World War Two: We Were There Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve them for future generation. Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has already spoken to many men and women who served during the War - you can watch their testimonies here. We Were There aims to collect as many first-hand accounts as possible by 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, to preserve veterans' accounts for future generations. Do you or someone you know have memories of World War Two? Please share these experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay Upload pictures or video Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy
The regional BBC TV had this clip of a 14th Army signaller today. See: Ted Woodward: 'We were the forgotten army' I'd missed the BBC publicity for this and the website currently shows a variety of very short video clips. See: We Were There: World War Two
I'm quite surprised at the current format as to how the interviews are presented. Going via : We Were There: World War Two ...there isn't much explanation as to what each interview deals with at the top level - at least, and there doesn't yet seem to an obvious way to select which you might wish to view next, other than going from one to the next and just seeing what each is about. These are perhaps a better introduction... We Were There, The North African Campaign: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0fm26yc via @bbciplayer And presumably there will be more in this line, by campaign or topic - i.e. home front as time goes by. This says "Episodes" - so it's a start... BBC News - We Were There
It's already too late. Not to say every scrap saved doesn't have some worth, but I've seen a few such projects over the last year or so and all I can think is that it's Johnny-come-lately stuff. 'People's War' was timed about right, and the BBC seem to have consigned that to a grudgingly preserved bucket site. The World at War was timed perfectly when the interviewees were the right age to have solid recollection while surrounded by other contemporaries to give a varied view (There are a lot of TWaW interviews beyond the aired ones. Mounds. I've a book of some edited selections but hopefully that wider archive will become more accessible one day), We did OK preserving Ron, Gerry, Tom etc's perpectives too, I think, within our limitations. It is what it is, but much of this later stuff strikes me as thin vanity projects more to do with the 'look at us being worthy' box-ticking side of the Internet than the actual people who fought the war.
I was enjoying this until it turned into an advert about "Rogue Heroes" - about half way through (10m20s) - BBC News - We Were There, The North African Campaign Not that I didn't enjoy "Rogue Heroes" but this insert was plainly an advert for it... and that just felt a bit ott and odd, to me. I think I'd usually expect to see that sort of thing tagged on afterwards.
Interesting to see - Sahara with Michael Palin, 4. Dire Straits: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074p5v via @bbciplayer Includes interviews / conversations with WW2 veterans around Tobruk at around 11mins in.
As an aside, if I search for the word "reel" at IWM with filters "Show only records with digitised media", "Second World War", and "Sound" I get the top three results as shown in the third screenshot attached. i.e. "Oral History", "Lucas, Dorothea etc.", "Kagan, Jack etc." Does everybody who repeats this search, wherever thee may be, get the same return of search? LATER EDIT: The answer is affirmative according to someone in London. There appear to be 5495 tapes - but there are more at IWM, which are not available online. IWM Collections
