1 00:00:04,007 --> 00:00:05,759 The great British countryside. 2 00:00:07,287 --> 00:00:10,677 The setting for one of the most pivotaI battIes of the Second WorId War. 3 00:00:12,047 --> 00:00:14,766 ChurchiII caIIed it the ''frontIine of freedom''. 4 00:00:18,047 --> 00:00:20,720 It was a battIe fought by the farmers of Britain. 5 00:00:23,087 --> 00:00:26,875 When war broke out, two-thirds of aII Britain's food was imported. 6 00:00:28,167 --> 00:00:31,603 Now it feII under threat from a Nazi bIockade. 7 00:00:34,287 --> 00:00:38,883 The government turned to farmers to doubIe home-grown food production. 8 00:00:38,927 --> 00:00:40,997 The plough had become a weapon ot war. 9 00:00:41,047 --> 00:00:43,322 lt was the farmers' principal weapon ot war. 10 00:00:43,367 --> 00:00:47,121 If they faiIed, Britain couId be starved into submission. 11 00:00:52,127 --> 00:00:55,802 Now archaeoIogists AIex LangIands and Peter Ginn 12 00:00:56,847 --> 00:00:58,963 and historian Ruth Goodman 13 00:00:59,007 --> 00:01:02,204 are turning the cIock back to the 1 940s. 14 00:01:02,927 --> 00:01:06,283 Over the next year, they're running Manor Farm in Hampshire 15 00:01:06,327 --> 00:01:09,125 as it wouId have been during the Second WorId War. 16 00:01:10,967 --> 00:01:12,320 Yes! 17 00:01:14,127 --> 00:01:17,358 This time, the team approach 1 940, 18 00:01:17,407 --> 00:01:20,285 when Britain's cities were bombed by the Nazis... 19 00:01:21,447 --> 00:01:22,960 ..in the BIitz. 20 00:01:23,007 --> 00:01:24,998 (Bombs exploding) 21 00:01:25,687 --> 00:01:30,158 They'II experience how the countryside defended and protected the cities... 22 00:01:30,647 --> 00:01:32,638 One at 8,000. 23 00:01:32,687 --> 00:01:34,200 Spittire. 24 00:01:34,247 --> 00:01:38,923 ..revived oId crafts to prepare for the biggest evacuation in history. 25 00:01:38,967 --> 00:01:40,958 Peter, what are you doing? 26 00:01:41,007 --> 00:01:42,281 (Yells) 27 00:01:42,327 --> 00:01:44,716 Chop and cut! Come on, keep up with the clay! 28 00:01:46,127 --> 00:01:48,721 And ceIebrate the first Christmas on rations. 29 00:01:49,567 --> 00:01:52,764 Put it all to the back ot your mind and have what tun while you can. 30 00:01:52,807 --> 00:01:55,082 - The King. ALL: The King. 31 00:01:56,207 --> 00:01:59,995 This is the untoId story of the countryside at war. 32 00:02:05,487 --> 00:02:07,478 (Air-raid siren) 33 00:02:20,327 --> 00:02:21,999 By November 1 940, 34 00:02:22,047 --> 00:02:24,117 Britain had been at war for 1 4 months. 35 00:02:26,087 --> 00:02:29,875 Under the watchfuI eye of war agricuIturaI executive committees, 36 00:02:30,527 --> 00:02:34,042 farmers had grown over two miIIion extra acres of crops 37 00:02:34,087 --> 00:02:37,636 in a drive to doubIe home-grown food production. 38 00:02:39,527 --> 00:02:42,439 But Britain faced an unprecedented onsIaught. 39 00:02:44,487 --> 00:02:46,478 In the summer of 1 940, 40 00:02:46,527 --> 00:02:50,964 the BattIe of Britain saw the German Air Force attempt to destroy the RAF 41 00:02:51,007 --> 00:02:52,918 in preparation for a fuII invasion. 42 00:02:52,967 --> 00:02:54,958 (Boom ot guntire) 43 00:02:57,807 --> 00:02:59,559 They faiIed. 44 00:02:59,607 --> 00:03:03,680 And Prime Minister Winston ChurchiII saIuted the courage of its piIots 45 00:03:03,727 --> 00:03:06,036 as a turning point in the war. 46 00:03:09,847 --> 00:03:12,759 WlRELESS: The gratitude ot every home in our island 47 00:03:12,807 --> 00:03:16,402 goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, 48 00:03:17,167 --> 00:03:20,842 unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, 49 00:03:21,767 --> 00:03:26,682 are turning the tide ot the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. 50 00:03:27,847 --> 00:03:29,838 Never in the tield ot human contlict 51 00:03:30,807 --> 00:03:34,516 was so much owed by so many to so tew. 52 00:03:37,087 --> 00:03:39,078 (Air-raid siren wails) 53 00:03:40,687 --> 00:03:43,918 But the bombing of Britain's cities and ports wouId continue. 54 00:03:49,647 --> 00:03:53,003 The BIitz kiIIed some 40,000 civiIians. 55 00:03:55,007 --> 00:03:56,998 That tirst wave ot bombing. 56 00:03:57,047 --> 00:04:01,677 lt was aimed not just at London but also at the port towns along the South Coast. 57 00:04:01,727 --> 00:04:04,719 Portsmouth and Southampton came in tor a hammering, 58 00:04:04,767 --> 00:04:06,758 night after night after night. 59 00:04:06,807 --> 00:04:10,516 And there was no underground to shelter in it you were in Southampton. 60 00:04:10,567 --> 00:04:14,082 Huge numbers ot the population actually slept in the tields. 61 00:04:15,887 --> 00:04:18,401 AriaI bombardment was a terrifying concept, 62 00:04:19,007 --> 00:04:22,477 endangering civiIians in Britain's cities as never before. 63 00:04:26,207 --> 00:04:30,086 Over three miIIion women and chiIdren were moved to the safety of the countryside - 64 00:04:32,527 --> 00:04:35,280 the Iargest evacuation of peopIe in Britain's history. 65 00:04:38,967 --> 00:04:41,083 Farms, with their many outbuiIdings, 66 00:04:41,127 --> 00:04:44,722 were expected to accommodate as many peopIe as possibIe. 67 00:04:44,767 --> 00:04:46,758 lt's not the best candidate. 68 00:04:46,807 --> 00:04:50,277 And that thing there is just too big to even consider heating. 69 00:04:51,327 --> 00:04:53,921 AIex and Peter are checking Manor Farm's barns 70 00:04:53,967 --> 00:04:56,640 for potentiaI pIaces to accommodate evacuees. 71 00:04:57,487 --> 00:04:59,557 - This is another candidate. - Yeah. 72 00:05:00,527 --> 00:05:02,836 There are a tew holes on that root, though. 73 00:05:03,367 --> 00:05:08,521 That's actually quite signiticant. There's one, two, three... There's tour holes on this side. 74 00:05:09,887 --> 00:05:11,684 To make room for evacuees here, 75 00:05:11,727 --> 00:05:14,844 they must make urgent repairs to the roofs of the barns. 76 00:05:19,367 --> 00:05:24,043 We just haven't got anywhere near enough beds it we've got all these people coming. 77 00:05:24,087 --> 00:05:26,555 So l'm just gonna have to knock something up quick. 78 00:05:26,607 --> 00:05:28,723 They're gonna have to be pretty crude. 79 00:05:30,167 --> 00:05:34,365 With imports restricted and factories switching production to weapons, 80 00:05:34,847 --> 00:05:37,566 in 1 940, everything was in short suppIy, 81 00:05:37,607 --> 00:05:39,598 incIuding furniture. 82 00:05:40,407 --> 00:05:44,002 Word was, all these townspeople were on their way. 83 00:05:44,047 --> 00:05:48,165 They had nowhere else to go, they were being bombed out ot their own homes. 84 00:05:48,207 --> 00:05:52,962 The country suddenly had to absorb huge numbers ot extra people. 85 00:05:55,247 --> 00:05:57,044 So how do you do it? 86 00:05:57,087 --> 00:06:00,477 Where do you tind the tacilities, where do you tind the beds? 87 00:06:00,527 --> 00:06:04,839 Where do you tind the bedding, where do you tind the tood, the pots and pans? 88 00:06:04,887 --> 00:06:08,436 And it all had to be done so tast. 89 00:06:08,487 --> 00:06:10,478 Up and down the countryside, 90 00:06:11,167 --> 00:06:16,195 villages ot all sorts were busily gathering together everything they could, 91 00:06:17,007 --> 00:06:21,523 to accommodate this intlux ot really rather desperate people. 92 00:06:32,727 --> 00:06:34,718 Well... 93 00:06:34,767 --> 00:06:36,883 it'll do as an emergency bed, won't it? 94 00:06:42,327 --> 00:06:44,477 BuiIding materiaIs too were in short suppIy. 95 00:06:46,487 --> 00:06:49,240 Bombing destroyed thousands of factories and houses, 96 00:06:49,287 --> 00:06:51,278 aII of which needed to be repaired. 97 00:06:53,687 --> 00:06:56,804 Brick and tiIe factories couIdn't keep up with demand, 98 00:06:56,847 --> 00:07:00,522 so peopIe in the countryside revived oId crafts to produce them. 99 00:07:02,767 --> 00:07:04,962 - Good afternoon, gentlemen. - Afternoon, lads. 100 00:07:06,007 --> 00:07:08,316 lt'd be nice it you've come ready tor work. 101 00:07:08,367 --> 00:07:11,086 - And a picnic. - Oh, right. Just the weather. 102 00:07:13,007 --> 00:07:17,046 AIex and Peter need roof tiIes to repair the barns for evacuees. 103 00:07:17,087 --> 00:07:20,079 So they're caIIing on experts in traditionaI crafts, 104 00:07:20,127 --> 00:07:22,118 CoIin Richards and Mick Crouper. 105 00:07:23,527 --> 00:07:24,880 What is it? 106 00:07:24,927 --> 00:07:26,918 lt's a tile-making machine. 107 00:07:26,967 --> 00:07:29,197 That is quite something! 108 00:07:29,247 --> 00:07:32,637 lt hasn't seen action tor a long time. 109 00:07:32,687 --> 00:07:34,564 So we're recommissioning it. 110 00:07:34,607 --> 00:07:38,043 You can't buy these any more and this is a bit ot a beast. 