6th Airborne Division

Colonel John Waddy: Preparations for D-Day Spring 1944

Colonel John Waddy: Palestine with the 6th Airborne Division 1945

Colonel John Waddy: Counter-Insurgency Operations in Palestine 1946-8

Major-General Deane-Drummond describes his escape from Arnhem

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Map of 6th Airborne Division Plan in Caen

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Map of Palestine (1: 250,000)

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Map of Convoy Routes in Palestine (Ratio 1: 500,000)

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General Gale's Horsa glider in Normandy at landing zone W.

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Many parachutes and a a Horsa glider landing north-east of Caen.

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Anti-glider posts in Caen.

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Operation Rob Roy, the re-supply operation on 7th June on drop zone N.

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Group photo of those who won medals at Normandy with Montgomery. 1/9/1944.

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Commandos of 1st Special Service Brigade with captured Germans

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Airborne troops talk to French civilians between Ranville and Amfreville.

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Airborne troops help put out a tank fire.

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British troops engaged with enemy troops in fight for Caen bridges.

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Four paratroopers stand with a burned out Hotchkiss tank chassis.

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Gliders cross the Channel above ships of the Royal Navy.

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Members of 6th Airborne Division outside Breville church.

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Message reminding military staff not to discuss operations with outsiders.

Letter from Maj-Gen Gale to Lt-Gen Browning about parachute training support troops.

Points raised at Overlord planning meeting including battle dress and leave.

Minutes of conference planning Operation Overlord.

Gale's take on conduct of battle including tactics, care of men and equipment.

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Gliders on landing zone near Ranville.

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Gale addresses men of 6th Airborne Division.

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Airborne soldiers load a Horsa glider.

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Map of 6th Airborne Division on D-Day.

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Aerial photo showing Ranville and landing zone N.

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Secret D-Day briefing photo for RAF aircrews for Ops Tonga and Mallard.

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Airborne troops load bikes into a glider for Normandy landing.

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6th Airborne Division admin plan for Operation Overlord, part 1.

6th Airborne Division admin plan for Operation Overlord, part 2.

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Ariel view of parachutes on drop zone at dawn on D-Day.

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Aerial view of drop zone N covered with gliders.

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6 Airborne Division operation instructions no. 1, part 1.

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Aerial photo showing gliders on landing zone N.

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Map showing HQ 3 Parachute Brigade and 8th Parachute Battalion.

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Map showing 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

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Map showing general area of operations from June 5th-August 16th 1944.

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Map showing positions of 12th Parachute Battalion in Normandy.

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Operation instruction about chemical warfare in Operation Overlord.

List of requirements for SAS troops.

Instructions about the holding of rum by units.

Report on operations of 6 Airborne Division on D-Day and day after.

Napier Crookenden's memories of D-Day.

Appreciation of the situation by Brigadier Kindersley.

Special instructions for Major J Drummond.

Special instructions for Major M Derrell-Brown.

Kindersley's rousing final instructions before Operation Overlord.

6th Airborne Divison prepares for Normandy

6th Airborne Division in Normandy (resupply and other scenes).

6th Airborne Division Report on Operation Overlord, part 1.

6th Airborne Division Report on Operation Overlord, part 2.

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Aerial photos of Merville Battery.

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Aerial photos of Merville Battery.

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Aerial photos of Merville Battery.

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Role of conscientious objectors with the RAMC in the assault on Normandy.

Record of 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, 5-14 June 1944.

3rd Parachute Brigade's story and personal experience of D-Day.

Instructions issued to 3 Parachute Brigade commander from Maj-Gen Gale.

Personal accounts of Normandy operations by 5 Parachute Brigade.

Appreciation of an attack on a Battery.

Appreciation of situation and 3 Parachute Bde operation orders by James Hill.

Report on Operation Tonga.

Main ops from Tarrant Rushton airfield in 1944/1945.

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Photos shows Pegasus Bridge, German anti-tank gun and Gondree cafe.

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Aerial photo showing assault party gliders.

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Group photo of HQ 6 Airborne Division Royal Engineers prior to Normandy.

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Report on 6 AB Div engineers on D-Day.

War diary for 6 AB Division medics on D-Day and aftermath.

