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Behind the Frontline with Tessa Dunlop-logo

Behind the Frontline with Tessa Dunlop

History Podcasts

Every week historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop will explore the response of ordinary people operating in extraordinary times. Coronavirus and its long tentacles of destruction have stunned the world but war, natural disaster and pandemics have a long history of collateral damage: Behind the Frontline will talk directly to the nurses, paramedics, volunteers, support staff, civilians and soldiers who have confronted danger and survived to tell the tale. What can we learn from their experience?

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Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

Every week historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop will explore the response of ordinary people operating in extraordinary times. Coronavirus and its long tentacles of destruction have stunned the world but war, natural disaster and pandemics have a long history of collateral damage: Behind the Frontline will talk directly to the nurses, paramedics, volunteers, support staff, civilians and soldiers who have confronted danger and survived to tell the tale. What can we learn from their experience?

Language:

English

Episodes

1: Growing Up During WW2

8/6/2020
In the first episode of Behind the Frontline, Dr. Tessa Dunlop celebrates the 75th anniversary of VE Day and interviews Liz Macay and Tam Thompson, both children who were dislocated by war. Liz was a toddler during the war and was evacuation from London to live in Dorset. Tam, now 91, turned 16 on VE Day. Her sweet-sixteen celebration is a reminder that, no matter what the cost, no crisis lasts forever.

Duration:00:29:56

8: The Forgotten War

6/30/2020
In a special edition episode of Behind the Frontline, Dr. Tessa Dunlop explores the Korean War, after the 70th anniversary of its beginning on June 25th. Tessa interviews veteran Ron Yardley about serving in the Royal Navy, on the HMS Belfast, and fighting in a gruesome war at only 18 years old. We also hear from naval historian Nick Hewitt about how the Korean War got its nickname and why this forgotten war still has massive political ramifications today.

Duration:00:26:59

7: When a Woman Goes to War

6/16/2020
In Episode Seven of Behind the Frontline, Dr. Tessa Dunlop explores the challenges and compromises faced by women in the army only a few decades ago. Tessa interviews retired Colonel and Vice President of the WRAC Association, Alison Brown, to ask what was it like being one of the first women to train as an officer at Sandhurst? Alison tells Tessa about her deployment in The Gulf War, what life was like on the frontline as the only woman amongst 200 men, and how things might be different...

Duration:00:33:43

6: Basra, Belonging and Leading the Marines

6/9/2020
In Episode Six of Behind the Frontline, Dr. Tessa Dunlop revisits the Royal Marines and dives deeper into what it means to belong. Tessa interviews former head of the Royal Marines and the last British General in Basra, Andy Salmon. Andy shares his journey on the frontline, his feelings towards his tours in Belfast, the Falklands, and Iraq and why he describes retiring in 2013 as like leaving his family. Tessa also talks to 14 year old budding Marine Ethan Smith on why he's wanted to join...

Duration:00:30:29

5: The FANYs: Past and Present

6/2/2020
In Episode Five of Behind the Frontline, Dr. Tessa Dunlop explores the world of the FANYs (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) - the world's longest established all-female uniformed voluntary organisation. Tessa talks with 94 year old Jean Argles, who became a code cipher at 18 years old, contemporary FANY Emma Frampton, currently working at Nightingale Hospital, and learns all about Britain's first female SOE agent, Polish born Christine Granville, from the author of her biography (The Spy Who...

Duration:00:29:12

3: The Bletchley Girls

5/19/2020
In the third episode of Behind the Frontline, author of ‘The Bletchley Girls’ Tessa Dunlop interviews close friends Pat Davies and Charlotte ‘Betty’ Webb - now 96 and 97 years old respectively. As young women, Pat and Betty worked as part of Britain’s massive code-breaking organisation at Bletchley Park during World War Two where Pat intercepted and Betty processed German communications. Pat and Betty talk to Tessa about how they’re coping with isolation and what life was like as women...

Duration:00:25:08

2: Life as a Royal Marine

5/13/2020
In Episode Two of Behind the Frontline, Tessa Dunlop interviews one of Britain's most decorated living Royal Marines, Matt Tomlinson, and naval historian Nick Hewitt. Matt talks about the complexities of modern war, his uncertainties about Iraq, life and death on the frontline and how these experiences have prepared him for frontline work now as an assistant paramedic in Glastonbury.

Duration:00:30:25

Growing Up During WWII

5/6/2020
In the first episode of Behind the Frontline, Tessa interviews two women who were once children dislocated by the traumas of war during WWII. With children currently being distanced from their friends and their classrooms, what can these women’s experience teach us about our own situations? Liz was a toddler during the war. Living in Paddington with extremely high bomb threats, she was evacuated to live with Mrs Williams in Burton Bradstock, Dorset. Despite being removed from her family, by...

Duration:00:29:56