111 00:07:38,087 --> 00:07:42,319 You put clay in one end and, in theory, you get tiles out ot the other. 112 00:07:42,367 --> 00:07:44,119 How many do you need? 113 00:07:44,167 --> 00:07:45,964 Probably a tew hundred. 114 00:07:46,007 --> 00:07:47,520 lnto the hundreds, detinitely. 115 00:07:47,567 --> 00:07:49,000 So we need to get busy, then. 116 00:07:49,847 --> 00:07:53,635 The first job is to soften the cIay from which the tiIes wiII be made. 117 00:07:54,447 --> 00:07:56,438 Dance, man! 118 00:07:57,247 --> 00:08:02,162 Yeah, this needs to be pliable, otherwise there's no hope ot this going through the machine. 119 00:08:04,247 --> 00:08:06,158 Let's get it all in. 120 00:08:06,207 --> 00:08:07,959 - All in? - Yeah. 121 00:08:08,007 --> 00:08:10,805 - (Strains) - Good lad. 122 00:08:12,047 --> 00:08:15,835 Squeezing the cIay through the sIot requires a great deaI of power. 123 00:08:18,127 --> 00:08:21,005 CoIin is hoping the petroI engine is up to the task. 124 00:08:21,927 --> 00:08:23,724 - Ready? - l'm ready when you are, boys. 125 00:08:23,767 --> 00:08:25,200 When you're in gear. 126 00:08:25,247 --> 00:08:27,238 OK. Yeah. 127 00:08:28,327 --> 00:08:31,524 Currently it's bringing the ram up to the clay in the box. 128 00:08:33,167 --> 00:08:34,725 Steady pressure, boys. 129 00:08:34,767 --> 00:08:39,557 Peter's been handed the vitaI job of cutting the mouIded cIay into individuaI tiIes. 130 00:08:41,767 --> 00:08:43,758 Peter, what are you doing? 131 00:08:43,807 --> 00:08:45,081 (Yells) 132 00:08:45,127 --> 00:08:49,200 You're on piecework, Peter. Chop and cut. Come on, keep up with the clay. 133 00:08:50,207 --> 00:08:52,801 Peter needs to raise his game at the moment. 134 00:08:52,847 --> 00:08:53,882 Whoa! 135 00:08:54,967 --> 00:08:56,958 - There we go. - Cut. 136 00:08:57,007 --> 00:08:58,122 And cut. 137 00:09:00,767 --> 00:09:02,758 So how many did we get out ot that run, Peter? 138 00:09:02,807 --> 00:09:06,038 One, two... l reckon three, actually. 139 00:09:07,127 --> 00:09:09,118 297 tiles to make. 140 00:09:09,167 --> 00:09:11,158 Head down and let's get on with it. 141 00:09:11,207 --> 00:09:12,560 Enough natter. 142 00:09:16,127 --> 00:09:17,526 Here we go. 143 00:09:17,567 --> 00:09:19,125 Look at that. 144 00:09:20,367 --> 00:09:22,323 Keep cutting, Peter! 145 00:09:23,447 --> 00:09:26,644 After a bomb attack, bricks often remained intact, 146 00:09:26,687 --> 00:09:28,166 so couId be reused. 147 00:09:28,207 --> 00:09:30,675 TiIes, on the other hand, easiIy shattered, 148 00:09:30,727 --> 00:09:32,718 so new ones were in great demand. 149 00:09:35,007 --> 00:09:36,998 The war distorted everything. 150 00:09:37,047 --> 00:09:42,724 With the damage in the big cities, the brick works and tile works were working overtime. 151 00:09:42,767 --> 00:09:44,485 There wasn't any spare capacity. 152 00:09:45,127 --> 00:09:48,119 lt was a case ot make do and mend, going back to basics. 153 00:09:48,967 --> 00:09:52,437 lt you had the knowledge and the skill to make tiles, this is what you'd do. 154 00:09:56,687 --> 00:10:00,362 Few had produced tiIes this way since before the First WorId War. 155 00:10:13,327 --> 00:10:17,320 During the war, imports of cotton and Iinen were severeIy restricted. 156 00:10:17,367 --> 00:10:19,358 So bedding was in short suppIy. 157 00:10:20,167 --> 00:10:23,762 Ruth's foIIowing government advice and recycIing oId fabric 158 00:10:23,807 --> 00:10:26,196 to make patchwork quiIts for the evacuees. 159 00:10:26,727 --> 00:10:31,847 l've been making these little pockets every now and again when l've got a little bit ot time. 160 00:10:31,887 --> 00:10:33,684 l've been making these little pockets. 161 00:10:33,727 --> 00:10:37,117 l just run them up on the machine and then stuff them tull ot teathers. 162 00:10:38,607 --> 00:10:41,997 The bags are made from scraps of materiaI, known as ticking. 163 00:10:42,967 --> 00:10:46,403 Ticking is just a really tightly woven cotton. 164 00:10:47,367 --> 00:10:51,280 lt has to be tightly woven, otherwise the teathers work their way out. 165 00:10:51,327 --> 00:10:53,716 The end ot a teather is really quite pointy, 166 00:10:53,767 --> 00:10:57,203 and on ordinary tabric, it it was just like, say, apron tabric, 167 00:10:57,247 --> 00:10:59,238 you can push it straight through. 168 00:11:00,007 --> 00:11:02,043 So that would be really uncomtortable 169 00:11:02,087 --> 00:11:05,079 and gradually the teathers would work their way out. 170 00:11:05,647 --> 00:11:07,638 So old mattress covers, 171 00:11:07,687 --> 00:11:09,564 old pillows, 172 00:11:10,287 --> 00:11:12,278 they all are covered in ticking. 173 00:11:12,327 --> 00:11:14,318 Great tor making quilts. 174 00:11:14,367 --> 00:11:18,838 So, then... Oh, l've got my thimble and l've got my needle. l'll just sew each bag up. 175 00:11:18,887 --> 00:11:22,357 And this is sort ot part ot this British patchwork tradition, 176 00:11:22,407 --> 00:11:26,161 the idea ot making, you know, stuffed pockets, 177 00:11:26,207 --> 00:11:29,165 great huge, tat, stuffed, crude pockets, 178 00:11:29,207 --> 00:11:31,880 which l'm gonna sew together into something... 179 00:11:31,927 --> 00:11:36,443 Well, l think, perhaps to a modern eye, it would look more like a duvet than anything else. 180 00:11:36,487 --> 00:11:38,603 But this is about warmth. 181 00:11:40,247 --> 00:11:42,238 lt's amazing how quick it grows. 182 00:11:47,207 --> 00:11:51,120 Five-and-a-halt bricks, and then everything's square to start off with. 183 00:11:51,927 --> 00:11:54,600 To harden the tiIes, they must be fired in a kiIn. 184 00:11:57,847 --> 00:12:00,315 But with no access to industriaI kiIns, 185 00:12:00,367 --> 00:12:05,043 during the war, temporary ones were buiIt, using whatever materiaIs were to hand. 186 00:12:05,727 --> 00:12:07,445 Have we got many more to go? 187 00:12:07,487 --> 00:12:09,523 No, this is the last layer. 188 00:12:09,567 --> 00:12:12,365 What sort ot temperature are we looking tor here? 189 00:12:12,407 --> 00:12:14,523 We're gonna need to get up to about 900. 190 00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:16,046 - 900 degrees? - Yeah. 191 00:12:16,087 --> 00:12:20,000 - That's gonna be really difficult, isn't it? - lt is in these conditions. 192 00:12:20,047 --> 00:12:22,322 There's quite a challenge ahead ot us really. 193 00:12:25,167 --> 00:12:27,442 In these freezing November conditions, 194 00:12:27,487 --> 00:12:32,402 maintaining a constant temperature of 900 degrees requires some cIever engineering. 195 00:12:33,767 --> 00:12:35,678 We've got to create tour little chimneys. 196 00:12:35,727 --> 00:12:41,085 We need to get the heat all the way round the perimeter ot the kiln. 197 00:12:42,087 --> 00:12:44,317 As we move trom one corner to another, 198 00:12:44,367 --> 00:12:46,437 we can suck the heat across the stack, 199 00:12:46,487 --> 00:12:48,796 so the heat is drawn to these tour corners. 200 00:12:49,647 --> 00:12:51,638 Tea's up, guys. 201 00:12:53,047 --> 00:12:54,639 Very kind, thank you. 202 00:12:56,287 --> 00:12:59,006 You've got to the stage your kiln's basically complete. 203 00:12:59,047 --> 00:13:03,518 But everything's very damp and we need to dry that out slowly over a couple ot hours. 204 00:13:03,567 --> 00:13:07,526 lt we drive the heat up too quickly, it's just gonna burst them tiles. 205 00:13:08,807 --> 00:13:11,321 The kiIn must burn for two days and two nights. 206 00:13:14,087 --> 00:13:17,602 This wiII require over a ton of firewood, gathered from the forest. 207 00:13:17,647 --> 00:13:19,603 To heIp them cut it up, 208 00:13:19,647 --> 00:13:23,799 AIex and Peter have dusted off the farm's 1 940s power saw. 209 00:13:25,527 --> 00:13:27,643 lt looks extremely dangerous, Peter. 210 00:13:28,887 --> 00:13:31,162 What is it, the Avon power saw? 211 00:13:31,207 --> 00:13:33,926 - Have you ever heard ot Avon power tools? - No. 212 00:13:33,967 --> 00:13:37,437 lt's not that company that went into prosthetic limbs, is it? 213 00:13:38,607 --> 00:13:40,598 l hate starting these things. 214 00:13:41,487 --> 00:13:43,000 Nearly, nearly. 215 00:13:50,407 --> 00:13:53,240 lt wants to go, doesn't it? lt wants to kick into lite. 216 00:13:56,887 --> 00:13:58,559 Yes! Yes! 217 00:13:58,607 --> 00:13:59,835 Can you use it now? 218 00:14:01,087 --> 00:14:02,361 One, two, three... 219 00:14:02,407 --> 00:14:05,001 - Are you ready? - lnto gear. 220 00:14:10,247 --> 00:14:12,238 Nothing's moving too much, is it? 221 00:14:36,047 --> 00:14:39,926 Ruth's make-do-and-mend quiIts for the evacuees are taking shape. 222 00:14:42,127 --> 00:14:45,597 So these tour, and l've done them together there, 223 00:14:45,647 --> 00:14:47,638 will tit into that gap. 224 00:14:50,287 --> 00:14:54,246 To be honest, l'm having to resist making it overly pretty. 