Author: Stew Ross

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Tommy, Fritz, and Ivan

The origins of slang names used for various combatants or combatant nations are acknowledged to be somewhat diffuse and shrouded by time. Today, many of the ethnic nicknames used during World War II are, rightfully, considered disparaging. The slang term for common British soldiers, “Tommy,” reportedly referred to a dying soldier named Private Thomas Atkins whose last words to the Duke of Wellington were, “It’s all right sir, all in a day’s work.” Slang names for Germans were numerous but one used during World War II was “Fritz.” This was the German pet form of Friedrich (the French used the slur, “Boche,” or hardhead). Germans and others used “Ivan” as the generic term for the Soviet foot and rifle soldier. It was a popular male name in Russia, especially for the ruling class (e.g., Ivan the Terrible).

Whether one was a Tommy, Fritz, or Ivan, the life of an ordinary soldier during war is a tough one. However, not all warrior lifestyles are the same. During World War II, of all the major combatant armies, I would say the Soviet soldier undoubtedly suffered through the hardest five years. Read More Tommy, Fritz, and Ivan

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The Last Train Out of Paris

Five years ago, I wrote a short blog entitled, The Last Train Out of Paris. I never heard from anyone about that blog until 19 June 2020 when Pat V. e-mailed me about her father, Squadron Leader (ret.) Stanley Booker, MBE. While my blog never mentioned any Allied airmen, it seems Stanley enjoyed reading it ⏤ he was one of 168 captured airmen on that last train out of Paris on 15 August 1944.

Flying Officer Stanley Booker. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Courtesy of Stanley Booker.
Flying Officer Stanley Booker. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Courtesy of Stanley Booker.
La Gare de Pantin. Original photo by anonymous. Photo scan by Poudou99 (postcard date prior to 1923). PD-Copyright Expired. Wikimedia Commons.
La Gare de Pantin. Original photo by anonymous. Photo scan by Poudou99 (postcard date prior to 1923). PD-Copyright Expired. Wikimedia Commons.
Deportees inside cattle car. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Courtesy of Stanley Booker.
Deportees inside cattle car. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Courtesy of Stanley Booker.

This has led to a lot of discussions over the past several months with Pat about her father’s war experiences. They live in the UK and Stanley is ninety-eight years young. The reason the story about these men didn’t make it into the original blog was, frankly, I didn’t know about it ⏤ well, now I do. One of Pat’s questions in her original e-mail was whether I knew about Jacques Désoubrie and who his German superior might have been. Her last words in the e-mail were “Can you help please?” I couldn’t resist and quickly entered yet another rabbit hole. Once I came up for air, I had Désoubrie’s story, an idea who he reported to, and I knew I had to repost the 2015 blog albeit in an expanded manner with an abbreviated story about Stanley’s experiences. Stanley wrote a privately published version of his wartime escapades and Pat is completing the book as well as expanding on his post-war exploits ⏤ Stanley’s interesting life didn’t just end with his eventual retirement from the Royal Air Force.

Stanley Booker (left) and Paul McCue (right). Paul, historian and author of “SAS Operation Bulbasket,” is visiting Stanley in his home. Photo by Carol Brown (August 2020). Courtesy of Paul McCue.
Stanley Booker (left) and Paul McCue (right). Paul, historian and author of “SAS Operation Bulbasket,” is visiting Stanley in his home. Photo by Carol Brown (August 2020). Courtesy of Paul McCue.

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