Historical Military Units

World War era soldiers, naval units, and training exercises depicted in classic black-and-white photographs showcasing military life.

Anefo photo collection. Roosendaal Bennet is getting green beret. December 23, 1952

The Royal Navy during the Second World War One of the units of the Royal Navy's Coast Watch. A team of sailors who are dedicated to the defense of the coast and establishments therin. They are dressed, unusually, in army khaki battledress but with naval caps and leggings. They are being paraded before taking up their positions.

Anefo photo collection. Landmines clear at Hoek van Holland. Series of land mines clear at Hoek van Holland. German anti-personnel Glass mine (stained glass 43). August 1945. Hoek van Holland

Tank-Top Lesson For The Duke Of Kent - With other young Army officers, the Duke of Kent, newly commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys, sits (lowest figure at right) on top of a Centurion School, Lulworth, Dorset, today (Thursday). September 1, 1955. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Anefo photo collection. Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven in military service at the Air Force in Breda, Mr. Pieter during exercise. April 27, 1966. Breda

Royal Air Force Flying Training Command, 1940-1945. Aircrew cadets, carrying their newly-issued bedding, march into a billet after their arrival at No. 21 Initial Training Wing, Torquay, Devon.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Creation of cross-brigade in Tangerang. A soldier shares notes. February 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Tangerang

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Operation TORCH: Squadron Leader R 'Raz' Berry (third from left), the Commanding Officer of No. 81 Squadron RAF, with some of his pilots at Maison Blanche, Algeria, after flying in from Gibraltar to commence operations on the first day of the invasion.

Anefo photo collection. Departure Korea volunteers with the American troop transport ship 'General J.H. McRae '. March 31, 1951. Rotterdam

Second World War. Holland. Wehrmacht members on a freight wagon before departure to the Eastern Front

Anefo photo collection. Roosendaal Bennet is getting green beret. December 23, 1952

Anefo photo collection. Capitulation: Harskamp camp where SS people and countrykeepers are convenient. A "Bühne" was built in Kamp Harskamp, where a few performances per day are given and for the comrades. Singers and musicians bring their number for a large audience (addiction Anefo). June 1945. Gelderland, Harskamp

Naval Stoker on Treechery Charges -- One of the witnesses at the Court Martial hides his face as he is escorted from the court-room at Portsmouth to-day (Wednesday).Stoker Henry Herbert Rose faced three charges at a Portsmouth Court Martial to-day (Wednesday) of traitorously giving intelligence to the Germans while a prisoner of-war. March 20, 1946.

The new Greek Policeman are taking the oath. March 25, 1947.

British 2nd Army Front: The Advance to Venlo.British Infantry men halt for a rest, a chat and a smoke on their way to an advanced position. January 22, 1945. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

Anefo photo collection. Groups Kamp Zeeburg soldiers. January 25, 1951

Jets Prepare For Record Bid -- Group Captain E.M. Donaldson (lower right) puts fingers of his ears as he checks over the note of one of the jet units installed to-day (Tuesday) in the Meteor which he will use in his attempt on the world speed record. The R.A.F. High Speed Flight, led by group captain E.M. Donaldson, is awaiting favorable weather for its attack on the world speed record of 606-25 m.p.h. Mechanics have been hard at work at Tangmere Aerodrome, near Chichester, Sussex, fitting the specially-prepared Rolls-Royce gas turbine engines into the Gloster Meteors which will be used for the attempt over a three-kilo-metre course off Littlehampton. August 13, 1946.

Anefo photo collection. Army Army Anefo London series. Army 628 Inspection Officers Western Command 6 Pndrs Issued Dutch Forces. Dutch army camp Wolverhampton. British authorities visit Dutch camp. Inspection officers western command 6 ponders available Dutch armed forces. July 1943. Britain

Anefo photo collection. Three-day military exercise for the 43th Infantry Regiment of the Harskamp. Generaal Hasselman. July 30, 1957. Harskamp

"Pistol-Packing" Wrafs - Three of the competitors in the pistol shoot - L. to R:- A.C.W. Harding of Norwich; A.C.W. Turner of Argyllshire and Sergeant Hiland of Eire. Sergeant Stockley of Preston is acting as observer. For the first time, members of the W.R.A.F. competed at the annual meeting of the R.A.F. Small Arms Association at Bisley this week-end. Teams were entered for rifle and pistol events. June 13, 1949.

