your letter which I received yesterday the 11^th.  I got three of them from you and one from Ivy.  I am very glad to hear that you are keeping alright, and that your mother is alright too.  So Betty has heard about Ron, I bet she took it rather badly didn’t she.  I am very sorry he had to go that way, tell her she has my deepest sympathy, and I will see her when I come home.  Nobby’s young lady has been to see you has she?  As you say she is very nice.  I had a letter from Mrs. Hatt about a fortnight ago, and she said she had been to see you for a weekend, and had a talk about old times, give her my very best wishes.  Well Darling I am still keeping as fit as possible, and looking forward to the time when I can come home again, let us hope it will not be long before that day arrives.  This is all for now Dear. Give my regards to everybody.  I am sending a card to Ivy.  Goodnight Sweetheart and God bless you.  I love you more than ever.  All my love and kisses. 

Yours forever

            Ernest

On back

Absender.

Vor und Zuname: Sgt. E. Wilkinson

Gefangennummer: 136. L.7.

Lager-Bezeichnung :  Stalagluft N.R. 3.

Deutschland (Allemagne)

W

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

7^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

107 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

The following extracts from the “London Gazette” dated Tuesday 2^nd February, 1915, are published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

22^nd Battalion (3^rd Tyneside Scottish) – David Houghton Bibby to be temporary Second Lieutenant.  Dated 7^th January, 1915.

23^rd Battalion (4^th Tyneside Scottish), Stanley Hugh Macintosh to be Captain.  Dated 21^st December, 1914.

            The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants:-

John Hylton Patterson.  Dated 16^th December, 1914.

Thomas Emmanuel Heron.  Dated 19^th December, 1914.

RAZORS – ALLOWANCE IN LIEU OF, TO RECRUITS –

It has been decided that, owing to the shortage of razors, to sanction the payment of 1/- (one shilling) to each recruit enlisted after the date of this circular who is in possession of a satisfactory razor for his own use.

The payment of the shilling will be considered equivalent to the issue of a razor in kind, and no further free issue will be made in those cases where the allowance has been paid until after the razor provided by the soldier is unserviceable, from fair wear.  A record will be maintained of all men who receive a shilling instead of a razor under this authority, and a note will be made on the transfer clothing statements when men are sent from depots to units.

The charge will be made in Form 3 of the Pay and Mess Book, supported by a certificate from the Officer Commanding the Company, etc., that each of the men to whom the 1/- has been paid was in possession of a satisfactory razor.

This circular does not apply to soldiers of the Territorial Force.

Authority, dated War Office, 30^th January, 1915, 54/General Number/1756 (Q.M.G.7).

C.R.N.C. No. 41902/O.S.  Northern Command Order No. 164.

INSURANCE CARDS, ARMY – SUPPLY OF –

With reference to the issue of the National Health Insurance Card, Class B (Army Card), for the current half-year, a distribution is being made by this Department direct to Units, and it is consequently unnecessary for Units to make application.  If, however, any Units have not received a supply of cards by 15^th February, 1915, they should notify the War Office accordingly in writing.  Telegrams should not be used.

Indents are still being received for the card for the last half-year period.  Any supplies of this card still required should be indented for in writing without delay.

Indents carelessly made out without indication whether the card for the first half of 1915 or the last half of 1914 are required are being received.  It is important that exact particulars be given in making indents.

Authority, War Office letter, dated 30^th January, 1915 (C.2.a.).

C.R. No. 41857.  Northern Command Order No. 165.

Extracts from Northern Command Orders –continued –

PAYMENT OF N.C. OFFICERS ATTENDING THE SCHOOL OF MUSKETRY, STRENSALL –

            Units from which N.C.O’s are drawn to attend courses of Instruction at the School of Musketry, Strensall, must either arrange to pay these N.C.O’s in advance or forward same addressed personally under Registered Cover, cases having occurred where money has been lost owing to having been addressed personally under ordinary postage.

Northern Command Order No. 171.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

NOTICE.

            It is reported that a man enlisted in the 5^th Recruiting Area, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on the 30^th ult., under the name of John Henry Harris, for the R.F.A., and was given a Railway Warrant to proceed to Glasgow.

