Wireless in Wartime (part one)

'This story was submitted to the People's War site by Rick Allden of the CSV BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Action Desk on behalf of M. R. Spurgeon and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions'.

Wireless in Wartime

During the Second World War the wireless came into its own and although still only in its teens, the BBC was invaluable at home and abroad in communicating information and maintaining good morale. It amazes me that although I was only 6 when the war began, my mind still teems with words, phrases and songs, which were broadcast so long ago.

Hitler realized the power of the wireless and beamed into British homes Nazi propaganda by William Joyce, who opened his broadcasts with “Germany calling, Germany calling,” and predicted air strikes and sabotage as they were happening. Known as Lord Haw-Haw, he became an object of derision because of his affected upper-class voice and the inaccuracy of his predictions. In l945 he was hanged for treason.

It was by wireless that the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, at 11.15 am on Sunday, 3rd. September 1939, made his ominous announcement, “Britain is at war with Germany”. After that, although I was usually in bed, I was aware that the family was glued to the wireless every night at 9 pm to hear the BBC News preceded by the reassuring sound of Big Ben’s chimes and well-known voice of “Alvar Liddel reading it”.

I recall nothing of the momentous news broadcasts in 1940 when France fell and Churchill became Prime Minister, nor of the reports of Dunkirk and Churchill’s speeches nerving the nation to face invasion and the Battle of Britain. But I remember being moved by the patriotic wartime songs and comedy on the wireless, which, with a child’s instinct, I sensed, expressed what many people were feeling. Vera Lynn singing “When the lights go on again, all over the world” reflected the introduction of the black-out, which plunged London and the whole country into nighttime darkness. Her song “We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when” echoed the painful “good-byes” being felt as women and men (including my father, three uncles and a cousin) left home to join the Forces. Or Flanagan and Allen singing “We’re going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line” and “… You’ll get by without a rabbit pie, if you run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run,” words which became poignant as our troops had to flee to Dunkirk at the collapse of France.

Gracie Fields’ song “Wish me luck as you wave me good-bye” was often heard, conveying the feelings of those leaving to serve abroad.

Rob Wilton’s opening line in his homely North Country voice, would always bring a smile — “The day war broke out, my Missus said to me…” Elsie and Doris Waters as Gert and Daisy chatting about the rationing, or air raids, or any other aspect of ordinary war-time life in their inimitable Cockney way, were always good for a laugh. Their brother, Jack Warner, was also popular in his act reading letters between home and a serviceman stationed at the Front.

This story was donated to the People’s War website by M. R. Spurgeon, of the Leam Writers. If you would like to find out more about Leam Writers call 0845 900 5 300.

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