Chat with Cecili who was a young girl in WWII Britain. A Christmas catch up with D-Day veteran Ken Cooke, 98. Plus another helping of festive tales of WW2. Please do subscribe or follow in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Show notes and photos: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/120-Christmas-At-War-2024-Sicily-interview-and-Ken-Cooke Episode shortlist - Full episode listing for the podcast https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/about/ Buy Me a Coffee https://w...
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 32 min
Bill's sobering police tour around defeated post-WWII Germany takes in sights and experiences of Oberhausen, Essen and Duisberg, including a poignant and memorable 1945 Christmas. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. Please do subscribe or follow in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Show notes and photos: https://www.fightingthroughpodca...
Dec 10, 2024•35 min
Chapter 22/23 Bill recovers from his wounds and gets back into training in England. He returns to the battlefront to his comrades in WW2 Germany and witnesses first hand the devastation caused by allied bombing and the uprooting of the displaced peoples of Europe, during the second world war. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. Please do subscribe or follow in y...
Dec 09, 2024•52 min
D-Day plus 1 to D plus 30. The Green Howards fight through France the next few weeks after the invasion. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. Please do subscribe or follow in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Show notes and photos: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/117-Ch-20-D-Day-contd-Bill-Cheall-WW2-memoirs Episode shortlist - ...
Dec 08, 2024•1 hr 9 min
D -1 to D-Day. Bill and his comrades cool their heels on board ship whilst the invasion is postponed. They land under horrific fire with the first wave of troops on Gold beach. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. Please do subscribe or follow in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Show notes: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/116-D...
Dec 01, 2024•1 hr
Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Bill returns home via bombed-out Liverpool. He trains hard and prepares for D-Day, witnessing some awful happenings in England before the invasion even begins. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. Please do subscribe or follow in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Show notes and photos: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/115-Chapter...
Nov 29, 2024•56 min
Bill trains in the desert heat before invading Sicily, experiencing bombardment and action around the Primasole bridge and Catania airport, before cooking a meal for Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery! Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. Please do subscribe or follow in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Show notes and photos: https://ww...
Nov 29, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Chapters 10 The Desert (Egypt), 11 Back to the Green Howards, 12 Wadi Akarit, Into Battle WW2. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. Please do subscribe or follow in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Show notes and photos:https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/113-Chapters-10-11-12-Egypt-Wadi-Akarit-Into-Battle-WWII Episode shortlist - ...
Nov 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Chapters 8/9 - I Am Posted. Bill cools his heels in Britain before finding out he's going to do some travelling - on the Queen Mary ship - to the Middle East. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. "When Bill Cheall joined up in April 1939, he could not have imagined the drama, rewards and near continuous action that lay in store. First and foremost a Green Howard ...
Nov 29, 2024•42 min
Chapters 5,6,7, The Aftermath, Reorganisation, Training. Bill recovers from Dunkirk and the Green Howards re-equip and reorganise for war. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. "When Bill Cheall joined up in April 1939, he could not have imagined the drama, rewards and near continuous action that lay in store. First and foremost a Green Howard (a Northern regiment...
Nov 29, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Chapter 4, Dunkirk. Bill's horrific experience in France continues. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. "When Bill Cheall joined up in April 1939, he could not have imagined the drama, rewards and near continuous action that lay in store. First and foremost a Green Howard (a Northern regiment), as a member of the British Expeditionary Force he saw the sharp end ...
Nov 29, 2024•23 min
Chapter 3, We Join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and fight in France 1940. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. "When Bill Cheall joined up in April 1939, he could not have imagined the drama, rewards and near continuous action that lay in store. First and foremost a Green Howard (a Northern regiment), as a member of the British Expeditionary Force he saw...
Nov 29, 2024•29 min
Chapter 1, The Beginning - joining The Territorial Army Reserve in 1939. Chapter 2, Call-Up Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. "When Bill Cheall joined up in April 1939, he could not have imagined the drama, rewards and near continuous action that lay in store. First and foremost a Green Howard (a Northern regiment), as a member of the British Expeditionary For...
Nov 29, 2024•24 min
Introduction & Dunkirk Prologue. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS here on EPISODE 107. Bill joins the territorial reserve army and fights in Dunkirk, living to escape and fight another day. He experiences the wonderful spirit and hospitality of the people of Cardiff, Wales. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST - Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British man's second world war. STARTS EPISODE 107. "When Bill Cheall joined up i...
Nov 29, 2024•22 min
More second world war stories on the Blitz, Evacuees, Gallipoli, Tanks, Dunkirk and D-day, Sappers …. PART THREE of an anniversary special celebrating ten years in podcasting. Episode artwork: Trooper Ernest Thomas, a tank driver in C Squadron Sherwood Rangers. New D-Day memoir. Please do subscribe or follow the show (for free forever) in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Episode shortlist – link to full episode listing https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/about/ Bu...
