1 00:00:04,087 --> 00:00:05,839 The great British countryside. 2 00:00:07,047 --> 00:00:10,483 The setting for one of the most pivotaI battIes of the Second WorId War. 3 00:00:11,607 --> 00:00:14,565 ChurchiII caIIed it the ''frontIine of freedom''. 4 00:00:17,967 --> 00:00:20,800 It was a battIe fought by the farmers of Britain. 5 00:00:23,047 --> 00:00:27,165 When war broke out, two thirds of aII Britain's food was imported. 6 00:00:28,047 --> 00:00:31,039 Now it feII under threat from a Nazi bIockade. 7 00:00:34,087 --> 00:00:38,285 The Government turned to farmers to doubIe home-grown food production. 8 00:00:38,887 --> 00:00:40,843 The plough had become a weapon ot war. 9 00:00:40,887 --> 00:00:43,276 lt was the tarmer's principal weapon ot war. 10 00:00:43,647 --> 00:00:46,798 If they faiIed, Britain couId be starved into surrender. 11 00:00:52,207 --> 00:00:56,758 Now, archaeoIogists AIex LangIands and Peter Ginn 12 00:00:56,807 --> 00:00:58,320 and historian Ruth Goodman 13 00:00:59,167 --> 00:01:01,362 are running Manor Farm in Hampshire 14 00:01:01,407 --> 00:01:03,637 as it wouId have been during the Second WorId War. 15 00:01:08,527 --> 00:01:09,642 Yes! 16 00:01:10,527 --> 00:01:17,239 By 1 944, the tide of war was about to turn in favour of the AIIies...on D-day. 17 00:01:22,287 --> 00:01:24,960 Farmers wouId be cruciaI to its success, 18 00:01:25,287 --> 00:01:31,203 growing thousands of acres of fIax to make parachutes, ropes, tents and aircraft, 19 00:01:31,247 --> 00:01:33,238 criticaI to the D-day Iandings, 20 00:01:35,527 --> 00:01:38,837 accommodating prisoners of war to bring in the harvest... 21 00:01:39,687 --> 00:01:45,000 ..and pressing their racing pigeons into service to work as top-secret miIitary messengers. 22 00:01:46,687 --> 00:01:50,839 Who would have thought the pigeon would have played such a crucial role at D-Day? 23 00:01:50,887 --> 00:01:55,165 This is the untoId story of the countryside at war. 24 00:01:58,367 --> 00:02:00,358 (Air-raid siren) 25 00:02:09,607 --> 00:02:13,566 By 1 944, Britain had been at war for five Iong years. 26 00:02:17,367 --> 00:02:19,358 The AIIies now had the upper hand, 27 00:02:19,927 --> 00:02:21,918 controIIing the skies of Europe 28 00:02:22,487 --> 00:02:24,478 and shipping in the AtIantic, 29 00:02:24,847 --> 00:02:28,920 so imports from the United States couId again fIow into Britain. 30 00:02:30,127 --> 00:02:34,439 But instead of shipping food, they were charged with importing miIitary hardware. 31 00:02:36,007 --> 00:02:41,001 So for the farmers of Britain, their drive to doubIe home-grown crop production went on. 32 00:02:42,007 --> 00:02:47,206 MeanwhiIe, the AIIies were assembIing the Iargest navaI task force in history. 33 00:02:48,007 --> 00:02:55,243 The aim.' to Iand 1 60,000 troops on the beaches of Normandy, to Iiberate France from the Nazis. 34 00:02:58,207 --> 00:03:01,438 This was the preIude to a fuII-scaIe invasion. 35 00:03:02,007 --> 00:03:07,525 Three and a haIf miIIion troops, 7,000 boats and 54,000 vehicIes 36 00:03:07,567 --> 00:03:10,081 Iay in wait in the southern counties of EngIand. 37 00:03:11,127 --> 00:03:14,199 - Are they ours, Peter? - They're Yanks, they are. 38 00:03:14,247 --> 00:03:16,238 - Yanks? - Yeah. They're American. 39 00:03:16,847 --> 00:03:20,237 The miIitary took over 1 1 miIIion acres of Iand, 40 00:03:20,367 --> 00:03:25,236 a fifth of Britain, for camps, bases, munitions dumps and training grounds. 41 00:03:26,127 --> 00:03:28,482 Much of this was vaIuabIe farmIand. 42 00:03:29,167 --> 00:03:33,399 Farmers like ourselves would be watching, you know, convoys like this 43 00:03:33,447 --> 00:03:35,438 and thinking, ''Look, guys, be caretul. 44 00:03:35,487 --> 00:03:40,083 This is... We've got hay there, we've got wheat here, about to drive into the tlax tield.'' 45 00:03:40,127 --> 00:03:43,836 PETER: The amount ot land that must have been requisitioned trom tarmers to house them. 46 00:03:43,887 --> 00:03:48,915 The thing is, they've got to do their manoeuvres, so they've got to do this somewhere, Peter. 47 00:03:48,967 --> 00:03:52,084 Oh, yeah, yeah, and they are all in single tile, 48 00:03:52,127 --> 00:03:56,040 so any damage to the crop is going to be absolutely minimum. 49 00:03:56,087 --> 00:03:59,875 But damage none-the-less is a bugbear tor people like us 50 00:03:59,927 --> 00:04:04,125 who have spent the whole war doing everything they can to grow these crops. 51 00:04:12,607 --> 00:04:15,599 Key to the success of D-day was fIax, 52 00:04:15,647 --> 00:04:19,526 from which fibres used to make Iinen and canvas were extracted. 53 00:04:20,567 --> 00:04:25,197 Before the war, this had been imported from countries Iike Russia and Eastern Europe, 54 00:04:25,567 --> 00:04:29,526 but with suppIies cut off, it feII to the wartime farmer to meet demand. 55 00:04:31,287 --> 00:04:38,557 Parachute webbing, fighter aircraft fuseIages, tents, ropes and hoses required vast quantities, 56 00:04:38,967 --> 00:04:41,925 so the Government instructed farmers to boost production. 57 00:04:43,087 --> 00:04:44,884 It was so important to the miIitary 58 00:04:44,927 --> 00:04:46,485 that over the course of the war 59 00:04:46,527 --> 00:04:50,884 production was increased from 1,000 to 60,000 acres. 60 00:04:52,327 --> 00:04:56,240 Four months ago, the team pIanted a crop of fIax on Manor Farm. 61 00:04:56,967 --> 00:05:00,596 It shouId soon be ready to harvest, but it's not Iooking good. 62 00:05:02,287 --> 00:05:05,597 So we want, we want the plants to be, what, about a metre high? 63 00:05:05,647 --> 00:05:07,638 l think at least waist height. 64 00:05:07,687 --> 00:05:11,236 The problem is, just, you know, we have had this year, 65 00:05:11,287 --> 00:05:12,925 and this didn't happen in the war... 66 00:05:12,967 --> 00:05:17,882 ln the war actually we were gifted with actually really quite good summers, 67 00:05:17,927 --> 00:05:19,918 proving that God was on our side. 68 00:05:20,567 --> 00:05:23,127 But untortunately God isn't on our side in the present 69 00:05:23,167 --> 00:05:28,685 because we have had more rain in this last month than since records began. 70 00:05:29,087 --> 00:05:30,156 Yeah. 71 00:05:30,207 --> 00:05:31,560 Six inches in a month. 72 00:05:31,607 --> 00:05:35,156 And it's not a case that the tlax is doing bad and everything else is doing well 73 00:05:35,207 --> 00:05:40,156 because not even the weeds are coping with the water-logging here. 74 00:05:42,207 --> 00:05:46,485 Well, it is heavy clay soils, and this is the worst soil tor tlax. 75 00:05:46,607 --> 00:05:48,882 - Yes. - And l suppose the War Ag at the time 76 00:05:48,927 --> 00:05:54,160 were torcing tarmers to go against their intuition and grow crops on land that they knew... 77 00:05:54,207 --> 00:05:56,482 - Yeah. - ..wasn't suitable tor that crop. 78 00:05:56,527 --> 00:05:58,802 And everything's conspired against us. 79 00:06:04,327 --> 00:06:09,117 To stand any chance of survivaI, the fIax needs a speII of dry, warm weather. 80 00:06:11,687 --> 00:06:14,565 Another threat to the fIax crop are woodpigeons, 81 00:06:14,607 --> 00:06:17,519 who eat the seeds before they've even had a chance to grow. 82 00:06:19,247 --> 00:06:22,557 The team hopes their bird-scarer wiII keep them at bay. 83 00:06:24,927 --> 00:06:28,715 But there was another type of pigeon, the carrier pigeon. 