WW2 Unearthed - BBC1 Sunday 15 July @ 17.30

This is the BBC1 version of Dig WW2, which is a one hour version of the three programmes. Obviously it only includes a fraction of what we made for Dig WW2, and it was not cut or edited by the series producer and originator, John Hayes-Fisher.

The main landwarfare story relates to the dig on the Hitler Line at Cassino and features our very own Damiano and his team.

While these things can often be a compromise, I hope some of you find it of interest.

 

Thanks for the heads-up Paul. Looking forward to watching it.

Lesley

 

Thanks Paul.
I am interested to see how, and what they condense into an one hour program, very glad we had the benefit of seeing the whole three hours.

regards lofty

 

Unfortunately Arnhem is not in it.

 

Unfortunately Arnhem is not in it.

 

I feel exactly the same.

 

Very disappointing to see the whole series (which I enjoyed very much) condensed into a one hour BBC version. Is WW2 not 'sexy' enough for the BBC these days?
I will still watch it however, if only to see what the Beeb seems screenworthy today.

 

I shall watch this with interest today and will also record it in case I want to go back to a particular scene.

For obvious reasons my major interest is to see what is made of the Cassino period

I was there in April/May '44 and, with a little bit of luck, they might find an old mess tin I remember losing there

Ron

 

Ron, we didn't find your mess tin I'm afraid!

All I would say is re the other points - you can imagine having spent more than a year researching, visiting and then filming WW2 sites for a three part documentary, you can imagine the disappointment that the end result shown on BBC mainstream is only a fraction of what we did. Perhaps if it gets good viewing figures they will show the complete series but because it was made for BBC NI it might be seen as too regional?

The most complete version is that shown on BBC NI - not sure if it is still on iPlayer?

 

Paul,

I noted it was taken off iPlayer after a couple of weeks (I think by the end of June) - I assumed that there was some sort of other further distribution deal that precluded an extended period (Yesterday etc?). So having it stored on the DVR was a very good move indeed.

I'm not inherently a BBC knocker (I watch any number of superbly made programmes each week for my £3/£4 a week - think the recent Shakespeare series), but just looking at the BBC 1 schedule this afternoon, out of the 8 programmes on between 1 to 7.30, five are repeats - which are the Dig WWII one, Songs of Praise and a 10 minute appeal programme. And it's quite likely to be the same for next week (before the 5 ringed monster emerges). Makes you wonder at the logic on how these schedules are put together (although I'm sure that there are other reasons why they're not showing all 3 programmes).

Om "sexiness", it seems strange that the narrative of a fantastic cross community NI (and Eire) response/support to the Allied cause during WWII wouldn't merit a higher profile at this time (given recent visits to NI, and various other developments).

And perhaps someone missed a marketing trick - was a "preview" tape sent to the Radio Times so they could include it in their "highlights of the day" ? Even though, I have great interest (!) in WWII (and actually buy the RT), I hadn't even spotted that the programme was on until this note came from Paul.

Not mean to be a rant - just a few observations...getting a bit old obviously.

best,

 

Paul
Ron, we didn't find your mess tin I'm afraid!

All I would say is re the other points - you can imagine having spent more than a year researching, visiting and then filming WW2 sites for a three part documentary, you can imagine the disappointment that the end result shown on BBC mainstream is only a fraction of what we did. Perhaps if it gets good viewing figures they will show the complete series but because it was made for BBC NI it might be seen as too regional?

The most complete version is that shown on BBC NI - not sure if it is still on iPlayer?
I didn't think you would find my mess tin

I can however feel for you regarding the truncation of your hard work, in a very small way I suffered the slings & arrows of rejection when the Yesterday Channel turned my lounge upside down for literally one minute of screen time (See my posting #51 on the following thread)

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/veteran-accounts/36277-demobilisation-documentary.html

 

Ron,

I'm in the Liri (with a good sun hat) in 3 weeks time. Tell us exactly where you think you lost your mess tin, and we're go looking for it (I've got the original 1944 map). Hopefully Damiano can join me/my brother in the search - though not sure whether Dan Snow is available...

perhaps we call it some thing like "Digging For Ron's Mess Tin In the Liri" - the war time exploits of a veteran piece of metal....

 

Richard

Never mind about finding my mess tin (estimated odds 100,000,000 to 1) why not try and get a photo from the same spot as Larry's sketch ?
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/veteran-accounts/16811-excerpts-larrys-wartime-diary.html My posting #8

Ron

 

Looks like Larry sketched it (with artistic licence) from somewhere near to Mt Trocchio - like this photograph (courtesy of Paul Hooton). and looking slightly more to the right to get in some of Castle Hill.

On the day it was sketched, 20th April 1944, my Dad was looking down on the (ruins of the) abbey from Pt 771, on top of Mt Castellone, with his mates from E Coy 2 LIR. It was noted at the time by the LIR that when any transport moved across the valley from San Michele, a red verey light would be fired from Monastery Hill to be answered by a red verey light going up from Mt Cairo followed by 3 guns opening up on them from Cairo. Not a nice experience.


best

 

Remember, it's on in 30 minutes!

 

Paul

Didn't realise that our lovely Gerry Chester would be shown, he was, as always, a treat to see and that alone made this a super program to watch.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/barracks/45839-gerry-chester-what-gentleman.html

Thanks for the reminder !

Ron

 

Excellent and very informative

 

Hi Paul,
thank you very much. Unfortunately yesterday I couldn't watch "WW2 Unearthed" anyway I watched the NI version of DigWW2 and from my point it's a great series. Very compliments by me and my team (Associazione Linea Gustav) we were really pleased to work with you, John and Dan Snow especially on battlefields less known as the Hitler Line!

Tom, please tell me (via pm) some detail about your mess tin, I'll try to find it and maybe...we'll be lucky!

Richard my friend you are always welcome, see you in august...but not forget that the last year we have had 42°C, it's not the best time for tours on the battlefields, we risk an infarct ;-) !

Best wishes.
Damiano

 

I came across it purely by accident and was pleasently surprised to Gerry on the prog, nice job Gerry........and a touching sight to see the fallen NIH lads buried alongside Canadian lads BBC iPlayer - World War II Unearthed

 

I make no apologies at all for giving this thread a "bump".

When I re-played the recording this morning I realised that there was a cracking shot of Gerry Chester as he spoke about the North Irish Horse men who are buried at Cassino and his own particular role in the regiment.

I have to admit, its a super image of a super chap

Ron