Ralph Victor Baker and his travels in World War Two
Creators: name: Project Team, Their Finest Hour
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 430304
subject: British history
classificationCode: 430308
subject: European history (excl. British, classical Greek and Roman)
classificationCode: 430316
subject: International history

description: These were my father's' medals from the Second World War. He served around the world - in France at the beginning of the war. He was part of the BEF at evacuated Dunkirk. One of the last to be evacuated. I have brought along a scan of his story. I have also brought his medals.I have also brought along his service book from when he was in South Africa. After coming back from France his unit had destroyed all their guns and they were replacing lost personal and of course the guns as well. Beginning January 1942 they went to South Africa and arrived in May. They set up for the Burma campaign. Before that started they were diverted to Persia, a ship to Bahsra and then they went by road to Bagdhad and wintered in Tehran. He told me they walked the whole way because there was concerned about a German advance in that area. The German advance ended because the troops were required for other areas. He was then transferred to Egypt to be ready for the planned invasion of Sicily in 1943. They landed in Sicily in July 1943 and they were involved in very heavy fighting and couldn't progress anywhere until they were relieved by Montgomery until September. In September they joined with the American fifth army to land in Italy where they advanced to Monte Cassino. They were bogged down under fierce resistance but his unit was sent to the East to try and outflank the Germans, again they faced fierce resistance. They held their position until March 1944 when reinforcements arrived. They then moved on to Anzio where they became once again bogged down in trench warfare until May 1944 when Monte Cassino was finally liberated. Following the liberation of Monte Cassino their unit was relieved and they were sent to Egypt for rest and recuperation, after which they were sent to Palestine for peace keeping duties, but then, in February 1945 they were sent to join the liberating forces in North West Europe. By the time they had joined the liberating forces in North West Europe they were involved in constant action, and they advanced to the River Elbe where they were engaged in the last formal action of World War 2. Interestingly following the defeat on the 8th May 1945 his regiment remained in Germany as part of the occupation force until they returned to England in March 1946. (We often wondered why he could speak German!) He was formally released from armed duty on the 17th March 1946. During the war he refused any promotion. As well as being a gunner (gun layer) he was in a band and he refused promotion to stay together with the band! Following discharge he returned to his prewar job as a civil servant where he married my mother Kathleen Clandillon. The postcards are from Germany from the end of the war. The postcard from Africa he is the one on the right! He never found out the name of the Zulu!