84 00:06:28,767 --> 00:06:31,645 Often raced by wartime farmers as a hobby, 85 00:06:31,687 --> 00:06:36,238 they possessed a unique skiII of aIways returning to their home Ioft when reIeased. 86 00:06:37,167 --> 00:06:41,763 Before D-day, radio bIackouts were imposed to keep invasion pIans secret. 87 00:06:42,727 --> 00:06:46,481 So carrier pigeons were used to carry messages from the front Iine. 88 00:06:48,767 --> 00:06:50,758 - Oh, Chris, hello. - Hello, Ruth. 89 00:06:50,887 --> 00:06:54,675 Historian Dr Chris WiIIiams is showing Ruth how the system worked. 90 00:06:56,847 --> 00:06:59,645 l've brought you two pigeon containers. 91 00:06:59,687 --> 00:07:03,805 Every bomber that goes over Germany, or every coastal command aircraft, 92 00:07:03,847 --> 00:07:06,361 has got two pigeons in it to give a distress signal, 93 00:07:06,407 --> 00:07:10,161 particularly it it has to land in the sea, they've not got the radio, 94 00:07:10,207 --> 00:07:11,435 they're in the dinghy, 95 00:07:11,487 --> 00:07:15,162 they let the pigeon off, the pigeon tlies back to its own home loft 96 00:07:15,687 --> 00:07:19,202 and that can be the difference between lite and death tor a bomber crew. 97 00:07:19,247 --> 00:07:22,603 When the radio doesn't work, you use an animal instead. 98 00:07:23,327 --> 00:07:26,478 The miIitary had no time to train up enough birds, 99 00:07:26,527 --> 00:07:29,041 so civiIian racing pigeons were often used. 100 00:07:29,687 --> 00:07:34,761 Many were parachuted behind enemy Iines in France, picked up by the Resistance, 101 00:07:34,807 --> 00:07:38,482 and then given messages with inteIIigence to courier back home. 102 00:07:39,207 --> 00:07:40,799 - The box... - Cardboard thing. 103 00:07:40,847 --> 00:07:44,123 - ..would be dropped on this parachute... - Good griet. 104 00:07:44,167 --> 00:07:47,477 Quite a small parachute but pigeons land well and they are quite light, 105 00:07:47,527 --> 00:07:48,846 over enemy-held territory. 106 00:07:48,887 --> 00:07:53,438 This was done about 1 6,000 times between 1 941 and 1 944. 107 00:07:53,487 --> 00:07:58,163 That's, that's quite amazing, isn't it, in a war that has radar, radio... 108 00:07:58,207 --> 00:07:59,401 Yeah, yeah. 109 00:07:59,447 --> 00:08:02,803 Sort ot modern communications, to all intents and purposes. 110 00:08:02,847 --> 00:08:04,439 ..they're using carrier pigeons. 111 00:08:04,487 --> 00:08:08,321 This is one ot the interesting things about this war, the different sorts ot technology. 112 00:08:08,367 --> 00:08:10,722 You've got the Allies who invented the atom bomb 113 00:08:10,767 --> 00:08:14,282 and they're using hundreds ot thousands ot pigeons as well. 114 00:08:14,327 --> 00:08:16,966 l heard and l'm not trankly quite sure where 115 00:08:17,007 --> 00:08:19,726 that this medal that's given to animals tor bravery 116 00:08:19,767 --> 00:08:22,645 has been won more times by pigeons than any other species. 117 00:08:22,687 --> 00:08:23,836 That's right. 118 00:08:23,887 --> 00:08:27,482 During the Second World War, pigeons got about 30 ot them, 119 00:08:27,527 --> 00:08:30,280 horses about three, dogs about 1 8, 120 00:08:30,327 --> 00:08:32,045 but pigeons were way ahead with this. 121 00:08:32,087 --> 00:08:33,884 We've actually got one here. 122 00:08:33,927 --> 00:08:39,285 This is the Dickin medal, which was awarded to a bird called mercury 123 00:08:39,327 --> 00:08:42,876 ot the Army Pigeon Service Special Section. 124 00:08:42,927 --> 00:08:46,203 mercury was a spy pigeon. 125 00:08:46,487 --> 00:08:50,366 Now, it your pigeons work well tor the RAF in the routine way, 126 00:08:50,407 --> 00:08:54,446 or it they can home across sea well, they might get picked up tor special service. 127 00:08:55,487 --> 00:09:01,801 Mercury carried a vitaI message 480 miIes from the Danish Resistance to Britain, 128 00:09:01,847 --> 00:09:05,476 making her the most ceIebrated of aII wartime carrier pigeons. 129 00:09:06,087 --> 00:09:08,920 But aIthough this homing instinct came naturaIIy, 130 00:09:08,967 --> 00:09:13,483 carrier pigeons had to buiId up their stamina to fIy such Iong distances 131 00:09:13,527 --> 00:09:16,200 and farmers wouId have trained their own birds. 132 00:09:17,247 --> 00:09:21,684 What we've also got here is a diary ot a pigeon trainer 133 00:09:21,727 --> 00:09:25,083 and what he's got is records ot how he's sending his birds away. 134 00:09:25,127 --> 00:09:27,721 You know, Saturday 1 2th December, 135 00:09:27,767 --> 00:09:29,405 ''Two more young birds, 136 00:09:29,447 --> 00:09:32,883 all tlying well except Bluecock with bad toot.'' 137 00:09:32,927 --> 00:09:37,045 You know, he's recording every day how his loft is working, 138 00:09:37,087 --> 00:09:40,841 how he's managing to train them to know where they are and to come back to his loft. 139 00:09:41,127 --> 00:09:43,277 lt you are going to be training pigeons, 140 00:09:43,327 --> 00:09:47,479 you'll need a basket in which you can take them out and start releasing them to train them 141 00:09:47,527 --> 00:09:51,281 and so this is your basket you'll be needing to have sooner or later... 142 00:09:51,327 --> 00:09:53,761 - Oh, right. - Could be a bit ot a task tor you. Wicker. 143 00:09:53,807 --> 00:09:56,401 Oh, that looks a bit more challenging, doesn't it? 144 00:10:00,447 --> 00:10:04,918 This summer is turning out to be one of the rainiest on record, 145 00:10:04,967 --> 00:10:09,882 so AIex is making preparations for what Iooks Iike being a damp fIax harvest. 146 00:10:10,287 --> 00:10:12,278 This is my old raincoat. 147 00:10:13,327 --> 00:10:15,158 lt's seen better days to be honest. 148 00:10:15,207 --> 00:10:17,357 lt's developing a tew holes here and there. 149 00:10:17,407 --> 00:10:20,956 But one ot the major problems is it's just no longer waterproot. 150 00:10:21,007 --> 00:10:23,726 And what's happening is the rain, once it gets in, 151 00:10:23,767 --> 00:10:27,806 gets across the shoulders and you get all crampy and rheumatic. 152 00:10:27,847 --> 00:10:31,317 So it is in desperate need ot a waterprooting. 153 00:10:31,927 --> 00:10:36,318 He's making a traditionaI waterproofing soIution with ingredients found on the farm. 154 00:10:37,767 --> 00:10:40,042 And this is our beeswax trom June. 155 00:10:40,087 --> 00:10:45,844 We extracted the honey trom this, and the wax has been kept in this little muslin sheet. 156 00:10:45,887 --> 00:10:48,276 So that's going to be the tirst ingredient. 157 00:10:48,407 --> 00:10:51,797 Still a bit sticky, so we'll get that in there. 158 00:10:53,407 --> 00:10:57,719 Next, AIex is adding Iinseed oiI, produced from fIax seed. 159 00:10:58,167 --> 00:11:01,876 It's highIy fIammabIe, so he's taking great care when warming it. 160 00:11:02,607 --> 00:11:07,920 lt's got perfect waterprooting properties, this stuff, so that's going to go in with the wax. 161 00:11:11,407 --> 00:11:14,285 This is the most dangerous part ot the enterprise. 162 00:11:14,527 --> 00:11:19,237 This is where we add the paraffin. 163 00:11:20,527 --> 00:11:25,078 The thing with the paraffin is it just really thins the mixture, 164 00:11:27,007 --> 00:11:29,077 and ideally what l'll do is hang this up to dry 165 00:11:29,127 --> 00:11:31,687 and the paraffin will actually sort ot evaporate off. 166 00:11:31,727 --> 00:11:37,120 Now, it will leave a bit ot a smell tor a while, but l'm not too bothered about that. 167 00:11:39,767 --> 00:11:42,565 Right, we've got the perfect consistency now. 168 00:11:43,847 --> 00:11:45,963 So we're all ready to go. The only problem is, 169 00:11:46,007 --> 00:11:51,127 it's incredibly hard trying to paint onto one ot these jackets just on a table. 