From information received yesterday there is reason to believe Harris is passing from one Recruiting Officer to the other, enlisting for a Unit, to join which he has to travel by rail, and thereby obtains travelling allowance in addition to one day’s pay.

Harris was dressed at the time of enlistment as a sailor, wearing the usual blue jersey.  Age from 25 to 30; Height, 5 ft. 8½ in.; Chest 39 in., exp 3 in.; Weight, 140 lbs.; Hair, light brown; Eyes, grey-blue; Complexion, fair; Clean shaven.

The O.C. R.F.A. Depot, Glasgow, wires that Harris has not joined there.

C.R.N.C. No. 42186 (L.R.)

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

6^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

104 – Men Medically Unfit – Discharge of –

Considerable loss has accrued to the Public owing to the enlistment in this Brigade of men subsequently found to be medically unfit for service.  In many cases such men have been maintained at the public expense for some months before their cases have been referred to this Office.

In future to insure that only men of sound physique shall join the Brigade, Officers Commanding Units will be held responsible that every recruit who may be sent to join his Battalion is thoroughly overhauled by the Doctor attached to the Unit.  An application for the discharge of any man (vide King’s Regulations, para. 392) found to be unfit will be forwarded without loss of time to this office.

Men who have once been attested cannot be discharged except by the authority laid down.

Steps have already been taken which, it is hoped will ensure the medical examination of men prior to attestation being much more strictly carried out than has hitherto been the case.

105 –Razors – Supply of –

A supply of razors is now available from the Ordnance Store.  Officers Commanding Units will forward indents without loss of time for the full number required to Chief Ordnance Officer, Northern Command Office, York.

106 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

“LONDON GAZETTE” the following extracts from the Supplement to the “London Gazette” dated Friday 29^th January, 1915, are published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

20^th Battalion (1^st Tyneside Scottish). – The undermentioned temporary Lieutenants to be temporary Captains.  Dated 7^th January, 1915.

Edwin Graham

Gerald O. Laing.

22^nd Battalion (3^rd Tyneside Scottish) – Utrick Alexander to be temporary Second Lieutenant.  Dated 6^th January, 1915.

23^rd Battalion (4^th Tyneside Scottish) – John George Todd to be temporary Captain.  Dated 31^st December, 1914.  (Substituted for the notification which appeared in the “Gazette” of 25^th January,1915.)

RECRUITS – DENTAL TREATMENT –

It is pointed out that recruits who would, except for defective teeth, be in all respects fit for General Service in the Army, and are prepared to undergo dental treatment, but cannot keep themselves whilst out of work and in the dentist’s hands, may, if the Medical Officer is of opinion that with dental treatment this defect can be remedied, be attested and final approval deferred until they are pronounced by the examining Medical Officer as in every respect physically fit for service in the Army.

C.R.N.C. No. 41919/M.  Northern Command Order No. 155.

Extracts from Northern Command Orders continued –

INOCULATION AGAINST ENTERIC FEVER.

Reference Order No. 1819, dated 23^rd December, 1914, it has come to notice that in some instances men are given 48 hours’ leave immediately after Inoculation.

This is not the intention of the order, and the practice must cease.

All cases after Inoculation should be given light duty or struck off duty altogether for 48 hours, but must remain in Barracks or Billets, and be under the immediate observation of the Medical Officer.

There is no objection to leave being granted for 48 hours after the period of observation has elapsed.

Northern Command Order No. 156.

SICKNESS – WHILE ON LEAVE

It has been brought to notice that paragraph 1323 King’s Regulations is not being complied with, and bills for various amounts are being received from Civil Medical Practitioners for attendance on Soldiers at Stations where there are either Military Hospitals or Military Medical Officers.

Commanding Officers should draw the attention of all concerned to the Regulations.

In future no bills will be passed for Medical Attendance on Soldiers at Stations where Military treatment is available.

Northern Command Order No. 157.

EQUIPMENT – INFANTRY – PATTERN 1914 – TALLOW FOR CLEANING AND PRESERVATION OF –

It has been decided that Tallow in the proportion of two ounces per set per month should be demanded from the Army Ordnance Department by Units in possession of 1914 Infantry Equipment for the cleaning and preservation of the Leather portions.  It is desirable the Tallow should be applied at once.  Indents should be forwarded to the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, as early as possible.

