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The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Man reunited with father's wartime documents found hidden in desk drawer
A man has told of his delight at being reunited with Second World War documents that belonged to his father after they were found hidden in a desk 18 years after he died. Martin Reid bought the desk at auction four years ago but only discovered the folder of documents recently when he was moving furniture and found them behind a drawer that had been stuck. Mr Reid discovered the papers had belonged to the late Ian Rodger, from Glasgow, who served with 2 Squadron of the 6th Armoured Division Signal Regiment, a unit of the British Army, and fought in Italy and Tunisia during the war. After hearing about the discovery following an appeal for information made through the Church of Scotland, Mr Rodger's son Sandy came forward to claim the documents. He travelled from his home in Rye in East Sussex to meet Mr Reid in Edinburgh on Thursday and to thank him personally as he collected the folder. Mr Rodger, 62, said he had a collection of his father's old papers and letters from the war but had never seen the contents of the folder before, and he thanked Mr Reid for his 'kind return' of the documents. He said: 'In January 2021, with my 90-year-old mother Isabel's health fast deteriorating, I travelled from home in Sussex to Glasgow to help her move into a care home. 'Under lockdown rules this allowed little time for preparation or even a proper goodbye, and then I was left with less than two days to clear her flat, trying to preserve the memories of her own and my father's long and rather remarkable lives. 'In the process I missed a folder of papers which had fallen behind a desk drawer, and, but for Martin's kindness and initiative, they would have remained lost. 'I am hugely grateful to Martin and to Cameron Brooks from the church for their detective work, and to the multiple people who saw articles about the appeal and got in touch to let me know.' The folder contained photographs, letters and maps relating to the British Army's involvement in the campaign known as the Liberation of Italy between 1943 and 1945. Ian Rodger held the rank of captain during the war and can be seen in a wartime photo which appears to feature Major Jack (John) Profumo – who later became a secretary of state but whose political career ended after an affair with Christine Keeler came to light in the 1960s. After being demobilised, Mr Rodger practised as a solicitor in Glasgow, co-founded Scottish Opera and was involved in the Scouts and Wellington Church of Scotland in Glasgow where he was an elder. He died aged 91 in 2007 and in March 2021 his desk was put up for sale at McTear's Auctioneers in Glasgow. His widow Isabel died in February 2023. Mr Reid, from Lanark in South Lanarkshire, bought it for £110 and used it regularly at his home over the years, not knowing the historic papers were hidden inside until he found them in late March this year. Mr Rodger, a business consultant, said: 'The papers add to a fascinating collection of letters maps and photos, telling the story of the 8th Army's advance through North Africa, Italy, and into Austria in the last three years of the war, defeat of the Germans turning into the race for Berlin which shaped Western Europe for the next 50 years. 'The perspective of a signals officer, constantly on the move, keeping troops connected to their command, offers an amazing overview of the conflict. 'There isn't much mention of the human cost of the war, and my father never really spoke of this, perhaps typically. 'But it's a proud and detailed account of an extraordinary endeavour, told by a young man who, with the benefit of hindsight, survived and could be said to have had a 'good war'. Mr Reid said he is delighted to have been able to reunite Mr Rodger with his father's papers. 'This was a story that certainly captured the imagination of many people and Sandy got in touch with the church the morning the article was published, which was rather astonishing given he lives on the south coast of England,' Mr Reid said. 'The maps, letters and photographs are utterly fascinating and provide a really important insight into the British Army's involvement in the Italian campaign against Adolf Hitler's Germany. 'Sandy is a lovely guy and very proud of his father and it was very moving seeing his reaction as he leafed through the folder and shared anecdotes.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Rye man reunited with father's World War Two documents
A man has been reunited with World War Two documents that belonged to his father after they were found in a desk 18 years after he Reid, from Lanark in Scotland, bought the desk at auction four years ago and recently discovered the folder behind a drawer that had been documents had belonged to the late Ian Rodger, from Glasgow, who served in the signal regiment and fought in Italy and Tunisia during the son Sandy Rodger said: "It's a proud and detailed account of an extraordinary endeavour, told by a young man who, with the benefit of hindsight, survived and could be said to have had a 'good war'." Mr Rodger was made aware of his father's documents, that included photographs, letters and maps, following an appeal for information made through the Church of travelled from his home in Rye in East Sussex to Edinburgh to meet Mr Reid and collect the Rodger said he had a collection of his father's old papers and letters from the war but had never seen the contents of the folder 62-year-old explained that in 2021 he cleared out his mother's flat and must have missed the documents that fell behind a desk drawer. Mr Reid bought the desk for £110 and used it regularly at his home over the years, not knowing the historic papers were hidden inside until he found them in March."Sandy is a lovely guy and very proud of his father and it was very moving seeing his reaction as he leafed through the folder and shared anecdotes," he said. Additional reporting from PA Media.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Man reunited with father's wartime documents found hidden in desk drawer
