Introduction to 'Mostly World War 2'
'Mostly World War 2' is an online museum of artefacts from the 1939 - 1945 period, and other related objects of historical interest. These are items I've hoarded over the years and would now like to share on this website.
Where possible I also share whatever knowledge I may have about the artefacts, and any personal observations.
If you have any comments on the site please email me using the contact form lower down this page.
Background to 'Mostly World War 2'
I was raised on the war stories told by my grandparents and war films, Dad’s Army, ‘Allo ‘Allo and documentaries on the television.
The turning-point was when I was about 8 and I borrowed a book about the Second World War, reading it from cover to cover in one evening – that’s when I realised I was a bit involved with the subject.
Collecting
One day, probably around the time of reading that book, my mother brought home a periscope. She said it was the periscope from a Sherman tank. I don’t know where she got it from or what she was thinking when she decided to bring it home. And I have no idea whether it really is from a Sherman tank, but it definitely looks like the periscope from some kind of tank or armoured vehicle.
So that was the start of me collecting any objects related to war, but especially the Second World War.
History in General
If dead people could come back and tell their stories, then I’d take a front row seat in the audience. Unfortunately it’s up to the living to find out those stories of the people who’ve gone before us, and we have to rely on whatever evidence we can get hold of – primary sources like diaries, artefacts, photos, and secondary sources like historical books and documentaries.