World War 2 Collection

Red army soldiers raising the soviet flag over the reichstag in berlin, germany, april 30, 1945, photo taken by vladimir grebnev

St. Pauls Survives
The iconic view of St. Pauls Cathedral from the roof of the Daily Mail newspaper building, through the smoke and flames of the nights German bombing raids, 29 December 1940 St Paul in the Blitz

Winston Churchill making his famous V for Victory sign, 1942. A typical gesture of defiance from Britains wartime Prime Minister. (Colorised black and white print)

Rolls-Royce Merlin R. M. 14S. M. Mk 100 V-12 Engine, 1944. Creator: Rolls-Royce
Formed in 1906 to produce automobiles, Rolls-Royce was asked to begin designing and building aircraft engines at the outbreak of World War I in 1914

USA, B-17 Bomber Aircraft, Cockpit, Salinas, California

Runway Perspective, 1941, (1944). Creator: Eric Ravilious
Runway Perspective, 1941, (1944). RAF Spitfires at a British airfield during the Second World War. Painting in the Imperial War Museum, London. From " Britain In The Air", by Nigel Tangye

SS St Julien as a hospital ship, at Newport Docks, c. 1940
This image shows SS St Julien at Newport Docks following her conversion into a hospital ship, as denoted by the red cross painted on the side of her hull

The Renown, the Ark Royal, and the Sheffield, c1939-1941, (1942). Creator: Unknown
The Renown, the Ark Royal, and the Sheffield, c1939-1941, (1942). " Out To Sea and Into The Sky". The three famous partners of Force H - the battle-cruiser Renown, the Ark Royal

Roof spotter at football match
A roof spotter searching for oncoming German bombers, at a West Ham vs. Chelsea match 8 December 1940

Lancaster Bomber with 2 Spitfire Fighter planes, 2011 Goodwood revival
Lancaster Bomber with Spitfire fighter aircraft

LMS coach no. 6204 converted to an ambulance train car, 1939
This official photograph of an ambulance train car was taken on behalf of the Swindon Works Drawing Office in October 1939

The Westland Lysander, 1941. Creator: Unknown
The Westland Lysander, 1941. British army liaison aircraft made by Westland Aircraft, used before and during the Second World War

Bomb disposal unit in action
The Royal Engineers bomb disposal unit in action in West London, 17 September 1940

British battleship HMS King George V, Sydney, Australia, 1945. King George V after arriving from Tokyo where she had been present at the surrender of Japan

A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2, 1942
A man and woman carrying out work on a steam hammer during WW2 in the GWR Swindon Works, 1942. The man is wearing a blacksmiths apron

The 8th Army commander Bernard Law Montgomery, 1942. Artists: Sir John Alexander Hammerton, Unknown
The 8th Army commander Bernard Law Montgomery, 1942. Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887-1976), nicknamed Monty and the Spartan General

General vasily chuikov, commander of 62nd army

Mitsubishi A6M Zero aircraft, World War 2 C016 / 3818
Mitsubishi A6M2 (Zero). US Air Force photograph of a test flight of a captured Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 (Zero). This aircraft was being refined

Richard Todd in a production still image for The Dam Busters (1955)
Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson in a portrait taken for Michael Andersons The Dam Busters (1955)

Marshal georgy zhukov riding across red square, reviewing the troops, prior to the victory parade on june 24, 1945

Marshal georgy zhukov, hero of the soviet union, 1945

Swindon Works War Work, 22nd January 1942
Female worker machining a 25 PDR shell on 22 January 1942. Munitions work issued by Ministry of Supply

RAF bomber pilot and second pilot, 1941. Brave yet cautious, cool yet daring. From Bomber Command. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Lt, general vasili chuikov (2nd from left) giving an assignment to the commander of the 13th guards rifle division, major general alexander rodimtsev (far right)

World war 2, senior sergeants v, mityoshina and n, zalko, former students of the moscow state theatrical institute have been at the front from the first days of the war

Soviet Pe-2 bomber and pilot, 1944
Soviet Pe-2 bomber and pilot. The pilot, Grigory Pasynkov, held the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Photographed in December 1944, in the St Petersburg region of Russia

2011 Goodwood Revival, row of Spitfires
2011 Goodwood Revival Meeting, row of Spitfire Aircraft

Evacuees at Paddington Station in 1939
This moving image of evacuees making their way along platform 4 at Paddington Station was also taken during the 4 day evacuation of London and other major cities in September 1939

Child evacuees on Maidenhead station, 1939
An image of a group of child evacuees from the East End of London on Maidenhead station in Berkshire in 1939

Bomb damage to locomotives at Newton Abbot Station, 1940
On 20th August 1940 Newton Abbot Station was attacked by three German planes. This image shows the devastation that was caused by both bomb damage and extensive machine gun fire

Daily Mail Front Page 9th June 1944, reporting the progress of the D-Day landings