Camouflage -- Troops of the East Lancashire Regiment are now undergoing their training. Here are two of the men, complete with Tommy gun and camouflaged helmets, during their manoeuvres. April 04, 1941. (Photo by Fox Photos).

Anefo photo collection. 320 Squadron RAF Coastal Command, staffed Marine Aviation service, stationed RAF Basic Lechars Fife Scotland, exploration flights, land-sea rescue work, convoying offensive attacks enemy territory period October 1940 - December 1941 . Ride bomb train, preparation load Hudson bomber. 1941. Britain, Scotland

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

A marine unit (QPO-1), which may leave to Cyprus, assumed the exercise site of the Van Braam Houckgeestkazerne (VBHKAZ) in Doorn. The commander of the Marines, General Major of the Mariniers (Genmajmarns) J.G.M. Nass inspects the unit.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Shipping from the U-Brigade from Batavia to Padang (4th series). Distribute Dutch soldiers in camouflage packs. The soldier left does something on his shoulder (Mortier? Flame thrower?) On his shot a bag with a bamboo stick a flag. November 1946. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Padang, Sumatra

Poll photo collection. Prince Bernhard visits Dutch troops on their army base in Great Britain during the Second World War. Prince Bernhard in conversation with officers. 1940. Great Britain

Poll photo collection. Jewish working village Wieringermeer. Fire brigade in the Jewish work village in the Wieringermeer. 1936. Noord-Holland, Wieringermeer

Anefo photo collection. Capitulation: Wageningen. Preparations and negotiations to the capitulation in Wageningen. Arrival of Prince Bernhard. May 5, 1945. Gelderland, Wageningen

Anefo photo collection. Amersfoort Decoration 88 Officers Army. January 21, 1953. Amersfoort

Anefo photo collection. Funeral officer administration Second class Jac Capteyn. August 5, 1947

Anefo photo collection. General Curls visits officer and petty officers training camp in Bloemendaal. February 22, 1946. Bloemendaal

Photo collection of anefo. Unknown. Dijkstraat at Old Ouer aan Tjeukemeer; Soldiers carry sand pockets. December 19, 1965. Friesland, Tjeukemeer

Allied Soldiers Like London and London Likes Them- Overseas Troops in England, 1940 Three Czech soldiers walk down a street, somewhere in London in 1940.

Mr. Forde tries out a Bren gun. January 8, 1942.

Auxiliary Territorial Service, 1940 Inspection of members of the 1st Cornwall Company, Auxiliary Territorial Service, of by Company Commander, Mrs Blair, on 1 March 1940.

University College Nottingham - Sergeant Instructors of the Army Educational Corps, 5th A.A. Group, outside Lenton Burst, a separate building of the College reserved for Adult Education. It is at present - as during the war - used as a residential educational centre for members of the Services. January 12, 1949. (Photo by Tom Blau, Camera Press).

Anefo photo collection. Jan de Bruin in training. April 19, 1951

Anefo photo collection. Front Noord-Oost Nederland: Enschede - Hengelo Battle and Liberation Achterhoek (1 April 1945), Enschede (April 1, 1945), Hengelo (3 April 1945). British tank crew celebrates the victory. April 3, 1945. Enschede, Hengelo, Overijssel, Twente

German Prisoners aboard Coast Guard-manned Transport. Meal tickets in hand, these Nazi prisoners mount the gangplank of a Coast Guard-manned troop transport in an unidentified Allied port. They're bound for an internment camp in the United States which will be "home" for them until the war is over. Coast Guard Lieut. Frederick J. Evans, Jr., of Battlecreek, Mich., looks on in the rear.

Ministry of Information First World War Official Collection Interior of a money changing box at a London Terminus

Anefo photo collection. Exercise competitions Royal Netherlands Army in Utrecht. March 6, 1956. Utrecht

Holiday Parade - It's the last parade before the Easter holiday for cadets at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and they go swinging in fine style past Admiral Sir Henry Pridham Whipple, who took the salute at the March past. April 02, 1947. (Photo by Mirror Features).

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Inspection requirement General P.L.G. Doorman 2e part Grote Oost (October 1946). consultation between soldiers and nurse at the ambulance. October 1946. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Soldiers, circa 1917, by Len Casbolt.

