World War Two

Voices from The Battle Of Britain

In the summer of 1940, the fate of Britain hung in the balance, as across the English Channel one of the mightiest armies in history prepared to invade. With lightning speed and military brilliance Nazi Germany had already conquered all before them. However, Hitler would suffer his first defeat in a desperate struggle which took place in the sky over southern England that became known as ‘The Battle of Britain’.
Based on the book of the same title by best-selling author Henry Buckton, this film is based on a fascinating series of interviews with a wide variety of people who played a vital role in Britain’s ‘finest hour’. Included are the captivating accounts of six fighter pilots who risked their lives day after day to combat the Luftwaffe, which was at that time greatly more experienced in aerial warfare. Their memories are enhanced by the recollections of a gunner, two members of the 400,000-strong ground crew who kept as many aircraft flying as possible, a barrage balloon operator and men who helped to build Spitfires.
Illustrated by a wealth of archive film, rare photographs and evocative location filming at sites key to the battle, this is a fitting tribute to those fiercely patriotic yet utterly modest heroes who saved our green and pleasant land from invasion.

Bath At War

A moving account of the bombing raids on the Bath area in World War Two.

Bath’s civilian population was subjected to a fierce onslaught during three nights in April 1942. The Luftwaffe ravaged Bath with high explosive bombing, destroyed many of the city’s buildings with incendiary bombs, then returned to machine gun the unprotected streets.

417 people lost their lives and a further 425 were injured. 19,000 buildings were damaged, and 1,200 buildings had to be demolished. Personal recollections of the bombing, together with previously unreleased archive film and dramatic photographs, recount this tragic tale.

Proceeds from the sale of this title contributed to the cost of a commemorative plaque, at the entrance to Victoria Park, as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives.

Hitler's War on Bristol

During the Second World War, the ancient city of Bristol faced a bitter struggle for survival against German air raids. The bombing lasted from the night of June 19th 1940, when Luftwaffe aircraft first took off to attack the area, until the final ‘all clear’ sounded in the early hours of May 16th 1944.

Between September 1940 and May 1941 Bristol was the fifth most heavily bombed city in England. It was never purposely subjected to indiscriminate terror bombing as a means of smashing civilian morale. However, the inaccuracy of the heavy attacks mounted against Bristol’s vital harbour facilities and aircraft factories, caused widespread damage, death and destruction in a number of the city’s most populous districts. By June 1944, 1,396 people in the Greater Bristol area had fallen prey to the bombing, and 89,000 properties in the city had been either damaged or destroyed.

With the help of archive film and illustrations, together with visits to historic locations and interviews with those who lived through the Bristol Blitz, you will see how the city defended itself against Hitler’s onslaught. This documentary also reveals the full impact of the conflict upon ordinary Bristolians, thrust overnight into the front line of the war against Germany's mighty Luftwaffe.

The West At War

The Second World War had a huge impact upon the civilian population of the West Country.

The story is told with the help of personal recollections, and enhanced by extensive archive film, including some remarkable colour footage of Bristol, rare audio recordings, photographs and documents.

Eminent war historian John Penny explains how the government used radio and newspapers to boost the morale of the country, and how the mood of the nation was secretly monitored. Evacuation from Bristol often came as quite a culture shock, and children also escaped the Blitz by attending rural summer camps.

Ordinary people defended their homes and workplaces by doing extraordinary things, as revealed by war historian George Scott, and there is also a special feature on how a sufficient diet was maintained, despite the devastation of the Nazi blockade. It was vital to maintain high levels of productivity, as confirmed by the memories of a Bevin Boy who wanted to join the RAF but found himself hewing coal in South Wales.

During the build-up to D-Day, there was a steady build-up of American forces, and their presence in the West is still fondly recalled by those who survived some of Britain’s darkest days.

Dorset At War

Today, Dorset is considered by many to be the archetypal rural English county. However, in the Second World War, Dorset was front-line territory in the struggle with Nazi Germany, whose forces lay just across the English Channel in occupied France. As the tide of war turned in the Allies’ favour, Dorset played a crucial role in the Normandy Landings, and ultimate victory.

