WW1 Digger History Podcast29 Kesä 2016

Episode 1.8 Blinkin' bleedin' mad

This episode covers much of 1917 including The 2nd Battle of Bullecourt and "Passchendaele" or the 3rd Ypres offensive. Len as usual provides great insight into the life of a digger on the western front. His description of signalling during the Battles of Polygon Wood and Broodseinde Ridge are awesome. You'll never forget the "s"es beers!

This episode covers Len's Chapter 8 of his memoirs and is quite long, but that is how he wrote it. Here is some of it:

"In charge of a sergeant, off we went, quite a mob, for Division was also sending up a wireless set. We were loaded with scopes and lamps and we were shelled all the way. Heavy stuff. We missed a lot of congestion going across country, but the ground! It was quite spongy, for underneath were mules, horses, Fritzes and Tommies of 1914 vintage on. And the stench rising from cracked, drying ground was pretty awful. Many of the division chaps, new to this smell, were not looking too good and one chap was promptly very sick over some brand new accumulators he carried. We had some narrow escapes, for we just had to plod on heavily laden. Anyway, he was 'sweeping' all over the place. Looking across to that dreadful Menin Road, I saw mules, men and ammo go up with a roar. Noise everywhere and up aloft scores of planes: Fritz planes, very aggressive. In fact, he seemed definitely to be 'on top', new Fokkers, etc. The dog fights fascinated us but on we went."

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Jaksot(111)

Episode 2.4 Through the heads

When I was a young man I carried a pack and waltzed me Matilda all over..... This is a tear jerker as Percy says goodbye to his family and sets sail on the SS Orsova for fate and destiny. Before he go...

8 Loka 201633min

Episode 2.3 Bert at ANZAC

This is an extra special episode. 15 Year old Tom Wark is guest presenter and does a fantastic job at presenting a letter written by Bert Smythe to his family where Bert recounts the landing and first...

4 Loka 201622min

Episode 2.2 Crimed for what?

In this episode Viv Smythe gets married before going to war, Percy renews old acquaintances at Taree and he gets charged with something he did not cause. We meet more diggers and learn more about camp...

22 Syys 201652min

Episode 2.1 The diary of Percy Smythe: Build up that chest

It is April 1915, you are 21 years old, you have two brothers in khaki and on their way to god knows where (Gallipoli), you have had a big problem at work and you are broke. What do you do? You join t...

15 Syys 201655min

Episode 1.10 A cut of the cards

This final episode of Len Jones' memoirs takes us through the final battles of the Great War to the Armistice, including fierce battles through the Somme Valley. Len then describes the very difficult...

31 Elo 201653min

Episode 1.9 The Yanks are coming

In this episode, Len takes us through the first half of 1918, at first on furlough in "Blighty" then he attends a training school when the Germans launch their final Spring Offensive. Len provides us...

14 Elo 201638min

Episode 1.7 Fritz saves his sausage

In this episode of Len Jones' memoirs, Len recounts the 3rd Battalion's activities in 1917. He also describes the reaction of his family and friends when he goes on 'Blighty' leave. We hear about atta...

9 Kesä 201638min