Final throes of war captured in images

As a soldier lies in cover sprawled across a pavement with his rifle pointed, a woman calmly bends down to pour him a cup of tea.

This is one of a collection of dramatic images capturing the emotions of battle in the final months of the Second World War.

The pictures were taken by West Bromwich-born photographer Albert Edward Wilkes, who was among those who put themselves in the line of fire to capture historic moments, as he travelled across Europe during the Allies’ final push to Berlin after D-Day.

It was a world apart from his ‘day job’ – photographing footballers and sportsmen. He had first picked up a camera to join family firm A Wilkes and Son at their home studio in Legge Street, which had been set up by his father and ex-Aston Villa and England star, also called Albert, in 1910.

Mr Wilkes junior, was originally drafted into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, based first at Hinkley then Kirkbride, around 1942 before training with the Army Film and Photo Unit at Pinewood Studios in London.

His son Brian Wilkes, 77, said little was known about the photographs because his father rarely talked about his military days.

“He used to just say, ‘What do you want to know about that for?’” he said. “He had to do active service. In Normandy he was in tanks operating a machine gun and taking pictures as well. He was involved in the battles in Caen and Falaise where for the most part he was a gunner and he took his pictures as and when he could.” After Normandy, Mr Wilkes travelled across Europe to Berlin working largely as a photographer. It was during a visit inside the German Chancery that Mr Wilkes took some unique mementoes of the Allies’ victory, including a German Eagle certificate signed by Adolf Hitler, similar to the British Victoria Cross.

He continued the family business until 1971, as official photographer for Villa and Albion. Together, Wilkes and Son amassed a haul of 45,000 negatives and photographs, but the collection was sold off to London firm Colorsport for around £2,000 when Brian’s father closed the business.

“The Second World War and the football field were worlds apart and the only thing in common was the camera. But I’ve never thought as it being unique as my father was just doing his job,” he added.

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