225 00:14:54,287 --> 00:14:58,838 There is a sort ot temptation to slow down and start doing beautitul things, 226 00:14:58,887 --> 00:15:00,400 make it look gorgeous. 227 00:15:00,447 --> 00:15:03,962 l mean, even a couple ot stitches made in a little pattern here, 228 00:15:04,007 --> 00:15:09,206 and you'd start to not only hold the teathers in place, but it'd improve the look enormously. 229 00:15:10,287 --> 00:15:12,278 ls it nice and warm under there? 230 00:15:13,087 --> 00:15:14,486 (Chuckles) 231 00:15:23,447 --> 00:15:25,005 (Sizzling) 232 00:15:25,607 --> 00:15:27,598 OK, chaps, looks like grub's up. 233 00:15:29,847 --> 00:15:34,762 It wasn't just women and chiIdren who were reIocated to the countryside during the war. 234 00:15:36,327 --> 00:15:39,000 So was 20-year-oId Don SutherIand. 235 00:15:40,887 --> 00:15:42,366 But Don wasn't an evacuee. 236 00:15:42,407 --> 00:15:45,524 He was conscripted into farm Iabour by the government, 237 00:15:45,567 --> 00:15:50,687 because, Iike 61,000 men and women, he refused to fight. 238 00:15:52,007 --> 00:15:57,445 l decided to register as a conscientious objector when the call-up came. 239 00:16:00,487 --> 00:16:02,478 l objected on religious grounds. 240 00:16:02,527 --> 00:16:04,722 lt was a very difficult decision to make. 241 00:16:04,767 --> 00:16:07,884 l've always believed that you love your enemies. 242 00:16:09,407 --> 00:16:11,398 You don't kill them. 243 00:16:11,447 --> 00:16:13,438 You don't try and hurt them. 244 00:16:13,847 --> 00:16:16,281 That must have been a very difficult time ot your lite. 245 00:16:16,327 --> 00:16:18,318 lt was difficult. 246 00:16:18,367 --> 00:16:23,043 You can only speak the truth and say that you didn't... you couldn't do it yourselt. 247 00:16:24,647 --> 00:16:28,686 l couldn't do it. l couldn't go out and kill people and that's what war's about. 248 00:16:28,727 --> 00:16:33,005 Were there problems trying to convince the authorities 249 00:16:33,047 --> 00:16:36,801 as to why you telt you needed to object? 250 00:16:37,407 --> 00:16:39,398 Well, the usual question was, 251 00:16:39,447 --> 00:16:43,520 ''What would you do it a German did such-and-such a thing to your daughter 252 00:16:43,567 --> 00:16:46,365 or your sister or your mother?'' that sort ot thing. 253 00:16:47,007 --> 00:16:51,285 But l don't think those questions are really sensible questions to ask. 254 00:16:52,887 --> 00:16:55,765 One does not know what one would do in an emergency. 255 00:16:56,807 --> 00:16:59,924 l only know there are better ways ot doing it than that. 256 00:17:02,927 --> 00:17:06,044 Some 5,000 conscientious objectors were imprisoned. 257 00:17:07,047 --> 00:17:11,518 But Don was one of the Iucky ones, spending the rest of the war as a farm Iabourer. 258 00:17:12,887 --> 00:17:15,640 So you were threshing out? And that's the middle ot winter. 259 00:17:15,687 --> 00:17:17,678 That must have been cold there. 260 00:17:17,727 --> 00:17:19,399 Yes, it was. 261 00:17:19,447 --> 00:17:21,438 And that's one ot myselt. 262 00:17:21,487 --> 00:17:24,365 - That's the sugar beet? - A cartload ot sugar beet. 263 00:17:24,407 --> 00:17:25,920 Right. 264 00:17:25,967 --> 00:17:28,162 You know, l was an office worker. 265 00:17:28,207 --> 00:17:30,402 l'd worked in an office tor seven years. 266 00:17:30,447 --> 00:17:33,325 So it was completely new to me to work with my hands. 267 00:17:33,367 --> 00:17:36,564 But l think it's good tor any young man to do that, really. 268 00:17:36,607 --> 00:17:38,643 Oh, yeah, absolutely. 269 00:17:38,687 --> 00:17:42,999 The work you did in the tields, bringing in these harvests... 270 00:17:43,047 --> 00:17:47,563 did you teel, even inadvertently, that this was part ot the war effort 271 00:17:47,607 --> 00:17:52,476 and that you were, in some way, doing your bit towards supporting Britain at that time? 272 00:17:53,247 --> 00:17:55,522 lndirectly, l suppose you are, really. 273 00:17:55,567 --> 00:18:02,757 l don't deny the men going out there were making a much bigger sacritice than l was. 274 00:18:02,807 --> 00:18:04,365 Yeah, yeah. 275 00:18:04,407 --> 00:18:06,398 l must admit that. 276 00:18:07,047 --> 00:18:12,758 But it's what they were having to do that l disagreed with, you see. 277 00:18:12,807 --> 00:18:16,083 lt was always accepted that you tight and that's it, 278 00:18:16,967 --> 00:18:18,878 without realising what war's like. 279 00:18:36,127 --> 00:18:37,924 Oh, here you are. 280 00:18:37,967 --> 00:18:39,639 - Let me take that. - Thank you. 281 00:18:39,687 --> 00:18:42,201 This is Daisy, is it? Hello, Daisy. 282 00:18:43,567 --> 00:18:45,558 By December 1 940, 283 00:18:45,607 --> 00:18:49,680 the bombing of Southampton and Portsmouth had reached a new intensity. 284 00:18:51,807 --> 00:18:55,720 Thousands more evacuees fIooded from the cities to the countryside. 285 00:18:58,127 --> 00:19:01,403 l'm a bit nervous. Put my best coat on, make a good impression. 286 00:19:01,447 --> 00:19:02,960 l don't know who we're getting. 287 00:19:03,007 --> 00:19:06,204 ChiIdren under five were accompanied by their mothers. 288 00:19:07,287 --> 00:19:09,482 Hello! Welcome to manor Farm. 289 00:19:09,527 --> 00:19:11,518 Who've we got here, then? 290 00:19:11,567 --> 00:19:14,877 We've got Ernest and maureen. 291 00:19:14,927 --> 00:19:17,487 - Welcome to my home. - Thank you very much. 292 00:19:18,807 --> 00:19:23,927 Someone who remembers evacuees arriving here over 70 years ago is Betty Rudd. 293 00:19:26,007 --> 00:19:29,158 l tound these mothers and these children. 294 00:19:29,207 --> 00:19:32,677 They were weeping and they were in a terrible state. 295 00:19:32,727 --> 00:19:36,117 The children were crying and teeling miserable. 296 00:19:36,167 --> 00:19:38,158 ''Why can't we go home, mummy?'' 297 00:19:38,207 --> 00:19:39,560 You know. 298 00:19:39,607 --> 00:19:42,167 ''Why do we have to stay here, mummy?'' 299 00:19:43,687 --> 00:19:45,678 lt was really very tough. 300 00:19:46,727 --> 00:19:49,719 And that was my tirst experience, actually, ot evacuees. 301 00:19:50,527 --> 00:19:53,803 The government assigned biIIeting officers in every viIIage 302 00:19:53,847 --> 00:19:55,963 to find accommodation for the evacuees. 303 00:19:56,007 --> 00:19:59,886 Betty's father was the officer for the area around Manor Farm. 304 00:20:00,727 --> 00:20:02,718 Yes, my tather's here... 305 00:20:02,767 --> 00:20:04,758 in this long overcoat. 306 00:20:04,807 --> 00:20:05,876 Yeah? 307 00:20:05,927 --> 00:20:10,045 There were an extraordinary amount ot people there with big houses. 308 00:20:10,087 --> 00:20:12,806 Old-time gentry, they didn't want to know at all. 309 00:20:13,607 --> 00:20:15,598 The people with the butlers. 310 00:20:15,647 --> 00:20:16,921 We had a tight. 311 00:20:16,967 --> 00:20:19,242 - They thought they were above it? - Yes. 312 00:20:19,287 --> 00:20:21,562 my tather just marched in and that was it. 313 00:20:22,167 --> 00:20:26,877 And the people who were being billeted out in the countryside were not countryside people. 314 00:20:26,927 --> 00:20:30,556 - They were townies with different ways. - That was the problem. 315 00:20:30,607 --> 00:20:32,598 They wouldn't eat their greens. 316 00:20:33,607 --> 00:20:35,598 They wanted tish and chips. 317 00:20:35,647 --> 00:20:39,003 And we encouraged them to actually grow vegetables, 318 00:20:39,047 --> 00:20:41,117 a lot ot these children, and they did. 319 00:20:41,167 --> 00:20:43,158 They were quite interested in that. 320 00:20:43,207 --> 00:20:45,198 lt is one ot the things about the war. 321 00:20:45,247 --> 00:20:49,081 All sorts ot different groups ot people had to learn about each other. 322 00:20:49,127 --> 00:20:50,196 They did. 323 00:20:50,247 --> 00:20:52,477 Town people had to learn about the countryside, 324 00:20:52,527 --> 00:20:55,087 country people had to learn about town people. 325 00:20:55,127 --> 00:20:58,005 Their lite would never be the same again, would it? 326 00:20:58,047 --> 00:20:59,366 lt certainly wouldn't. 327 00:21:01,807 --> 00:21:03,798 There you go. 328 00:21:03,847 --> 00:21:05,644 Getting mud on your boots. 329 00:21:06,647 --> 00:21:08,956 Many evacuated chiIdren were put to work, 330 00:21:09,007 --> 00:21:13,523 heIping farmers to meet the government's demands of doubIing food production. 331 00:21:14,847 --> 00:21:17,645 You don't get men like this in Portsmouth, do you? 332 00:21:17,687 --> 00:21:21,885 For chiIdren from the cities, the countryside was fuII of new encounters. 333 00:21:22,527 --> 00:21:25,246 Many had never seen a chicken, cow or pig before. 