Mogul locomotive No. 8314 with bomb damage in 1941
A 4300 Mogul locomotive, No. 8314, lies amongst the debris following an air raid in Weymouth on 17th January 1941. Star Class locomotive, Princess Charlotte

GWR fire brigade at Paddington Station taking part in a drill, c. 1940
This image shows members of the GWR fire brigade at Paddington Station taking part in a drill. Training was an important part of fire fighting and kept employees prepared in case of an emergency

Bomb Damage at Royal Oak near Paddington c. 1940
Bomb damage to stations was inevitable after the sustained air attacks by the German Luftwaffe in late 1940 and early 1941

Life in the W. A. A. F. 1940
Life in the W.A.A.F. 1940. From Life in the W.A.A.F. booklet on the Womens Auxiliary Air Force (WaF), in Tucks Better Little Book series

Benito Mussolini, Italian fascist dictator, c1930s
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) Italian fascist dictator, often refered to as Il Duce addressing fascist youths on the occasion of the calling up of the conscripts of the 1911 class, about 560

Blouse made from a silk escape map, 1940s. Creator: Unknown
Blouse made from a silk escape map, 1940s. During World War II many materials were unavailable to the public because of government rationing

Londoners sheltering from a German air raid on a platform in Piccadilly Underground Station during the Blitz
6015286 Londoners sheltering from a German air raid on a platform in Piccadilly Underground Station during the Blitz, World War II, September 1940 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Women workers in the Permanent Way Dept at Reading, 1943
Three ladies from the Permanent Way Department are pictured here at Reading in April 1943 off-loading wooden blocks from a wagon

Workers riveting a locomotive boiler in V Boiler Shop c. 1942
In this image taken at Swindon Works sometime during the latter half of the war, three women are shown working on the riveting of a locomotive boiler in V Boiler Shop

USA S160 2-8-0 locomotive No. 1606 coupled to an ambulance train, 1942
Once the USA joined the war following the bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941 the GWR became involved in the provision of rolling stock for use by the American Army

Tanks being loaded onto Rectank flat wagons, c. 1940
Three tanks are being loaded onto Rectank flat wagons which were designed and built specifically for the movement of military vehicles by rail

Siphon G Wagon converted to ward car No. 3209 in 1943
By the spring of 1940 Britains railway companies had supplied 25 ambulance trains for use both at home and abroad. In September 1942 the government ordered a further 27 ambulance trains

Evacuees waiting outside the departure platform at Paddington in 1939
One of the very first war time roles that the GWR was engaged in was the evacuation of children from cities to the relative safety of the countryside

Bomb damage to Paddington Station in 1941
A view of the departure side of Paddington Station following the explosion of a parachute mine on 17th April 1941. A gaping hole can be seen to the right of the image where the station offices were

GWR Wartime Emergency Headquarters in Berkshire, 1940
A busy office scene pictured here in 1940. This office was part of the GWRs Emergency Headquarters located at Aldermaston, Berkshire

Matilda II tanks under construction at Swindon Work in 1941
In September 1941, three Matilda II tanks were photographed leaving AE shop on Rectank wagons. The tanks are incomplete and are presumably ready to be transported elsewhere for final assembly

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"World War II: A Glimpse into the Triumphs and Struggles of a Global Conflict" St. Paul's Survives: Amidst the chaos, London's iconic cathedral stands tall as a symbol of resilience during World War II. Winston Churchill's V for Victory Sign, 1942: The indomitable leader inspires hope with his iconic hand gesture, rallying nations against tyranny. Red Army Soldiers Raise Soviet Flag over Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, April 30, 1945: A powerful image captured by Vladimir Grebnev marks the end of Nazi rule and victory for the Allies. USA B-17 Bomber Aircraft Cockpit in Salinas, California: The nerve center where brave pilots embarked on perilous missions to secure freedom from above. The Renown, Ark Royal, and Sheffield c1939-1941 (1942): Unknown creators immortalize these mighty warships that played crucial roles in naval battles across oceans. Lancaster Bomber with Spitfire Fighter Planes at Goodwood Revival 2011: An awe-inspiring sight showcasing aerial prowess and teamwork during wartime aviation operations. Westland Lysander 1941: This mysterious aircraft served valiantly behind enemy lines as part of covert operations throughout World War II. LMS Coach No. 6204 Converted to an Ambulance Train Car in 1939: Witnessing humanity amidst conflict as medical personnel transformed trains into lifelines for wounded soldiers. Runway Perspective (Eric Ravilious) - 1941 (1944): Artist Eric Ravilious captures the essence of airfields where bravery took flight and dreams soared towards victory. Bomb Disposal Unit in Action: Unsung heroes risked their lives daily to defuse deadly explosives left behind by enemy forces—a testament to courage under fire. The 8th Army Commander Bernard Law Montgomery, 1942.