Unknown Soldiers

A photograph of a soldier in tropical kit with a Desert Rat (7th Armoured Division) shoulder flash, found in a collection of North Africa campaign photographs at a militaria fair in Bovington. The soldier is standing beside a Crusader tank in a desert setting. Written on the back in faded pencil: "Tobruk, Feb 42" and what appears to be "Cpl. T. H——n, 4th CLY."

A small portrait photograph of a Soviet pilot in flying gear, found inside a Russian-language aviation manual purchased at a second-hand bookshop in London. The pilot wears the Order of the Red Star on his chest and appears to be in his late twenties. The photograph is of professional quality, possibly an official portrait. No name is written but a partial unit designation "176 GvI—" is stamped on the back.

A photograph of a military nurse in Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service uniform, found in a box of family photographs donated to a charity shop in Edinburgh. She is standing outside what appears to be a field hospital with canvas tents visible in the background. The setting suggests North Africa or Italy. Written on the back: "Sister M—, somewhere warm! Christmas 1943."

A group photograph found in a house clearance in Poole, Dorset, showing approximately 15 men in Commando green berets. The back of the photograph is stamped "Achnacarry 1943" — the location of the Commando Training Centre. One soldier in the front row has written initials "R.M." and a partial surname that appears to be "MacL—" in pencil. The men are in high spirits, suggesting this was taken during training rather than active operations.

Group photograph of six women in ATS uniform, found in a box of papers donated to a Cardiff charity shop. The women are standing in front of an anti-aircraft battery, likely in the Bristol area based on the background. One woman has been circled in pencil with the annotation "Mam" and a date: "1943." No other names or identification.

Portrait photograph of a Soviet Navy officer, found in a collection of Arctic Convoy memorabilia at an Edinburgh estate sale. The officer wears a Northern Fleet badge and what appears to be the Order of the Red Star. No identifying information except a photographer's studio stamp from Murmansk.

Studio portrait of a Polish airman in RAF uniform, found among papers at a Liverpool Polish community centre. The airman wears pilot's wings and the Poland badge on his shoulder. Written in Polish on the back: "Do zobaczenia po wojnie" (See you after the war). No name or date, but the uniform style suggests 1942-1943.

Photograph found in a Merchant Navy officer's kit bag at a Southampton antiques fair. Shows a young man in Merchant Navy officer's uniform, standing on the deck of a cargo vessel. Written on the back: "J.H., SS Dolington Court, 1942." The SS Dolington Court was sunk by U-boat in March 1943 with the loss of all hands.

Photograph of a Sikh soldier in British Indian Army uniform, found tucked inside a used copy of "Defeat into Victory" by Field Marshal Slim, purchased at a Birmingham second-hand bookshop. The soldier wears the badge of the 4th Indian Division. On the back: "Cassino, 1944." No name.

Wartime identity card and photograph of a young woman in WAAF uniform, found in a house clearance in Nottingham. The identity card is partially damaged by water, with only the surname "...ington" and service number partially legible. The photograph shows her standing next to a radar installation, suggesting she worked in air defence.

Medal group including Africa Star and Italy Star with a photograph of a lance corporal, found at a Glasgow flea market. The soldier wears Scots Guards insignia. The medals are unnamed (as was common for campaign medals), and the photograph has no inscription. He appears to be standing in desert terrain, possibly North Africa.

Remains of a Home Guard volunteer discovered during building demolition work in East London in 2019. The body was found in the rubble of a building destroyed during the Blitz in 1940. Identity could not be established as no personal effects survived. Analysis suggests a male aged 50–65. Home Guard records for the East London area were partially destroyed in the Blitz itself.

Identity disc fragment recovered from the wreck of a Wellington bomber at the bottom of Loch Ness, Scotland. The aircraft crashed during a training flight in 1942. Two crew members were recovered and identified but a third remains missing. Underwater surveys have been conducted but the depth and visibility make recovery extremely difficult.

Photograph of a young woman in SOE-style civilian clothing found among declassified files at the National Archives. The image appears to show a female agent, possibly in occupied France. No name or identification number on the photograph. SOE records are incomplete and several female agents remain unaccounted for.

An unidentified Merchant Navy engineer found in a lifeboat that drifted ashore near Cardigan Bay, Wales, in early 1943. The lifeboat contained the bodies of four men, three of whom were identified from their papers. The fourth man had no identification. He was buried in the local churchyard with full naval honours.

A Soviet sailor's photograph found inside a Russian-language Bible at a church in Glasgow used by Russian and Eastern European communities during the war. The photograph shows a young man in Soviet Navy uniform. Written on the back in Russian: "Remember me." No name or other identifying information. The Bible may have belonged to an Arctic convoy sailor.

An unidentified member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service killed when a V-1 flying bomb struck a barracks area in Croydon, South London, in August 1944. Several ATS women were killed in the attack and some remains could not be individually identified. ATS service records for the Croydon detachment have been partially recovered from the National Archives.

A Polish airman killed when his training aircraft crashed near RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire, in 1943. Records from the Polish Air Force in exile are incomplete for this period. The grave in the local churchyard is marked only with a Polish eagle emblem and the date of death. The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum may hold additional records.

An Indian Army soldier who died of wounds at a military hospital in Birmingham in 1943, having been evacuated from North Africa. Hospital admission records were partially destroyed in a fire. The grave marker at Lodge Hill Cemetery indicates he served with an Indian infantry regiment but his name and regiment number are unrecorded.

Photograph of an RAF navigator found at a Wellington bomber crash site near Inverness, Scotland. Dog tags were too badly damaged to read. Coastal Command anti-submarine patrol records suggest the aircraft was on a training flight. The aircraft serial number has been partially traced but crew manifest records are incomplete for this squadron in 1942.

Body of an unidentified merchant seaman washed ashore near Scarborough, Yorkshire, in November 1941. Wearing a Merchant Navy jumper with no identifying marks. Likely from a convoy vessel torpedoed in the North Sea. Local burial records indicate approximate age 25–35. Several convoys lost ships in the area during autumn 1941.

A Canadian soldier killed during the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, whose remains were repatriated to Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Unit shoulder titles suggest 3rd Canadian Infantry Division but identity could not be confirmed. DNA comparison efforts are ongoing with Canadian veterans' families through the Canadian Department of National Defence.

Remains believed to belong to a crew member of HMS Thunderbolt (formerly HMS Thetis), which was sunk in the Mediterranean in March 1943 with the loss of all 63 hands. A body recovered off the coast of Sicily was buried in a Commonwealth war grave but never positively identified. Naval records list all crew by name but physical identification was not possible.

Leather-bound diary from 1944 written by a Royal Navy officer on Arctic Convoy duty. Describes extreme cold, U-boat alerts, and reaching Murmansk. Mentions "Edinburgh" as home and wife "Jean" and daughter "Fiona." No name on diary. Found at an Edinburgh antique fair in 2020.