Fighting Through WW2 Podcast


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The stories connected to the story

Great unpublished history!


Bill Cheall fought at Dunkirk, North Africa and Sicily, was in the first wave on Gold Beach on D-Day, and finally went to Germany. Since Bill's WW2 memoirs were published, many former comrades and families have come forward with stories and diaries of their own, all forming part of the jigsaw of Bill's war. The aim of these podcasts is to bring the memories to life and honour the soldiers, airmen and seamen who were connected to Bill in some way.

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Listen to the podcast at www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk

Paul Cheall



Monday 18 December 2023

96 Christmas at War Around The World with the V1 - 2023

Christmas at war, with more seasonal tales, including a special feature on what Christmas was like in various countries around the globe during WW2.  
Specials in this episode:
German Boy Soldier's Christmas Shoes
V1 Doodlebug bombs over Manchester
The Last Flight of Lancaster DV189
The Journal of Flight Sergeant Jim Browning
Christmas at war around the world

And just to remind you, if you want to fill your December with a catch up on all the previous Christmas episodes for this podcast, you can access them easily by clicking on the episodes item on the website menu and selecting - Christmas!

Buy Me a Coffee:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fightingthrough

Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/FightingThrough

 

Full show notes, photos and transcript at:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/96-christmas-at-war-around-the-world-2023

Reviews on main website:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/

Apple reviews: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ww2-fighting-through-from-dunkirk-to-hamburg-war-diary/id624581457?mt=2

Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulCheall

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FightingThroughPodcast

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlqRO9MdFBUrKM6ExEOzVQ?view_as=subscriber

 

Links to features in the show:

Manchester V1 attack WW2 and comments
https://aircrashsites.co.uk/air-raids-bomb-sites/luftwaffe-v1-attack-on-manchester-christmas-eve-1944/


Bomber enemies in WWII became friends
https://nation.time.com/2012/12/20/a-christmas-story-but-not-by-charles-dickens/


Eugene Fluckey’s book Thunder Below about USS Barb submarine. 
https://amzn.to/4a9dS3k

Sounds
Lancaster crashing - Plane Crash.flac Copyright 2013 Iwan GabovitchCC-BY3 license.

http://freesound.org/people/Snipperbes/sounds/145365/

 



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Friday 1 December 2023

95 Dunkirk Special PART TWO Bob Metcalf WW2 memoirs

PART TWO Featuring No time for dreams: a soldier’s six-year journey through World War II. 
By Robert W. Metcalfe, 4th Green Howards.

PLUS:

What someone's father found in the jungle AFTER the war.

Who wrote to Bob Metcalfe upon publication of his book.

Full show notes, photos and transcript at:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/94-Dunkirk-Special-Bob-Metcalf-Brit-Canadian-Green-Howard-WW2-history

Reviews on main website:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/

Apple reviews: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ww2-fighting-through-from-dunkirk-to-hamburg-war-diary/id624581457?mt=2

Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulCheall

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FightingThroughPodcast

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlqRO9MdFBUrKM6ExEOzVQ?view_as=subscriber

 

Buy Me a Coffee:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fightingthrough

Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/FightingThrough

 

Links to features in the show:

 

Thomas W Gray story - The Eighth Air Force Historical Society (official) Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/8THAFHS/permalink/6392716644111145/

 

WW2 Stories of Chaos and Courage Robert Gough
https://www.facebook.com/groups/754427714964136/permalink/1401905480216353/?mibextid=zDhOQc

Spitfire downed on Dunkirk beach
https://www.facebook.com/groups/754427714964136/permalink/1298240560582846/?mibextid=zDhOQc

Ramsgate life-boat - The France and Flanders Campaign  1940 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/861551180637519/posts/pfbid0MUyULj43uQvZ7CJjWhUJRUEd6P4xmbBKapXfv1d2hTvUzmcEAQYV1ZCeEa4Q7Xvql/

Thomas W Gray - The Eighth Air Force Historical Society (official) Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/8THAFHS/permalink/6392716644111145/

WW2 Stories of Chaos and Courage Robert Gough
https://www.facebook.com/groups/754427714964136/permalink/1401905480216353/?mibextid=zDhOQc

Recollections of Lieutenant JWR Cocke - Wilbur
https://www.facebook.com/861551180637519/posts/pfbid023vpZUKbAJvcmkh2Y4HXQh25buYPeT4doKhBSzfnPus328rVKso3GuuQJvxuqZSpol/

More Dunkirk stories:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/754427714964136/search/?q=dunkirk

Seth Vader's grandfather's memoir:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ww2/s/5OHnpaX7S9

