Best of British 1939-45

March 2007 ©

At a time in our history when the future looked very bleak! Men, Women and Children in the UK showed the world a backbone and a strong character that would not submit to an evil tyrant and his Nazi regime. A people's war ensued, a total war of attrition that had to be won! The British a unique island race (with the help of her allies) became Victorious after a six year struggle. The fight for freedom was costly to Britain and her people, but it showed the world the very best that the British had to offer and a resolve in the face of outrageous adversity! We were at the time however very fortunate to have a wartime leader who was a great natural leader. Winston Churchill rallied Britain and her people in a cause that the British and the whole of the free world could not afford to lose! This period of time in our island's long distinguished history was very recent, yet many of our own children and the younger generations are not aware of the great sacrifices made only six decades ago. With this in mind I am offering a unique service as a personal oral history interviewer!

A Dreaded Doodle Bug (V1) falls out of the sky over central London. These pilotless aircraft, were in fact automatic flying bombs! Hitler's V weapons offensive began on June 13th 1944, just a week after D-Day! They were fired from ski like ramps in France that were thought to have been knocked out by previous bombing campaigns, on the 100 or so ski sites that had been identified by British intelligence and aerial photo recognisance. The V1 contained around one ton of high explosives that killed, maimed and terrorised the civilian population of London and the south east of England. Nearly 9,000 were launched, but even with home defences and error, some 2,500 V1s approximately still reached London and its suburbs! They caused casualties of approximately 5,500 killed and 16,000 seriously injured. (Source RV Jones 'Most Secret War' and Bob Ogley 'Doodlebugs and Rockets'.) By the second week in September with the advancement of British and Allied forces further into France it was thought the public would be safe! However it was now time for Hitler's second round of Vengeance Weapons, the V2s! These indiscriminate attacks went on until March 29th 1945.
(Photo from Doodlebugs and Rockets by Bob Ogley, Froglets publications isbn 1 872337 21 X)

Please click this button and listen to Alan Barker's very discriptive talk of a 'Doddle Bug' V1 flying bomb attack on his school! (Small example, recording time 1 minute)

Personal history told by informal interviews over a nice cup of tea, covering your parents, grandparents or your own wartime experiences! Whether they were servicemen or women, or working in wartime occupations such as munition factories, mines or land girls down of the farms! How did families with children cope with evacuation, how did host families cope with city kids as evacuees? Did you or they experience wartime conditions, rationing, black-market, the blitz and blackouts and that Anderson shelter in your garden! "Put that light out" said the ARP man! Hitler's secret (terrorising) weapons, pilot-less doodlebugs, or V2 rockets, a prototype that put the first man on the moon! What about Dunkirk's great navel evacuation! The Merchant Navy's life line to this island and the price they paid to keep us going! Do you remember looking to the skies for the Spitfire or Hurricane fighters in The Battle of Britain? It was hot for 8th Army in North Africa! Landings in Scilly and Italy. What about the courageous defence of Malta!! Also not forgetting the campaigns in the Middle East and Far East against the Japanese and the ill treatment our POWs!

Wherever they or you had served, in any theatre of war, Land, Sea or Air, you have a story to tell! Whatever your contribution or memories of war- work, civil service or evacuee, you or they have a unique story to tell! Stories that are unique to yourselves! So come on what are you waiting for, these priceless interview heirlooms could also be written up in a text format to past down to future generations. Time is short, the time is now, do you or your family have experiences of wartime Britain during 1939-1945?

Hour long interviews conducted by Brian O'Connor BA (Hons) in a friendly sympathetic manner, via taped recorder or video.
For a free estimate Contact me by telephone on 0208-364-7356 or

e-mail, please click here: Best of British

For examples of recorded interviews go to my All Our Lives website, where on pages 4, 5, 6 you will hear others talk of their experiences! Click the website address for direct access. www.allourlives.org.uk