C.R.N.C. No. 38594/42/O.S. Northern Command Order No. 160.

CLOTHING POLICE – EMPLOYED AS DRILL INSTRUCTORS –

It has been decided that Police Instructors rejoining the Police Force should return all clothing etc., to Store, with the exception of one pair of boots, which may be retained.

Authority, A.C.D./5 R.D./1015, dated 1^st February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 41980/A.  Northern Command Order No. 161.

DRESS –

Where Inspections are held in inclement weather, Great Coats should be worn.

Authority, War Office letter No. 940/G.M.G.7, dated 1^st February, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 41980/A.   Northern Command Order No. 162.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

5^th FEBRUARY, 1915.

100. Entrenching Tools–

200 Picks and 200 Shovels per Battalion may now be indented for from the Chief Ordnance Officer, York.  Indents should be forwarded at once.

101. Signalling Equipment–

The following Signalling Equipment, pre Battalion can now be indented for from the Chief Ordnance Officer, York, and should be demanded at once.

Cases, message book                                    5

Flags, signal, army –

Blur, 2 feet square                             48

White, with stripe 2 feet square       58

Poles, 3 feet 6 inches                     158

            Compasses, prismatic                                     5

Cases,             do                                             5

102. Diet Sheets–

Officers Commanding Units will arrange with Contractors for weekly diet sheets to be submitted to them in advance, for approval.  Copies of the sheets will invariably be posted up in prominent positions outside the Billets, one copy to be forwarded to this Office.

103. Medals–

Commanding Officers will cause nominal rolls to be prepared of all ranks in their Units in possession of medals.  A copy of the roll to be sent to this Office.  The roll should show for what campaign the medal was granted.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

Kriegsgefangenenpost

                        Mit luft Post.

            Stamp. Recovered P.O.W. mail from Europe recently received by British P.O.

                                                                                    Stamp GEPRUFT 106

                                                                                    No Stamp PASSED P.W.

                                                                                    No U.K. Postmark.

An                   Mrs. E. Wilkinson

                        Empfangsort:  Breightmet, Bolton

                        Strasse:          1068 Bury Rd

                        Kreis:              LANCASHIRE         

                        Land;              ENGLAND.

Gebuhrenfrei!

2-12-44

My Darling.  How are you going on these days I hope that you are keeping well.  I am keeping quite fit myself.  I have had no mail from you for about a month.  But I am hoping that there will be some in the next lot that comes in.  The last I had from you was posted on September 19^th.  I got one from Mrs Hatt yesterday and she said that she had been to see you.  Give her my very best wishes and thank her very much for her letter.  I was very glad to hear from her.  I have not heard from Prestwich yet.  Have they got my address yet?  How is your mother going on I hope that she is alright.  Give her my love.  We are getting very well organised here now, we have got quite a good concert party, and we are getting concerts every week.  We have also got a really good accordion band and the way they are going on they will be better than Billy Reeds band by the time the war is over.  This is all for now, Dear, I hope that you have had more mail from me by now.  Give my very best wishes to Betty.  My regards to all, and lets hope it won’t be long before we are together again.  I love you Darling. 

Yours always

            Ernest

On back

Absender.

Vor und Zuname: Sgt. E. Wilkinson

Gefangennummer: 136. L.7.

Lager-Bezeichnung :  Kriegsgefangenenlager der  Luftwaffe Nr 3

Deutschland (Allemagne)

W

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 123^rd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

4^th February, 1915.

95 – Officiating Clergyman – Appointment of –

            The undermentioned gentleman has been appointed Officiating Clergyman to the Brigade:-

The Rev. H.G. Attwater.

Authority, C.R.N.C. 13/297/100/A., dated 30^th January, 1915.

96 – Demands for Stationary.  The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to War Office letter 26/2720 C.2., circulated herewith.

97 – Men Medically Unfit – Nominal Rolls of all men who have been attested and subsequently rejected as medically unfit, are to be forwarded to this Office with as little delay as possible.  The place and date of attestation and the name of the Doctor who made the initial medical examination, should be stated.

