History between the Lines

Final episode of mini-series on late 1950s British military history.

We explore the legacies of the operations Brian and Gerry were involved in and answer the ultimate question of why these veterans should be remembered more in public memory.

Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses", by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Part 2 of the mini-series on 1950s British military.

As Brian Carlile fights to retain the empire on Cyprus in 1957, RAF Leading Aircraftman Gerry Bowler is sent to Christmas Island in the Pacific to take part in a very different sort of operation. An operation fraught with danger.

Through Gerry's story, told by his granddaughter, historian Dr Fiona Bowler, we discover that Britain, in order to remain a Great Power post-WW2, is determined to get the Hydrogen Bomb, the most destructive weapon Mankind has ever built. The site they have chosen to test the H-bomb: Christmas Island.

Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Episode 1 of a mini-series on the late 1950s British military.

Episode 1 tells the story of Brian Carlile, who was drafted into the British Army in 1957 to perform National Service. As he goes through army training, he discovers where he is to be deployed to: the war-torn island of Cyprus.

This series shows how Britain continued to fight across the globe well after 1945 and it asks the question, why should these British soldiers, sailors and airmen of the late 1950s be remembered more?

Cover artwork- "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Dr Andy King joins me one last time to talk about the life and reign of King Edward III. From coups in Westminster and Scottish raids to the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death, this is a rollercoaster of a royal reign.

Cover artwork- "Comfort from a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay. 

By 1917, German U-boats are running amok amongst Allied shipping, threatening the war effort. The British Royal Navy decides to launch an attack against the German submarine base at Zeebrugge harbour to neutralize these U-boats, an operation guaranteed to be one of the most dangerous of the First World War.

Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

Continuation of the Edwards of English royal history. With the demise of Edward I in 1307, his son comes to the throne. And so begins decades of war, intrigue, favourites, rebellions, treachery and the final battle to force a king off his throne...

Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

Chris Hick joins me to review Nuremberg, the film which came out earlier this year which explores the 1945-1946 Nuremberg war crimes trials of the remaining leaders of Nazi Germany, notably Hermann Goring, played by Russell Crowe.

Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

Part 1 of a series on all the King Edwards of English royal history post-1066.

I'm joined by Dr Andy King to talk about Edward I. Hailed as a warrior ruler by the English who brought stability back to England and conquered Wales and Scotland and cursed as an evil tyrant by others who killed William Wallace, Edward I has gone down in history as one of England's most controversial kings. Is this reputation deserved?

Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

As the Second World War breaks out in Europe in September 1939, Berlin is slowly transformed into a city of war. From rationing and bombing to forced labourers and the Holocaust, the city enters its darkest chapter, being brought to the brink of destruction by the Nazis.

Chris Hick joins me for the final episode of this series about the Nazis and Berlin.

Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.

Part 2 of the series on the relationship between the Nazis and Berlin. Chris Hick joins me again to talk about what the Nazis did to Berlin once they were in charge.

From employment programmes, creating the "people's community" to planning the architectural makeover of the capital, the Nazis hoped to change Berlin fundamentally and even planned to rename it to World Capital Germania.

Cover artwork: "Comfort of a Bed of Roses" by James Gillray, courtesy of Look and Learn History Picture Archive.

Music by Lexin Music from Pixabay.