This is a version of the first 30 search returns at IWM as set out above, with names and catalogue number. Because IWM use rather large typefaces you have to scroll and click several times. I have not clicked on "show more" in any listing. Beeson, Wilfred George 4802 Recorded during 1981 British NCO served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps, in GB, France and Belgium, 1939-1940; prisoner of war in Stalag XXI-D, Posen and Stalag 383, Hohenfels, Germany, 1940-1944; escaped from Germany to France, 1944; served with French Resistance in France, 1944; escaped from France to GB via Italy, 1944 --- Lucas, Dorothea Winifred Suzanne 28645 Recorded during 2005 British civilian lived in India and GB, 1915-1935; travelled in Italy and Germany, 1935-1937; lived in Egypt, 1937-1944; lived in GB and France, 1944-1945; lived in Egypt, 1945-1952; lived in France and GB, from 1952 --- Kagan, Jack 9326 Recorded during 1986 Polish Jewish schoolchild in Nowogródek, Poland, 9/1939-12/1941; inmate in Nowogródek Ghetto, Poland, 12/1941-9/1943; escaped from Nowogródek Ghetto, Poland, 9/1943; partisan with Bielksi Partisans in Naliboki Forest, Poland, 9/1943-6/1944 --- Antoine, Yvonne 27738 Recorded during 2004 Australian VAD nurse served with Australian Imperial Force in Egypt and Palestine, 1941-1943 --- Winogrodzki, Andrew Janusz 10381 Recorded during 1988 Polish schoolchild in Poland, 1939-1941; member of Polish Resistance in Warsaw, Poland, 1941-1944; served with Baszta Regt, Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) during Warsaw Uprising, Warsaw, Poland, 8/1944; civilian in Poland, 9/1944-1/1945 --- Keller, Milein Cosman 26510 Recorded during 1997 German Jewish civilian in Germany, 1921-1939; emigrated to GB, 1939; studied at Slade School of Art; post-war career as artist and wife of music critic Hans Keller --- Camplin, Leonard Edward 10710 Recorded during 1989 British boy soldier and signaller served with 56th (1st London) Infantry Divisional Signals in London, GB, 1936-1939; signaller served with Signal Troop, 1st Regt, Royal Horse Artillery, 51st (Highland) Div in France, 1/1940-6/1940; prisoner of war in Stalag XXI-B, Schubin and Stalag-344, Lamsdorf, Germany, 7/1940-2/1945; prisoner of war in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia, 1945; served with Czechoslovak Partisans in Susice, Czechoslovakia, 4/1945-5/1945 --- Rischowski, Ira 4296 Recorded during 1979 German civilian engineer in Germany, 1933-1935; emigrated to GB via Czechoslovakia, 1935-1936; refugee in GB, 1936-1940; internment on Rushen Internment Camp, Port Erin, Isle of Man, GB, 1940-1941 --- Helfgott, Ben 9165 Recorded during 1985 Polish Jewish schoolchild in Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland, 9/1939-10/1939; inmate of Piotrków Trybunalski Ghetto, Poland, 10/1939-7/1943; forced labourer with Bugaj Timberworks, Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland, 7/1943-11/1944; inmate of Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany, 12/1944; forced labourer with Hugo Schneider AG armaments factory, Schlieben Subcamp, Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Germany, 12/1944-4/1945; inmate in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, Czechoslovakia, 4/1944-5/1945 --- Zeffert, Harry 17258 Recorded during 1989 British civilian electrical engineer with Handley Page Aircraft Ltd in GB, 1935-1940; electrical supervisor with Electrical Section of Experimental Department at Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in GB, 1941-1945; Electrical Design Project Engineer, Senior Designer and Chief Electrical Engineer at Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) in GB, 1945-1960; Chief Systems Engineer, Director of Systems Engineering and Design Director with British Aircraft Corporation in GB, 1960-1977 --- Barnet, Horace 11270 Recorded during 1990 British signalman served with Royal Corps of Signals in GB, 1936-1939; served with 1st Air Formation Signals, Royal Corps of Signals in France, 9/1939-5/1940; civilian worked or Chesterfield Tube Coy Ltd in Chesterfield, GB, 1940-1944; signalman served with Royal Corps of Signals in GB, India and Malaya, 1944-1946 includes sound collage of music, spoken word and sound effects --- Etkind, Michael 