334 00:21:26,767 --> 00:21:29,361 - She's a big pig, isn't she? - Yeah, she's tat. 335 00:21:30,927 --> 00:21:32,918 Not as cute as the others, though. 336 00:21:32,967 --> 00:21:35,083 She's not, is she? She's big and scary. 337 00:21:41,767 --> 00:21:43,758 To make room for more evacuees, 338 00:21:43,807 --> 00:21:46,924 the boys are making roof tiIes to repair outbuiIdings. 339 00:21:49,247 --> 00:21:51,238 They've been firing for 24 hours. 340 00:21:51,727 --> 00:21:55,117 But the windy conditions are causing unexpected probIems. 341 00:21:57,767 --> 00:21:59,962 We had sort ot gale torce winds. 342 00:22:00,007 --> 00:22:04,762 We've tried to slow it down, but what's happened is, we've almost got a blast turnace. 343 00:22:04,807 --> 00:22:06,798 All that heat has expanded the kiln, 344 00:22:06,847 --> 00:22:10,840 and so we've needed to restrain it, otherwise it would have collapsed, 345 00:22:10,887 --> 00:22:13,879 and we'd have lost all that effort, broken our tiles. 346 00:22:13,927 --> 00:22:15,599 lt would've been disaster. 347 00:22:15,647 --> 00:22:19,640 l suppose the tlames aren't coming up any more, so we need to get more wood on the tire. 348 00:22:19,687 --> 00:22:22,599 lt's died down a bit and you need to keep that heat going through. 349 00:22:22,647 --> 00:22:25,957 You can't let the temperature drop when we get to the critical stages. 350 00:22:26,007 --> 00:22:28,805 Get some ot these right to the back ot the turnace. 351 00:22:28,847 --> 00:22:30,758 lt's almost like a sleeping dragon. 352 00:22:30,807 --> 00:22:35,358 As soon as you stoke it up, then the tire leaps out ot the kiln. 353 00:22:38,807 --> 00:22:42,846 Tending kiIns in aII conditions, night and day, is tough work. 354 00:22:44,327 --> 00:22:49,037 But CoIin's heard stories of how tiIe makers made the job a IittIe bit more bearabIe. 355 00:22:51,407 --> 00:22:55,286 l thought we might try and rig ourselves up a still - we've got apples - 356 00:22:55,927 --> 00:22:59,363 and distil some local hooch. 357 00:22:59,407 --> 00:23:01,284 - What do you think? - (Chuckling) 358 00:23:01,327 --> 00:23:03,443 l think that sounds like a good idea. 359 00:23:03,487 --> 00:23:05,955 You're talking about using this to distil alcohol? 360 00:23:06,007 --> 00:23:06,883 Yeah. 361 00:23:06,927 --> 00:23:10,806 The reason l know about this is, my uncle did this during the war. 362 00:23:11,887 --> 00:23:13,878 He worked at a brick and tile works. 363 00:23:15,687 --> 00:23:19,077 You know, the heat was used tor cooking any game they caught, 364 00:23:19,127 --> 00:23:21,721 and tor making liquor, really. 365 00:23:21,767 --> 00:23:24,486 The question is, though, Colin, is it legal? 366 00:23:24,527 --> 00:23:26,518 lt we sort ot treat it as medicinal, 367 00:23:27,567 --> 00:23:32,721 then l think we might be able to get away with it as long as we don't sell it. 368 00:23:33,127 --> 00:23:36,915 A little drop ot medicine to soothe the aches and pains. 369 00:23:39,927 --> 00:23:42,441 AIcohoI has a Iower boiIing point than water. 370 00:23:43,527 --> 00:23:46,041 So when this fermented appIe juice is heated, 371 00:23:46,087 --> 00:23:49,284 the aIcohoI in it evaporates first and can be coIIected. 372 00:23:50,127 --> 00:23:51,879 Put it on the heat now. 373 00:23:53,287 --> 00:23:57,075 CoIin's improvised a distiIIation pIant from a bike inner tube... 374 00:23:59,327 --> 00:24:01,318 ..a water bottIe and a saucepan. 375 00:24:02,847 --> 00:24:04,360 So we tix that to that. 376 00:24:04,407 --> 00:24:06,079 That's worked well. 377 00:24:06,127 --> 00:24:10,200 Because we're joining metal to metal, the inner tube acts like a gasket. 378 00:24:13,247 --> 00:24:16,000 What we're gonna do now is use the heat trom the kiln 379 00:24:16,047 --> 00:24:18,641 to slowly sort ot boil the mash that's in there. 380 00:24:20,247 --> 00:24:24,365 With the water bottle, that's gonna act as our tirst condensing chamber. 381 00:24:24,407 --> 00:24:29,481 The alcohol should come down the pipe, and because it's so cold, this should condense out. 382 00:24:29,527 --> 00:24:34,726 So what we get in here, the drips, is going to be our distilled alcohol. 383 00:24:35,567 --> 00:24:38,684 l know Peter's got his tongue hanging out at the moment. 384 00:24:39,447 --> 00:24:42,041 There's already condensation in that bottle. 385 00:24:47,047 --> 00:24:48,526 (Grunting) 386 00:24:49,487 --> 00:24:51,478 l don't blame her, sat all indoors. 387 00:24:51,527 --> 00:24:53,358 - She looks lovely. - Come on, my lovely! 388 00:24:53,407 --> 00:24:55,398 Come on, Snowflake. 389 00:24:56,967 --> 00:24:59,606 The government's drive to doubIe food production 390 00:24:59,647 --> 00:25:03,720 meant farmers had to reduce their Iivestock in favour of growing crops. 391 00:25:04,447 --> 00:25:08,235 Crops produce considerabIy more caIories per acre than Iivestock. 392 00:25:09,967 --> 00:25:11,639 With meat becoming scarce, 393 00:25:11,687 --> 00:25:14,679 the government encouraged peopIe to set up pig cIubs. 394 00:25:15,807 --> 00:25:19,561 Raised communaIIy on kitchen scraps, haIf the meat went to the government, 395 00:25:19,607 --> 00:25:22,121 with the rest divided up between the members. 396 00:25:23,647 --> 00:25:26,525 - Good girl. - Come on, Snowflake. 397 00:25:26,567 --> 00:25:29,161 Their pigIet, Shorty, is coming on weII. 398 00:25:30,007 --> 00:25:33,124 But Ruth and feIIow pig cIub member, Debbie Underwood, 399 00:25:33,167 --> 00:25:37,046 want to breed a repIacement for when the time comes to sIaughter him. 400 00:25:37,727 --> 00:25:39,877 l've got another treat waiting tor you. 401 00:25:39,927 --> 00:25:45,399 So she's taking his mother, SnowfIake, to spend some time with IocaI boar DougIas. 402 00:25:45,447 --> 00:25:48,041 - There's a good girl. - Come on, Snowflake. 403 00:25:48,087 --> 00:25:49,839 Does she go straight in with Douglas, 404 00:25:49,887 --> 00:25:53,562 or does she have a tew days separate trom the piglet betore she's introduced? 405 00:25:53,607 --> 00:25:57,885 She's coming to season three days after she's been weaned trom her piglets. 406 00:25:57,927 --> 00:25:59,918 So we'll put her in now. 407 00:25:59,967 --> 00:26:05,041 All his hormones will encourage her that in three days' time, she will come into season. 408 00:26:05,087 --> 00:26:07,396 - Come on, Snowflake. - Off we go, come on. 409 00:26:07,447 --> 00:26:08,562 Good girl. 410 00:26:09,767 --> 00:26:11,758 But things are not going to pIan. 411 00:26:11,807 --> 00:26:14,924 Somehow, Shorty has escaped to foIIow his mother. 412 00:26:16,527 --> 00:26:18,518 How on earth did you get out, Shorty? 413 00:26:18,567 --> 00:26:23,357 We'll have to tind where they're escaping trom. Otherwise they'll just tollow her out to the boar. 414 00:26:23,407 --> 00:26:25,398 RUTH: The gate's still closed. 415 00:26:27,607 --> 00:26:29,484 There's a hole in the wire, look at that. 416 00:26:29,527 --> 00:26:31,916 Betore we take her to the boar, we have to tix that. 417 00:26:31,967 --> 00:26:34,481 Otherwise, Shorty will be straight out ot there. 418 00:26:36,527 --> 00:26:38,199 Always the way. 419 00:26:42,087 --> 00:26:44,078 Actually, we might be lucky. 420 00:26:44,127 --> 00:26:46,880 Yes! Well done, that woman! 421 00:26:46,927 --> 00:26:48,042 Right. 422 00:26:48,087 --> 00:26:50,362 - There we go. - Speedy, speedy, speedy. 423 00:26:50,407 --> 00:26:52,841 Right, that's Douglas. 424 00:26:54,127 --> 00:26:56,118 Him with the hairy chops. 425 00:26:56,167 --> 00:26:58,158 Here he is. Hello, gorgeous boy. 426 00:26:59,127 --> 00:27:01,595 Yeah, this is Douglas. He loves a back scratch. 427 00:27:02,567 --> 00:27:04,842 He's only served about three sows so tar. 428 00:27:06,527 --> 00:27:08,722 Hopetully, many happy years ahead ot him. 429 00:27:10,207 --> 00:27:12,198 There we go. 430 00:27:14,327 --> 00:27:17,524 They look like they're having tun together, don't they? 431 00:27:26,527 --> 00:27:28,916 It's the finaI night tending the tiIe kiIn, 432 00:27:28,967 --> 00:27:33,438 and the home-made stiII has produced a tonic to heIp the team cope with the coId. 433 00:27:34,367 --> 00:27:36,562 We're on our sixth bottle at the moment. 434 00:27:36,607 --> 00:27:38,199 Wow. 435 00:27:39,407 --> 00:27:41,398 lt's really sort ot taken off. 436 00:27:41,447 --> 00:27:45,725 l think, you know, to toast the kiln, we ought to have a little snifter. 437 00:27:45,767 --> 00:27:46,916 Right, OK. 438 00:27:47,967 --> 00:27:49,958 That looks clear enough. 439 00:27:50,007 --> 00:27:51,565 - lt certainly does. - Lovely. 440 00:27:51,607 --> 00:27:54,963 - Thank you very much. - That's very pleasant. 441 00:27:55,007 --> 00:27:57,726 - l tind this medicinal, actually. - Yeah, absolutely. 442 00:27:59,087 --> 00:28:04,002 It's not Iong before CoIin's tonic is making the hard graft aItogether more appeaIing. 