Description
Object description
BBC Radio Bristol programme entitled 'West Country At War' about civilians in the Bristol area during the Second World War, 1939-1945. Broadcast in GB, 27/5/1999
Content description
REEL 1 Introduction to programme: newspaper and radio coverage of Adolf Hitler's speeches; recollections by Christina Wilkes, a school girl in Poland at outbreak of Second World War, 1/3/1939; German Air Force bombing of Warsaw, Poland; British Broadcasting Corporation news report of the war; various British civilians recollections of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's announcement of war, 3/9/1939; unknown British civilian on trying to return to Britain after outbreak of Second World War; attitude to 'short war'; restrictions on entertainment establishments and schools; evacuation of children to safe areas; children's excitement at evacuation and parents' distress; an evacuee song and British Government's announcement of evacuation; children's lack of understanding of war and evacuation; parents' distress at evacuation; local villagers selection of evacuees; mothers left without husbands or children; British Government announcement of call-up for military service; recollections by schoolboy Maurice Mitchell of delivering call-up papers in Bristol area including people already signing up and delivering brother's call-up papers; blackout song; Air Raid Precautions wardens enforcing regulations; recollections by messenger boy of being arrested for riding bicycle with light on; women serving with Home Guard; training and fire drills; announcement by Minister of Food to housewives about rationing; recollections of unknown British housewive of queuing for food and pretending to be pregnant to get more supplies; instance of Christmas goose rotting because of power cuts; difficulty in preparing meals with rations; confusing ration coupons; black market; song about rations.
REEL 2 Continues: Introduction to programme: British Government announcements about gas; dislike of gas masks; distribution of gas masks after Munich Agreement, 1938; children's dislike of gas masks and 'Mickey Mouse' gas masks; older people's dislike of gas masks; frightening appearance of gas masks; song about gas masks; Phoney War period; recollections of two British Army soldiers of Dunkirk Evacuation including German Air Force bombing, shortages of rations and queuing for evacuation under German bombing; report by British Broadcasting Corporation war correspondent Bernard Stubbs on Dunkirk Evacuation including ships sailing for Dunkirk, France; state of returning troops and their morale; fears of invasion of Britain and effect of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's speeches; opinion of the Home Guard's ability to defeat an invasion; beginning of Battle of Britain, 1940: Royal Air Force pilot's recollections of a close encounter with a lone German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf 109; British civilian's recollections of German aircraft crashing near Bristol; story of mock city with lights to deceive and distract Germans; German propaganda leaflets; story of German airman; Prime Minister Winston Churchill announcement at the end of Battle of Britain.
REEL 3 Continues: Introduction to programme: continuation of daylight German Air Force raids on Bristol; anti-aircraft guns and question of morale; use of barrage balloons to keep German Air Force aircraft from low flying; barrage balloons caught in lightning storm; recollections of Sam Porter of being asked to retrieve a barrage balloon that contained a bomb; use of air raid shelters; dog's ability to hear the sirens early; children's lack of understanding of air raids; communal shelters; gas tanks hit and water from tanks flooding local houses; comparison of incendiary bombs and gas; opinion that gas would not be used; first major German Air Force air raid on Bristol, 24/11/40; difficulty in putting fires out in city; houses flattened and near misses; having to dig out family from debris; story of butcher's shop bombed and problem of food shortages; German Air Force raid on Bristol, 11/4/1941 including evacuation of shelters due to over-crowding and damage to streets and shelters; beginning of German V1 Flying Bomb attacks, 1944; recollections of Bob Ogley of how German V1 Flying Bomb launch pads were aimed at Bristol; American servicemens' relations with local girls; story of incident with American soldier; British Broadcasting Corporation announcement about Field Marshal Erwin Rommel; recollections of war correspondent Frank Gillard and various civilians of the preparation for Normandy invasion including report of the landings at Normandy, 6/6/1944; recollections of war correspondent Stanley Maxsted from Normandy, France; recollections of unknown British soldier of landing on beaches in Normandy, France; announcements of Adolf Hitler's death and end of Second World War; celebrations, parties and dancing for VE Day, 8/5/1945; Prime Minister Winston Churchill's radio broadcast on victory in Europe.