Remarkable photos of a speedway race held at the end of World War II involving British troops and German PoWs have recently come to light. The black and white images feature in an album compiled by the British army soldier and speedway rider Edward Walsh alongside previously unseen photos of Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
Private Walsh photographed 'Monty' in front of a tank during his time with the Royal Engineers in North Africa in 1942. He also snapped Churchill arriving in Damascus, Syria, during the Levant Crisis, a skirmish between British and French forces in May 1945. But most of the images in the album relate to speedway races organised by the occupying British forces in Hannover, Germany, in October 1945.
The exciting events were organised to help boost the morale of both the local population and British soldiers. The images show the competitors racing around the oval in front of packed crowds made up of soldiers and German civilians. Pte Walsh, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, served in the North African campaign and the invasions of Sicily and France.
Other photos he took show fighting at El Alamein, bodies strewn in the desert and a military parade. His album, campaign medals and other personal effects are being sold by his family with East Bristol Auctions for an estimated £500.
Auctioneer Andy Stowe said: "Walsh was a racer in the first speedway race held in Germany after the end of the war, coming in second place. A programme from a race the week after is also included, where Walsh is named as a racer.
"The race was held as a fundraiser to Hannover Welfare Fund, and family lore has it that the other competitors were often German PoWs. The photo album is filled with unique personal photographs taken by him during his service, including an unseen image of 'Monty' standing in front of his tank, photos of El Alamein, and Walsh meeting Winston Churchill, likely after the Levant Crisis.
"It's a unique collection - this gentleman was involved in some of the crucial parts of the war, and met some crucial people along the way! It's a remarkable and really unique snapshot of life both during and immediately after the War in Germany."
Walsh's medal group consists of the War Medal; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star. There is also his medal, which reads 'EJ Walsh - Second Prize - Hanomag Speedway - Hannover'. The sale takes place on Monday (March 21).
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