John Moran of Scottish parentage but a Canadian wrote a book under the name Ian Moran called the Lone Piper. 
https://www.amazon.com.au/Lone-Piper-Story-Millin-Lovats/dp/1706961251

 



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Thursday 23 November 2023

94 Dunkirk Special PART ONE - Bob Metcalf British Canadian, Green Howard WW2 history

Featuring No time for dreams: a soldier’s six-year journey through World War II. 
By Robert W. Metcalfe, 4th Green Howards

Bob Metcalf enlisted in the fourth battalion, the Green Howards in December 1935. He saw action in France in 1940, where he was wounded. Subsequently, he served with the sixth battalion, the Green Howards, and the western desert, in Sicily, and was part of a British increment that fought with the fifth United States Army in Italy. After the war, Bob lived in Canada and became a Canadian citizen. He wrote his memoir in the early 1970’s.

Plus loads of family stories!

More great unpublished history of world war two!

Full show notes, photos and transcript at:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/94-Dunkirk-Special-Bob-Metcalf-Brit-Canadian-Green-Howard-WW2-history

Reviews on main website:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/

Apple reviews: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ww2-fighting-through-from-dunkirk-to-hamburg-war-diary/id624581457?mt=2

Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulCheall

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FightingThroughPodcast

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlqRO9MdFBUrKM6ExEOzVQ?view_as=subscriber

 

Buy Me a Coffee:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fightingthrough

Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/FightingThrough

 

Links to features in the show:

France and Flanders – The Scotsmen story 
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0rqsd4pF1fs37YC76TPuVgh4tpudaa3Lu7nHhMMX71WGSMQo2rnJ7Vu8eJ6hADWuFl&id=100072081056641

D-Day Operation Overlord facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1528243384106448/permalink/3551589835105116/

Assn of Dunkirk ships
https://www.facebook.com/DunkirkShips/
https://www.adls.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin/photos/a.421476987984802/2655215381277607/?type=3

Isle of Man Culture Vannin Facebook page
for the Manx Heritage foundation: taking Manx culture forward

https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/videos/world-war-two--the-isle-of-man-411483/?fbclid=IwAR1DGg6OnFOGCNd1evVKIBIUuliCuwI7vT-v5xDUcN44-bE5hSJ-kG1myjI

Reddit Stories about WW2 heroes. Sgt Carbonero:
https://reddit.com/r/ww2/s/7zhCVvj7sr

Friends of Normanby Village Facebook page – 4th Green Howard story. Albert Edward Mead.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/614763812894288/posts/1047674802936518/?comment_id=1047749999595665&reply_comment_id=1047877976249534&notif_id=1699710094723212&notif_t=group_comment_mention

 



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Monday 7 August 2023

93 The 82nd airborne Part 2 letters from Sicily and Italy WW2

More from Dave Thomas about his father’s exploits in the 82nd airborne in Italy.

Preview of The Secret Beach: A Kids World War 2 Adventure. By James Papalia

Green Howards feature - online Sicily exhibition

Telephone chat with veteran Ken Cooke who has some more titbits to share with us about his time in Normandy, with an absolutely superb explanation about what it was like fighting in the French bocage.

Loads of family stories!

Full show notes, photos and transcript at:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/92-the-82nd-airborne-letters-from-sicily-and-italy-in-WWII

Reviews on main website:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/

Apple reviews: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ww2-fighting-through-from-dunkirk-to-hamburg-war-diary/id624581457?mt=2

Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulCheall

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FightingThroughPodcast

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlqRO9MdFBUrKM6ExEOzVQ?view_as=subscriber

Links to features in the show:

The Secret Beach - Great WW2 history for kids!  Buy here on Amazon:
https://a.co/d/6klDSeb

Green Howards
https://greenhowards.org.uk/
Online Sicily Exhibition 
See: https://greenhowards.org.uk/exhibition/first-foot-on-fortress-europe/

Kilroy
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wwiiphotographs/permalink/663597541886219/

Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean VC WW2 STORIES OF CHAOS AND COURAGE 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/754427714964136/permalink/1365913053815596/

Champagne Sylvie. La Vie en France
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkRdwn9Ktd1z79n08YYVwhw

Facebook story: WW2 STORIES OF CHAOS AND COURAGE The surly petty officer
https://www.facebook.com/groups/754427714964136/permalink/1456548118085422/

Battles and Beers. Every soldier has a story, and every story deserves to be told. Nicholas Laidlaw - What War did to us
https://www.facebook.com/groups/754427714964136/permalink/1156444198095817/

And here is the background to the Italian mission from 
http://www.facesbeyondthegraves.com/pagina43.html

My mum kept her dads World War I record secret until I found them online.
https://facebook.com/groups/754427714964136/permalink/1456548118085422/

 

 



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Wednesday 2 August 2023

92 The 82nd airborne letters from Sicily final

A great family story from Dave Thomas about his father’s exploits in the 82nd airborne in Sicily and Italy.