In this 85-minute documentary, Dorset historian and author Colin Pomeroy conducts a tour of the county’s war sites, some of which are very well known, while others are now virtually forgotten. Illustrated extensively by rare archive photographs, maps and drawings, this historical journey begins at Portland, where remnants of the Mulberry Harbour that fuelled the Normandy Invasion still stand. The tour continues to Weymouth, the embarkation point for thousands of American soldiers, and then Chesil Beach, which had been heavily defended earlier in the war, when it was feared that a Nazi invasion could strike at Lyme Bay.

Other highlights include visits to Tyneham Village, where American troops trained in readiness for the invasion of the continent; Warmwell aerodrome, from where Spitfires defended Britain, and USAAF Lightnings took the fight to the enemy; and St Aldhelm’s Head, where TRE Worth Matravers performed such vital work in the development of radar.

Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Winyard’s Gap, Sherborne, Blandford Forum, Bournemouth, Poole and Studland are also among the locations visited in this tribute to an extraordinary period in Dorset’s history.

Friendly Invasion

Between 1942 and 1945, 3 million young American service personnel came to Britain and their presence over a short period of time would have a lasting effect on the communities they visited. This film examines the different types of relationships that were forged between the British public and their American guests at that time.

Some people worked with the Americans, provided them with accommodation, or lived near their camps. Others were affected by the presence of their war machinery, or their music, cinema and dancing. We see how they enjoyed their spare time; how they romanced British girls; the marriages that resulted from these relationships; and their strong bond with British children. It is an unbiased study, examining the bad points as well as the good, including racism. Ultimately, it attempts to recapture the atmosphere of a unique period in British history, based on the bestselling book of the same title.

South Wales At War

During the Second World War, Luftwaffe air raids on Wales killed 984 people and left over 1,200 seriously injured. Over 90% of these casualties were in the south of the country. The reality of war came home to Wales when the first bombs fell on Cardiff in June 1940, and the following January a severe Luftwaffe attack devastated the main shopping area and badly damaged the historic Llandaff Cathedral. Within weeks of that raid, ‘The Three Night Blitz’ on Swansea obliterated the town centre, as over 300 business premises were destroyed and 6,500 people were made homeless. Newport also suffered, particularly in 1941, when sea-mines intended for the shipping lanes of the Bristol Channel instead caused death and destruction in the Monmouthshire town. South Wales also experienced Britain’s worst fire for almost 300 years, when the oil tanks at Pembroke Dock were struck, causing a crippling blow to national resources. This fascinating documentary also includes the story of Island Farm POW Camp, the scene of the biggest breakout by German prisoners in Britain during the entire conflict; how the secrets of a much-feared enemy fighter aircraft were revealed after an example was captured at Pembrey in Carmarthenshire; how a German bomber became the first to be brought down by a barrage balloon, when it crash-landed in Newport; the precious memories of two members of the Home Guard; how boxing legend Rocky Marciano won one of his first fights in a Swansea pub, and much more. With the help of rare archive film, photographs, period music, authentic sound effects and some enthralling eye-witness accounts, this is the story of South Wales at War.

Bristol's VE-Day

This souvenir presentation commemorates the 60th anniversary of VE-Day.

After six years of bitter warfare with Nazi Germany, May 8th 1945 signalled the official end to hostilities in Europe. It was the end of a conflict that had seen Bristol suffer greatly, so the reaction was greeted with an uninhibited outpouring of joy. Celebrations were confined not only to those serving in the armed forces and their immediate families, but extended to everyone: young and old, rich and poor.

With the help of eye-witness accounts, and rare archive material – including priceless colour footage of VE-Day celebrations in Bristol - you will see exactly how local people chose to celebrate the occasion.

A musical thread runs through the production, with some delightful renditions of wartime songs and historical re-enactments, thanks to St Luke’s Church Players of Brislington.

The 60th anniversary festivities in Bristol are also included, together with a Bristol Cathedral service to commemorate the part played by women in World War Two.