10406 Recorded during 1987 Polish Jewish civilian in Łódź, Poland, 9/1939-3/1940; inmate in Łódź Ghetto, Poland, 3/1940-3/1944; inmate in Częstochowa Labour Camp, Poland, 3/1944-8/1944; inmate in Buchenwald and Sonnenberg Concentration Camps, Germany, 8/1944-3/1945 --- Stedman, John Gilbert 26738 Recorded during 2004 British midshipman served aboard HMS Resolution in GB coastal waters, Atlantic, Norwegian Campaign and Mediterranean, 1939-1941; served aboard HMS Sennen in Atlantic, 1941; officer served on shore duties in GB, 1941; served aboard HMIS Jumna in Indian Ocean and Mediterranean, 1942-1943; served with Combined Operations in Middle East, 1943-1944; served on shore duties with Royal Indian Navy in GB and India, 1944-1946; served aboard HMIS Kadaba in Far East, 1946- 1947; served with HMS Hornbill, Royal Naval Air Station, Culham in GB, 1948- 1949; served aboard HMS Mull of Kintyre in GB coastal waters, 1949-1950; served aboard HMS Starling in GB coastal waters, 1950-1952; served as naval attaché in Formasa, 1952-1954; served as officer aboard Berghead Bay in Caribbean and South Atlantic, 1954-1955; served with HMS Sanderling, Royal Naval Air Station Abbotsinch in GB, 1955-1957; served as Staff Officer (Intelligence) to Commander in Chief, Mediterranean on Malta, 1957-1959; served with Naval Intelligence Division at Admiralty in London, GB, 1959-1962; served as Resident Naval Officer in Nassau in Bahamas, 1963-1965 --- West, George Reginald (Oral history) 10726 Recorded during 1989 British private served with 2nd Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt, 144th Infantry Bde, 48th (South Midland) Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 5/1940; survivor of Wormhouldt Massacre, France, 28/5/1940 --- Nelson, Thomas Robert 8276 Recorded during 1984 British officer prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, Sagan in Germany, 1942-1945 including participation in Great Escape, 3/1944 --- Tate, Thomas Henry (Oral history) 3593 Recorded during 2004 British officer served as special wireless operator with 214 Sqdn, No 100 (Bomber Support) Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 3/1945; prisoner of war in Germany, 15/3/1945-27/4/1945 --- Rendall, Bertie Grenville Livingstone 8745 Recorded during 1985 British private served with 2/5th Bn Somerset Light Infantry in GB and Burma, 1914-1917; NCO served as driver with No 2 Mechanical Transport Coy, Army Service Corps on North West Frontier, India, 1917-1919 --- Douglas, Gawain Thomas Alexander 'Gavin' 31509 Recorded during 2008 British officer served with 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt, 15th Lancers, 11th PAVO Cavalry and as ADC to Governor of Madras in India, 1935-1940; trained as pilot with RAF in India, 1941-1942; served as flying instructor with RAF in India, 1943-1944; trained with 74 Operational Training Unit, RAF in Palestine, 1944; served with 28 and 60 Sqdns, RAF in Burma, 1/1945-5/1945; commanded 34 Sqdn in Burma, 5/1945-10/1945; commanded 28 Sqdn, RAF in Burma and Malaya, 1945- 1946; commanded 152 Sqdn, RAF on North West Frontier of India, 1946-1947 --- Longstaff, John Edward 10382 Recorded during 1988 British private served with 1st Bn (London) Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) in GB, 1/1940-1/1941; private and NCO served with 7th Bn Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own), 23rd Armoured Bde, 8th Armoured Div in GB and North Africa, 1/1941-10/1942; NCO served with 7th Bn Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own), 7th Motor Bde, 1st Armoured Div in North Africa, 10/1942-5/1943; served with 7th Bn Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own), 61st Lorried Infantry Bde, 6th Armoured Div in Italy, 5/1944-5/1945 --- Halter, Roman 17183 Recorded during 1996 Polish Jewish child in Chodecz, Poland, 1927-1940; inmate of Łódź Ghetto, Poland, 5/1940-8/1944; inmate in Auschwitz II-Birkenau and Stuffhof Concentration Camps in Poland, 8/1944-11/1942; forced labourer