170 00:11:51,167 --> 00:11:53,158 But l've got a bit ot an idea. 171 00:11:53,207 --> 00:11:54,720 Peter? 172 00:11:54,767 --> 00:11:56,120 - Are you all right? - Yeah. 173 00:11:56,167 --> 00:11:57,839 Can you just give me a hand a second? 174 00:11:57,887 --> 00:11:59,878 Yeah, sure. 175 00:12:04,367 --> 00:12:06,358 We'll prepare that later. 176 00:12:07,247 --> 00:12:11,001 Can you just turn around a second? Honestly, just run with me on this. 177 00:12:11,047 --> 00:12:13,686 Just going to try this on tor size, Peter. 178 00:12:13,727 --> 00:12:15,718 Just try this on. 179 00:12:16,487 --> 00:12:22,596 So it you don't mind, l'm now going to paint on some boiling hot wax and oil. 180 00:12:23,487 --> 00:12:25,478 - How does that sound? - (Laughs) 181 00:12:33,127 --> 00:12:34,924 lt teels OK. l can't teel the temperature 182 00:12:34,967 --> 00:12:38,880 but l can just teel your gentle brushstrokes massaging my shoulders. 183 00:12:45,167 --> 00:12:47,397 Da-dah, perfect. 184 00:12:49,407 --> 00:12:53,241 WhiIe they wait for a break in the weather, Ruth's making a pigeon basket. 185 00:12:54,327 --> 00:13:00,243 200,000 carrier pigeons were used by the miIitary, so the demand for baskets was huge. 186 00:13:01,047 --> 00:13:06,804 Like many traditionaI crafts, basket-making saw a massive resurgence in the war. 187 00:13:07,647 --> 00:13:11,117 lt's amazing the variety ot baskets that were being made during the war. 188 00:13:11,407 --> 00:13:14,160 And so many ot them with a military purpose. 189 00:13:15,007 --> 00:13:18,079 There were agricultural baskets, potato harvesting baskets, 190 00:13:18,127 --> 00:13:22,359 there were domestic baskets tor carrying shopping and people still needed that stuff. 191 00:13:22,407 --> 00:13:28,039 But then there was a huge range ot hampers tor parachutes and baskets tor pigeons. 192 00:13:29,207 --> 00:13:31,767 So there seems to have been an enormous demand 193 00:13:31,807 --> 00:13:34,924 and a growing demand tor pigeon baskets during the war. 194 00:13:34,967 --> 00:13:38,482 With all the carrier pigeons being needed to take secret messages here and there, 195 00:13:38,527 --> 00:13:41,325 How do you move the pigeons? You've got to move them somehow. 196 00:13:44,887 --> 00:13:47,037 Ruth's made the base of the basket. 197 00:13:47,087 --> 00:13:49,078 Now she needs to form the sides. 198 00:13:50,807 --> 00:13:52,798 Oh, gawd, this is where it gets hard. 199 00:13:54,087 --> 00:13:56,078 Oh, right. 200 00:13:56,887 --> 00:13:59,162 Somehow these have all got to go upright. 201 00:14:02,407 --> 00:14:04,477 lt's amazing too, how the strength comes to it. 202 00:14:04,527 --> 00:14:07,644 l mean, these are really tlimsy-looking little bits ot stuff 203 00:14:07,687 --> 00:14:12,636 and yet the whole ot that is made ot just intertwining and it's as rigid as heck. 204 00:14:16,327 --> 00:14:19,160 l'm really enjoying this, l really am. 205 00:14:20,367 --> 00:14:25,282 lt's probably the sort ot basket that would make a protessional willow worker wince. 206 00:14:26,127 --> 00:14:32,362 So many ot these crafts, yes, it takes a litetime to be really good at them, 207 00:14:32,407 --> 00:14:37,117 but making some sort ot rough stab, you know, it's just a matter ot having a go. 208 00:14:40,767 --> 00:14:44,999 The revivaI in basket-making meant new apprenticeships were estabIished. 209 00:14:45,647 --> 00:14:47,922 The craft became a reserved occupation, 210 00:14:47,967 --> 00:14:51,357 meaning basket-makers were exempt from miIitary service. 211 00:14:51,927 --> 00:14:57,047 Even the Women's Institute got in on the act, running cIasses in the art of basketry. 212 00:14:58,967 --> 00:15:01,765 lt actually looks like a basket, doesn't it? 213 00:15:01,807 --> 00:15:05,641 l know it's a bit wobbly. l know, l know. 214 00:15:05,687 --> 00:15:11,956 lt's not exactly the most geometrical ot baskets but... (Satistied sigh) 215 00:15:17,127 --> 00:15:19,641 AIex and Peter are monitoring the fIax, 216 00:15:20,207 --> 00:15:24,359 but the constant rain is destroying it by washing nitrogen, 217 00:15:24,407 --> 00:15:27,444 which is essentiaI for pIant growth, out of the soiI. 218 00:15:34,887 --> 00:15:37,196 The War AgricuIturaI Executive Committee, 219 00:15:37,247 --> 00:15:38,566 known as the War Ag, 220 00:15:38,607 --> 00:15:41,405 issued advice on using chemicaI fertiIisers. 221 00:15:44,807 --> 00:15:46,763 This is ammonium nitrate. 222 00:15:46,807 --> 00:15:49,241 lt's a chemical tertiliser. 223 00:15:49,287 --> 00:15:50,686 OK. 224 00:15:50,727 --> 00:15:53,605 l mean, obviously these are chemicals that occur naturally, 225 00:15:53,647 --> 00:15:56,081 but certainly by the Second World War 226 00:15:56,127 --> 00:15:59,802 they're being used in their chemical torm to tertilise crops. 227 00:16:00,607 --> 00:16:02,404 - Right, so that one's loaded. - Yep. 228 00:16:02,447 --> 00:16:04,802 - All right pushing this one, Peter? - l think so. 229 00:16:05,487 --> 00:16:09,560 Using a tractor in this waterIogged fieId wouId ruin the crop, 230 00:16:09,607 --> 00:16:12,485 so the boys are using a hand-operated seed barrow. 231 00:16:12,807 --> 00:16:17,437 Rotating brushes scatter the fertiIiser through adjustabIe hoIes in the sides. 232 00:16:18,287 --> 00:16:20,278 A bit like walking on a high wire. 233 00:16:21,327 --> 00:16:22,885 ls that heavy? 234 00:16:22,927 --> 00:16:24,485 lt's not light. 235 00:16:24,527 --> 00:16:26,518 Well, it's all right. 236 00:16:33,687 --> 00:16:38,397 The thing is, chemical tertilisers weren't new in the Second World War. 237 00:16:39,567 --> 00:16:43,879 They'd already actually been around long enough to generate a sort ot reactionary group, 238 00:16:43,927 --> 00:16:47,317 people who believed tirmly in organic tertilisers. 239 00:16:47,847 --> 00:16:51,965 And that using organic products was good tor the health ot the land. 240 00:16:52,007 --> 00:16:56,956 But ot course in a wartime situation you couldn't afford to take those views 241 00:16:57,007 --> 00:17:01,683 and in tact in taking those views you were actually seen as being unpatriotic. 242 00:17:03,127 --> 00:17:07,405 AIthough chemicaI fertiIisers had been around since Victorian times, 243 00:17:07,447 --> 00:17:11,076 during the war pressure from the War Ag saw their use tripIe. 244 00:17:13,007 --> 00:17:16,124 Someone like me who doesn't really want to use this kind ot stuff 245 00:17:16,167 --> 00:17:19,603 would be in a situation where the War Ag's saying, ''You've got to get out there, 246 00:17:19,647 --> 00:17:22,002 you've got to use chemicals. 247 00:17:22,047 --> 00:17:25,164 lt's the only way we are going to win this war to produce tood.'' 248 00:17:28,527 --> 00:17:34,318 They stiII need a speII of dry, warm weather to encourage growth and to dry out the fieId. 249 00:17:35,847 --> 00:17:38,759 But instead, their bad Iuck continues. 250 00:17:39,407 --> 00:17:41,398 And now the rains are coming. 251 00:17:42,247 --> 00:17:43,282 Wonderful. 