Anefo photo collection. NATO exercise "Atlantic Lion" visited by Queen Beatrix in West Germany. Queen Beatrix in conversation with soldiers. September 21, 1983. Germany

Anefo photo collection. Queen Beatrix reveals a monument in memory of died Jews in WO-II in the garden of the town hall in Rotterdam. Police monitoring for the Rotterdam town hall. October 27, 1981. Rotterdam, South Holland

"Let's Get Cracking", Say The Korea Commandos - Laughing and joking, the Royal Marine Commandos who are going to Korea, line up at Bickleigh, near Plymouth, for their inoculations. As each one moved along yesterday to be "jabbed" he gave a smart "eyes left" to a beautiful hula-hula girl-pinned to the 38th Parallel on a map of Korea. After a few days' leave, the Commandos will fly out to Korea - in civilian clothes, because the planes may have to land for re-fuelling in non-British territory. "But we shan't wear bowlers, striped trousers nor hunting checks," said Lieutenant B.J. Ovens. "More likely it will be just plain lounge suits. We shall have to put the hunting gear in mothballs till we return." All the commandos are veterans. As they waited in the inoculation queue they talked about anything but the war. Corporal Bill Smith, 25, of Newcastle-On-Tyne, said simply: "It is just a job to be done. That's all there is to it. The chaps are looking forward to getting there." 'Let's get th

Anefo photo collection. Princess Irene Brigade in France. Princess Irene Brigade in Normandy. 1945. France, Normandy

Anefo photo collection. Princess Juliana returns with her three daughters from Canada in liberated the Netherlands. Tea is served. August 2, 1945. Gelderland, Teuge

Anefo photo collection. Military Training Camp in Bloemendaal (Visit General Curls). February 25, 1946. Bloemendaal, Noord-Holland

US Troops in An English Village- Everyday Life With the Americans in Burton Bradstock, Dorset, England, UK, 1944 At the American camp at Burton Bradstock, Gunner Paddy Donaldson (from Belfast), a member of a small searchlight unit billeted nearby, tries his hand at the game of 'horseshoes' in the sunshine. His partner for the game, T/4 Johnny Madaro (of 3740 77th Street, Jackson Heights, Long Island, New York) looks on. Behind them, the Nissen huts in which many of the American troops are billeted can be clearly seen. The original caption states that 'the two armies soon made friends, visit each other's camps, eat together, play games'.

Ex-postman Delivers the Guns- Merchant Navy Training in Britain, 1942 William Charles Piper and his ship mates pull hard on the oars during a rowing lesson as part of their training at the Royal Navy Training Establishment for Merchant Seamen. This photograph was almost certainly taken at HMS GORDON at Gravesend in Kent.

The Story of a Royal Marine. during January 1943, Royal Marine Barracks, Stone House, Plymouth. the Story of Richard D Emerson. Back in the barracks again after being aboard, Emerson is now old enough to transfer to ranks and begin training as a Marine recruit. Jumping off the assault course wall during training.

French Army Prepared for Defense (Magazine Unit Story). Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Pay Day on Board the Battleship, HMS Howe. November 1942. Collecting the empty pay envelopes for further use.

New Rifle Drill For British Army - "The Old and the New" on the left is the lefthanded salute with the new rifle at the shoulder arms, in contrast with the right-handed salute with the old rifle at the "slope" (seen on right).A demonstration of proposed alterations in drill caused by the adoption of the self-loading Belgian F.N. 30 rifle for the British Army, was given at the School of Infantry at Warminster, Wiltshire.The drill was demonstrated by squads of the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment and recruits form the Guards Depot, Caterham, Surrey. December 13, 1954.

Princess Alice - Countess of Athlone to Finland. 20 members of the first aid nursing yeomanry headed by Miss Mary Runciman, niece of Baron Runciman, are shortly to leave for finland where they will take command of an Ambulance unit. January 19, 1940. (Photo by Universal Pictorial Press & Agency)

Two New Zealand soldiers with rifles black-and-white negatives, Nitrate negatives

Muslim Community- Everyday Life in Butetown, Cardiff, Wales, UK, 1943.

