There was no more important field of conflict in the Second World War than the Battle of the Atlantic. On February 17th, 1941, Western Approaches HQ opened in Liverpool to co-ordinate the Royal Navy and 15 Group Costal Command.
On its 80th anniversary Al Murray and James Holland speak to lead historian Dave Roberts to discuss the vital role played by the men and women in the underground bunker and operations room at Western Approaches HQ.
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In April 1942 Denis Barnham flew his Spitfire off the deck of an aircraft carrier and headed for Malta, where the air battle over the island was at its most intense. This brilliant account of his time on the island
Brigadier George Chatterton’s memoirs, read by Al Murray, tell the extraordinary story of his time as a soldier for the British Army who then went on to become the Commander of the Glider Pilot Regiment during the Second World War.
In this bonus episode there’s a chance to hear Franklin D Roosevelt’s speech after Pearl Harbour as performed by American actor Chaz Mena. Legendary broadcaster Ed Murrow and World at War narrator Laurence Olivier also get a run out.
Merry Christmas from We Have Ways of Making You Talk. Over the next 12 days Al and James are reading extracts from some of their favourite books about the Second World War. Today Rachel Holland is reading an extract from
One Response
We went up to visit the Museum just before the first lockdown and saw an open day which was brilliant. It really is so atmospheric being in that map room. They even staged a reconstruction of a convoy attack which was excellent. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. For them it was clearly a labour of love.
We found out about the Museum after reading ‘A game of birds and Wolves’ by Simon Parkin, which documents the history of the Bunker and everything associated with it. Actuually the book is little ‘clunky’ but covers the whole episode in great detail.
Peter W