This is Your Life.

Recently through my own research I have become involved with a website called 'Big Red Book'. The website is dedicated to the show 'This is your life' and as Im sure some of you will know it featured many a Wartime hero. I have been asked by the archivists and creator to help with the researching of a number of these character for whom they have little or no information of.

The reason for this is that they wish to give every recipient of the famous Red book their own bibliography page on the website. Many of the early shows which feature these individuals have either been lost,wiped or were simply never recorded, as many of them were recorded live. In fact it has only been through viewing the original scripts on microfiche that's has brought many of these long forgotten episode to light.

So far I have manage to help with several of the people feature on show as these fell into the categories of my chosen field of interest.However, there is still at least another 16 and what I would like to do is post a couple of names at a time and throw it open to the mind of information which is WW2Talk and its illustrious membership.

The information is sparse,generally a name and what they did, but as I know from my own experience of the forum, it doesn't stop you guys digging around and coming up with something.

I believe it to be a worthy project to be involved with, as its keeps what was achieve by these individuals alive and not lost to the pages of time.

The first two names are as follows.

1. Colin Hodgkinson Double amputee RAF Pilot. Complete thanks to wtid45

2. David Bell. Disabled soldier involved in the Western Desert Campaign.


Thank you in advance for you help

Dave

 

Hi Dave,

Didn't John Frost have a prog done on him too...

Cheers
Tom

 

Hi Dave,

Didn't John Frost have a prog done on him too...

Cheers
Tom

Tom, Johnnie Frost appeared on the 6th Apr 1977.

 

Hi Dave,

Didn't John Frost have a prog done on him too...

Cheers
Tom

He did, Tom watch this space

So did Drummond,Milbourne,Lord and Pearson,unfortunately these four episodes have either been wiped or went out recorded live.

RSM John Lord MBE on This is your Life. 1959

 

Come come gentlemen,no takers


Here's another two to wet your appetites.

1. Jo Capka Czech Pilot with RAF 311 Sqdn.Complete thanks to wtid45

2. Robert Oldfield British Navy stoker, Battle of the river Plate.

 

Here you go Dave, Anyone know much about, Colin Hodgkinson Naval pilot/RAF [Archive] - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums

 

Here you go Dave, Anyone know much about, Colin Hodgkinson Naval pilot/RAF [Archive] - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums


Well done that man

 

And another Red Sky at Night by Jo Capka | Free Czechoslovak Air Force

 

And another Red Sky at Night by Jo Capka | Free Czechoslovak Air Force


Theres no stopping you Jason me lad

 

there was a programme on FREDDIE SPENCER CHAPMAN .[ jungle is neutral fame ]

 

there was a programme on FREDDIE SPENCER CHAPMAN .[ jungle is neutral fame ]


Its not a name that has cropped up during the microfiche sessions,but I will pass on the info to the guys involved with the project.

Cheers

 

Another two from the list.

1.CAPT DAVID BARCLAY RAF pilot

2.MAJOR BILL HARTLEY Bomb disposal officer.

 

Ive have just realised that I neglected to add the project website address,what a plonka. Well better late than never,so here it is.

BIGREDBOOK

 

Hartley was the inspiration for the TV programme UXB, 13-part World War Two drama series based on the true-life exploits of bomb disposal expert Major Bill Hartley, whose book, 'Unexploded Bomb', recounted his continual death-defying ordeals in the face of extreme danger, whilst carrying out one of the most hazardous tasks on 'civvy street.' DANGER UXB | A TELEVISION HEAVEN REVIEW And this snippet, I believe Chris, is a forum member so if you need more on Hartley he is your man as he has written a book on BD guys. Re Hursley Park - Have you seen the files at the National Archives FO 939/86 ( 2A Bomb Disposal Camp, Hursley Park Camp, Winchester, Hampshire) and WO 271/56 (H.Q. 4 Bomb Disposal Group R.E. and 16 Bomb Disposal Coy. R.E.)?
A Maj Hartley was at the camp so might be worth tracking down the books Unexploded bomb by Hartley and Highly explosive : the exploits of Major "Bill" Hartley of bomb disposal / by John Frayn Turner. Might be a mention of Hursley Park somewhere in them?
Good Luck.
Chris Guest Book - RoyalEngineersBombDisposal-EOD