at Bernsdorf & Coy armaments factory in Dresden, Germany, 11/1944-2/1945; in hiding in Dresden, Germany, 2/1945-5/1945 --- London, Huskell "Jack" 26988 Recorded during 2004 Australian seaman served aboard HMAS Hobart in Pacific, 1942-1943; served aboard HMAS Mercedes in Australian coastal waters, 1943-1944; served aboard HMAS Quibron in Indian Ocean and Pacific, 1944-1945; served with British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, 1945-1946 --- Pearce, Josephine 831 Recorded during 1976 British nurse served with Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit attached to French Fourth Army and Free French Forces in France, Middle East and North Africa, 2/1940-4/1942; petty officer served with Women's Royal Naval Service in GB and Egypt, 1942-1945 --- Muggleton, Charles William 33059 Recorded during 2007 British civilian in Isle of Dogs, London, 1939-1943; leading seaman served as coxswain aboard Landing Barge Vehicle with 3rd Flotilla, Royal Navy Combined Operations during Normandy landings, France, 6/1944 --- Beevor, John Grosvenor 9482 Recorded during 1986 British schoolchild during Imperial German Navy bombardment of Scarborough, GB, 16/12/1914; officer served with H Section, Special Operations Executive in Portugal, 1941-1942; served as assistant to Sir Charles Hambro at Headquarters, Special Operations Executive, Baker Street, London in GB, 1942-1943; served as assistant to Major-General William Stawell in Egypt and Italy, 1944 --- Bogacki, Konrad 8838 Recorded during 1985 Polish officer served with 14th Telephone Coy, 14th Infantry Div in Poland, 1933-1939; member of Polish Union of Armed Struggle (ZWZ) and Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) in Warsaw, Poland, 10/1939-12/1943; inmate in Gross-Rosen and Dachau Concentration Camps, Germany, 4/1944-4/1945 --- Spittles, Reginald James 16808 Recorded during 2001 British trooper served with 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry, 20th Light Armoured Bde, Southern Command and 20th Armoured Bde, 1st Armoured Div in GB, 4/1939-10/1940; trooper and NCO served with 20th Armoured Bde, 6th Armoured Div and Divisional Reconnaissance Regt, 11th Armoured Div in GB, 10/1940-6/1944; NCO served with 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry, 11th Armoured Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944; served with 1st Royal Tank Regt, 22nd Armoured Bde, 7th Armoured Div in North West Europe, 8/1944-10/1944; hospitisation in Brussels, Belgium, 10/1944-12/1944; served as driver with Lines of Communication Troops, 21st Army Group in Belgium and Germany, 12/1944-12/1945 --- Gay, Wan Guay 20389 Recorded during 1984 Chinese member of Air Raid Precautions in Singapore, Malaya, 1941-1942; civilian in Singapore during Japanese Occupation of Singapore, Malaya, 1942-1943; settler with New Settlement Scheme at Endau, Malaya, 1943-1945 --- Murray Lee, Peter 7493 Recorded during 1984 British private and NCO served with Royal Army Medical Corps attached to 13th General Hospital in France, 1939-1940; officer served as field security officer with Intelligence Corps in GB, 1940-1942; served with Headquarters, Special Operations Executive, Baker Street, London, GB, 1942-1943; served as Head of Security, Special Operations Executive in French Algeria and Italy, 1943-1944 --- Lando, Jerzy 20480 Recorded during 2000 Polish Jewish civilian in Łódź and Kraków, Poland, 1939-1940; inmate in Warsaw Ghetto, 1940-1942; in hiding in Poland, 1942-1944; served with Polish Home Army during Warsaw Uprising, Poland, 1944; POW in Germany, 1944-1945. --- Robert Gustav Richard 17282 Recorded during 1997 Hungarian officer served as pilot with Hungarian Air Force in Hungary and Austria, 1943-1945; civilian courier with anti-Communist Resistance in Hungary, 1946-1949; political prisoner in Hungarian People's Republic, 1949-1956; civilian during Hungarian Uprising in Budapest, Hungarian People's Republic, 10/1956-11/1956; escaped to GB via Austria, 1956-1957 ---