Son had never seen contents of folder, containing old papers and letters from the Second World War Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A man has told of his delight at being reunited with Second World War documents that belonged to his father after they were found hidden in a desk 18 years after he died. Martin Reid bought the desk at auction four years ago but only discovered the folder of documents recently when he was moving furniture and found them behind a drawer that had been stuck. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Reid discovered the papers had belonged to the late Ian Rodger, from Glasgow, who served with 2 Squadron of the 6th Armoured Division Signal Regiment, a unit of the British Army, and fought in Italy and Tunisia during the war. Sandy Rodger, left, and Martin Reid. Second World War documents that belonged to Mr Rodger's late father Ian were found hidden in a desk bought by Mr Reid | PA After hearing about the discovery following an appeal for information made through the Church of Scotland, Mr Rodger's son Sandy came forward to claim the documents. He travelled from his home in Rye in East Sussex to meet Mr Reid in Edinburgh on Thursday and to thank him personally as he collected the folder. Mr Rodger, 62, said he had a collection of his father's old papers and letters from the war but had never seen the contents of the folder before, and he thanked Mr Reid for his 'kind return' of the documents. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Flat clearout during lockdown He said: 'In January 2021, with my 90-year-old mother Isabel's health fast deteriorating, I travelled from home in Sussex to Glasgow to help her move into a care home. Second World War papers found hidden in a desk bought by Martin Reid at auction four years ago | PA 'Under lockdown rules this allowed little time for preparation or even a proper goodbye, and then I was left with less than two days to clear her flat, trying to preserve the memories of her own and my father's long and rather remarkable lives. 'In the process I missed a folder of papers which had fallen behind a desk drawer, and, but for Martin's kindness and initiative, they would have remained lost. 'I am hugely grateful to Martin and to Cameron Brooks from the church for their detective work, and to the multiple people who saw articles about the appeal and got in touch to let me know.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The desk which was sold at auction, and Captain Ian Rodger | Church of Scotland/Scottish Opera The folder contained photographs, letters and maps relating to the British Army's involvement in the campaign known as the Liberation of Italy between 1943 and 1945. Ian Rodger held the rank of captain during the war and can be seen in a wartime photo which appears to feature Major Jack (John) Profumo – who later became a secretary of state but whose political career ended after an affair with Christine Keeler came to light in the 1960s. After being demobilised, Mr Rodger practised as a solicitor in Glasgow, co-founded Scottish Opera and was involved in the Scouts and Wellington Church of Scotland in Glasgow where he was an elder. He died aged 91 in 2007 and in March 2021 his desk was put up for sale at McTear's Auctioneers in Glasgow. His widow Isabel died in February 2023. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Reid, from Lanark in South Lanarkshire, bought it for £110 and used it regularly at his home over the years, not knowing the historic papers were hidden inside until he found them in late March this year. Mr Rodger, a business consultant, said: 'The papers add to a fascinating collection of letters maps and photos, telling the story of the 8th Army's advance through North Africa, Italy, and into Austria in the last three years of the war, defeat of the Germans turning into the race for Berlin which shaped Western Europe for the next 50 years. Major Jack Profumo (back row, in doorway) and Captain Ian Rodger (second row, third left) | Church of Scotland 'The perspective of a signals officer, constantly on the move, keeping troops connected to their command, offers an amazing overview of the conflict. 'There isn't much mention of the human cost of the war, and my father never really spoke of this, perhaps typically. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But it's a proud and detailed account of an extraordinary endeavour, told by a young man who, with the benefit of hindsight, survived and could be said to have had a 'good war'. 'Moving reaction' Mr Reid said he is delighted to have been able to reunite Mr Rodger with his father's papers. 'This was a story that certainly captured the imagination of many people and Sandy got in touch with the church the morning the article was published, which was rather astonishing given he lives on the south coast of England,' Mr Reid said. 'The maps, letters and photographs are utterly fascinating and provide a really important insight into the British Army's involvement in the Italian campaign against Adolf Hitler's Germany.
