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18 November 1916

It's the last day of the Battle of the Somme, and Signals Captain Mickey Bliss is back very close to where he started 141 days ago. From Nov 2016.

It is the last day of the Battle of the Somme and Signals Captain Mickey Bliss is back very close to where he started 141 days ago in this story by Jonathan Ruffle.

Observing an escalating catalogue of errors from an Intelligence Dugout Mickey is spurred on to make a last ditch attempt to secure a little ground - but at what cost?

Meticulously based on unit war diaries and eye-witness accounts, each episode of TOMMIES traces one real day at war, exactly 100 years ago.

And through it all, we'll follow the fortunes of Mickey Bliss and his fellow signallers, from the Lahore Division of the British Indian Army. They are the cogs in an immense machine, one which connects situations across the whole theatre of war, over four long years.

Series created by Jonathan Ruffle
Producers: David Hunter, Jonquil Panting, Jonathan Ruffle
Director: David Hunter.

45 minutes

Credits

RoleContributor
Captain Mickey BlissChristopher Fox
Robert de TullioJustin Salinger
CommentatorIndira Varma
Captain PillinerGeorge Watkins
Sergeant DixonNeil Grainger
Captain StirlingJohn Dougall
Gefreiter GoetschGunnar Cauthery
Corporal HobartLuke MacGregor
Sapper BrettonFinlay Robertson
Artillery BlokeNicholas Murchie
TankieGavi Singh Chera
ProducerDavid Hunter
ProducerJonquil Panting
ProducerJonathan Ruffle
DirectorDavid Hunter
WriterJonathan Ruffle

Broadcasts

  • Fri 18 Nov 201614:15
  • Mon 30 Oct 201711:15
  • Mon 30 Oct 201721:15

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BBC Online Courses

Study key WW1 themes: Aviation; Heroism; Trauma; A New World Order

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