Our BBC display in Normandy 2009

[benstephens]

We put on a recreation of the BBC correspondents in Normandy in 1944.

The last pictures are in the Chateau at Cruelly, the room is the original studio where the 'War Report' broadcast was made from.

We were actually making recordings as well, and have some nice transcripts of the displats we visited.

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[PADDY]

Didn't recognise 'you' there Ben...!

Those glasses really change your appearance! That looks marvellous. Was it tying in with the anniversary of the landings? (I'm assuming it was), and if so what sort of coverage did you get for it?

When you have time (I understand if you're too busy), let us know all about the trip please - but the pics are marvellous!! thanks for sharing :eusa_clap

 

[Eyemo]

Nice one Ben.... We did the Hollywood Irregulars at Dead Mans Corner.

 

[Fletch]

Disc recorder?!!

What do you use for blanks?

Of course this looks like cushy duty compared to my late friend S/Sgt Alvin Josephy USMC, who hit the beach at Guadalcanal with Springfield in hand AND 40 lbs of wire recorder on his back.

But a very impressive setup! :eusa_clap

 

[benstephens]

Thank you for the comments.

We were with a group who were representing the British forces at Gold Beach in a place called Ver Sur Mer. It was put on by the local French people as a living musuem as it were. Not being to keen on guns myself we thought we would represent the BBC.

The recorders way 40Lbs and were hand carried when the correspondents first landed. The BBC correspondents were sending back recordings from the first day of fighting, with some of the reporters being dropped with Airbourne troops.

As time progressed the BBC set up a broadcasting studio in the Chateau at Cruelly, and also by then had mobile recording vans. It was the first time that people had heard war reported so soon after the actual actions.

We were very well received by both Veterans and public and some of the recordings we actually made were fantastic.

I have taken a lot of photos with my 1930s Kodak, but have not had them developed yet.

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[PADDY]

Original BBC recording from D-Day...(listen up boys)

CLICK HERE for a short BBC D-DAY broadcast from the frontline...

 

[scotrace]

Reenactment has tremendous value in enabling us to see and feel it. These photographs are extraordinary. Detail, nuance, and of course, Ben's sense of the era is flawless. It's more than clothes.

 

[Norumbega]

I couldn't agree more. Very nice impression Ben, and so nice to see weight appropriate living historians.

 

[H.Johnson]

Speaking of which...Ben, did you meet the 'Gold Beach Living History' crowd?

http://goldbeach.org.uk/english_content/normandy2009.htm

 

[benstephens]

Yes we stayed with them most of the time, we speant a lot of the time with garrison.

I have been editing the recordings, but they do not seem to want to load onto YouTube

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[p51]

AMAZING, I love to see this well-known yet rarely-remembered segment of WW2 recalled at events!

 

[H.Johnson]

Geoff (from GBLH) has his stuff up, I think.

Yes we stayed with them most of the time, we speant a lot of the time with garrison.

I have been editing the recordings, but they do not seem to want to load onto YouTube

Kindest Regards

Ben