A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1948.
A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1947.
25 Years of Broadcasting
People
Places
Programmes
Politics
Soup Safari #81: Tomato and Lentil at La Parrilla Mexican Bar & Grill
A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1946.
Letter From America Begins
The Dark Tower
Television Returns
People
Places
Programmes
Politics
A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1945.
The End of the War
Archives
A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1944.
The War Continues
Archive
Behind The Scenes
A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1943.
Behind The Scenes
A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1942.
Every now and then in researching these posts, I'll come across a fact which is so interesting (at least to me!) that I'll end up telling everyone I know. In the Chronomedia page for 1942 we're told "March 22, 1942: BBC begins transmitting news bulletins in Morse code for the benefit of resistance fighters in mainland Europe". I've tried to find more information about this because I have questions. Was this as part of the schedule or via telegraph equipment - I'm assuming the latter. How did it start? How did "listeners" know that it was starting and how and where to pick it up?
People in War
Behind The Scenes
A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1941.
Behind The Scenes
A History of the BBC in 100 Blog Posts: 1940.
On the 18th February 1940, the BBC Forces radio station began transmissions at 11am with A Short Morning Service followed by a summary of the day's programmes, which consisted of music from numerous genres interspersed with Home Service opt-ins (mostly also musical). This was followed at 4pm with second half coverage of an "Association Football" match between The French Army v. The British Army, commentated by Raymond Glendenning from Lille (which wouldn't be occupied by the Germans until the end of May).
Introducing the service, the Radio Times explains, much care was taken in selecting the programmes for the service, between national security concerns and just how to entertain troops who could be called to action at any moment, often in difficult circumstances. After a consultation, which included the BBC's DG himself visiting various forces including the RAF in France, it was decided to keep the tone light, with music which could not easily be disrupted and "may even be enhanced by communal enjoyment and a running exchange of comments."
The final day of broadcasting, 26th February 1944 contains much the same mix of content as the opening day, of gramophone records, live music and a second half coverage of a couple of rugby matches, England v. Scotland and England v. Wales. The biggest change is an extra programme at 8pm, Home is on the Air, in which "men of the Service tell how they and their comrades are listening now and will be listening in the future together with you at home" as the channel transitioned to General Forces Radio, which also catered to US forces and the Home Front.