I am translating a new appeared in Infobae about an homage paid by the Argentine Congress to still living citizens who fought in WWII. Most of them are from British descent. This will be appreciated by the British members of this forum.
The representatives at the Argentine Congress have honored several Argentinean born veterans of WWII who fought in WWII.
They honored the Argentines who fought against the Nazis in World War II
73 years after the end of the war, the Chamber of Deputies of the Nation distinguished 17 of the 5 thousand Argentines who joined the allied forces to fight against the Axis powers
The event brought together ex-combatants and relatives
There they are, sitting in the front rows dressed for the occasion. With emotion, they follow the development of the act and await their turn, their moment. Then yes, one by one they are approaching - alone or with help - in front of the Hall of the Lost Steps, in the Congress of the Nation, the chosen stage to honor them. There are 17 of the Argentine heroes who fought in the Second World War and who 73 years after the end of the war had their deserved recognition.
During the global conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945, around 5 thousand Argentine volunteers joined the ranks of the allies. They served as state officers, artillerymen, formed part of covert and naval operations, among other tasks. Young people from all walks of life who traveled to the unknown and participated in all the battle fronts.
Today, a few survive. Some of them, descendants of English, Welsh, Creole, were distinguished by the Chamber of Deputies of the Nation for their courage to offer their services and their lives to fight against the Axis powers.
The initiative was promoted by the deputies of the Civic Coalition Lucila Lehmann, Marcela Campagnoli and Elisa Carrió. The appointment was attended by the owner of the lower house, Emilio Monzó and the president of the Foreign Relations Committee, Cornelia Schmidt Liermann.
"The Argentine State took a long time to recognize them, I apologize for that, they had no doubts, they were not sent by the government, they were defending freedom, they knew very well what to do when the Argentine government was not clear about what role to take. They have been generous in offering their lives for a free world, "Lehmann said.
"Compatriots, children of immigrant families, young people linked to the countryside, university students, professionals and employees, felt the call of duty in order to avoid the advance of the socialist regime, today we thank them for their commitment and collaboration so that we can live as free people" , Campagnoli deputy added.
17 Argentine still living volunteers were honored.
Next,the list of the heroes of that atrocious war that left between 50 and 70 million victims.
Alan Ricardo Dickson
He served in the British Navy. It was destined in the aircraft carrier HMS Warrior that was transferred to the Canadian Navy and that years later it would be bought by Argentina to be the first aircraft carrier of the national Navy (ARA Independencia).
Eduardo Brook
From Santa Fe, was an artilleryman in several merchant ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean under the permanent stalking of the German submarines.
Luis Cowes Pryor
He served as an HMS Hunter carrier officer in the Indian Ocean campaign and was part of the Japanese surrender in Singapore. His brother Jerry, pilot of the Air Force, died in combat.
Luis Cowes Pryor
Cynthia Margarita Cheesman
She joined the Female Auxiliary Air Force dependent on the Royal British Air Force, which would have more than 400 thousand volunteers in the Second World War.
Ana Elisabeth Hume
Member of the Territorial Auxiliary Force of the British Army. She was one of the many women who served on several fronts and in Britain as part of the anti-aircraft artillery command. They stood out as drivers of vehicles and ambulances.
Maria Chapman
He was born in Scotland. He was a cryptographer. He undertook decryption and encryption tasks and participated as ground support in the Normandy landings. He came to the country 71 years ago.
Antonio Zabrowsky
He was trained as a pilot in the RAF and was a navigator of the 307 night fighter squadron. He was born in Poland and settled in Argentina in 1951 after the communist government took away his Polish nationality.
Carlos Alan Nixon
Born in England, he served the British Royal Navy for two years. His sister also served and was killed in war in France.
Stanley Rowland Coggan
He worked as a bomber pilot in the Royal British Air Force and also as a flight instructor.
Carlos Alan Nixon
Peter Harrison
Argentine volunteer who joined the British army in 1944. He achieved the rank of officer with the Royal Artillery Corps and participated in the last campaign against the Japanese forces in Southwest Asia. He returned to our country in the year 1947.
Ian Leslie Pond Mac Donald
He was born in Argentina. In 1943, when he was only 19, he left for the United Kingdom to enlist as a volunteer and served until the end of the war.
Colin Andrew Mc Callum
Argentine volunteer who joined the ranks of the British army as a private soldier. He reached the rank of officer and remained in the Force participating in operations against the enemy until the end of the war, time in which he returned to the country.
Juan Campbell Shakespear
Argentine volunteer He joined the British Royal Air Force in 1941. He attained the rank of flight lieutenant and as a pilot he participated in the completion of the campaign against Japan in Southwest Asia with the transportation squadron 46. He currently lives in Canada.
The initiative was carried out by deputies Lucila Lehmann, Marcela Campagnoli and Elisa Carrió
Ricardo José Moreno
He joined the British Air Force in 1942. He was pilot of bombers and transport command. He flew liaison missions between Britain and recently liberated Europe. It reached the maximum degree of non-commissioned officer. Also in the present, he is based in Canada.
Irma Ways
He was born in Poland. After leaving a Russian concentration camp in the Arctic Circle, he crossed the entire Soviet territory to join the allied forces. He worked in intelligence tasks in the Middle East due to his knowledge of languages. At the end of the war he settled in Argentina and married another Polish officer becoming both Argentine citizens.
Ronald David Scott
After training as an aviator in Canada, he joined the 794 Squadron, already as an officer of the Navy. He participated in reconnaissance, training and shooting practice missions. He flew Tiger Moth aircraft, Blackburn Sea Skua, Miles Master and the Supermarine Spitfire.
Ricardo Arendatz
Born in Poland, at age 13 he joined the Polish resistance against the Nazi regime. By then his father was already in Argentina. It was part of the so-called Gray Columns, the resistance organization of boy scouts. Since he was 16 he lives in the country.