Nov 10, 2024•2 hr 28 min
Veteran Wilf Shaw, Australian Les Cook, POW's, Gallipoli and more, PART TWO of an anniversary special celebrating ten years in podcasting. Episode artwork:Jesse Rance, London Metropolitan Police between 1936 - 1966. Endured the WW2 blitz bombing. What a tough beat to patrol! Curious story revealed in the show. Buy Me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fightingthrough Full show notes, photos and transcript at: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/105-Tenth-Anniversary-Part-Two-with-more-se...
Nov 01, 2024•2 hr 4 min
An anniversary special celebrating ten years in podcasting. Featuring old favourites and new alike. This episode has a particular focus on Germany in the war, with much more. Episode artwork:German ship Bismarck. Buy Me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fightingthrough Full show notes, photos and transcript at: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/104-tenth-anniversary-of-ww2-veterans-and-family-stories Reviews on main website: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/ Patreo...
Oct 28, 2024•2 hr 3 min
Boat enthusiast Matt Cain enthralls us with the history and restoration project behind one of Dunkirk's most famous rescue ships. The Lady of Mann from the Isle of Man. Matt and Paul discuss the Dunkirk operation and stories behind it. Manx veterans talk about their experiences on Manx Radio. "Scary, fascinating and hilarious" Please do subscribe or follow the show (for free forever) in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Buy Me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fight...
Aug 29, 2024•2 hr 3 min
A thrilling family memoir from Paul Gill from USA who sailed in the Arctic convoys during the Second World War. "The enemy planes were flying just a few feet over the surface of the water on our starboard bow, towards the head of the convoy. I started to count them: 1, 2...13, 14…“Damn it! Look at them!” I yelled." "The general alarm sounded for submarine attack and all hands rushed to their stations with their helmets and life jackets, prepared for action." Please do subscribe or follow the sho...
Aug 11, 2024•2 hr 37 min
Three veterans' sons coming together to discuss all things D-Day 80. Facts, stats, legacy, beaches, movies and … more beaches. A discussion amongst Angus Wallace of the WW2 Podcast, Steve Erskine, curator and researcher at the Green Howard's museum and myself, Paul Cheall. PS During the discussion, I dismally failed to answer Angus's question about how many chapters of Dad’s book covered the beaches. The answer is …. One! There are five chapters in total for the Normandy campaign itself! Buy Me ...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 15 min
A special episode to commemorate the events of D-Day 6 June 44. The 80th anniversary. Four veteran accounts of the landings. D-Day Episodes mentioned: Bill Cheall: Episode 3 William Hershel Nelson: Episode 99 Eric Clarke: Episode 42 D-Day 75 - Landing Craft Tank in WWII - Eric Clark D-Day veteran memoir Brian Moss: Episodes 2, 3 and 13 Through German Eyes in the Second World War: Episodes 46/47 All D-Day/Normandy episodes: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/category/d-day/ Buy Me a Coffee ...
Jun 04, 2024•51 min
More Omaha WWII history action with family stories and a memoir feature you do not want to miss. And if you want to end with a smile do not miss the PS! Please do subscribe or follow the show in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. And your app will automatically download the episode for you. Episode Artwork: Sergant Giovanni Pezzella - See the PS for his story. NEW! Buy Me a Coffee - get OPTION OF a video reply!! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fightingthrough Full show note...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 21 min
Another great line-up of WW2 sniper stories featuring female snipers, British veteran Harry Furness, the psychology of sniping and stories from Crete and Sicily along with one or two more surprises. And the usual PS's! Great Unpublished History! Please do subscribe or follow the show in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. And your app will automatically download the episode for you. Full show notes, photos and transcript at: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/98-Wor...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Another tranche of Sniper stories based around the book, World War II Snipers - The Men, Their Guns, Their Story, by Gary Yee. Features selection of personnel, training, tactics and the weapons themselves. Lots of WW2 stories and eye witness accounts from around the world. Great Unpublished History! Please subscribe or follow the show in your listening app as it helps me with the search rankings. Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fightingthrough Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Fight...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 19 min
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 ac...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 42 min
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/95-Dunkirk-Special-PART-TWO-Bob-Metcalf-World-War-Two-history/ Reviews on main website: https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/ Apple reviews: https://...
Nov 26, 2023•1 hr 17 min
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...
Nov 18, 2023•1 hr 41 min
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! More great unpublished history of world war two! Full show notes, ph...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 29 min
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 trans...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 20 min
An interview with Dominic Frisby. The Kisses on a Postcard musical charts the true story of two young British evacuees during the Blitz of 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. More great unpublished history of the second world war! Buy the book, th...
Mar 12, 2023•1 hr 44 min
