Corporal James Thurlby (left, seated on a motorbike) with two of his comrades, John Whaley and Jim 'Sweeny' Todd, 1943

Photograph taken at Huntstanton, Norfolk, 1943.

James Thurlby fought with the 5th Battalion, the Coldstream Guards, in Normandy in 1944. He was wounded in the hand in early July and returned to Britain. However, many of his comrades were not so fortunate. Four of his close friends including John Whaley and Jim 'Sweeny' Todd pictured here, were killed. The news hit Thurlby hard each time. Following the death of Sweeny he wrote in his diary 'I cannot find words to describe the shock, the loss and grief I feel'.

From a collection of ten photographs relating to Sergeant James Thurlby, 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards, 1942-1946.

Donated by the family of James Thurlby