Telephone chat with veteran Ken Cooke who has some more titbits to share with us about his time in Normandy, with an absolutely superb explanation about what it was like fighting in the French bocage.

Interview with Claire and Steve from the Soldier’s Charity about a very special Normandy tour you will wish to join later this year.

Loads of family stories!

Full show notes, photos and transcript at:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/92-the-82nd-airborne-letters-from-sicily-and-italy-in-WWII

Reviews on main website:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/

Apple reviews: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ww2-fighting-through-from-dunkirk-to-hamburg-war-diary/id624581457?mt=2

Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulCheall

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FightingThroughPodcast

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlqRO9MdFBUrKM6ExEOzVQ?view_as=subscriber

Links to features in the show:

Links for episode 82
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity on their event ‘The Frontline Walk’ 
Visit www.soldierscharity.org/frontlinewalk for more information.
Normandy specific website: The Frontline Walk: The Normandy Beaches 2023 (soldierscharity.org)
Normandy route
Day 1: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39060395

Day 2: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39060402

Day 3: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39060403

Video:
Frontline Walk 2022 - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9wAFB6h7MFoohx7WiH7LTA

Song for the Bad Guys - Nick Feint
Nick’s music is hosted on the bandcamp website and there’s a link to in the shownotes
https://nickfeint.bandcamp.com/track/song-for-the-bad-guys

https://open.spotify.com/track/0YEOGDmc5v3Foe8IDfujTt?si=vcK-KBDTT4i4UITLbLoOFQ

Nick Feint - Coming Up Roses 
https://open.spotify.com/track/0YEOGDmc5v3Foe8IDfujTt?si=vcK-KBDTT4i4UITLbLoOFQ

505 Parachute Infantry Regiment website
http://www.505rct.org/SICILY.asp

D-Day and TimeGhost History's 24 hour coverage of D-Day, as it really happened. Clips, playlists, and all the chapters of that day as it unfolded.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9wAFB6h7MFoohx7WiH7LTA

Great British Life online Magazine – link …
https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/22630675.story-behind-luftwaffes-attack-new-mills/

Fred Thomas 504 PIR WW2

 



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Sunday 12 March 2023

91 Kisses on a Postcard - child evacuees - interview with Dominic Frisby

An interview with Dominic Frisby. The Kisses on a Postcard musical charts the true story of two young British evacuees during WW2. Features mystery postcard messages, the bombing of Plymouth, American GI's and crashing German bombers.
Dominic’s work is full to bursting with Dunkirk spirit, steam trains and all the best of WW2 Britishness. 

And never ever was an episode better timed to coincide with world events.

Buy the book, the CD's, hear the musical as a podcast. All links and pod players at:
www.kissesonapostcard.com

Reviews on main website:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/

Apple reviews: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ww2-fighting-through-from-dunkirk-to-hamburg-war-diary/id624581457?mt=2

Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulCheall

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FightingThroughPodcast

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlqRO9MdFBUrKM6ExEOzVQ?view_as=subscriber

 

 



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Friday 10 February 2023

90 Alf Blackburn’s war memoirs Part 2, WW2

Part 2

A classic tale of British infantry adventure in WW2. How the Fighting Through WW2 memoirs podcast put the families of two war comrades in touch with each other.

Sicily and D-Day campaigns featured. Durham Light Infantry DLI and Green Howards feature.

More great unpublished history!

Buy Alf Blackburn's War Memoirs at:
https://amzn.to/3I8cFxd

Full show notes, photos and transcript at:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/90-Alfred-Blackburn-War-Memoirs-Part-2

Rennie Shaw
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56500895/rennie-shaw/flower

Augie Herchenratter
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/war-hero-augie-herchenratter-hoped-to-make-it-to-the-nhl/article37536495/

Men of Worth project
https://www.menofworth.org.uk/

Reviews on main website:
https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/

Apple reviews: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ww2-fighting-through-from-dunkirk-to-hamburg-war-diary/id624581457?mt=2

Follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulCheall

Follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FightingThroughPodcast

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlqRO9MdFBUrKM6ExEOzVQ?view_as=subscriber

 



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