252 00:17:43,327 --> 00:17:45,795 This couId prove catastrophic for the fIax. 253 00:17:51,967 --> 00:17:55,243 Ruth has spent the Iast week Iearning the art of basketry. 254 00:17:56,127 --> 00:18:00,996 The carrier pigeon basket is finished, ready for Peter and AIex to begin training. 255 00:18:02,687 --> 00:18:04,678 Here we go, Ruth. 256 00:18:04,887 --> 00:18:06,479 Look, look, look. Look, look, look! 257 00:18:06,527 --> 00:18:09,883 - lt does actually look like a basket, doesn't it? - So what is this? Willow? 258 00:18:09,927 --> 00:18:11,406 lt's willow. lt's willow. 259 00:18:11,447 --> 00:18:13,278 - So what do you reckon? - Perfect. 260 00:18:14,247 --> 00:18:17,239 - lt's not perfect, l'll be honest. - For a tirst attempt. 261 00:18:17,287 --> 00:18:19,084 l'm so pleased with it, though. 262 00:18:19,127 --> 00:18:20,401 - l know. - So you should be. 263 00:18:20,447 --> 00:18:22,961 So are you going to take it away and till it with pigeons? 264 00:18:23,007 --> 00:18:25,919 We're going to take it away and till it tull ot good pigeons. 265 00:18:25,967 --> 00:18:28,800 - Good pigeons. - Carrier pigeons. 266 00:18:28,847 --> 00:18:32,283 And then we're going to release them and you should get messages coming back. 267 00:18:32,327 --> 00:18:34,318 And you break my basket, you die. 268 00:18:39,727 --> 00:18:42,719 AIex and Peter don't have birds of their own, 269 00:18:42,767 --> 00:18:45,918 so they're caIIing on pigeon fancier Leonard Painter. 270 00:18:46,407 --> 00:18:48,125 Hats off. 271 00:18:48,167 --> 00:18:50,442 Leonard's raced carrier pigeons aII his Iife. 272 00:18:51,367 --> 00:18:55,201 Birds Iike his wouId have been drafted into miIitary service during the war. 273 00:18:57,447 --> 00:18:59,961 - mind your head! - mind your head, right. 274 00:19:00,007 --> 00:19:01,406 mind your head. 275 00:19:01,887 --> 00:19:05,243 - Started off small in 1 946. - Right. 276 00:19:05,287 --> 00:19:09,121 And it's gradually grown bigger. Rather than get rid ot pigeons, you add a bit on! 277 00:19:09,927 --> 00:19:16,275 most ot these older ones have tlown trom Pau in the South ot France, which is 540 miles. 278 00:19:16,327 --> 00:19:20,036 You see, that old tella there. He's 1 9. 279 00:19:20,527 --> 00:19:22,358 - He's 1 9 years old? - Yeah. 280 00:19:22,407 --> 00:19:26,161 But he tlew trom the South ot France six times. That's over 500 miles. 281 00:19:26,207 --> 00:19:27,117 Really? 282 00:19:27,167 --> 00:19:31,445 Could you pick us out a good-looking bird, the type ot bird we'd need today. 283 00:19:31,487 --> 00:19:33,921 - Got something tor us? - They're all good-looking. 284 00:19:33,967 --> 00:19:36,401 Ot course they're all... Ot course. 285 00:19:36,447 --> 00:19:38,517 That's what my mum used to tell me. 286 00:19:40,287 --> 00:19:43,563 The boys are going to train Leonard's young pigeons to ''home'' 287 00:19:43,607 --> 00:19:46,405 by taking them away from their Ioft and reIeasing them, 288 00:19:46,447 --> 00:19:49,484 at first a short distance and then increasing it over time. 289 00:19:50,487 --> 00:19:53,763 To transport the birds they're using Ruth's new basket. 290 00:19:54,647 --> 00:19:56,638 That's a disgrace! 291 00:19:57,607 --> 00:20:00,075 Look, it was her tirst attempt. 292 00:20:00,127 --> 00:20:02,277 - First attempt at basket-making. - Very good. 293 00:20:02,327 --> 00:20:04,318 Bold and admirable. 294 00:20:05,207 --> 00:20:06,356 - Oh. - That's a temale. 295 00:20:06,407 --> 00:20:07,806 - That's a temale. - Yeah. 296 00:20:07,847 --> 00:20:10,236 - She doesn't like being handled. - Right. 297 00:20:10,927 --> 00:20:13,316 You have to put the lid down quick or they'll be out. 298 00:20:14,247 --> 00:20:16,238 One up there, is there? Yeah. 299 00:20:16,287 --> 00:20:18,278 Come on. 300 00:20:20,407 --> 00:20:23,797 Any ot these, you take them 30 miles, he's back in 30 minutes. 301 00:20:25,967 --> 00:20:30,006 Leonard wasjust a boy when troops were gathering here for D-day, 302 00:20:30,047 --> 00:20:33,198 but he remembers IocaI homing pigeons being recruited 303 00:20:33,247 --> 00:20:35,841 to carry secret messages back from France. 304 00:20:38,527 --> 00:20:41,803 So were all pigeon-keepers during the war 305 00:20:41,847 --> 00:20:44,600 responsible tor producing birds tor the war effort? 306 00:20:44,647 --> 00:20:50,040 Not all ot them. lt you didn't join, you didn't get tood, that's all, so everybody in the club joined. 307 00:20:50,087 --> 00:20:50,917 Right. 308 00:20:50,967 --> 00:20:54,039 Because otherwise you didn't get an allocation ot teed. 309 00:20:54,087 --> 00:20:55,725 - OK. - Feed tor the birds? 310 00:20:55,767 --> 00:20:57,758 Birds. Oh, yeah! Not humans. 311 00:20:58,367 --> 00:21:02,918 Particularly around the period ot D-Day, l mean, this was such a crucial operation 312 00:21:02,967 --> 00:21:05,686 that everyone had to observe the sort ot radio silence. 313 00:21:05,727 --> 00:21:08,082 So these pigeons would have come into their own. 314 00:21:08,127 --> 00:21:09,685 That's right, yeah. Oh, yeah. 315 00:21:09,727 --> 00:21:12,036 We used to wait and see it we could see them come back 316 00:21:12,087 --> 00:21:15,966 and only once l see a pigeon come back, in 1 944, with two messages. 317 00:21:16,007 --> 00:21:18,157 lt came trom somewhere in France. 318 00:21:18,207 --> 00:21:21,483 The pigeons would tly back here. lt'd be your job to get that message... 319 00:21:21,527 --> 00:21:23,961 Take it to the local police station, which was... 320 00:21:24,007 --> 00:21:25,281 As soon as possible. 321 00:21:25,327 --> 00:21:27,238 Yeah, they had a brieting once a week. 322 00:21:28,647 --> 00:21:30,000 mind the head. 323 00:21:30,047 --> 00:21:31,924 Oops, sorry. 324 00:21:32,567 --> 00:21:35,081 Carrier pigeons were cruciaI to the war effort 325 00:21:35,127 --> 00:21:37,880 and the Government issued strict instructions 326 00:21:37,927 --> 00:21:39,599 for farmers not to shoot them. 327 00:21:42,127 --> 00:21:45,244 Woodpigeons, however, destroyed crops, 328 00:21:45,287 --> 00:21:49,075 so the RoyaI Observer Corps tracked fIocks down to be shot. 329 00:21:50,167 --> 00:21:53,557 With meat rationed, it was a weIcome addition to the menu. 330 00:21:56,447 --> 00:22:00,201 As pests, ot course, anyone could take pigeon just like they could rabbit, 331 00:22:00,247 --> 00:22:04,320 and theretore it you were in the countryside it was an extra source ot meat. 332 00:22:05,927 --> 00:22:09,806 Wartime, you suddenly tind 333 00:22:09,847 --> 00:22:13,840 that many people who had been sort ot rather sniffy about them betore 334 00:22:13,887 --> 00:22:16,447 were suddenly only too keen to eat rabbit and pigeon, 335 00:22:16,487 --> 00:22:19,797 and many people trom the towns who'd never ever had them betore 336 00:22:19,847 --> 00:22:21,917 in any way, shape or torm 337 00:22:21,967 --> 00:22:23,605 discovered the delights. 338 00:22:26,007 --> 00:22:27,804 You can see what a small bird they are. 339 00:22:27,847 --> 00:22:29,758 many people hardly bother with the rest. 340 00:22:29,807 --> 00:22:33,243 They just use the breasts, the two pieces here, 341 00:22:33,287 --> 00:22:35,039 and sort ot barely bother with the rest, 342 00:22:35,087 --> 00:22:38,716 but it makes such a good, rich, brothy stock. 