443 00:28:04,407 --> 00:28:07,001 Thanks, you guys, tor a tantastic experience. 444 00:28:07,047 --> 00:28:08,799 Fantastic kiln. 445 00:28:09,927 --> 00:28:14,205 They must endure just one more freezing night tending the tiIes at the kiIn. 446 00:28:14,887 --> 00:28:16,479 - To the kiln! - To the kiln! 447 00:28:16,527 --> 00:28:18,119 Whoa! 448 00:28:30,167 --> 00:28:35,287 AIthough the government encouraged farmers to cuII Iivestock in favour of growing crops, 449 00:28:35,327 --> 00:28:37,443 they made one exception. 450 00:28:37,487 --> 00:28:39,478 Come on, girls. 451 00:28:39,527 --> 00:28:41,324 Dairy cattIe. 452 00:28:41,367 --> 00:28:43,358 Time we got you indoors, you know. 453 00:28:43,407 --> 00:28:47,605 MiIk was seen as essentiaI to the heaIth of the nation, particuIarIy for chiIdren. 454 00:28:48,367 --> 00:28:50,358 With coId weather on the way, 455 00:28:50,407 --> 00:28:53,604 the farm's precious dairy cattIe must be taken indoors. 456 00:28:54,167 --> 00:28:59,036 The government set strict targets for miIk production that dairy farmers had to meet. 457 00:28:59,087 --> 00:29:02,159 So keeping the cattIe in top condition was paramount. 458 00:29:02,847 --> 00:29:07,477 lt's not just about keeping the cows tit and healthy, though obviously that's important. 459 00:29:07,527 --> 00:29:09,722 lt's also about the quality ot the milk. 460 00:29:09,767 --> 00:29:15,364 And we have got to keep the quality and the quota, the quantity, up right through the winter. 461 00:29:15,407 --> 00:29:16,635 That's really important. 462 00:29:16,687 --> 00:29:18,678 Come on, you know the way. 463 00:29:20,287 --> 00:29:23,199 Over winter, the cattle will be ted silage - 464 00:29:23,247 --> 00:29:25,761 termented vegetation made by Alex and Peter. 465 00:29:27,847 --> 00:29:30,725 Go on, then, on you go. Good girls. Sarah, move. 466 00:29:34,367 --> 00:29:38,645 l'm always amazed how much you can taste what a cow's been eating in the milk. 467 00:29:38,687 --> 00:29:41,121 Yes, there's a detinite difference, isn't there? 468 00:29:41,167 --> 00:29:44,762 Another reason we need to look after them is they're all in calt. 469 00:29:44,807 --> 00:29:48,322 They're all due next spring so we want to take good care ot them. 470 00:29:49,167 --> 00:29:52,364 - She looks like she's got twins. - She's huge, isn't she? 471 00:29:55,687 --> 00:29:58,759 After two days of firing, the kiIn is Ieft to cooI. 472 00:29:59,727 --> 00:30:03,242 And the tiIes to repair the barns for evacuees shouId be ready. 473 00:30:04,847 --> 00:30:10,479 An awful lot ot work has gone into making this kiln and tiring these tiles and making the tiles. 474 00:30:11,247 --> 00:30:13,317 We've no idea what the results are. 475 00:30:13,367 --> 00:30:17,042 One talse move with a brick, Colin slips and it lands on the tiles, 476 00:30:17,087 --> 00:30:18,964 we could smash a whole load ot them. 477 00:30:21,407 --> 00:30:26,481 CoIin's concerned the harsh winter conditions may have affected the firing of the tiIes. 478 00:30:27,327 --> 00:30:30,239 What we're looking tor is a ring like a bell. 479 00:30:34,727 --> 00:30:36,399 (Scraping) 480 00:30:36,447 --> 00:30:37,721 (Dull ring) 481 00:30:38,567 --> 00:30:41,035 - Sounds like magic. - That sounds good. 482 00:30:41,087 --> 00:30:44,682 - That is superb. - Will this match your... on your tarm? 483 00:30:44,727 --> 00:30:46,718 lt's going to now. 484 00:30:47,727 --> 00:30:50,605 - l'm not tussy. - l don't think people would have been. 485 00:30:55,687 --> 00:30:58,645 That's a good bunch ot tiles, is that, and all home-made. 486 00:31:04,807 --> 00:31:09,801 AIex and Peter head back to the farm to repair the buiIdings to be ready for more evacuees. 487 00:31:15,287 --> 00:31:17,278 You're a braver man than me, Alex. 488 00:31:21,927 --> 00:31:25,158 These new tiles certainly look the part. 489 00:31:27,167 --> 00:31:32,400 l think we'll probably use the best part ot 20-30 on this side ot the building. 490 00:31:33,087 --> 00:31:37,365 That leaves us with a couple ot hundred tor some ot the major tarm buildings. 491 00:31:41,327 --> 00:31:43,124 There we are. 492 00:31:48,447 --> 00:31:53,441 With the roof repaired, AIex and Peter furnish the buiIding with Ruth's beds and quiIts. 493 00:31:58,687 --> 00:32:02,521 lt's not the most salubrious ot accommodation on the tarm 494 00:32:02,567 --> 00:32:05,479 but it's warm and it's dry. 495 00:32:06,327 --> 00:32:10,081 Better than being in the city centre ot Southampton. Come this way. 496 00:32:10,127 --> 00:32:12,118 mummy's coming in as well. 497 00:32:12,967 --> 00:32:15,765 Most had no idea when they wouId ever return home. 498 00:32:17,007 --> 00:32:18,998 How's that, then? 499 00:32:19,447 --> 00:32:21,483 ls that nice and comty? 500 00:32:28,767 --> 00:32:32,476 AIthough ruraI areas Iike this were seen as safe havens, 501 00:32:32,527 --> 00:32:36,122 they weren't necessariIy quite as safe as they first appeared. 502 00:32:36,167 --> 00:32:38,158 (Aircraft rumbles overhead) 503 00:32:40,207 --> 00:32:45,600 There was a top-secret operation to Iure enemy bombers away from the cities to the countryside, 504 00:32:45,647 --> 00:32:48,161 codenamed Operation Starfish. 505 00:32:49,127 --> 00:32:53,757 l think this is the remnants ot the command post ot Starfish, 506 00:32:53,807 --> 00:32:56,002 or, at least, the Starfish in this area. 507 00:32:57,767 --> 00:33:02,045 OnIy the first wave of German bombers were fitted with navigation systems. 508 00:33:02,567 --> 00:33:06,958 They dropped firebombs on the target, Iighting the way for the heavy bombers. 509 00:33:10,327 --> 00:33:12,716 But by Iighting decoy fires in the countryside, 510 00:33:12,767 --> 00:33:14,758 the bombers couId be Ied off target. 511 00:33:17,727 --> 00:33:21,037 Very, very, thick concrete, reintorced. 512 00:33:21,087 --> 00:33:23,362 From this armoured bunker on Manor Farm, 513 00:33:23,407 --> 00:33:25,682 the decoy operation was put into action. 514 00:33:29,047 --> 00:33:32,926 So that's the ltchen, with all the industrial zones ot Southampton, 515 00:33:32,967 --> 00:33:36,243 the place that the German bombers really want to target. 516 00:33:36,287 --> 00:33:38,482 Now, it you go a little bit turther east, 517 00:33:41,127 --> 00:33:43,243 you've got a similar bend in the river. 518 00:33:43,727 --> 00:33:48,847 So in landscape, it looks almost identical. The other bombers are gonna be drawn to that site. 519 00:33:48,887 --> 00:33:54,086 lnstead ot raining their bombs down on a city centre, on people and an industrial heartland, 520 00:33:54,127 --> 00:33:57,005 they're actually raining their bombs down on tields. 521 00:33:57,047 --> 00:33:59,356 OK, and what have we got there? manor Farm. 522 00:34:03,287 --> 00:34:05,676 Here, decoy fires wouId have been ignited, 523 00:34:05,727 --> 00:34:09,242 once the incendiary fires in Southampton were under controI. 524 00:34:12,567 --> 00:34:17,561 But this wasn't the onIy way the countryside heIped protect cities from German bombers. 525 00:34:18,407 --> 00:34:21,604 RUTH: This is the Royal Observer Corps? - That's right, yes. 526 00:34:21,647 --> 00:34:23,638 We're part ot the Royal Air Force. 527 00:34:23,687 --> 00:34:26,804 We provide the overland observation service tor them, 528 00:34:26,847 --> 00:34:29,520 because their radar only looks out to sea. 529 00:34:30,607 --> 00:34:33,599 NeviIIe CuIIingford served in the RoyaI Observers. 530 00:34:34,167 --> 00:34:37,318 The table you see here, the map, 531 00:34:37,367 --> 00:34:41,883 this is a small segment ot the main map on the control table at Winchester. 532 00:34:41,927 --> 00:34:46,045 So that's our little piece ot the group, what's within visual range ot us. 533 00:34:46,087 --> 00:34:51,207 You see the young women with their long sticks and boards, pushing things around on a board. 534 00:34:51,247 --> 00:34:53,841 We're providing the intormation tor those girls? 535 00:34:53,887 --> 00:34:59,325 That's right, she will be putting your plots on the table that we've observed trom here. 536 00:35:01,287 --> 00:35:07,476 A huge network of civiIian voIunteers operated Iike a human radar, 24 hours a day, 537 00:35:07,527 --> 00:35:09,518 tracking enemy aircraft. 538 00:35:11,327 --> 00:35:14,205 In the countryside, thisjob often feII to farmers. 539 00:35:15,607 --> 00:35:19,282 You actually had to have somebody out here on duty out in the open. 540 00:35:19,327 --> 00:35:23,161 - This is basically standing in a tield all night. - Standing in a tield. 541 00:35:23,207 --> 00:35:27,598 We did have quite a sad number ot the older men 542 00:35:27,647 --> 00:35:29,638 who actually died ot pneumonia. 