Pre D-Day inspection by 6th Airborne Division Commander Maj-General Gale

Pre exercise speech by Maj-General Gale to 6th Airborne Division

Pre Normandy Training: Typical briefing using sand table model

Lt-Col Ken Mead decribes the preparations for D-Day

Tony Leake describes hearing the amphibious assault on D-Day

Eric Richard describes the training for D-Day and inter-divisional rivalry

Dennis Edwards describes his fear prior to emplaning for D-Day

Dennis Edwards describes fighting German tanks

Dennis Edwards describes the relief at the last moment when sea-borne reinforments arrive

Lt-Col Ken Mead decribes the glider take-off for D-Day

Parachute insertion into Pre D-Day exercise including drop.

Troops advance under live fire of 3-inch mortar during pre D-Day exercise

Extraction of troops under tough conditions during training

6th Airborne Division at Pegasus Bridge

Troubled operations in Palestine

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Aerial view of Ardennes battle sector.

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British troops move north from Echt and a crocodile flame-thrower in action.

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Field Marshal Montgomery visits 6th Airborne Division in the Ardennes.

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Recce patrol of B Coy, 9th Parachute Battalion near Maiche.

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Recce patrol of B Coy, 9th Parachute Battalion near Marche-en- Famenne, 1945.

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A patrol comes under enemy mortar fire.

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Members of 6th Airborne Division don white camo suits before patrolling.

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Lance Corporal Newton searching for enemy mines in the snow. January 1945

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Only survivor of the Bande atrocity talks to Sgt Lawrie of 6th AB Division.

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British Paras lift coffins of civilians executed in the Bande atrocity.

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Final check of maps before assault across the Rhine.

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Aerial photo showing aircraft dropping parachutes carrying containers before men drop.

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Aerial photos showing Dakota with right engine on fire.

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Montgomery and his Russian conterpart Rokossovsky in Wismar, May 1945.

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Montgomery and his Russian counterpart Rokossovsky in Wismar, May 1945.

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A Horsa glider is unloaded on the landing zone of the Rhine Crossing operation.

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Halifaxes tow Horsa gliders over the French coast.

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British Airborne troops with a Russian telegraphist near Wismar.

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Gliders on the ground after airborne landing in the area of Hamminkeln.

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Aerial photo of Rhine battle area taken on April 18th, 1945.

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Aerial photo of Issel Bridge, objective of 6 Airlanding Brigade in Rhine Crossing.

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Gliders on the ground after the British airborne landing in Rhine battle area.

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Gliders on the ground after the British airborne landing in the Rhine battle area.

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Aerial photo of the River Rhine and surrounding land.

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Large scale Rhine reheasal. Dakotas fly over drop zone dropping troops and supplies.

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Glider pilots with German prisoners near Hamminkeln railway station, March 1945.

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A British para takes the details of one of the first Germans taken prisoner in the Rhine operations.

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Group photo of J section Signals, 3rd Parachute Brigade in Wismar May 1945.

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Royal Ulster Rifles (6th Airborne) on the banks of the river Issel.

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Two British airborne men by the sign for Hamminkeln the day the took the town.

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Two British airborne men by the sign for Hamminkeln the day they took the town.

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Soldier receiving treatment in an airborne dressing station. March 25th, 1945.

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German POW receives treatment at an airborne dressing station in a German village.

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A British paratrooper looks out of the window as his Dakota approaches Germany.

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Paratrooper looks contemplative in a Dakota aircraft en route to the Rhine.

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Group photo of Montgomery, Maj-Gen Bols and members of the division. January1945.

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Montgomery talks to Maj-Gen Bols, Brig Flavell, Brig Hill and Brig Poett. January 1945.

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Radio operators at 6th Airborne Divisional headquarters.

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Troops go into action after their gliders have landed during operation in the Rhine.

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A burned-out Horsa glider near Hamminkeln during the Rhine crossing.

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Under a parachute draped over telephone wires, a paratrooper carries a wounded man to aid.

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Inside of camoflaged chemical factory near Melbeck, Germany. April 1945.

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Inside of camouflaged chemical factory near Melbeck, Germany. April 1945.

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Paratroopers commandeer civilian transport for push from Rhine.

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Airborne signaller at his post under a camoflaged parachute.

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Airborne signaller at his post under a camouflaged parachute.

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Airborne troops prepare to make a dash into the burning village of Hamminkeln. March 1945.

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Brigadier James Hill, commander of 3rd Parachute Brigade during the Rhine Crossing.

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Hamminkeln railway station on D-day plus one. March 25th 1945.