343 00:22:39,607 --> 00:22:43,316 l'm going to make the most ot that. l'm going to use every last little bit ot him. 344 00:22:44,727 --> 00:22:49,482 So these are being boiled in broth, stock, whatever you want to call it, 345 00:22:50,607 --> 00:22:52,598 with no additional tat. 346 00:22:55,087 --> 00:22:56,281 ln they go. 347 00:23:04,407 --> 00:23:07,524 AIex and Peter are heading out into the EngIish ChanneI 348 00:23:08,087 --> 00:23:11,204 with skipper Nick Gates to train the carrier pigeons. 349 00:23:12,447 --> 00:23:15,917 ReIeasing them from a boat got them used to fIying over water, 350 00:23:16,487 --> 00:23:20,799 essentiaI for birds bringing back messages from the French Resistance before D-day. 351 00:23:21,927 --> 00:23:22,996 Good stuff! 352 00:23:23,047 --> 00:23:28,724 Like carrier pigeons and farmIand, the wartime Government aIso took controI of fishing boats, 353 00:23:29,127 --> 00:23:31,197 incIuding this one, the Ocean PearI. 354 00:23:32,407 --> 00:23:35,319 We're actually on a wartime boat, are we not? 355 00:23:35,367 --> 00:23:39,758 Well, that's right, she was built betore the war, built right back in 1 933 as a tishing boat. 356 00:23:39,807 --> 00:23:42,037 - Right. - But she was requisitioned by the Navy. 357 00:23:42,087 --> 00:23:48,481 This vehicle would be running things like tood supplies to and trom the bases? 358 00:23:48,527 --> 00:23:53,442 Yeah, l suppose maintenance stuff and tuel oil, that sort ot stuff. 359 00:23:53,487 --> 00:23:55,239 - Rum. - Rum, yes! 360 00:23:55,287 --> 00:23:56,356 Probably. 361 00:23:56,407 --> 00:24:00,878 Ot course, l mean, being tarmers, our land would have been encroached on by the military, 362 00:24:00,927 --> 00:24:05,205 but l suppose tishermen, you don't think the tact that their boats would have been taken, 363 00:24:05,247 --> 00:24:07,807 - so that's livelihoods going as well. - That's right. 364 00:24:07,847 --> 00:24:10,805 l think it was used by the Navy tor l think about tour years. 365 00:24:10,847 --> 00:24:12,200 lt's just amazing, isn't it, 366 00:24:12,247 --> 00:24:17,799 about how the ministry was getting its tentacles into every aspect ot British society and industry. 367 00:24:17,847 --> 00:24:20,077 Not only were tarmers being put under pressure 368 00:24:20,127 --> 00:24:22,641 but tishermen too having their boats requisitioned 369 00:24:22,687 --> 00:24:26,475 and even pigeon tanciers having their pigeons taken tor the war effort! 370 00:24:26,527 --> 00:24:30,042 You know, all with one thing in mind: to deteat the enemy. 371 00:24:41,287 --> 00:24:42,800 These are our carrier pigeons 372 00:24:42,847 --> 00:24:47,477 and they're currently in the basket that Ruth's made, and they're all set to go. 373 00:24:47,527 --> 00:24:51,600 We've got the messages, we just need to tie them onto their legs and then we'll release them. 374 00:24:51,647 --> 00:24:57,085 But we can't release them all together or the other birds will tollow the tirst bird released. 375 00:24:57,127 --> 00:25:00,005 They won't do any work. And the idea here is to train them, 376 00:25:00,047 --> 00:25:02,959 keep them exercised so they can tind their way home. 377 00:25:04,407 --> 00:25:06,523 GraduaIIy the distance is increased 378 00:25:06,567 --> 00:25:10,401 untiI they're capabIe of returning home from hundreds of miIes away. 379 00:25:11,647 --> 00:25:14,559 Right, message in greaseproot paper. 380 00:25:15,007 --> 00:25:16,998 - Right. - To keep it waterproot. 381 00:25:17,327 --> 00:25:19,318 Our tirst pigeon, Peter. 382 00:25:19,607 --> 00:25:23,395 Even today, no-one quite knows how they find their way back home. 383 00:25:23,767 --> 00:25:27,123 But scientists beIieve they may have an inbuiIt compass 384 00:25:27,167 --> 00:25:29,806 and use the Earth's magnetic fieId to navigate. 385 00:25:30,727 --> 00:25:32,718 Just let him go. We ready? 386 00:25:33,847 --> 00:25:35,838 Here we go. 387 00:25:38,607 --> 00:25:39,756 Look at that. 388 00:25:39,807 --> 00:25:41,798 He's tast, isn't he? 389 00:25:44,447 --> 00:25:46,438 Here we go. 390 00:25:48,887 --> 00:25:52,197 l hate to say it, Peter, but Southampton's that way. 391 00:25:52,247 --> 00:25:53,521 (Laughs) 392 00:25:53,567 --> 00:25:55,558 lt's going to Chichester! 393 00:26:04,447 --> 00:26:06,881 Ruth's cooked the woodpigeons for an hour and a haIf. 394 00:26:07,287 --> 00:26:10,359 Now they've cooIed, she's preparing a wartime saIad. 395 00:26:12,447 --> 00:26:17,441 l'm just going to take the breasts off tirst whole, just the tour ot those, 396 00:26:17,487 --> 00:26:20,604 as they'll look nice in the salad. 397 00:26:21,327 --> 00:26:25,206 One ot the great things about pigeon or rabbit is that they're tull ot tlavour. 398 00:26:25,247 --> 00:26:29,365 You get way more taste tor a small amount ot meat, really, 399 00:26:29,847 --> 00:26:32,236 and that really helped in wartime cooking. 400 00:26:32,727 --> 00:26:36,720 You think how much ot wartime tood is about potatoes and bread. 401 00:26:36,767 --> 00:26:40,999 You know, it's, it's sort ot bland, bland, bland, bland, stodge, stodge, stodge. 402 00:26:41,047 --> 00:26:45,165 And anything that brings a bit ot tlavour in is a huge reliet. 403 00:26:46,327 --> 00:26:49,319 And then l'm supposed to arrange the meat in the bowl. 404 00:26:50,607 --> 00:26:53,838 According to the recipe l'm supposed to make it look attractive. 405 00:26:54,807 --> 00:26:56,798 Not quite sure how l do that. 406 00:26:57,047 --> 00:27:01,325 During the war, the Government encouraged the nation to eat ''a saIad a day''. 407 00:27:01,607 --> 00:27:04,599 Raw vegetabIes were recognised as being good for heaIth, 408 00:27:04,647 --> 00:27:07,036 especiaIIy when Iiving on a rationed diet. 409 00:27:07,527 --> 00:27:11,122 Ruth's rather unusuaI saIad is set in geIatine. 410 00:27:11,767 --> 00:27:15,396 Seems a bit odd calling it a salad, really. lt's more ot a terrine, isn't it? 411 00:27:15,447 --> 00:27:20,237 But that was the wartime way. Almost anything that got served cold was called a salad. 412 00:27:20,847 --> 00:27:24,476 And then that can then just sit and set. 413 00:27:31,567 --> 00:27:33,523 Despite AIex's misgivings, 414 00:27:33,567 --> 00:27:37,446 within haIf an hour aII the carrier pigeons have returned to Leonard's Ioft, 415 00:27:37,487 --> 00:27:40,763 compIeting the 30-miIe journey with their messages. 416 00:27:41,407 --> 00:27:43,523 - Pigeon with the message. - Leonard, hello. 417 00:27:43,567 --> 00:27:45,637 - Pigeon with the message. - Oh, my goodness! 418 00:27:45,687 --> 00:27:47,484 - That's not ours already, is it? - Yeah. 419 00:27:47,527 --> 00:27:49,404 Wow. 420 00:27:49,447 --> 00:27:52,166 So in wartime l wouldn't have been allowed to open that. 421 00:27:52,207 --> 00:27:56,758 - l'd have taken it to the local police station? - To the local meeting, yes, yes. 422 00:27:57,007 --> 00:27:59,441 They'd have torwarded the message to whoever it... 423 00:27:59,487 --> 00:28:03,400 You're not aware ot what's in other than the tact it's a carrier. 424 00:28:04,247 --> 00:28:06,966 Right, it says, ''Ruth, weather's good. 425 00:28:07,007 --> 00:28:08,884 Wind SE light. 426 00:28:08,927 --> 00:28:10,918 Basket still on boat. 427 00:28:12,607 --> 00:28:13,756 What time's dinner?'' 428 00:28:13,807 --> 00:28:17,436 Yes, well, hmm. What time's dinner? l haven't tinished it yet, but... 429 00:28:17,487 --> 00:28:20,081 - l'm amazed, it's so tast! - Pigeon pie maybe! 430 00:28:20,127 --> 00:28:26,475 During the war, 98% of pigeons returned with their messages, but often with mortaI injuries. 