543 00:35:29,687 --> 00:35:31,643 Really, it just got so cold? 544 00:35:31,687 --> 00:35:34,759 You really telt you were doing your bit stood out here. 545 00:35:34,807 --> 00:35:37,799 Seeing the planes go over, doing something about it. 546 00:35:37,847 --> 00:35:41,556 That's right, and the ones that the RAF weren't able to shoot down, 547 00:35:41,607 --> 00:35:44,405 were hopetully decoyed by the local Starfish site 548 00:35:44,447 --> 00:35:50,044 so they actually dropped their bombs on a poor tarmer's tield or on his tarm, 549 00:35:50,087 --> 00:35:52,237 as opposed to on a city. 550 00:35:55,487 --> 00:36:00,197 Decoy fires were often just simpIe wooden baskets fiIIed with fIammabIe materiaI. 551 00:36:02,967 --> 00:36:05,720 Just knocking up some baskets... 552 00:36:06,807 --> 00:36:10,595 ..a la mode one, Operation Starfish. 553 00:36:13,047 --> 00:36:16,960 Overseeing the operation is miIitary expert Gerry SutcIiffe. 554 00:36:17,447 --> 00:36:19,722 - Good to see you again. - Good to see you. 555 00:36:20,287 --> 00:36:22,596 Have you worked out how to set them off yet? 556 00:36:22,647 --> 00:36:24,956 Well, l was going to try and do it remotely, 557 00:36:25,967 --> 00:36:28,845 via remotely sending Peter over here with a match. 558 00:36:28,887 --> 00:36:33,802 But l've a teeling that would take the best part ot a night to try and get them all lit. 559 00:36:33,847 --> 00:36:36,361 We can arrange something with some batteries 560 00:36:37,407 --> 00:36:39,398 and pieces ot wire. 561 00:36:40,167 --> 00:36:42,806 Current should go down it which will heat up the tuse. 562 00:36:42,847 --> 00:36:45,520 lt'll go bang and hopetully the rest ot it will go with it. 563 00:36:45,567 --> 00:36:48,923 - We could be actually sat quite a way away? - That's the idea. 564 00:36:50,327 --> 00:36:54,400 Patterns of fire baskets were arranged to Iook Iike burning buiIdings. 565 00:36:55,287 --> 00:36:58,882 And fIammabIe Iiquids Iike turpentine, creosote and paraffin 566 00:36:58,927 --> 00:37:03,398 gave the impression from the air of factories and fueI dumps going up in fIames. 567 00:37:04,887 --> 00:37:07,003 That's nice, that should catch quick. 568 00:37:07,047 --> 00:37:10,437 Stick some ot the intlammable liquids and that on there. 569 00:37:10,487 --> 00:37:12,478 l can get it wired up. 570 00:37:15,687 --> 00:37:17,882 AII the fires were triggered remoteIy, 571 00:37:17,927 --> 00:37:21,920 using eIectricaIIy-operated detonators from the safety of a bunker. 572 00:37:23,207 --> 00:37:26,517 Trail that wire out to somewhere sate. 573 00:37:29,847 --> 00:37:34,841 Gerry, we're in a situation now where we've got our tires ready to light. 574 00:37:34,887 --> 00:37:41,520 We'd in effect been waiting tor a call trom somewhere like Southampton, industrial area. 575 00:37:41,567 --> 00:37:45,082 They will have dampened out all ot the incendiary bombs there. 576 00:37:45,967 --> 00:37:49,243 They're then putting in a call to us, at which point we act. 577 00:37:49,287 --> 00:37:52,484 - When we get the signal. - So we're waiting tor that call? 578 00:37:59,287 --> 00:38:03,997 NeviIIe's teaching Ruth how the RoyaI Observers tracked and identified aircraft. 579 00:38:05,287 --> 00:38:10,998 We have a height bar here, on which the number one observer sets the height. 580 00:38:12,007 --> 00:38:17,035 When you report it, it it's 6,000 or 5,000, you report it as ''tive'' or ''six''. 581 00:38:17,087 --> 00:38:21,524 Right, l don't bother to mention the thousands, cos everybody knows it's thousands ot teet. 582 00:38:21,567 --> 00:38:25,162 All number one does is to sight the aircraft and tollow it round. 583 00:38:26,527 --> 00:38:28,518 When he says, ''On,'' 584 00:38:28,567 --> 00:38:33,083 that means that wherever the square is, that's the report you give. 585 00:38:33,527 --> 00:38:35,518 ln this case it's 81 68. 586 00:38:35,567 --> 00:38:38,604 NEVlLLE: Direction - it's which direction he's going. 587 00:38:38,647 --> 00:38:40,285 Ah, OK. 588 00:38:40,327 --> 00:38:42,522 So he's heading north. 589 00:38:42,567 --> 00:38:44,478 Whatever l tell you. 590 00:38:44,527 --> 00:38:46,722 She acknowledges it by saying, ''Thank you''. 591 00:38:46,767 --> 00:38:48,837 It's time to put it aII into practice. 592 00:38:51,447 --> 00:38:52,596 On. 593 00:38:53,407 --> 00:38:55,125 - A4. - A4 594 00:38:55,167 --> 00:38:58,364 8365, heading north... 595 00:38:59,127 --> 00:39:02,881 one at 8,000, Spittire. 596 00:39:02,927 --> 00:39:03,962 Thank you. 597 00:39:05,447 --> 00:39:09,076 At the bunker, Operation Starfish is about to spring into action. 598 00:39:09,687 --> 00:39:11,757 - Are we going together, here? - Yep. 599 00:39:12,847 --> 00:39:13,916 Go. 600 00:39:28,807 --> 00:39:34,245 If aII went to pIan, bombs wouId have soon been raining down here on the fieIds of Manor Farm, 601 00:39:34,287 --> 00:39:36,278 rather than on Southampton. 602 00:39:39,007 --> 00:39:44,161 lt's difficult really to measure the success ot Operation Starfish. 603 00:39:45,447 --> 00:39:47,836 ln many ways, you look at Southampton today 604 00:39:47,887 --> 00:39:52,881 and it is an absolute shadow ot the city it was betore the Luftwaffe razed it to the ground. 605 00:39:52,927 --> 00:39:56,761 They tlattened the entire city, so it can't have been that effective. 606 00:39:56,807 --> 00:40:00,402 But at the same time, it Operation Starfish saved just one lite, 607 00:40:00,447 --> 00:40:02,438 then it was worthwhile. 608 00:40:10,767 --> 00:40:12,758 By December 1 940, 609 00:40:12,807 --> 00:40:17,005 despite the vaIiant efforts of the RoyaI Observer Corps and Operation Starfish, 610 00:40:18,087 --> 00:40:22,524 across Britain, 24,000 civiIians had been kiIIed in the BIitz. 611 00:40:25,927 --> 00:40:28,600 Hundreds of thousands had been made homeIess. 612 00:40:29,247 --> 00:40:31,238 And miIIions were dispIaced. 613 00:40:31,287 --> 00:40:34,962 Yet the nation was determined to ceIebrate Christmas. 614 00:40:42,447 --> 00:40:49,876 lt really was the only sort ot unitying celebration that you got during the war. 615 00:40:51,407 --> 00:40:53,875 Bontire night obviously had to be cancelled - 616 00:40:53,927 --> 00:40:55,918 blackout, makes sense. 617 00:40:55,967 --> 00:40:59,198 Easter, well, with no chocolate, that was a bit ot a damp squib. 618 00:40:59,247 --> 00:41:03,763 Christmas was the one big community wide celebration ot the year. 619 00:41:05,287 --> 00:41:07,676 That means that shortages or no shortages, 620 00:41:07,727 --> 00:41:12,437 l've somehow got to pull it all together and create something that people recognise 621 00:41:12,487 --> 00:41:14,955 ot the sort ot Christmases they were used to. 622 00:41:21,087 --> 00:41:23,760 So Ruth's pIanning a Christmas meaI and dance. 623 00:41:25,887 --> 00:41:30,199 She's keeping the evacuees occupied by making decorations for the cottage. 624 00:41:30,767 --> 00:41:33,839 Good, you are nice and caretul. l thought you'd be the lad tor the job. 625 00:41:35,847 --> 00:41:39,442 So many town children who were trying to get used to country living 626 00:41:39,487 --> 00:41:41,478 tor the tirst time in their lives. 627 00:41:41,527 --> 00:41:45,202 You also get the tact that many ot the hosts out in the countryside 628 00:41:45,247 --> 00:41:47,238 were trying to get used to children - 629 00:41:47,287 --> 00:41:49,562 not just town children but any children. 630 00:41:49,607 --> 00:41:52,679 There was no sort ot rhyme nor reason to the billeting. 631 00:41:52,727 --> 00:41:57,721 People who were litelong bachelors suddenly tound themselt with a house tull ot kids. 632 00:41:59,007 --> 00:42:03,319 Good job l know some things how to keep you lot occupied, isn't it? (Laughs) 633 00:42:03,367 --> 00:42:05,358 That's looking nice, l like this. 634 00:42:07,887 --> 00:42:10,560 AIex is aIso preparing for Christmas. 635 00:42:11,927 --> 00:42:16,603 With factories working overtime on the war effort, toys were in very short suppIy. 636 00:42:17,407 --> 00:42:21,286 The government came to the rescue with advice on how to make your own. 637 00:42:23,007 --> 00:42:24,440 l've got a pamphlet here. 638 00:42:24,487 --> 00:42:30,278 This is called: lmprovised Toys For Nurseries And Retugee Camps. 639 00:42:30,327 --> 00:42:34,798 These are the sort ot toys that would put a smile on my tace today. 640 00:42:35,607 --> 00:42:39,077 Here we've got a little horse you can ride on, a rocking horse. 641 00:42:39,847 --> 00:42:41,485 lt gives you all the patterns. 642 00:42:41,527 --> 00:42:43,518 Here, these are trom cotton reels. 643 00:42:43,567 --> 00:42:46,843 This little man here is made entirely out ot cotton reels. 644 00:42:46,887 --> 00:42:49,162 l like that one, though. That's a dragon. 