98 – Billets – Care of Bedding, etc. – The following procedure with reference to blankets and palliasses is to be observed:- (1) Blankets are to be taken out daily and well shaken before being folded up.  (2) Palliasses are to be aired in the open several hours at a time during each week as weather permits.  They should be shaken and the straw changed once every month.  The old straw is to be burnt.

99 – Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

The following extract from the Second Supplement to the “London Gazette,” dated Tuesday, the 26^th January 1915, is published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

23^rd Battalion (4^th Tyneside Scottish), Captain John C. Campbell, 5^th Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles, to command the Battalion and to be temporary Lieutenant-Colonel.  Dated 27^th November, 1914.

SOLDIERS COMMITTED TO DETENTION BARRACKS – INCOMPLETE KIT – it has been brought to notice that men who are committed to Detention Barracks arrive there with incomplete kits, and, in a large number of cases, even without a change of washing.

It is essential that men should be in possession of change of clothing, as well as their other kit, and considerable trouble and expense are incurred in writing to units for the deficient article.

Every soldier committed to Detention Barracks should take with him clothing and necessaries, completed to Active Service scale, and articles of equipment as provided in paragraph 646 King’s Regulations, where such latter are in possession of the man.

Authority, War Office letter No. 23/Southern/201 (A.G.3), dated 27^th January, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 41493/A.  Northern Command Order No. 145.

Extracts from Northern Command Orders- continued –

SURPLUS STORES NOT TO BE RETAINED.

The attention of all Commanding Officers is drawn to the necessity for immediately returning to the Army Ordnance Department all stores not being used.

A large number of issues have also been made of stores probably required for a short time only, and these should not be retained if not in use.  Camp equipment of all sorts is also included in this order.

C.R.N.C. No. 40756/O.S.  Northern Command Order No. 147.

SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION, CHELSEA – All ball ammunition will be collected from Non-Commissioned Officers before they are sent to join the School of Instruction, Chelsea.

ANTI-TYPHOID INOCULATION

The following Enteric Fever statistics are published for general information.

This order should be re-published in Divisional, Brigade, Garrison and Regimental Orders:-

“Of the first 421 cases of Typhoid Fever in the present campaign amongst British troops, 305 were of men who were not inoculated.  In the 421 cases there have been 35 deaths.  Of these deaths 34 were men who had not been inoculated within two years.  Only one death occurred among patients who were inoculated, and that man had only been inoculated once…”

In view of this unanswerable evidence, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief is confident that no soldier with the welfare of his country at heart will hesitate to be inoculated.

Those who do not accept this simple prevention are furthering the interests of the enemy, as well as becoming a source of danger to their comrades.

C.R. No. 42006 (M)  Northern Command Order No. 149.

CLOTHING AND NECESSARIES –

With reference to Command Order Number 1853, dated the 31^st December, 1914, it has been decided that, in the case of units raised by individuals or municipalities all renewals of clothing and necessaries after the initial issue is completed will be obtained from Army stocks.

Commanding Officers will obtain their requirements as directed in Army Order 373 of 1914, and issues to soldiers will be governed by the instructions in the same Army Order.

Repairs to clothing and boots will be carried out as laid down for the Territorial Force in Army Order 335 of 1914.

Authority, 54/General No. /1775 (Q.M.G.7), dated War Office, 27^th January, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 38987/6/3 (O.S.) Northern Command Order No. 150.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 123^rd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

Mit luft Post

Kriegsgefangenenpost

Postkarte                  

                                                                                    Stamp GEPRUFT 105

No UK Postmark. 

An                   Mrs. E. Wilkinson                            Stamp PASSED P.W.  5894

Gebuhrenfrei!

                                    Empfangsort:  1068 Bury Rd.

                                    Strasse:         Breightmet Bolton

                                    Land;              LANCASHIRE ENGLAND.

Absender:

Vor und Zuname:

Sgt. E. Wilkinson.

Gefangennummer: 136.L.7

Kriegsgefangenenlager der Luftwaffe Nr.3.