431 00:28:26,767 --> 00:28:28,166 l'll see you again hopetully. 432 00:28:28,207 --> 00:28:30,163 That was dead exciting. 433 00:28:30,207 --> 00:28:32,198 - Take care. - OK, thank you. 434 00:28:34,967 --> 00:28:38,277 A good hour after the pigeons returned, the boys are back, 435 00:28:38,327 --> 00:28:41,603 in time for Ruth's revitaIising woodpigeon saIad. 436 00:28:43,447 --> 00:28:45,358 This looks absolutely tantastic, Ruth. 437 00:28:46,367 --> 00:28:48,358 Salad-tastic today. 438 00:28:48,807 --> 00:28:50,718 Wartime salads. 439 00:28:50,767 --> 00:28:52,758 So, l mean, this is a salad in jelly. 440 00:28:53,287 --> 00:28:59,078 Yeah. l know, it's really interesting, isn't it, that salad really just takes off in the wartime. 441 00:28:59,407 --> 00:29:01,477 Everybody's eating different types ot salad, 442 00:29:01,527 --> 00:29:04,360 things they never had betore like grated carrot and beetroot. 443 00:29:04,407 --> 00:29:06,398 You just don't tind them pre-war. 444 00:29:07,127 --> 00:29:11,245 l have to say, that pigeon does look tantastic. 445 00:29:11,487 --> 00:29:16,197 So we're calling this a bad pigeon because obviously it's teasting off the land. 446 00:29:16,247 --> 00:29:18,238 lt's the enemy ot the tarmer. 447 00:29:18,487 --> 00:29:19,715 Whereas our good pigeons, 448 00:29:19,767 --> 00:29:23,043 it's amazing to think how many were pressed into service during the war. 449 00:29:23,087 --> 00:29:26,159 And everybody's so excited about all these new communications, 450 00:29:26,207 --> 00:29:29,358 the radio had been around but all this radar, it's hi-tech stuff 451 00:29:29,407 --> 00:29:31,398 - and we're back to pigeons. - mm. 452 00:29:34,967 --> 00:29:39,722 As weII as pigeons, farmers aIso had Iand requisitioned by the miIitary. 453 00:29:40,607 --> 00:29:44,839 By 1 944, there were 623 airfieIds in Britain. 454 00:29:45,527 --> 00:29:50,760 Many were Iike smaII towns and buiIt aImost entireIy on good agricuIturaI Iand. 455 00:29:52,887 --> 00:29:56,277 Farmers were Iiving cheek by jowI with the miIitary. 456 00:29:56,327 --> 00:30:00,957 And many witnessed fighting first-hand, not on the Iand, but in the air. 457 00:30:02,407 --> 00:30:06,480 The Ministry of Information recognised that this war touched so many peopIe 458 00:30:06,527 --> 00:30:10,122 that it shouId be interpreted by painters as weII as photographers. 459 00:30:11,647 --> 00:30:16,277 Artist Leo Stevenson is foIIowing in the footsteps of the war artists. 460 00:30:17,327 --> 00:30:19,602 - l can't believe... - Good morning. 461 00:30:19,647 --> 00:30:20,762 - Hello. - Hello. 462 00:30:20,807 --> 00:30:23,640 - Hello. - As you might guess, l'm an artist. 463 00:30:23,687 --> 00:30:25,359 - Yes, we can see. We can see. - Yes. 464 00:30:25,407 --> 00:30:27,602 Right, well, l wonder it you can help me. 465 00:30:28,047 --> 00:30:31,198 Because l'm going to try and imagine that l'm back in that period 466 00:30:31,247 --> 00:30:35,923 doing an officially commissioned work ot art as it l'm an official war artist. 467 00:30:35,967 --> 00:30:39,118 These aren't paintings artists are doing tor the love ot it. 468 00:30:39,167 --> 00:30:41,283 These are things that are commissioned. 469 00:30:41,327 --> 00:30:45,240 Can you imagine that amidst all the contusion and the anxiety ot warfare, 470 00:30:45,287 --> 00:30:50,202 the British Government tound in its heart and also tound the money tor official war artists. 471 00:30:50,247 --> 00:30:52,522 Now, they did this tor three key reasons. 472 00:30:53,007 --> 00:30:56,204 Firstly to protect the best artists, to preserve their lives. 473 00:30:56,247 --> 00:31:00,957 To also protect their livelihoods because nobody's going to buy art in a time ot war, 474 00:31:01,007 --> 00:31:06,240 but most importantly to say something about the real experience ot warfare 475 00:31:06,287 --> 00:31:07,879 that the press couldn't. 476 00:31:07,927 --> 00:31:09,758 Basically the idea is this... 477 00:31:09,807 --> 00:31:13,356 You're working in the tields minding your own business, as people did. 478 00:31:13,407 --> 00:31:16,240 meanwhile 1 0, 20,000 teet up there, 479 00:31:16,287 --> 00:31:20,644 people are trying to kill each other and the sky is tull ot contrails trom the aircraft. 480 00:31:20,687 --> 00:31:25,397 But lite carries on. You have to produce the tood, you have to keep the country going. 481 00:31:27,367 --> 00:31:31,155 Leo's taking photographs from which he'II base his painting. 482 00:31:31,967 --> 00:31:35,357 Peter, it your hand is like that, that sort ot thing. 483 00:31:35,407 --> 00:31:37,762 That kind ot thing. Just go tor it, right, OK. 484 00:31:37,807 --> 00:31:40,560 Right, thank you, hold that tor about two hours and l'll be done. 485 00:31:40,607 --> 00:31:42,199 Oh. 486 00:31:42,247 --> 00:31:45,478 Hundreds of German aircraft were shot down over Britain, 487 00:31:45,527 --> 00:31:49,122 and if the crew survived they'd be captured as prisoners of war. 488 00:31:51,407 --> 00:31:52,283 Perfect. 489 00:31:52,327 --> 00:31:57,401 By 1 944, women were being drafted to work in factories rather than on the Iand. 490 00:31:57,967 --> 00:32:02,995 So POWs were put to work in agricuIture to heIp doubIe crop production. 491 00:32:05,327 --> 00:32:08,922 Farmers found themseIves face to face with Germans, 492 00:32:08,967 --> 00:32:12,846 who toId them rationing back home was far more severe than in Britain. 493 00:32:12,887 --> 00:32:14,639 Hold onto this. 494 00:32:14,687 --> 00:32:16,723 Even the humbIe Ioaf was hard to come by, 495 00:32:16,767 --> 00:32:20,965 as bakers EmmanueI Hadjiandreou and David Carter have discovered. 496 00:32:22,367 --> 00:32:28,397 l've been looking at a recipe tor a black type ot bread. 497 00:32:28,447 --> 00:32:31,803 lt really has very, very meagre ingredients. 498 00:32:31,847 --> 00:32:34,156 - We have here... - Yeah, l'm looking at some ot these 499 00:32:34,207 --> 00:32:37,358 and it looks more like the kind ot stuff l'd teed an animal. 500 00:32:37,407 --> 00:32:40,638 Yeah, well, indeed, this is something you would teed an animal 501 00:32:40,687 --> 00:32:44,236 because this black pile here is silage. 502 00:32:44,807 --> 00:32:45,796 Really? 503 00:32:45,847 --> 00:32:52,446 And we're using silage here because commercial yeast wasn't available. 504 00:32:53,287 --> 00:32:54,766 lt's termented grass. 505 00:32:54,807 --> 00:32:57,321 And anything that terments has a by-product, 506 00:32:57,767 --> 00:33:01,840 one ot which is the gases that enable bread to rise. 507 00:33:01,887 --> 00:33:04,276 We have just chopped-up grass. 508 00:33:04,327 --> 00:33:05,601 That's desperate, isn't it? 509 00:33:05,647 --> 00:33:09,356 That is desperate but don't torget that wheat is a grass. 510 00:33:09,847 --> 00:33:15,126 This is what was known as tree tlour and tree tlour was in tact wood shavings. 511 00:33:15,167 --> 00:33:16,395 - Sawdust. - Sawdust. 512 00:33:16,447 --> 00:33:19,678 So those are these ingredients. 513 00:33:21,247 --> 00:33:26,844 To the siIage and sawdust, David is adding chopped fermented rye to heIp the bread rise. 514 00:33:26,887 --> 00:33:28,957 But this wasn't without its dangers. 515 00:33:29,327 --> 00:33:32,876 Rye is highIy susceptibIe to ergot fungus, 516 00:33:32,927 --> 00:33:36,966 which when eaten can cause convuIsions and gangrene, even death. 