The following photographs were taken by Eric Cole during his time serving in the Army during WW2. Most were taken in Germany in 1945. They have been submitted to the site by his Daughter-in-law Doreen Cole.
Eric's story is listed on this site, and after seeing his photographs we thought that they needed to be shown. We have placed them here and hope you find them of interest.
What better way is there to see what happened than through the eye of somebody who was there.
We thank Eric for having the foresight to take these photographs.
Eric's story is listed on this site, and after seeing his photographs we thought that they needed to be shown. We have placed them here and hope you find them of interest.
What better way is there to see what happened than through the eye of somebody who was there.
We thank Eric for having the foresight to take these photographs.
Bomb Damage in Hamburg, Germany
Munster, Germany buildings reduced to rubble
Trucks going through Wesel, Germany
Hamburg, Germany. Pre fab houses beyond the trucks
Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg, Germany. Autobahn
Troops and locals in Munster, Germany
Hamburg Bomb damage
Rhine bridge after being blown up
Another photo of the Rhine bridge after its destruction
Two Blurred photos. Written on the back of the pictures it says "Exploding bridge on the Rhine "
The Rhine as seen from Holland
The Rhine as seen from the Roosevelt bridge
Railway bridge at The Rhine
Wesel, Germany
Hamburg Railway Station
Photo-Knuppel, D033, Busum
Watching a football match (in the rain) in Skipton. Eric is centre of picture
left to right
Back-Corporals Robins,Winward,Wainwright,Forbes,Bevington and Shackleton
Middle-Corporal McNair, C.S.M Yates, S/Sgt Davies, Sgt Sutcliffe, C.Q.M.S Rankin, Sgt Lister-James, C.S.M Spinner, Sgt Ross
Front-Corporals Smith and "Cole", C.S.M Stanford,2nd Lt Lewis, Capt Allbut, S/Sgt Franks,, Cpls Bodle and Townsend.
Back-Corporals Robins,Winward,Wainwright,Forbes,Bevington and Shackleton
Middle-Corporal McNair, C.S.M Yates, S/Sgt Davies, Sgt Sutcliffe, C.Q.M.S Rankin, Sgt Lister-James, C.S.M Spinner, Sgt Ross
Front-Corporals Smith and "Cole", C.S.M Stanford,2nd Lt Lewis, Capt Allbut, S/Sgt Franks,, Cpls Bodle and Townsend.
Eric Cole taken on the 10th of November 1943
Eric again somewhere in Europe
A German Iron Cross dated 1914. This was with Eric's things. The family have no idea how he obtained it.
Below are a few items that Eric had kept hold of from his days in the Army
Below are a few items that Eric had kept hold of from his days in the Army
Gas Alarm Rules
Casualty Notification Rules
Soldiers Service book
Eric's Release book. Noticed the stamp top left hand corner stating Cigerettes and Chocolate have been recieved.