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5th Parachute Brigade listen to Field Marshal Montgomery at HQ near Osnabruck, 1945.

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Gliders try to land through smoke of a German barn while under enemy fire.

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6th Airborne Division Operation Order for Rhine Crossing.

Narrative of Operation Varsity.

Report on the Rhine Crossing from the New York Herald Tribune.

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Map showing 6th Airborne Divisions route from the Rhine to the Baltic.

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5 Parachute Brigade Operations during Rhine Crossing.

6th Airborne Division intelligence summary for Operation Varsity.

Synopsis of Operation Eclipse by Major Tony Hibbert.

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Blown up oil tanks north of Haifa 1947.

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Glider lands at airstrip near Tel Aviv, 1946.

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Member of 3rd Parachute Battalion takes illegal immigrant back on board ship at Haifa docks, 1947.

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View of Haifa taken from 6th Airborne Division Signals HQ.

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Pestell's wings presentation at Ramat David parachute school, Palestine 1947.

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Two paratroopers on security operations in Palestine.

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Air car contact unit in Palestine, 1947.

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Three members of B Coy, 3 PARA with Halifax. Palestine, 1946.

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Three members of B Coy, 3rd Parachute Battalion with Halifax. Palestine, 1946.

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Members of B Coy, 3 PARA. Sarafand, Palestine, November 1945.

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Members of B Coy, 3rd Parachute Battalion. Sarafand, Palestine, November 1945.

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Airborne soldiers help get immigrants ashore from illegal ship.

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Immigrant ship with plea from Jews to remain in Palestine.

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HQ 3rd Parachute Brigade, Nazareth, Palestine.

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Paratrooper faces camera with barbed wire and civilians in the background. Palestine 1948.

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Armoured cars of 6th AB Div await orders to begin patrols in Tel Aviv.

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Attempt to blow Lake Huleh/Lake Tiberius bridge, Palestine.

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Remains of car that blew up as police car was passing.

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Airborne soldiers take a rest while driving in Palestine.

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Group photo of men from 6th Airborne Division in Palestine.

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Maj-Gen Bols, Officer Commanding 6th Airborne Division with staff in Palestine.

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Group photo of 3 PARA outside billets in Palestine.

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Group photo of 3rd Parachute Battalion outside billets in Palestine.

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Four members of S Company, 3 PARA have a moment's rest in Haifa, 1947.

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Four members of S Company, 3rd Parachute Battalion have a moment's rest in Haifa, 1947.

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Group photo of HQ Company, 1st Royal Ulster Rifles, 1944

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Group shot of B Company, 8 PARA ouside billets in Palestine.

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Group shot of B Company, 8th Parachute Battalion outside billets in Palestine.

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Sgt Bill Williams from 3 PARA at a road block north of Haifa.

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Sgt Bill Williams from 3rd Parachute Battalion at a road block north of Haifa.

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Captain Bill Wilson, adjutant 3 PARA on refresher course Aquin, 1947.

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Captain Bill Wilson, adjutant 3rd Parachute Battalion on refresher course Aquin, 1947.

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A corporal brings a German light machine gun from the inside of a chicken hut, Palestine 1947.

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General Crocker talks to airborne soldiers in Palestine.

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General Crocker talks to a Paratrooper in Palestine.

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Paratroopers guard a huge arms cache found in a school basement in Tel Aviv.

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One paratrooper and two RAMC soldiers pose for the camera in Palestine, 1946.

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Group shot of 10 Platoon, T Company, 1 PARA in Palestine 1945.

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Group shot of 10 Platoon, T Company, 1st Parachute Battalion in Palestine 1945.

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Two paratroopers remove a box of mortar bombs from a huge arms cache found in Tel Aviv.

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Five paratroopers have a tea break on a cobbled street in Palestine.

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Three men of 3 PARA on King's Way, Haifa.

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Three men of 3rd Parachute Battalion on King's Way, Haifa.

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Airborne soldiers raise their drinks to the camera on Christmas Day in Palestine, 1946.

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Four airborne soldiers enjoy a drink in the platoon canteen. Palestine 1946.

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Nine members of 8 PARA get ready for cufew patrol in a camp outside Haifa. 1946/47.

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Nine members of 8th Parachute Battalion get ready for cufew patrol in a camp outside Haifa. 1946/47.

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Officers and men on a battalion training exercise in Palestine.

