22 replies to this topic

[18th Battalion]

Tonight (Sat 6th) on BBC2 8.30, Michael Palin walks the former battlefields and recounts the final day of WW1 (rpt)

I don't know when this was first aired, but should be worth watching.

[steve morse]

I know it was last aired a few weeks ago!  

[Paul Reed]

It's worth pointing out that the one being shown tonight is the full version - the documentaries shown on Yesterday are cut down version for the advert-format that channel has.

This particular documentary was first shown in November 2008.

[MichaelBully]

Saw the 'Yesterday ' version a few weeks ago, all hacked up by the advert breaks. The last weeks of the Great War is not a subject I have particularly studied, but found this documentary very interesting with quite a lot of thought provoking material. Worth a look.

Paul Reed, on 06 November 2010 - 04:35 PM, said:

It's worth pointing out that the one being shown tonight is the full version - the documentaries shown on Yesterday are cut down version for the advert-format that channel has.

This particular documentary was first shown in November 2008.

[ulsterlad2]

Thanks for the heads up 18th.

Like many here I've seen a few times before but will watch it again.

[SteveMarsdin]

Hi all,

Repeated again tonight on BBC4, with a youthful looking Paul Reed, an elegant Christina Holstein and a misty St Symphorien !

[seaJane]

Digibox keeled over so no TV for the foreseeable...

[museumtom]

Of the Irish 12 counties completed, I find 65 names who died on 11/11/1918.

[Verrico2009]

On BBC4 at the moment.

[Jim Smithson]

SteveMarsdin, on 21 May 2012 - 08:52 PM, said:

Repeated again tonight on BBC4, with a youthful looking Paul Reed, an elegant Christina Holstein and a misty St Symphorien !

Do you think Christine could give Paul a few tips on how to look onscreen?    Sorry Paul, couldn't resist that.

Jim

[centurion]

How a WW1 documentary should be done -not like the ghastly gimmicky from above discussed elsewhere.

[skipman]

It's on iplayer now. Click

Mike

[Jim Smithson]

centurion, on 19 August 2012 - 10:32 PM, said:

How a WW1 documentary should be done -not like the ghastly gimmicky from above discussed elsewhere.

With Paul as military advisor always a good bet.  (Phew, maybe I'm back in his good books now).

[ianw]

The US casualty figures for 11.11.18 are/were grotesque.

Palin asks thoughtfully in the show whether it is different to die on 11.11.18 rather than some other random date in the war - to my mind, definitely yes!

[John Hartley]

ianw, on 20 August 2012 - 01:44 PM, said:

Palin asks thoughtfully in the show whether it is different to die on 11.11.18 rather than some other random date in the war - to my mind, definitely yes!

Not for the deceased, Ian. But most probably for the families.

[ianw]

John Hartley, on 20 August 2012 - 01:51 PM, said:

Not for the deceased, Ian. But most probably for the families.

Yes John , as illustrated by the  French decision to record at least some 11/11/18 deaths as having happened on 10/11/18.

In the words of the song -  "What a difference a day makes"

[centurion]

ianw, on 20 August 2012 - 01:44 PM, said:

The US casualty figures for 11.11.18 are/were grotesque.

Palin asks thoughtfully in the show whether it is different to die on 11.11.18 rather than some other random date in the war - to my mind, definitely yes!

Why? Dead is dead

[steve morse]

The 1st day, the last day, the 256th day = makes no difference., (unless you are trying to flog medals at a premium that is)

[ianw]

centurion, on 21 August 2012 - 01:39 PM, said:

Why? Dead is dead

Yes, agreed for the man himself but, as John suggests, the affect on the relatives is more devasting and poignant. The immediate post-war controversy over the US 11/11/18 dead illustrates this and the practice of the French to substitute the 10/11/18 date for 11/11/18 dead.

But , of course, Centurion, you are right they are just dead so why have any silly discussions about the particular sadness of falling at the very final curtain .

[ianw]

steve morse, on 21 August 2012 - 02:40 PM, said:

The 1st day, the last day,  = makes no difference

Maybe so - but personally I am glad that the IWGC took the trouble to bring together the first and last casualty at St Symphorien.

[Paul Reed]

They didn't Ian, it was a pure fluke. When Ellison was buried opposite Parr, no-one present had any idea Parr was the first. Nor did IWGC when the cemetery was made permanent.

Parr's grave originally bore the date 23rd August 1914. It was only research by Rose Coombs that led to it being changed to the correct date. The headstone was amended in the 80s and changed completely sometime around 2000.

[Grantowi]

ianw, on 20 August 2012 - 01:44 PM, said:

Palin asks thoughtfully in the show whether it is different to die on 11.11.18 rather than some other random date in the war - to my mind, definitely yes!

I wonder how many more would have survived if the French had agreed to an imediate cease fire, instead of waiting the extra six hours ?

Grant

[ianw]

Paul Reed, on 21 August 2012 - 09:50 PM, said:

They didn't Ian, it was a pure fluke. When Ellison was buried opposite Parr, no-one present had any idea Parr was the first. Nor did IWGC when the cemetery was made permanent.

Parr's grave originally bore the date 23rd August 1914. It was only research by Rose Coombs that led to it being changed to the correct date. The headstone was amended in the 80s and changed completely sometime around 2000.

Paul,

Thanks for correcting me on that.

In which case, we should be grateful that serendipity/fate/ a greater power/fluke (or whatever one chooses to call it) delivered the remains of the alpha and omega casualties to the same final resting place.  Not everything is left to mortal man to arrange.

This sort of synchronicity has a resonance for me although perhaps not for all.

By the way, it it correct that Parr was really only 16 years old rather than 20 as detailed by the CWGC?