Crawley soldier puts war pictures on display

ONE of the first British soldiers to enter Berlin in 1945 has put his unique collection of war photographs on display.

Bill May's pictures include famous faces such as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, as well as the bunker where Nazi leader Adolf Hitler died.

The collection is incredibly rare as Mr May, from Langley Green, was one of few soldiers who had their own cameras and film was rationed at the time.

The 90-year-old said: "I had a box camera. Infact, I've still got it.

"Some of the people in these photos were killed.

"One of the ones who died was a neighbour of mine back at home. He got blown up in a tank."

The exhibition contains a picture of a soldier outside the Berlin bunker where Hitler committed suicide.

Mr May said: "The picture is only of the door because the Russians wouldn't let us down there.

"They said Hitler's body was inside."

He added: "I've got part of Hitler's desk. I went into the Chancery in Berlin and the Russians were smashing it up but I took a piece."

Mr May served in Second Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, on D-Day, having previously been one of the Desert Rats, the British Army in North Africa.

His wife Mary, who married Mr May almost 63 years ago, said: "He was injured on D-Day almost immediately.

"He has a V-shaped scar on his head and he has always suffered with headaches and bad balance."

The exhibition, which runs until Sunday in the Hawth Foyer, is free to view.

Carolyn Murphy, arts development officer for Crawley Borough Council, said exhibitions like this ensure memories of the war are not lost.

She said: "This is very important, especially given Bill's age.

"Copies will go to the West Sussex archives and the exhibition will become part of Crawley Museum.

"Bill has albums full of pictures so this is only a small selection really."