London Afs- Men of the Auxiliary Fire Service in London, C 1940 A group of Auxiliary Firemen pose for the camera on a pile of rubble after a 'shout' somewhere in London. Left to right standing: Paul Dessau, Norman Hepple, R H Betts and Leonard Rosoman. In the middle: Bernard Hailstone and Matvyn Wright. Seated front row: Robert Coram, Richard Southern, and Brian Montagnol Gilks.

Members Of The 439Th Troop Carrier Group Leave The Briefing Room At An Air Base Somewhere In England. 29 May 1944.

Anefo photo collection. Repatriation center in Eindhoven. Eindhoven airport. A man speaks with injured or sick stretchers. 1945. Eindhoven

Second World War. For billeting. Soviet Union. Relatives of the German Wehrmacht when celebrating outdoors. Group picture with accordion player

Anefo photo collection. Destruction: Zeeland Visit from the British minister Attee to the vandalism and inundations on Walcheren. Vlissingen. Some Allied officers from the company of the minister. March 1945. Vlissingen, Walcheren, Zeeland

Montgomery Visits His Troops Advancing On Osnabruck -- Picture taken when field Marshal Montgomery was visiting British troops of 21 army group during their advance from coasfield to Osnabruck, entered on April 3rd. The c-in-c with Major General H.L. Bols, Commander of the 6th British Airborne Division, (second from left). with them is Brigadier James Hill, commanding a paratroop Brigade (Left) and Lieutenant General Sir Miles C. Dempsey. G. C.C. British second army. April 29, 1945. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

Ministry of Information First World War Official Collection Five girls entering a building where a fire has started.

Anefo photo collection. Prince Bernhard leads army exercise Alarm I on the Veluwe Prins Bernhard for the Staftent. December 11, 1959. Gelderland, Veluwe

Anefo photo collection. Visit from Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana to "Oranjaven" - Club for Englandvaarders. September 1944. Great Britain, London

New Zealand soldiers on the Cassino Front, Italy, record messages to be broadcast home, April 1944

The Polish Army in the North-west Europe Campaign, 1944-1945 Polish soldiers in Holland sharing their rations with Dutch children. Children waiting for their turn while tankmen of the 1st Polish Armoured Division receive food rations somewhere on the Tilburg Front.

North Africa Operations. 12 November 1942, British Troop Convoy Beaches at Bougie, Algeria. A boatload of British troops in a landing craft off Bougie, Algeria.

French civilians work for Allies -- A French civilian shows his identification papers to an American soldier as he signs on for work to help repair roads and clear up areas in Cherbourg. Allied repair crews follow behind the armies as the Nazis are driven from Normandy. September 18, 1944. (Photo by New York Times Photo).

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Flight Lieutenant A Carey, Captain of Handley Page Halifax Mark II, 'B for Beer', of No. 102 Squadron RAF, leads his crew to the interrogation room at Pocklington, Yorkshire on their return from a night raid on Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. The raid of 4/5 October 1943 was the first serious attack on Frankfurt, causing widespread destruction in the eastern half of the city and in the docks on the River Main.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve posing for the camera on board HMS SHELDRAKE. Left to right: Sub Lieutenant P S Topping, RNVR; Lieutenant T C Harrison, RNVR, Commanding Officer; Lieutenant N M Boyd, RNVR, Gunnery Officer; Sub Lieutenant C F Pace, RNVR. This corvette has done most of her war service commanded by officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and has therefore earned the title 'the RNVR ship'. She is adopted by Sleaford and District.

Anefo photo collection. South of the Netherlands. Report on the dangers of mines and abandoned ammunition for children playing. Speeches from fire brigade and police to the children. Encons of accidents. 24 December 1945. Southern Netherlands

The Reconstruction of 'an Incident'- Civil Defence Training in Fulham, London, 1942 A young boy is carried away from the scene of the incident by a Warden, after being rescued by Civil Defence workers. Behind them, Civil Defence workers carry out stretcher cases and search the building for any survivors trapped inside, including the boy's mother, who is buried under rubble to the right of the photograph. This photograph was taken on Edith Villas.