Lager-Bezeichnung:  Luft 3

Deutschland (Allemagne)

W

Kriegsgefangenenlager.                                                                             Datum: 30.11.44

Sweetheart.  Just a few lines to let you know that I am still in the best of health, and I hope that you have had more mail from me by this time.  I have had none from you for a month.  But I am hoping to get some in the next lot.  This is all for now Sweetheart.  I love you my darling.  Your forever  Ernest

(Europe)

The liberation of Europe began in June 1944 with the D-Day landings in Normandy. The Allies broke through the German lines and began the advance towards Paris and the Belgian border. German civil administrators ordered a retreat and after Brussels was liberated in September 1944, the Belgian-government-in-exile returned. Some areas of Belgium stayed in German hands but after the collapse of the Ardennes Offensive and with the Belgian resistance involvement the whole of Belgium was liberated on the 4^th February 1945.

Since D-Day the Allies had advanced up to the borders of Germany. However, the German 19^th Army had attacked and held central Alsace, France from November 1944. The Colmar Pocket was formed when the U.S. 6^th Army Group (6^th AG) liberated northern Alsace and adjacent Lorraine. At the same time the 6^th AG liberated southern Alsace. With Alsace/Lorraine bordering on Germany, prime importance for the 19^th Army was the defence of the bridges over the Rhine. As part of the Allied attack force the French 1^st Army (1^st Corp d’Armee) was reinforced by the U.S. XXI Corp. They cleared the pocket of all German forces on the 9^th February 1945.

During this campajgn America’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, was awarded to two U.S. soldiers. The first was PFC Jose Valdez who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The second was the later Hollywood film star First Lieutenant Audie Murphy who was awarded the Medal of Honor. Twenty-year-old Murphy had risen through the ranks after enlisting as an 18-year-old soldier. After being awarded the Medal of Honor, he became the most decorated soldier in the U.S. Army. Having also fought in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, southern France and the German Rhineland, the United States Army awarded him every military medal available for valour, a total of twelve. He also received a total of six French and Belgian awards for bravery.

(Germany)

With the Nazi-German nation being forced to retreat into Germany on all fronts, the Allies Britain and America, began a series of bombing campaigns in February 1945.

The largest bombing raid on Berlin was on the 3^rd February 1945 when 1,500 USAAF B-17 bombers attacked the city. The attack was ordered by the USAAF commander in the belief that the German Panzer Army was passing through Berlin by train on the way to the Eastern Front. The city centre was bombed so densely it caused a massive city fire storm.  However, the main railway lines were not included in the damage as they were to the north and south of Berlin. No records can be found as to whether or not the Panzer Army was travelling through Berlin.

On the same day in the Berlin People’s Court, Judge Roland Freisler was conducting a session when the bombing began. He hastily adjourned the court and ordered the prisoners to be escorted to safety. Instead of following the prisoners to a safe place Freisler stayed behind to gather up his court documents. A bomb struck the court building and an internal column was dislodged which crushed Freisler killing him instantly. One of the files later recovered was that of a member of the 20 July Plot who was on trial that day and facing execution. The 20 July Plot was the attempted assassination of Fuhrer Adolf Hitler.

Over a three-day period from the 13^th/15^th February 1945 the RAF and USAAF bombed the German city of Dresden. Approximately 1,300 heavy bombers dropped more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices. The resulting firestorm destroyed large parts of the city centre and approximately 25,000 civilians were killed. There was a great deal of controversy at the time as to whether the bombing of Dresden was justified. Despite Nazi propaganda that the city was cultural only and the exaggeration of the civilian death toll later emerging events proved otherwise. In March/April 1945 three separate attacks were conducted against the extensive industrial areas outside the city.