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Lanark man discovers World War II documents hidden in antique desk
The photos, maps and letters belonging to Captain Ian Rodger were unearthed as the 80th anniversary of VE Day was commemorated. A Lanark man has told how he discovered a forgotten folder of original World War II documents hidden in an antique desk – just ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Martin Reid found the documents wedged behind a drawer of the desk, which he bought at auction four years ago, while moving room furniture - and discovered a treasure trove of letters, maps and photographs belonging to distinguished army veteran Ian Rodger OBE. Captain Rodger, who died in 2007 aged 91, served with 2 Squadron of the 6th Armoured Division Signal Regiment and fought in Italy and Tunisia. His papers include a detailed route map of the regiment's advance in the Italian Campaign, an 80-year-old colour map of Tunisia produced by the British War Office, plus wartime correspondence and a military photograph showing him with a famous future MP. Construction company director Martin has used the desk regularly since buying it for £110 from Glasgow auctioneer McTear's in March 2021, and said of his recent discovery of its hidden history: 'To say I was surprised was an understatement.' He said: 'I had to move the desk to make way for a bed and took out the drawers to make it easier to lift – the bottom left drawer was stuck so I reached in behind it to see what the obstruction was and pulled out this green paper file folder which was wedged in at the back. 'Inside were lots of photographs, letters, maps and invitations all relating to the Second World War. They're fascinating and provide a really important insight into the British Army's involvement in the Italian Campaign against Adolf Hitler's Germany and the important role they played in defeating fascism and bringing the war to an end. 'Leafing through them was really exciting and intriguing. It is quite an incredible discovery and so pertinent that it happened shortly before the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.' Also known as the Liberation of Italy, the Italian Campaign lasted from 1943 to 1945 and included major battles and strategic landings. One of the typewritten letters in the folder, dated April 26 1945 and signed by Lieutenant-General RL McCreery, commander of the British Eighth Army during the final offensive in Italy, praises soldiers who 'have played a decisive part in this great Eighth Army offensive' and says: 'You have driven the enemy north of the River Po in disorder. You have shown a splendid determination and fighting spirit, and a fine endurance in two-and-a-half weeks of continuous battle.' Another from May 5 1945, signed by 6th British Armoured Division commander Major General H Murray states: 'The campaign in Italy is over. The final battle lasted 24 days and resulted in the capitulation of all German forces in Italy unconditionally. 'It is difficult for me to express in words the admiration I feel for the magnificent job which you have all done to make this victory possible.' The folder also contains copies of letters Mr Rodger sent to former army comrades after they were demobilised, including one from December 1947 in which he reflects on the disillusionment of post-war and wrote: 'I think some of you will feel, as I do, sad that so much conflict and grief should have emerged as a consequence of the war. Mankind is now possessed of un-dreamed of power and is on the threshold of great discovery but is apparently unready to move forward as a community of nations.' It also contains invitations to reunions, and a group photograph featuring both and Major Jack (John) Profumo, who later became an MP and was forced to resign after triggering a major political scandal in the 1960s. With the help of the Church of Scotland, with whom Mr Rodger was an elder, Lanark resident Martin is now hoping to reunite the historic documents with the family after studying the contents to establish the owner's identity and beginning to piece together his story from the documents found in a desk purchased 18 years after his death. Mr Rodger, who was appointed MBE for his wartime service, was a solicitor and became a partner in Glasgow law firm Brechin Robb, and also lectured in accountancy law at Glasgow University. He co-founded Scottish Opera and devoted himself to the Scout Association, where he was a former training commissioner for Scotland was was appointed OBE for his voluntary service. The World War II veteran was an elder of Wellington Church in Glasgow, now part of Kelvin West Church. His widow Isabel died in February 2023 and the couple had a son called Sandy – thought to live in the south of England – and three grandchildren. Martin said: 'Ian Rodger sounded like he was a fascinating man and his son must be very proud of him, I would love to return the folder to him if possible. 'I can only imagine how this situation came about – the desk was likely taken to the auction house to be sold and nobody noticed there was a folder stuck behind a drawer. If Sandy Rodger or anyone he knows reads this story, I would encourage them to get in touch with the Church offices in Edinburgh and arrangements will be made to return the folder to him.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