517 00:33:38,687 --> 00:33:41,679 lt might also be good to put something a little sweet in it. 518 00:33:41,727 --> 00:33:43,365 Now, sugar, l... 519 00:33:43,407 --> 00:33:44,965 Very hard to come by. 520 00:33:45,007 --> 00:33:48,716 One thing that l have got. We've got bees and we are producing honey. 521 00:33:48,767 --> 00:33:49,438 marvellous. 522 00:33:49,487 --> 00:33:51,876 - So this is... - That will assist the tlavour. 523 00:33:53,047 --> 00:33:56,835 As Germany's position weakened as the confIict wore on, 524 00:33:56,887 --> 00:34:00,402 this isjust the kind of Ioaf ordinary Germans were forced to eat. 525 00:34:01,207 --> 00:34:03,163 Pack that down. 526 00:34:03,207 --> 00:34:06,643 Yet in wartime Britain, bread was never rationed. 527 00:34:07,327 --> 00:34:11,445 l think that would have been regarded as a very retrograde step 528 00:34:11,487 --> 00:34:13,557 on the part ot the ministry ot Health. 529 00:34:13,607 --> 00:34:17,805 The minute you start rationing bread, you're really telling your public we are desperate. 530 00:34:17,847 --> 00:34:19,838 - We're losing - Yeah. 531 00:34:25,727 --> 00:34:28,366 - You think this is going to rise? - l'm contident it will. 532 00:34:28,407 --> 00:34:29,920 Excellent. 533 00:34:29,967 --> 00:34:33,084 And how long are we looking at baking this tor, do you think? 534 00:34:33,127 --> 00:34:36,437 We'll try it tor about 35 minutes and let's see what it looks like. 535 00:34:36,487 --> 00:34:38,478 So l'm going to put it in the oven... 536 00:34:38,767 --> 00:34:40,917 - Yeah. - And we'll wait and see what happens. 537 00:34:40,967 --> 00:34:42,958 Good, l'm looking torward to that. 538 00:34:48,407 --> 00:34:53,435 Artist Leo is beginning to sketch out his painting of war in the countryside. 539 00:34:54,847 --> 00:34:58,556 - You're trom round here, aren't you? - l have been tor 81 years. 540 00:34:58,607 --> 00:35:00,006 Right. 541 00:35:00,047 --> 00:35:05,883 In 1 944, pigeon fancier Leonard Painter remembers cIearIy the countdown to D-day 542 00:35:05,927 --> 00:35:09,237 when tens of thousands of troops, ships and vehicIes 543 00:35:09,287 --> 00:35:11,721 amassed in the fieIds around Manor Farm. 544 00:35:13,647 --> 00:35:16,366 So tell me about D-day. What was it like round here? 545 00:35:16,407 --> 00:35:19,638 Well, it was just like a closed-down army camp, really. 546 00:35:19,687 --> 00:35:22,963 You couldn't go anywhere without a permit. Barbed wire across the roads 547 00:35:23,007 --> 00:35:25,567 and you had a permit to go down there it you wanted to. 548 00:35:25,607 --> 00:35:27,518 - Total lock-down. - lt was, yeah. 549 00:35:28,487 --> 00:35:33,322 And every space, tield, grass verge, 550 00:35:33,367 --> 00:35:37,724 was army equipment and tents and soldiers camped out. 551 00:35:38,607 --> 00:35:41,599 Hundreds ot them. We had a tield day when we were boys. 552 00:35:42,207 --> 00:35:44,596 What did you get up to? What sort ot stuff? 553 00:35:44,647 --> 00:35:50,165 Well, down the pub the American soldiers used to line tour ot us, tive ot us nippers up... 554 00:35:50,207 --> 00:35:50,923 Yeah. 555 00:35:50,967 --> 00:35:53,162 ..and the one that could drink a pint the quickest 556 00:35:53,207 --> 00:35:58,235 would get a packet ot Chesterfields or Camels or a wad ot chewing gum. 557 00:35:58,287 --> 00:35:59,845 - Brilliant. - Yeah. 558 00:35:59,887 --> 00:36:02,082 - Haven't touched it since, mind. - Oh, well... 559 00:36:02,127 --> 00:36:04,118 But the big nippers used to lap it up. 560 00:36:04,527 --> 00:36:06,722 Go home tipsy drinking bloody beer. 561 00:36:12,007 --> 00:36:18,242 The German siIage bread has been cooking for haIf an hour, and now it's the moment of truth. 562 00:36:19,407 --> 00:36:21,443 Are you teeling nervous, David? 563 00:36:21,487 --> 00:36:23,717 Absolutely. Nervous but excited, Alex. 564 00:36:25,727 --> 00:36:27,718 lt's like giving birth to a new baby. 565 00:36:27,887 --> 00:36:29,843 Hey, wow, look at that! 566 00:36:29,887 --> 00:36:30,956 Wow. 567 00:36:31,007 --> 00:36:33,123 lt's black. lt looks like a German black bread. 568 00:36:33,167 --> 00:36:34,964 lt... l'm amazed. 569 00:36:35,007 --> 00:36:38,443 lt really does look like a loat. 570 00:36:38,967 --> 00:36:41,276 - OK, so it looks like a bread. - Yeah. 571 00:36:41,327 --> 00:36:43,443 - The question is... - lt teels like a bread. 572 00:36:43,487 --> 00:36:44,681 Feels like a bread. 573 00:36:44,727 --> 00:36:47,287 ls it going to taste like a bread? 574 00:36:48,327 --> 00:36:50,636 - Alex, are you going to be the guinea pig? - l am. 575 00:36:50,687 --> 00:36:52,166 Good man, there you go. 576 00:36:52,207 --> 00:36:56,997 The tirst person since Germany 1 944 to eat silage bread. 577 00:37:04,167 --> 00:37:05,839 - lt's not inedible at all. - lt's not. 578 00:37:05,887 --> 00:37:09,926 ln terms ot tlavour, l mean, l'm chewing away on something that's not going anywhere. 579 00:37:09,967 --> 00:37:12,083 But the tlavour is surprisingly nice. 580 00:37:12,287 --> 00:37:14,039 - l think the tlavour... - lt's sweet. 581 00:37:14,087 --> 00:37:16,078 - mm. - lt's very sweet. 582 00:37:16,167 --> 00:37:18,442 And that's not just the honey, that is the silage. 583 00:37:18,487 --> 00:37:22,526 But again, l mean, it you only had this to eat and didn't have anything else to eat... 584 00:37:22,567 --> 00:37:23,556 Yeah. 585 00:37:23,607 --> 00:37:27,441 Would you choose eating grass or would you choose to eat silage bread? 586 00:37:27,487 --> 00:37:29,478 l mean, you would, wouldn't you? 587 00:37:29,967 --> 00:37:33,004 You can see, you can almost see how they've arrived at that 588 00:37:33,047 --> 00:37:35,038 as a replacement tor black bread. 589 00:37:35,687 --> 00:37:37,564 l'm having to swallow the wood. 590 00:37:37,607 --> 00:37:39,598 A cup ot tea helps it down no end. 591 00:37:40,687 --> 00:37:44,475 - Or rather a Steiner ot German beer, l think. - lndeed, absolutely. 592 00:37:49,847 --> 00:37:55,046 From rough sketches and photos, war artist Leo is beginning his painting. 593 00:38:01,247 --> 00:38:08,642 The idea at this stage is just to rough out the approximate torms ot where things are 594 00:38:08,687 --> 00:38:11,997 and gradually develop a sense ot tone. 595 00:38:15,207 --> 00:38:17,198 Now here we want some trees. 596 00:38:18,247 --> 00:38:23,719 The idea tor this little dramatic scenario is that these aircraft have suddenly appeared 597 00:38:24,607 --> 00:38:27,599 and you can almost not hear them until the last minute. 598 00:38:30,407 --> 00:38:34,116 The war does seem a very strange time to start officially commissioning artists 599 00:38:34,167 --> 00:38:37,842 and paying with public money tor works ot art. 600 00:38:37,887 --> 00:38:40,560 But it was actually a very important thing to do. 601 00:38:41,527 --> 00:38:44,360 But they weren't just making it tor their generation, 602 00:38:44,407 --> 00:38:46,762 and to sort ot entertain themselves it you like, 603 00:38:46,807 --> 00:38:50,925 they were going to say something tor tuture generations, post-victory, tor us. 604 00:38:54,247 --> 00:38:59,116 And the point is that an artist could say something about the real experience ot warfare, 605 00:38:59,167 --> 00:39:02,000 the horror ot it. Especially here in the countryside. 606 00:39:14,247 --> 00:39:16,920 The one thing this art isn't is propaganda. 