645 00:42:50,927 --> 00:42:53,122 Taking inspiration from the pamphIet, 646 00:42:53,167 --> 00:42:56,364 AIex is making a Spitfire out of oId tin cans. 647 00:42:57,447 --> 00:43:00,245 l've already made the prop. This is the propeller. 648 00:43:00,287 --> 00:43:04,997 l've got an old rooting nail there which l'm going to somehow tix in there, 649 00:43:05,047 --> 00:43:07,038 so that that spins. 650 00:43:08,167 --> 00:43:13,036 But l'm just hoping that these toys bring a bit ot light reliet 651 00:43:13,087 --> 00:43:16,762 during our wartime Christmas celebrations. 652 00:43:16,807 --> 00:43:19,605 There's actually a lovely line in here which says, 653 00:43:22,567 --> 00:43:25,365 ''Some children may have passed through such horrors 654 00:43:25,407 --> 00:43:28,797 or be so weakened by illness or malnutrition 655 00:43:28,847 --> 00:43:32,920 that they have temporarily lost the creative art ot play. 656 00:43:33,647 --> 00:43:38,846 A toy which they may carry with them always may do tar more than we might imagine 657 00:43:38,887 --> 00:43:43,085 to restore the health and contidence and peace ot mind to a child.'' 658 00:43:50,007 --> 00:43:54,080 So what we're trying to make is take sparkly snow. 659 00:43:56,647 --> 00:43:59,161 This is like glitter, a cheap torm ot glitter. 660 00:44:00,167 --> 00:44:03,682 Like so many other things, actual glitter was in short supply. 661 00:44:03,727 --> 00:44:08,243 l mean, you can hardly justity having a glitter-making tactory during wartime, can you? 662 00:44:08,287 --> 00:44:10,278 l've got a load ot Epsom salts here. 663 00:44:10,327 --> 00:44:16,163 Then l just want as little an amount ot water as l possibly can to make them all dissolve. 664 00:44:17,607 --> 00:44:19,086 There we go. 665 00:44:19,127 --> 00:44:20,845 Look at that. 666 00:44:20,887 --> 00:44:22,559 Scarcely liquid. 667 00:44:22,607 --> 00:44:25,121 Do you tancy a bit ot sparkly on your lanterns? 668 00:44:25,167 --> 00:44:26,964 Yeah, l think it'd be nice. 669 00:44:31,727 --> 00:44:35,402 lt's gonna need some guns it it's gonna shoot the Luftwaffe down. 670 00:44:35,447 --> 00:44:37,915 So we'll put a little nail in there. 671 00:44:37,967 --> 00:44:39,958 (makes engine sounds) 672 00:44:44,687 --> 00:44:46,678 Shame to give this away. 673 00:44:52,567 --> 00:44:54,558 By December 1 940, 674 00:44:54,607 --> 00:44:59,397 nearIy four miIIion tons of merchant shipping, incIuding desperateIy needed food, 675 00:44:59,447 --> 00:45:01,438 had been Iost to German U-boats. 676 00:45:03,567 --> 00:45:06,877 The usuaI Christmas fare of turkey had become scarce, 677 00:45:06,927 --> 00:45:10,203 as farmers turned away from Iivestock in favour of crops. 678 00:45:11,487 --> 00:45:14,001 So the government suggested an aIternative. 679 00:45:16,767 --> 00:45:20,442 l've plumped tor something that the ministry ot Food suggested, 680 00:45:20,487 --> 00:45:22,478 something called a murkey. 681 00:45:22,527 --> 00:45:25,439 Dreadtul sounding name, isn't it? lt sounds awful! 682 00:45:25,487 --> 00:45:27,125 lt's a mock turkey. 683 00:45:28,767 --> 00:45:30,758 And these parsnips will be his legs. 684 00:45:32,527 --> 00:45:35,837 lt's basically sausage meat, sort ot gloritied stuffing. 685 00:45:38,087 --> 00:45:39,725 Look at that. 686 00:45:39,767 --> 00:45:41,758 mind you, that is between 1 5. 687 00:45:42,367 --> 00:45:44,437 Right, just straight all in, l think. 688 00:45:45,447 --> 00:45:46,516 Klunk. 689 00:45:48,207 --> 00:45:50,198 Now comes the crafty bit. 690 00:45:51,007 --> 00:45:55,717 According to the recipe, the mixture must be mouIded into the shape of a reaI turkey. 691 00:45:55,767 --> 00:45:57,758 Shape that into something. 692 00:45:58,567 --> 00:46:01,240 What shape are turkeys? Oh, my plate. 693 00:46:01,767 --> 00:46:03,758 OK, parsnip legs. 694 00:46:05,967 --> 00:46:07,958 That might have to do. 695 00:46:08,007 --> 00:46:10,965 The one benetit, though, ot having so many people in the house, 696 00:46:11,007 --> 00:46:12,998 is access to their ration books. 697 00:46:13,927 --> 00:46:18,125 Basically, as soon as they're billeted with me, they have to hand their ration books to me. 698 00:46:18,167 --> 00:46:21,364 l'm in charge ot doing all the shopping, doing all the tood. 699 00:46:21,407 --> 00:46:24,319 Which means that you get sort ot economies ot scale. 700 00:46:24,367 --> 00:46:27,564 lt's all a bit more efficient when you've got a large number ot you. 701 00:46:27,607 --> 00:46:29,598 This says it all, this does. 702 00:46:29,647 --> 00:46:32,115 That there, one pound tour ounces ot bacon. 703 00:46:32,167 --> 00:46:35,079 That is tive people's ration tor the week. 704 00:46:35,807 --> 00:46:39,641 One person's ration, two little rashers, you couldn't really do much with. 705 00:46:39,687 --> 00:46:42,485 But when you get a block ot tive people's rations, 706 00:46:42,527 --> 00:46:47,396 you can start to do a bit more with it, you've got a tew more options, it makes more sense. 707 00:46:56,927 --> 00:46:58,918 There he goes, one mock turkey. 708 00:46:59,927 --> 00:47:01,918 Ready tor the oven. 709 00:47:03,967 --> 00:47:07,437 As weII as caring for evacuees, the farm work must go on. 710 00:47:08,647 --> 00:47:12,242 Now the cows are inside for winter, they need mucking out daiIy. 711 00:47:12,887 --> 00:47:17,756 It'sjust the sort ofjob that wouId have been undertaken by conscientious objectors. 712 00:47:18,807 --> 00:47:20,798 This way. 713 00:47:20,847 --> 00:47:23,361 And as usual, the government had some advice. 714 00:47:23,407 --> 00:47:27,605 Right, well, as it says in the leatlet here, dung must not be wasted, chaps. 715 00:47:28,567 --> 00:47:32,480 OK, l'll be leaving this by your bedsides later tonight tor you to read through. 716 00:47:32,527 --> 00:47:37,157 Obviously, as a tarmer, we know that this has the ability to tertilise the tields. 717 00:47:37,207 --> 00:47:43,157 But tailing to use it, we are ''also doing our country and ourselves a poor turn''. 718 00:47:43,207 --> 00:47:45,562 - Got your shovels? Great stuff. - Yep. 719 00:47:46,287 --> 00:47:49,677 Tom and Lorin are getting their first taste of Iife on a farm. 720 00:47:50,207 --> 00:47:52,198 There we have it in operation. 721 00:47:52,247 --> 00:47:54,158 Liquid manure. Come on. 722 00:47:54,207 --> 00:47:56,198 ln, in, in! 723 00:48:00,287 --> 00:48:03,723 So, coming trom the city, Lorin, is this something you're used to? 724 00:48:03,767 --> 00:48:05,246 Er...no. 725 00:48:05,287 --> 00:48:06,879 No? 726 00:48:07,727 --> 00:48:10,241 Once you torget what it is you're standing in, 727 00:48:10,287 --> 00:48:12,278 it's actually not so bad. 728 00:48:12,807 --> 00:48:15,002 Yeah, the great thing about tarmyard smells is, 729 00:48:15,047 --> 00:48:17,766 the longer you spend with them, the less you notice them. 730 00:48:21,927 --> 00:48:25,920 Once this had been the mainstay ot all tertilising on tarms. 731 00:48:27,047 --> 00:48:32,440 But it had been superseded, really, by artiticial tertilisers which it was cheaper to buy in. 732 00:48:32,487 --> 00:48:37,880 But many ot the tertilisers, things like potash tor example, had come trom places like Germany. 733 00:48:38,927 --> 00:48:40,918 To make up tor that shorttall, 734 00:48:40,967 --> 00:48:45,722 the government were advising tarmers to turn back to this, natural manure. 735 00:48:49,527 --> 00:48:51,916 There's a nice lot ot urine in there as well. 736 00:48:51,967 --> 00:48:57,041 A nice lot ot ammonia which, again, is another good part ot the whole tertilising process. 737 00:48:57,127 --> 00:49:01,837 lt's all tor the war effort. That's what you have to keep reminding yourselt with every shoveltul. 738 00:49:07,687 --> 00:49:09,678 ..hold that book. 739 00:49:10,887 --> 00:49:12,798 ''To the ball ot toot.'' 740 00:49:12,847 --> 00:49:14,838 Where are you reading? 741 00:49:15,847 --> 00:49:18,156 Tomorrow they wiII ceIebrate Christmas. 742 00:49:19,047 --> 00:49:21,959 And many in the viIIage wiII attend the IocaI dance. 743 00:49:22,767 --> 00:49:25,076 So Ruth and Peter are Iearning to foxtrot. 744 00:49:25,487 --> 00:49:29,321 lt should be easy. This is supposed to be the easy dance everybody knew. 745 00:49:30,287 --> 00:49:33,199 - lt's not quite the pogo, is it? - Not quite the pogo! 746 00:49:33,847 --> 00:49:37,635 Dancer Lisa McLean has come aIong to teach Ruth and Peter the steps. 747 00:49:38,367 --> 00:49:40,722 - Hello. - We really, really need your help. 748 00:49:40,767 --> 00:49:43,884 We've been trying to learn the toxtrot, we got the book. 749 00:49:44,527 --> 00:49:46,722 We've not got very tar, though, really. 