Radio Moments - Clips

Radio found its place during World War II in so many ways. From providing reassurance and company to dispensing vital information; from boosting morale to spreading propaganda.

The many American Forces personnel stationed in the UK, accustomed to vibrant US radio, were a little perplexed by staid Auntie BBC, even its General Forces Programme, which was doing so much to provide for the needs of our own troops. As the number of Americans grew, it was clear a dedicated service would be required, and if the BBC did not aid its provision in the UK, then the Americans would do it for themselves.

The American Forces Network (AFN), went on air on July 4th, 1943, on 50 transmitters in the UK, with BBC co-operation. As squabbles broke out between the varying demands of the audiences, and the various factions of the broadcasters, it was clear a more structured solution was necessary.

On June 7th 1944, on 1050 kHz AM, (later 583), the Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme began, broadcasting from Broadcasting House. Famously, the childish yet eerie tune ‘Oranges and Lemons’ was adopted as its call-sign, played on a nova-chord.
There was an introductory announcement by Franklin Engelmann, who was later to be the first host of ‘Pick of the Pops’, followed by a prayer and a news bulletin. ’Rise & Shine’ followed, co- hosted by Ronnie Waldman.

Drawing on programmes from across the World, this service lasted just 14 months, closing down on July 28th, 1945.

Just after Mrs Thatcher declared that terrorists should be starved of the "oxygen of publicity", it transpired a senior Republican paramilitary had been interviewed for a BBC 'Real Lives' documentary: 'At the Edge of the Union'.

Home Secretary, Leon Brittan, wrote to the BBC Chairman, Stuart Young, asking the BBC to cancel the broadcast. The Governors called an emergency meeting and ordered that it could not go out.

When this was seen as government censorship, BBC and staff in other media went on a day's strike; and the Assistant Director-General suggested the Governors were to the BBC 'what the iceberg was to the Titanic'.

The programme was later broadcast with minor amendments included; BBC procedures were tightened; and some months later the DG Alasdair Milne was asked to step down.

Another fond look back to this week in radio history, for the week ending July 31st 2015, as heard at the end of the week's RadioTalk podcast from Radio Today.