Operation Clarion was a joint RAF and USAAF bombing campaign of strategic transport targets of Germany. With two clear days of good weather on the 22^nd/23^rd February 1945, 3,500 bombers and over 5,000 fighters attacked German transport locations. Docks, bridges, barges, railway tacks and stations were the prime targets. Most of the targets were located in towns that had never been attacked before, and with only minimal German defences the attacks were successful

(Eastern Front)

The Yalta Conference was a meeting of the heads of Government of the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union. The conference was held near the city of Yalta in the Crimean region of the Soviet Union. The conference began on the 4^th February 1945 and in attendance were British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin, the General Secretary of the Soviet Union. The “Big Three”, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin agreed that defeated Germany would be occupied by Britain, the U.S., the S.U. and France. The four powers, as part of the occupation would control Berlin. French leader Charles de Gaule had not been invited to the Yalta Conference or the later Potsdam Conference. General de Gaule saw this as a diplomatic slight owing to his longstanding personal antagonism with Roosevelt. For de Gaule, this exclusion, began a deep and lasting resentment. As France had not participated fully during the war Stalin objected to the inclusion of France as a full participant of the conference. Also included at the conference they agreed to set up a provisional government in Poland. Liberated countries of Eastern Europe would receive assistance in setting up democratic regimes Upon the surrender of Germany, Stalin agreed to join in the war against Japan. The Yalta Conference ended on the 11^th February 1945.

Hungary officially joined forces with the Axis Powers in November 1940. After three years of fighting the Red Army, and with over 200,000 deaths, Hungary was ready to leave the war. Nazi Germany’s response was to send German troops into Hungary in March 1944. With Soviet Union and Romanian troops approaching and the resultant encirclement of Budapest, Hungary’s capital city, a 50-day siege began on the 29^th December 1944. During the siege known as the Battle of Budapest, approximately 38,000 civilians died, either by starvation, military action or mass murder of the Jewish population. On the 13^th February 1945 the Battle of Budapest ended when the German/Hungarian occupied city unconditionally surrendered. The Soviet victory was a strategic bonus for the Allies in their push toward Berlin.

German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler ordered the German army to enter Prague in Czechoslovakiain March 1939 and the Nazi occupation of the country began. Historically the city of Prague had a multi-ethnic population mostly consisting Czech, German and German speaking Jewish people. Hitler ordered bloody repercussions after the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, one of Nazi Germany’s most powerful men, by the Rzech Resistance in 1942. During the occupation most of the Jews were deported and killed in concentration camps or as a result of slave labour.

On the 14^th February 1945 Forty USAAF B-17 bombers dropped approximately 150 tons of bombs on the city. The majority of the carpet-bombing casualties were civilians which resulted in the death of approximately 700 people and the wounding of 1,200 more. Most of the city’s factories were not hit but nearly 100 homes and historical sites were totally destroyed. A further 200 buildings were badly damaged. Subsequent events indicate the raid was an accident. At the same time the bombing of Dresden, some 70 miles NW of Prague, was in operation It would appear the forty B-17s were scheduled to bomb Dresden but the onboard radar navi gation system was not functioning correctly. Consequently, a dead-reckoning navigation system was employed. However, high winds experienced en-route, caused the calculations to be inaccurate. Approaching Prague through broken cloud  with the occasional glimpse of the ground, convinced the pilots they were at the correct target. From the air Prague and Dresden looked similar and the bombing of Prague was carried out by a “blind attack” using radar. By bombing Prague the Americans had bombed the wrong city.    

(Pacific)

In the Philippines the Imperial Japanese Army had defeated and forced the U.S. army to retreat in 1942. U.S. General Douglas MacArthur promised he would be back. By January 1945 with the Japanese retreating on all fronts in the Pacific, MacArthur made good his promise. Beginning in January 1945, MacArthur’s army invaded the main island of Luzon and were advancing towards Japanese defended Manila. Alongside the U.S. Army were Filipino guerrillas eager to take back land occupied by the Japanese. During the Battle of Manila, which begin on the 3^rd February 1945, over 100,000 Filipino men, women and children were massacred by the Japanese defenders of the city. The battle ended on the 3^rd March 1945 when the Japanese defenders sacrificed their lives and were determined to take as many enemy lives as possible. Manila was defended by approximately 17,000 sailors, marines and soldiers who were facing an invasion of roughly 38,000 U.S/Filipino guerrillas. Japanese losses were in the region of 16,000 killed, and the U.S./Filipino casualties were 1,000 killed and 5,500 wounded.

