The Sounds of Time

A fasinating recorded sound documentation of WWII and events surrounding it. Narated by the BBC's John Snagge

CD

  Part 1 - The Wasted Years

In Washington PRESIDENT TRUMAN hails the North Atlantic Pact.

Flashback to H. G. WELLS'S prophecy in 1934: "The world is drifting towards catastrophe"

RAMSAY MACDONALD and STANLEY BALDWIN in pursuit of peace.

The Italian dictator MUSSOLINI, glorifying war.

KING GEORGE V broadcasts an historic prayer from Britain's Parliament.

The voice of AMELIA EHRHART, martyr of aviation.

The giant airship Hindenburg burst into flames at Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6th 1934.

Part 2 - Prelude to War

KING EDWARD VIII abdicates for "The woman I love".

Austria is annexed by HITLER - speech and acclamation.

Returning from Munich, Britain's Prime Minister, NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN brings an assurance of peace with Germany.

September 1st, 1939 - Poland invaded by Germany - NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN'S broadcast of September 3rd, 1939, ("…and that consequently, this country is at war with Germany")

London hears its first air raid alert.

Part 3 - Britain Stands Alone

Gas-mask training for school-children during the "phoney war".

Low Countries invaded, May 10th, 1940.

Singing Tommies cross Belgium frontier to meet Wehrmacht.

Three weeks later, J. B. PRIESTLY broadcasts his famous postscript to the epic of Dunkirk (The Good Ship "Gracie Fields").

Enslaved Europe hears the voices of her leaders in London: PRESIDENT BENES, QUEEN WILHELMINA, KING HAAKON, KING PETER, GENERAL SIKORSKI, GENERAL DE GAULLE.

WINSTON CHURCHILL rallies the nation. ("Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty…")

Part 4 - The Lion has Wings

R.A.F. Spitfires and Hurricanes fight and win the Battle of Britain.

Luftwaffe's night "blitz" on London.

Spirit of the Cockney expressed by cab-driver HARRY ANDERSON.

Two Americans, BEN LYONS and BEBE DANIELS and the well loved TOMMY HANDLEY bring good cheer to embattled London through the "Hi Gang" and "Itma" radio programme.

The voice of COLONEL BRITAIN is heard by the resistance movement in underground Europe: ("The night is your friend. The V is your sign")

Part 5 - New World Rallies to the Old

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour brings America into war and FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT declares his faith in victory.

GENERAL DOUGLAS MAC ARTHUR at Melbourne, March 21st, 1942.

British war workers sing at the production front.

Nightingale in Surrey wood matches its voice against the drone of a thousand bombers striking at Germany.

Inter-com conversation by bomber crew over Britain.

GENERAL MONTGOMERY'S private speech to Eighth Army officers before El Alemein, ("Here we will stand and fight") August 13th, 1942
Part 6 - The Long Night Ends

Eighth Army's artillery barrage opens the battle of El Alemein.

From Britain, GENERAL "IKE" EISENHOWER announces the D-day invasion of France, June 6th, 1944.

Joyous Paris crowds greet the Army of Liberation.

Actuality recording by STANLEY MAXTED made under fire with the Airborne Division at Arnhem.

Britain's final ordeal by pilotless planes and rockets.

Crossing the Rhine in a "Buffalo" in pursuit of the Wehrmacht.
Liberated victim of a Nazi concentration camp meets his mother.

Part 7 - We Shall Remember Them

Victory celebrations in Whitehall on V-E Day:

WINSTON CHURCHILL greets the singing crowds. ("This is your victory, the victory of the cause of freedom in every land.")

GENERAL "IKE" EISENHOWER becomes a Freeman of the City of London and addresses fellow-citizens from the Mansion House steps.

Memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral to Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 17th, 1945. The great bells of St. Paul's ring out a tribute to Britain's staunch friend.

Part 8 - The Reckoning

CLEMENT ATTLEE Britain's new Prime Minister, announces the Japanese surrender and the end of the war.

General Election exchange between WINSTON CHURCHILL and ATTLEE over the B.B.C.

Trials of Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg: HERMAN GOERING and RUDOLPH HESS enter pleas of "Not Guilty".

The Nuremberg judgement is pronounced.

Eye-witness SERGEANT-MAJOR E. AUSTIN reports Heinrich Himmler's suicide.

WILLIAM ("Lord Haw-Haw") JOYCE propaganda puppet of Goebbels, is sentenced to death in London.

Part 9 - Tapestry of Empire

Britain's Royal Family tours the Union of South Africa and the Rhodesias.

KING GEORGE VI speaks of his anxiety about Britain's economic plight.

PRINCESS ELZABETH comes of age: Her solemn dedication to the service of the Empire.

JAWAHARLAL NERU on transfer of power to India.

Swearing-in of LRD LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN as first Governor-General of India.

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY conducts Royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey. ("For as much as Philip and Elizabeth…")

Part 10 - Men Can Sing Together

DUKE OF EDINBURGH addresses Mansion House audience on return from India.

DR. CHAIM WEIZMANN speaks with pride of the new state of Israel.

A remedy for sick and infected Europe is prescribed by U. S. Secretary of State GEORGE MARSHALL at Harvard University.

The "Air-Lift" over the Soviet blockade of Berlin.

ERNEST BEVIN at Washington, on the meaning of the North Atlantic Pact. ("At last, Democracy is no longer a series of isolated units…")

Olympic hymn sung by massed choirs at Olympic Games, London 1948.

ALSO INCUDES: Part of Quentin Reynods Broadcast from 29th June 1941 - "Dear Doctor".


These tracks are taken direct from 78 rpm records and in order to maintain the authentic sound, have not been engineered in any way.

£5.99 post paid within the UK

Please send your cheque or postal order to:

Chris Gavin, PO Box 368, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire AB34 5LZ
An additional charge may be required to send overseas, please email Chris Gavin for information.

RT_008

 
 

Return to Documentary listings

Return to the 78s Listings

 

Go to The Record Mine vinyl pages