750 00:49:46,767 --> 00:49:49,725 LlSA: l'm not surprised. You really are not gonna learn trom that. 751 00:49:49,767 --> 00:49:52,759 - You think l just ditch the book? - l should. Throw it. 752 00:49:54,247 --> 00:49:57,205 The foxtrot was deveIoped in 1 920s New York. 753 00:49:58,327 --> 00:50:01,399 During the war, it reached the peak of its popuIarity. 754 00:50:01,447 --> 00:50:04,041 Let's try it. Two slow walks torward. 755 00:50:04,727 --> 00:50:08,481 Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. 756 00:50:08,527 --> 00:50:11,485 Slow, quick, quick, slow. 757 00:50:11,527 --> 00:50:13,597 Slow, quick, quick. 758 00:50:13,647 --> 00:50:14,796 Easy, eh? 759 00:50:14,847 --> 00:50:16,838 - lsh. - (Laughter) 760 00:50:18,007 --> 00:50:20,840 - Why don't you try it together? - ls that it? 761 00:50:20,887 --> 00:50:22,878 Ready? Here we go. 762 00:50:23,607 --> 00:50:26,599 Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. 763 00:50:27,167 --> 00:50:29,601 Slow, quick, quick. Very good! 764 00:50:29,647 --> 00:50:31,638 Up untiI the 1 950s, 765 00:50:31,687 --> 00:50:33,882 the foxtrot was the most popuIar dance. 766 00:50:33,927 --> 00:50:37,397 And earIy rock 'n roII records were categorised as foxtrots. 767 00:50:38,647 --> 00:50:40,638 Slow, quick, quick. 768 00:50:41,207 --> 00:50:43,277 Would absolutely everybody be able to do this? 769 00:50:43,327 --> 00:50:47,843 Everybody would have known this dance. lt was a really, really social thing to do. 770 00:50:47,887 --> 00:50:51,163 lt's quite chatty, though. You can actually chat while you're dancing. 771 00:50:51,207 --> 00:50:52,879 You're not leading. 772 00:50:52,927 --> 00:50:55,805 Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. 773 00:50:55,847 --> 00:50:58,315 - You're turning the wrong way now. - Oh, no! 774 00:50:58,367 --> 00:51:00,358 Disaster has struck! 775 00:51:01,847 --> 00:51:03,439 (moos) 776 00:51:07,807 --> 00:51:11,402 The team are ceIebrating Christmas Day 1 940s styIe, 777 00:51:12,087 --> 00:51:16,205 by inviting evacuees and neighbours to their austerity Christmas meaI. 778 00:51:17,287 --> 00:51:20,518 A certain someone seems to have worked his way over here. 779 00:51:20,567 --> 00:51:22,558 Hello, tella. 780 00:51:22,607 --> 00:51:24,598 RUTH: Henry! 781 00:51:25,487 --> 00:51:29,526 It's a chance to sampIe the deIights of wartime mock deIicacies. 782 00:51:30,247 --> 00:51:32,807 - lt smells really good, doesn't it? - Very nice, yes. 783 00:51:32,847 --> 00:51:34,838 What is it, goose? 784 00:51:35,927 --> 00:51:37,406 You should be so lucky! 785 00:51:37,447 --> 00:51:40,405 - lt's known as murkey. - Why's it called murkey? 786 00:51:40,447 --> 00:51:41,766 mock turkey. 787 00:51:41,807 --> 00:51:43,638 Right. 788 00:51:43,687 --> 00:51:45,518 Quite mungry. 789 00:51:45,567 --> 00:51:50,243 l must say, this actually looks more appetising than a-dry-as-old-boots turkey. 790 00:51:50,287 --> 00:51:52,278 ..liberate some carrots, don't we? 791 00:51:53,887 --> 00:51:55,957 Anybody interested in a parsnip leg? 792 00:51:56,007 --> 00:51:57,998 You'll have halt a leg? 793 00:51:59,327 --> 00:52:02,000 What do you all think ot the murkey? ls it edible? 794 00:52:02,047 --> 00:52:04,845 Very good, Ruth. You've done a marvellous job. 795 00:52:04,887 --> 00:52:06,718 Nice and juicy. 796 00:52:06,767 --> 00:52:09,759 Stuffing is the tavourite part ot my Christmas dinner. 797 00:52:09,807 --> 00:52:12,116 So that is my tavourite Christmas dinner. 798 00:52:12,167 --> 00:52:14,158 (Ruth laughs) 799 00:52:16,367 --> 00:52:17,959 Here we go, Henry. 800 00:52:18,007 --> 00:52:19,486 Have some murkey. 801 00:52:20,567 --> 00:52:22,523 Henry loves the murkey. 802 00:52:22,567 --> 00:52:24,558 - He does. - Good. 803 00:52:29,607 --> 00:52:32,440 l think that brings us round to present time, doesn't it? 804 00:52:32,487 --> 00:52:34,557 That's tor gobbling down your mince pie. 805 00:52:34,607 --> 00:52:35,960 Happy Christmas, Finn. 806 00:52:36,007 --> 00:52:37,565 Brian as well. 807 00:52:39,967 --> 00:52:41,878 ..Vickers-Armstrongs, yeah. 808 00:52:42,767 --> 00:52:44,723 - An aeroplane. - (Gasps) 809 00:52:44,767 --> 00:52:46,997 - ls it a Spittire? - lt's meant to be. 810 00:52:47,047 --> 00:52:49,038 lt is a Spittire. 811 00:52:51,127 --> 00:52:52,640 (Ruth laughs) 812 00:52:52,687 --> 00:52:54,245 lt's a tractor! 813 00:52:56,407 --> 00:52:59,160 - There's a special present tor you, Ruth. - my goodness! 814 00:52:59,207 --> 00:53:03,405 Magazines often incIuded instructions for home-made gifts. 815 00:53:04,447 --> 00:53:06,438 Oh, a hat! 816 00:53:07,727 --> 00:53:09,718 Oh, gosh, that's tantastic! 817 00:53:10,327 --> 00:53:12,522 A little tilt hat tor you, Ruth. 818 00:53:12,567 --> 00:53:15,684 - On the tront, like that? - On the side. That's it. 819 00:53:15,727 --> 00:53:18,321 made trom a man's trilby hat, make do and mend. 820 00:53:18,367 --> 00:53:20,756 - Really, cut down? - lt is, yeah. 821 00:53:20,807 --> 00:53:23,719 - l'm really impressed, thank you. - made by my own tair hand. 822 00:53:23,767 --> 00:53:27,840 Consumer goods became scarce as factories were turned over to war work, 823 00:53:27,887 --> 00:53:30,685 so presents tended to be practicaI items. 824 00:53:30,727 --> 00:53:32,718 Right, now next up, Ruth... 825 00:53:33,367 --> 00:53:35,358 no prizes tor guessing what this is. 826 00:53:35,407 --> 00:53:36,965 (Laughter) 827 00:53:37,007 --> 00:53:38,998 Unwrap it, see what it is! 828 00:53:39,047 --> 00:53:41,561 Oh, l can't imagine what this is! 829 00:53:43,487 --> 00:53:45,478 ''To Alex.'' Thank you all. 830 00:53:46,407 --> 00:53:48,398 maybe l've got an aeroplane as well. 831 00:53:51,407 --> 00:53:53,125 lt's very tragrant. 832 00:53:54,207 --> 00:53:56,198 - Soap? - (Laughter) 833 00:53:56,247 --> 00:53:58,556 Are you trying to tell me something, guys? 834 00:53:58,607 --> 00:54:03,522 In 1 940, soap was, in fact, the most popuIar of aII Christmas presents. 835 00:54:05,687 --> 00:54:07,678 mm, that tamiliar smell. 836 00:54:10,527 --> 00:54:12,324 Happy Christmas to everybody. 837 00:54:12,367 --> 00:54:14,722 Let's hope we're all here tor the next one. 838 00:54:14,767 --> 00:54:15,961 Well said. 839 00:54:16,007 --> 00:54:17,998 Happy Christmas. 840 00:54:18,047 --> 00:54:21,164 After Iunch, everyone heads to the viIIage dance haII. 841 00:54:25,087 --> 00:54:27,078 Tea For Two 842 00:54:34,767 --> 00:54:39,363 It was a chance, just for a few hours, to forget the horrors of war. 843 00:54:54,527 --> 00:54:56,597 (Song ends, applause) 844 00:55:10,447 --> 00:55:13,519 RUTH: lt's wonderful, isn't it? l mean, you know... 845 00:55:13,567 --> 00:55:18,687 all that pressure, bombers overhead, people being blitzed out ot their homes... 846 00:55:18,727 --> 00:55:20,797 you know, the war really coming home. 847 00:55:20,847 --> 00:55:24,635 And then suddenly...you can just torget it all. 848 00:55:26,047 --> 00:55:27,639 PETER: That's the thing. 849 00:55:27,687 --> 00:55:32,078 There's no way l can imagine the stress that everyone was under during the war. 850 00:55:32,127 --> 00:55:35,039 But l can see how this would have been such a release. 851 00:55:35,087 --> 00:55:37,043 Yes, you can, can't you? 852 00:55:37,087 --> 00:55:39,806 People are losing their loved ones by this point. 853 00:55:39,847 --> 00:55:42,236 People are being bombed out ot their homes. 854 00:55:42,287 --> 00:55:46,565 The whole hardness ot war is really starting to bite home. 855 00:55:48,367 --> 00:55:52,838 And here we have the community just letting their hair down. 856 00:55:52,887 --> 00:55:55,879 Forget it all. Just put it all to the back ot your mind. 857 00:55:55,927 --> 00:55:59,715 Have what tun while you can. While you can, make the most ot it. 858 00:56:07,407 --> 00:56:09,398 Ladies and gentlemen, the King. 859 00:56:09,447 --> 00:56:11,438 ALL: The King. 860 00:56:14,727 --> 00:56:16,365 And to absent triends. 861 00:56:16,407 --> 00:56:18,159 ALL: Absent triends. 862 00:56:20,527 --> 00:56:24,998 God save our gracious King 863 00:56:25,407 --> 00:56:30,083 Long live our noble King 864 00:56:30,767 --> 00:56:34,885 God save the King 865 00:56:36,087 --> 00:56:40,558 Send him victorious 866 00:56:41,207 --> 00:56:45,485 Happy and glorious 867 00:56:46,087 --> 00:56:50,956 Long to reign over us 868 00:56:51,487 --> 00:56:57,596 God save the King 869 00:56:57,647 --> 00:56:59,638 Hear! hear! 870 00:56:59,687 --> 00:57:01,678 ALL: Hear! hear! 871 00:57:09,287 --> 00:57:11,596 Despite the brief respite for Christmas, 872 00:57:11,647 --> 00:57:14,719 Britain wouId have to fight on for another five years. 873 00:57:17,647 --> 00:57:20,957 The pressure on the wartime farmer wouId get even greater, 874 00:57:21,007 --> 00:57:25,683 as they battIed to defend, sheIter and feed the nation.