During May 1942 the U.S. Army surrendered Corregidor Island to the Imperial Japanese Army. This was the beginning of the Japanese conquest in the Philippines Campaign. U.S. General McArthur returned to the Philippines in 1945.  He and the U.S. planners thought the island justified a separate invasion owing the proximity to the entrance of Manila Bay. A combined amphibious and airborne attack was MacArthur’s strategy to retake the island. The tadpole shaped island’s most dominant terrain is a hill known as “Topside” which enabled the Japanese to dominate any amphibious landing sites. Although risky the U.S. Military considered an airborne attack was feasible as the Japanese would not expect paratroopers to land on this unlikely target. Prior to the Battle of Corregidor the USAAF began daily bombing attacks on the 25^th January 1945 which ended on the 16^th February 1945 when the U.S. amphibious attack began. On the same day the first of 1,000 paratroopers landed on “topside”, much to the surprise of the Japanese. Fierce fighting occurred between the Japanese defenders and the U.S. amphibious/airborne attackers. The island was finally recaptured on the 26^th February 1945 by the U.S. and Filipino troops. The Battle of Corregidor secured the entrance to Manila Bay.

The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the last major battles in the Philippines Campaign. The island lies approximately 800 miles (1,300 km) due south of mainland Japan and was defended by 21,000 Japanese troops. In March 1944, with the Japanese retreating toward the mainland the Japanese commander ordered that the island be turned into a fortress. The area around Mount Suribachi became a network of bunkers and gun emplacements and connected by underground tunnels. The tunnels protected the defenders from the U.S. naval and airborne bombing prior to the landings. On the 19^th February 1945, 30,000 U.S. marines landed on the beaches, overlooked by Mount Suribachi, on the extreme south-east of Iwo Jima. The Japanese open fired on the exposed troops in what was one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific Campaign. When Sherman tanks, armed with flamethrowers, began arriving on the 19^th February 1945, they started to clear Japanese positions. On the 23^rd February 1945 U.S. marines raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima’s highest point. The U.S. marines paid a heavy price for taking Mount Suribachi as they lost 2,000 troops killed or missing. With 40,000 additional U.S. marines arriving, some advanced to the west coast at the narrowest point completely isolating the defenders of Mount Suribachi. Other marines captured the first of two functioning airfields on the 20^th February 1945. The second airfield was captured on the 23^rd February 1945. Two days later 300 Japanese troops launched a failed counter-attack on the second airfield. Moving slowly northward the marines encountered the defences of Hill 363 and the Battle of Iwo Jima continued into March1945.

The famous photograph of the marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi was actually the second photograph taken on the day. The first flag was regarded as being too small and a second photograph was ordered to be taken with a larger flag.  One of the marines was Pfc Ira Hayes who was an Akim O’odham American Indian. Hayes was an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community stationed in Arizona who joined the U.S. Marine Corps.

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The bombing of Tokyo on the 25^th February 1945 was the last of the high-altitude raids.  All previous attacks had been high-altitude raids. During the high-altitude daylight raid 174 B-29 bombers, carrying approximately 450 tons of mainly Incendiary bombs, dropped the bombs on the city. The result was that 650 acres of the snow-covered city were totally destroyed. Subsequently the USAAF commanders ordered that future bombers would attack at lower level and at night. The reason being that Japan’s anti-aircraft defences were weaker at the low altitude range and the defensive fighters were ineffective at night.

(Other Theatres)

Most South American nations were basically neutral during the Second World War. They were however, aligned with the Allies for trade but unfriendly to Germany. The United States Lease-Lend agreement protected the Panama Canal which gave the Allies access from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. This resulted in large-scale modernisation and a major economic boost to the area. With both Germany and Japan being forced to retreat by the Allies the following nations declared war on Germany and Japan. Possibly in an effort to boost trade with the Allies, Ecuador declared war on Germany and Japan on the 1^st February1945.  Paraguay followed suit on the 8^th February 1945. This was closely followed when Peru declared war on the 12^th February 1945. Finally, Venezuela and Uruguay declared war on the 15th February 1945.        

Liberated German occupied countries in the Mediterranean declared war on Germany and Japan. Turkey declared war on the 23^rd February 1945, Egypt on the 24^th February 1945, Syria on the 26^th February 1945 and finally Lebanon on the 27^th February 1945.

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