D-Day: The Last Voices

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The story of D-Day, using rediscovered testimonies of those who were there, on all sides.

Eighty years on: the story of D-Day as it unfolds, using rediscovered testimonies of those who were there, on all sides.

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The History Podcast: D-Day: The Last Voices: D-Day: The Last Voices - 3. Over the Sea

D-Day: The Last Voices - 3. Over the Sea

BBC Radio 4 - The History Podcast, D-Day: The Last Voices, D-Day: The Last Voices - 3. Over the Sea

D-Day has begun and troops battle ferociously on the beaches for a foothold on the coast.

The landings begin. Paddy O’Connell explores what it was like for those in landing craft approaching the shore, fighting for survival as they were targeted by enemy fire.

D-Day: The Last Voices brings together a rich collection of historical audio testimonies recorded with those who fought in the invasion of Normandy, alongside extraordinary new interviews with the last surviving veterans, to tell their story of D-Day as it unfolded.

Presented by Paddy O’Connell, each programme charts a distinct chapter of the complex, visceral and moving story of the invasion, from subterfuge and secret planning, to the approach of H-Hour, the landings by air and sea, and on into the battles beyond the beaches.

Commissioned as a collaboration with D-Day: The Unheard Tapes for BBC Two, and drawing on the same longitudinal access and research, the series tells the story of D-Day through the last voices of those who lived it, leading us through their personal experiences of the invasion. Supported by the historical recordings of those who were there with them – this is their story, told in their own words.

As the landings begin on all five beaches, the first waves of men approach the shores of Normandy in landing craft. For many of the young soldiers on both sides, this is the first time they have seen action, and the closer the shore comes, the more excitement is replaced with terror. 

At Omaha, the American landing craft are carried off course by strong currents. Worse still they discover that the pre-invasion naval bombardment has largely missed the German bunkers.  Men see their friends gunned down before they even step foot on the shore.  British Commandos peddle bicycles from Sword beach to act as reinforcements, and tank commanders describe scenes of untold terror on the beaches as they try to cross the sand. 

Finally, movement off the beaches seems possible, but as the Allied Forces move off the beaches and into the Normandy countryside, danger lurks at every turn.

Featuring:
Don Duffield-Abdy 
Bernard Morgan 
Joe Cattini 
Jim Glennie 
Geoffrey Weaving 
Ted Batley 
Ray Nance
William Dunn
James Kelly
Stanley Scott 
Ray Nance
James Sink
Warwick Nield-Siddall
John Clegg
Bill Millin

Written and presented by Paddy O’Connell

Produced by Paul Kobrak
Technical production by Richard Courtice 
Sound design by Roy Noy, Tom Chilcot, Alex Short, Adam Palmer, Paul Donovan
Music composed by Sam Hooper 

Production Executive – Anne-Marie Byrne 

Archive Assistant Producer – Hannah Mirsky 

Archive: Fremantle, BBC News, Paddy O’Connell, made in partnership with Imperial War Museums.

Executive Producers - Morgana Pugh and Rami Tzabar

A Wall to Wall Media production for BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast: D-Day: The Last Voices

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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