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Men being briefed for an exercise in Palestine, 1947.

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Soldier of 33rd Airborne Light Regiment, RA. Palestine, 1946.

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Airborne soldier reads IZL pamphlet found in waste ground in Haifa, 1948.

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Halifax aircraft turns to the DZ over Palestine, 1946.

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Shot of paratroopers just before emplaning at RAF Aquir, Palestine 1946.

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Shot of paratroopers just before emplaning at RAF Aqir, Palestine 1946.

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Shot of 1st Parachute Brigade Signallers before emplaning at RAF Aquir, 1946.

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Shot of 1st Parachute Brigade Signallers before emplaning at RAF Aqir, 1946.

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GOC 6th Airborne Division ground training in Palestine.

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Soldier practises simulated parachute landing at Ramat David parachute school, Palestine 1947.

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Post operation report on Operation Shark, part of operations in Palestine.

Curfew order for operations in Palestine.

Preliminary report on Operation Shark, part of operations in Palestine.

Report on arms caches found at Mesheq Yagur colony including diagrams.

Diary of events on operations in Palestine from May 1st-July 1st 1948.

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Guide map of Jerusalem.

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Information on British troops remaining in Palestine after Mandate terminates.

Report on Operation Agatha in Palestine, June 29th-July 1st 1946.

Defiant leaflet from a Jew of Tel-Aviv to men of 6th Airborne Division.

IZL leaflet from Tel-Aviv. December 1946.

Three contemporary news cuttings reporting operations in Palestine.

Facts about Palestine and map for British troops.

Propaganda leaflet from Jews in Palestine to British troops.

David Robinson discusses the organization of the PIAT anti-tank platoon, 1943-4

David Robinson discusses the preparation for D-Day, 6th June 1944

David Robinson discusses defending the Ranville drop zones after D-Day

David Robinson discusses the fighting for Hill 13, Putot-en-Auge, 20th Aug. 1944

D Robinson discusses fighting around Pont L’Eveque, 21st Aug. 1944

David Robinson discusses heavy casualties during the Normandy campaign

David Robinson discusses his experiences in the Ardennes, 1944-5

David Robinson discusses an attack on Bure, January 1945

David Robinson discusses experiences of street fighting in Bure, 1945

David Robinson discusses his experience of street fighting in Bure, 1945 (Continued)

David Robinson discusses jumping with 13th Parachute Battalion under fire

David Robinson discusses the 6th Airborne Division's advance to the Baltic

David Robinson discusses the link-up with the Russians at Wismar, May 1945

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Parachute Course - RAF Aqir

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Monty with Commanders from 6th Airborne Division

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Equipment for PPN1-1A Eureka Beacon

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The Sixth Airborne Division (a poem)

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Members of a Royal Artillery unit of 6th Airborne Division, Palestine

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Pte Kimber outside Lathburys caravan, circa 1946

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General Montgomery talks to Gen Gale and Brigadier Poett, 1944.

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6th Airborne Anniversary Service programme, Salisbury Cathedral, c1944.

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74 Field Hygiene Section, RAMC, 6 AB Div, Palestine, February 1946.

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5 Parachute Brigade HQ Orders. June 1944.

Message of congratulations from GOC to those involved in Op Shark, dated August 3rd 1946.

Mortar platoon diary for Operation Shark, commencing July 30th 1946.

Report on successful German firing methods in battle.

Text of German and Polish propaganda addresses.

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6th Airborne Division Summary of Information No. 1. Feb - May 1944.

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6th Airborne Division store requirements for Op Overlord.

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Appreciation of Signals for 6th Airborne Division. Op Overlord.

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Op Overlord Air & Military Operations Orders

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6th Airborne Division Stores Bids. Op Overlord.

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Op Overlord 6th Airborne Medical Operation Instructions

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Account of Operations 6th Airlanding Brigade. Op Overlord.

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RAF Ringway 28 August 1945

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Maj Gen Bols with family who owned farm used as 6th AB HQ 24-25 March 1945

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Bols And Ridgeway in Wiesmar March 1945

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Bols and Student at the 25th Anniversary of the Rhine Crossing

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Bols, Hill, Dempsey and Monty in Windak Smocks

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Pine Coffin, Darling, Bols, Luard, and Crawshaw (in kilt), Wismar

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First In Last Out exhibition 20 May 2022

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First In, Last Out Promotional Film