130: Distance and Time –Forgotten Stories from Ypres and the Somme
In this episode we look at the concept of distance and time in relation to the fallen of the Great War. And how the act of remembrance affects our emotions today. To do this we look at the fortunes of Ilston Stevenson’s parents after he disappeared whilst on patrol and was never seen again. We discover what it was like for a German soldier to be subjected to terrible artillery bombardment and how it killed a young man from Stuttgart. And we listen to the testimony of a Prisoner of War who returned home with both feet amputated and later died. And how did the parents of an fallen Australian soldier continue to remember their son who is on the Menin Gate, a long way from home in both “time and distance”? And we discover the ruins of a long forgotten Chateau on the Somme that was a German medical facility.
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51:26
129: A Personal Pilgrimage to the Western Front
In this episode we travel to the Western Front following in the footsteps of 3 “ordinary” soldiers. We discover how a Welshman carried out a brave action that saw him awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and how another 2 men were killed in action, one in the mud of Passchendaele and the other during the last few days of the war. And we also follow the story of the parents of a young soldier who visited his grave in 1919 and how they secured his original wooden grave marker 5 years later. What did it mean to them? We reveal the emotional feelings and experiences of these people from the past.
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53:55
128: The Tanks of Passchendaele with Leen Van Meerbeek
In this episode we tour the Passchendaele battlefield with local guide Leen Van Meerbeek. We discover how the tanks floundered in the mud and slime. Leen explains the incredible action of Clement Robertson who was awarded the Victoria Cross and the story of the successful “Cockcroft” action. We also visit Pond Farm and discover a replica tank and also the graves of several “tankies” and tell their stories of bravery and sacrifice. And we listen to a tank poem written by the famous author A A Milne.
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1:14:23
127: The German Experience at Passchendaele
In this episode we hear the words of several German soldiers who fought in the horrors of Passchendaele in 1917. We discover what it was like to face the British attack on the first day of the battle, and how the artillery shells tore off the limbs of men who continued to live on. We learn how they dealt with the fear and loss of friends in battle, and the terrifying experience of being under a “creeping barrage”. And we hear from 2 brothers who met on the battlefield when they didn’t know each other was there.
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59:31
126: The Battle of Crete with Will Tower
In this episode we travel to Crete and learn about the 1941 invasion of the island by German paratroopers. We hear from former Coldstream Guard, Will Tower, who explains how the British and Anzac troops tried to defend the airfields on the island in bitter fighting. We discover the story of New Zealander Leslie Andrew who had been awarded the Victoria Cross at Messines in World War 1 and hear about his leadership skills on Crete 24 years later. And we listen to the words of British Artilleryman John Clayton, who was one of those bombed and strafed by the Lutwaffe and saw German paratroopers being killed as they landed. And we discuss the Army Benevolent Fund “Frontline Walk” that Will is leading later this year.
Podcast telling the unheard stories of men who served on the Western Front during World War 1. Listen to the stories of soldiers told by Terry Whenham, battlefield guide and researcher. I have been researching these stories for over 20 years and can now share incredible experiences of ordinary men and women. Who were these soldiers? How did they die? What is their legacy? How do we remember them?
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