 

Hartley was the inspiration for the TV programme UXB, 13-part World War Two drama series based on the true-life exploits of bomb disposal expert Major Bill Hartley, whose book, 'Unexploded Bomb', recounted his continual death-defying ordeals in the face of extreme danger, whilst carrying out one of the most hazardous tasks on 'civvy street.' DANGER UXB | A TELEVISION HEAVEN REVIEW And this snippet, I believe Chris, is a forum member so if you need more on Hartley he is your man as he has written a book on BD guys. Re Hursley Park - Have you seen the files at the National Archives FO 939/86 ( 2A Bomb Disposal Camp, Hursley Park Camp, Winchester, Hampshire) and WO 271/56 (H.Q. 4 Bomb Disposal Group R.E. and 16 Bomb Disposal Coy. R.E.)?
A Maj Hartley was at the camp so might be worth tracking down the books Unexploded bomb by Hartley and Highly explosive : the exploits of Major "Bill" Hartley of bomb disposal / by John Frayn Turner. Might be a mention of Hursley Park somewhere in them?
Good Luck.
Chris Guest Book - RoyalEngineersBombDisposal-EOD

Top marks again Jason

 

Duncan Guthrie was a Jedburgh
Francis Cammearts was the man SOE Organizer in SE France
Alfred Southron worked with the Partisans in Italy as an escaped POW

 

Duncan Guthrie was a Jedburgh
Francis Cammearts was the man SOE Organizer in SE France
Alfred Southron worked with the Partisans in Italy as an escaped POW

Hi Steven

Are you saying these guys appeared on the show,if so do you have any dates?

 

there was a programme on FREDDIE SPENCER CHAPMAN .[ jungle is neutral fame ]
He was also the subject of the British televion programme 'This is your Life' on 23 December 1963. Biography of Frederick Spencer Chapman (1907-1971) The great birdwatching war hero | Freddie Spencer Chapman | World news | The Guardian Frederick (Freddie) Spencer Chapman - SOE - Special Forces - Roll Of Honour

 

Another two from the list.

1.CAPT DAVID BARCLAY RAF pilot

2.MAJOR BILL HARTLEY Bomb disposal officer.
Struggling with Barclay.......... but could this be mention of him prior to the war
In 1935 the chief pilot for Northern and Scottish Airways, David Barclay, flew on a trip to Tiree looking for possible landing sites. Islanders were woken early as he flew for some time low over the island, landing on Gott Bay. On July 1st 1936 Barclay flew the first commercial flight to Tiree landing on the Reef in a DH 89 Dragon Rapide, a twin engine biplane that could carry eight passengers. Isle of Tiree Community Web Site - History & Heritage found this with mention of a Capatain David Barclay but is it him! Untitled Document

 

He was also the subject of the British televion programme 'This is your Life' on 23 December 1963. Biography of Frederick Spencer Chapman (1907-1971) The great birdwatching war hero | Freddie Spencer Chapman | World news | The Guardian

I will be updating the guys on the website next weekend so keep them coming.Very interested in any names not mention in my list.Could save the guys a whole lot of Microfiche time.

Here are the remaining names on my list at present.

1.SGT JAMES EDWARD WOOD Durham light infantry soldier in Boer War

2.JOHN BARCLAY First World War soldier

3.THOMAS WILLIAM COSMO-JONES Ex-seaman

4.LT COL RONALD MENDAY Military Cross recipient

5.LT CDR TIMOTHY JOHN CAIN Wartime hero

6.KENNETH COOKE Seaman who survived sinking of SS Lulworth Hill

7.WING COM ROBERT HENRY MACINTOSH Wartime hero

8.GEORGE THOMAS CUMMINS Wartime hero

9.SAMUEL IRONMONGER DERRY Escaped POW

Happy hunter information gathering