Anefo photo collection. 1953 flood plates. Collection of photo collection Anefo, photo number 905-5456. 11 February 1953

Anefo photo collection. Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard visiting 4th division of the Royal Netherlands Army. Load wound in helicopter. September 27, 1961

The Polish Air Force in the United Kingdom, 1939-1947. The first four Polish recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross No 303 Polish Fighter Squadron RAF, wearing their awards after a presentation ceremony by Air Marshal W Sholto-Douglas at Leconfield, Yorkshire. Left to right: Squadron Leader Witold Urbanowicz Pilot Officer Jan Zumbach Pilot Officer Mirosaw Feri Flying Officer Zdzisaw Henneberg

Aussies Descend Upon London - Up in London on leave - a member of the Australian force now in this country, asking his way of a London policewoman today. August 11, 1940.

Anefo photo collection. Funeral of Leeuwen Assen. December 24, 1947. Assen

Anefo photo collection. Departure 74 quarters of Schiphol to Lebanon. DUTCHBAT Soldiers posing for the plane. February 27, 1979. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Suez Crisis - 1956 - War File - Egypt. August 1, 1955.

A group of soldiers gets on the new Alexanderkazerne in The Hague Wapesles about disappointing the bright machine gun.

Ministry of Information First World War Official Collection

Repeat exercises from the Mariniers corps in the Veluwe in the Elspeet area. Discussion in the field between the journalist of the Havenloods, Colonel der Mariniers (Kolmarns) G.K.R. Roos and Major der Mariniers (Majmarns) Fokke Huisman. In the Rotterdam newspaper De Havenloods from 10 October 1963 a pageroot article appeared on these repeat exercises.

The Royal Air Force Regiment, 1942-1945. A squad of airmen undergoing instruction in machine gun drill with a Lewis Gun at No. 2 RAF Regiment School, Whitley Bay, Northumberland.

Poll photo collection. War volunteers in Malacca and Indonesia. The funeral of Sergeant R. Hannink, 1st Compagnie I Regiment Hunters in Tjililitan. April 7, 1946. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Tjililitan

Anefo photo collection. MOC HILVERSUM. Sailors group with helmets. September 23, 1948. Hilversum

10/31/1914. The Germans in Belgium. A couple of Soldiers from the territorial reserve Buying Fruit in Brussels. Photo: Berliner Illustrations -Approximate date.

Anefo photo collection. Total order victims airline accident in Voorhout. Casting Baar. November 11, 1948. Voorhout, South Holland

British Labour Leader In Spanish Firing Line -- Crouching under the Earthwork of the Spanish Government Trenches, Mr. C.R. Attlee is seen with soldiers engaged in the Defence of Madrid. Mr. Attlee is seen on left.Mr.C.R.Attlee leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, who has been touring Spain at the invitation of the Government, arrived back in London today with other members of the British Labour Delegation to Spain. October 10, 1937. (Photo by Keystone).

Tuskegee Airmen Leaving Parachute Room, Left to right: Richard S. Harder, Brooklyn, NY, Class 44-B; Unidentified Airman; Thurston L. Gaines, Jr., Freeport, NY, Class 44-G; Newman C. Golden, Cincinnati, OH, Class 44-G; Wendell M. Lucas, Fairmont Heights, MD, Class 44-E, Ramitelli, Italy, Toni Frissell, March 1945

War Prison exchange during World War II.

US Troops in An English Village- Everyday Life With the Americans in Burton Bradstock, Dorset, England, UK, 1944 Pfc John J Lawson (of 144 Pike Street, Port Jervis, New York), Pfc Robert S Hastings (of 622 Orange Avenue, Azusa, California), T/5 Leo H Pearson (of 105 Buffalo Street, Springville, New York) and Corporal Roland Henry (of 'Walthernmont, Holland, Pennsylvania) look on as Mrs Annie Northover uses a wooden needle to braid nets on the doorstep of her cottage in Burton Bradstock, Dorset. According to the original caption, net braiding is 'an old established local industry. Before the war they made billiard table pockets, sports nets. Today they make camouflage nets for the Services'.

Group with soldiers, circa 1917, by Len Casbolt.

Anefo photo collection. New uniform for the roadside assistance, links uniform for hot days, also overcoat in rain. May 14, 1968

Ministry of Information First World War Official Collection R. A. M. C. Sergeants setting their watches by an Italian sundial.

Armed exercise on the Alexanderkazerne in The Hague.

State Railways, SJ: Personnel in Torpshammar.

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