Dig WW2 Comments Thread

This thread will be for those wanting to comment on Dig WW2 which starts on BBC1 NI this evening at 21.00. It is also available on Sky 973 & Virgin 863 in the UK mainland.

A number of people have photos and other data to add and this thread is for them.

It is also for everyone to comment on the series.

I would ask that no-one comment here until the programme starts.

 

A few of my favourite photos from the various shoots.

Our friend and member here Damiano (front, right) with Dan and some of his team during the Hitler Line dig at Cassino.

 

The work of Geert Jonker and his team in Holland who are charged with recovering and identifying the WW2 'missing' in Holland was perhaps the most impressive aspect of what we had a look at for the series. These unsung heroes do some amazing work, with the utmost respect for the dead, and to spend some time with them and the men they are bringing in from the cold was a real honour. (please note this photo is posted with Geert's permission).

 

We also had the honour to film with the family of Sammy Cassidy who died with the 7th King's Own Scottish Borderers in the streets near the White House at Arnhem in September 1944. Pictured here is his daughter and granddaughter with Dan.

 

Arnhem author & expert Robert Sigmond (left) was of great help to us with all the work we did in Arnhem.

 

At Juno Beach we went into a German bunker complex that had not been open since the 1950s. It gave the nearby Juno Centre an insight into what was there, and it was amazing to be able to explore the site for the first time in decades.

 

Also in Normandy we looked at the Brecourt Gun Battery site - made famous by Richard Winters and his men on D-Day.

Our team of experts do a geo-phys of the site to see where the gun positions were. The were able to plot them and also dispell the idea that trenches connected each pit.

 

Local battlefield guide and historian Paul Woodadge (DDay Historian - Home) was our local expert who helped explain the finds at Brecourt; he and his wife also help set up the dig.

 

But the site was 'polluted' with the rubbish from a nearby post-D-Day hospital and nothing at all was found from the Airborne D-Day action.

 

I thought that was brilliant. I won't post about what actually was covered in the first programme yet to give others a chance to watch it. (Just incase they've recorded it).

 

In Normandy we also explored this amazing private collection that includes everything from bits of a FW to bits of Wittmann's Tiger I!

 

The owner even has these Brummbar barrels!!!

 

A further report and access to more photos here:

Dig WW2 – Behind The Scenes Photos « Out of Battle

 

Absolutely top hole, well done Paul and the team, and again the archive clips fitted the story's brilliantly, a program not to be missed, great stuff.
lofty

 

Absolutely riveting - with a full (non commercial) 60 minutes it packed in a tremendous amount of content.

And excellent to see Damiano and the Associazone Linea Gustav team take centre stage (sorry to Damiano for doubting that you were indeed on tonight's programme).

And the way Gerry Chester's understated and very moving personal testimony was interwoven with the archive and archaeological work was impeccable.

That only covers half of it.

Top rate.

 

Firstly what is a Brummbar barrel and what would it have been used for??

Excellent programme - Really looking forward to the next episodes.
Its a shame this was not broadcast network wide.

Well done to all involved.

 

Great photos!

 

There will be a BBC mainstream version later in the year but it will only be a 1 hour programme not 3 x 60. There is also a Canadian version which will be going out on I think the History Channel Canada later this year too.