607 00:39:17,687 --> 00:39:19,678 This was about real experience. 608 00:39:19,727 --> 00:39:22,639 lt's not about what the Government wanted to portray as such. 609 00:39:23,287 --> 00:39:27,360 ln tact, some ot the images produced by some ot the best artists 610 00:39:27,407 --> 00:39:31,195 were sort ot contrary to the Government message it you like. 611 00:39:31,407 --> 00:39:33,716 But they didn't mind that, within reason. 612 00:39:38,007 --> 00:39:41,477 After a week in the studio, Leo's painting is finished, 613 00:39:41,527 --> 00:39:46,965 capturing the moment a German Messerschmitt 1 1 0 was shot down by an RAF Hurricane. 614 00:39:50,567 --> 00:39:52,558 All right. 615 00:39:52,727 --> 00:39:54,558 - Goodness. - That's amazing. 616 00:39:54,607 --> 00:39:55,676 Thank you. 617 00:39:55,727 --> 00:39:58,241 Wow, you've worked hard on that, haven't you? 618 00:39:58,367 --> 00:40:01,598 One ot the things that's so hard tor us to get to grips with down here 619 00:40:01,647 --> 00:40:04,844 is the concept ot the war encroaching on people's lives. 620 00:40:04,887 --> 00:40:08,118 You get an impression but you'll never get that sense. 621 00:40:08,167 --> 00:40:10,397 - But it's brought into sharp reliet here. - Yeah. 622 00:40:10,447 --> 00:40:13,564 l mean, this was a reality tor tarmers in wartime Britain, wasn't it? 623 00:40:13,607 --> 00:40:17,646 This was, yes. l mean, that's the thing. lt's a thing about history. 624 00:40:17,687 --> 00:40:19,757 lt's connecting with real experience. 625 00:40:20,567 --> 00:40:23,365 - Well, l think that's brilliant. l really do. - Thank you, Leo. 626 00:40:23,407 --> 00:40:26,444 - Thank you. - lt's a shame we can't hang it in the tarm. 627 00:40:26,487 --> 00:40:29,638 This would go off now to the ministry ot lntormation. ls that right? 628 00:40:29,687 --> 00:40:33,646 Well, yeah, l mean, it l'm a wartime artist, this has been paid tor by the Government, 629 00:40:33,687 --> 00:40:36,440 so this would be sort ot taken to some Government source, 630 00:40:36,487 --> 00:40:40,116 be shown round, an exhibition going round the country possibly, 631 00:40:40,167 --> 00:40:44,718 and then after the war these paintings were shared out amongst government buildings 632 00:40:44,767 --> 00:40:46,041 and little local museums. 633 00:40:46,087 --> 00:40:48,806 lt it was relevant to a particular place, as this is here, 634 00:40:48,847 --> 00:40:51,964 you'd probably tind a local museum tor it or something. 635 00:40:56,767 --> 00:41:00,442 For the past month, the team have been battIing to save the fIax. 636 00:41:01,367 --> 00:41:05,599 But one of the wettest summers on record has finaIIy got the better of it. 637 00:41:06,087 --> 00:41:10,638 AIex and Peter have no choice but to write off the entire crop. 638 00:41:11,327 --> 00:41:16,720 As in wartime, this is partIy the consequence of having to sow crops on unsuitabIe Iand. 639 00:41:19,447 --> 00:41:21,403 l don't blame you, Alex, you know. 640 00:41:22,287 --> 00:41:24,039 l don't blame you, it's the weather. 641 00:41:24,087 --> 00:41:27,284 lt's the heavy clay soils and the weather. 642 00:41:27,967 --> 00:41:29,798 This must have happened during the war. 643 00:41:29,847 --> 00:41:34,967 The ministry must have asked people to put crops into ground that it just wasn't suitable tor. 644 00:41:35,007 --> 00:41:36,440 And in tact we do know that, 645 00:41:36,487 --> 00:41:39,797 but with tlax we have learnt a really hard lesson here, haven't we? 646 00:41:39,847 --> 00:41:44,079 We have. l mean, the one thing l do know about tlax is it hates heavy clay soils. 647 00:41:44,127 --> 00:41:45,958 But that's the only good thing, Peter. 648 00:41:46,007 --> 00:41:48,601 This was tamously one ot the hardest things to harvest 649 00:41:48,647 --> 00:41:54,085 and in getting this all wrong means we don't have the back-breaking job ot harvesting it. 650 00:41:54,607 --> 00:41:56,916 Shouldn't count your chickens betore they hatch. 651 00:41:56,967 --> 00:41:58,116 Why is that, Peter? 652 00:41:58,167 --> 00:42:02,285 Because a neighbouring tarmer does have a crop and he does need to harvest it. 653 00:42:02,327 --> 00:42:03,999 And l said, well, ours has tailed. 654 00:42:04,047 --> 00:42:07,198 We did schedule in a harvest. We can come and help you. 655 00:42:07,527 --> 00:42:11,918 - Who's ''we''? - You and me and a tew prisoners ot war. 656 00:42:11,967 --> 00:42:15,004 As much as your coat's waterproot, the rain's coming down hard. 657 00:42:15,047 --> 00:42:18,437 - Let's get in betore it really drenches us. - Let's get out ot here. 658 00:42:20,247 --> 00:42:24,684 AIex and Peter are heading to Simon Cooper's farm to heIp harvest his fIax. 659 00:42:25,567 --> 00:42:30,561 UnIike the boys'crop, Simon's was grown on weII-drained Iight soiIs, 660 00:42:30,607 --> 00:42:32,916 so it's fared the wet weather much better. 661 00:42:33,007 --> 00:42:37,125 It's now turned from green to brown, indicating it's ready for harvest. 662 00:42:39,767 --> 00:42:41,678 - Hi, Simon. - Hello. 663 00:42:42,487 --> 00:42:46,480 - Just admiring your tlax crop there. - Oh, thank you. Well, we've got a crop. 664 00:42:46,527 --> 00:42:48,199 Not as good as we hoped. 665 00:42:48,247 --> 00:42:52,001 We hoped it would be a bit taller, a bit thicker, but a year like this, 666 00:42:52,047 --> 00:42:54,356 we've got to be gratetul tor what we've got. 667 00:42:57,287 --> 00:43:01,803 By 1 944, there were 60,000 acres of fIax in Britain. 668 00:43:05,367 --> 00:43:10,043 AII the pIants had to puIIed up by hand to maintain the Iong fibres in the stem. 669 00:43:11,687 --> 00:43:12,836 During the war, 670 00:43:12,887 --> 00:43:18,007 extra Iabour had been provided by Iand girIs, chiIdren and conscientious objectors. 671 00:43:19,407 --> 00:43:21,523 But with the AIIies in the ascendancy, 672 00:43:21,567 --> 00:43:25,242 prisoners of war became an ever-growing source of Iabour. 673 00:43:27,687 --> 00:43:31,600 Johann Custodis'grandfather was a German POW. 674 00:43:32,127 --> 00:43:35,403 Johann's studied the impact they had on wartime agricuIture. 675 00:43:36,727 --> 00:43:39,161 So how many POWs were there working on the land? 676 00:43:39,207 --> 00:43:45,362 There were about 1 50,000 ltalians and, at peak, about 300,000 Germans. 677 00:43:45,807 --> 00:43:49,595 Almost every tifth worker in agriculture would be a German POW. 678 00:43:49,647 --> 00:43:51,638 That's amazing to think. 679 00:43:51,687 --> 00:43:54,997 Johann, l noticed we've got some prisoners ot war over here 680 00:43:55,047 --> 00:43:58,005 that have got red diamonds on their back. What does that signity? 681 00:43:58,047 --> 00:44:02,199 These coloured patches were, yes, so you can actually see these prisoners ot war 682 00:44:02,247 --> 00:44:05,080 and spot them so it would be more difficult tor them to escape. 683 00:44:05,127 --> 00:44:05,843 Yeah. 684 00:44:05,887 --> 00:44:09,323 But primarily so you can identity them when you see them working in the tield 685 00:44:09,367 --> 00:44:10,766 or see them somewhere else. 686 00:44:10,807 --> 00:44:12,365 l guess it makes sense, Peter. 687 00:44:12,407 --> 00:44:15,285 - l mean, they've been designed tor camoutlage. - Yeah. 688 00:44:15,327 --> 00:44:20,003 So you've got to reverse that by putting a whacking great big red mark on their back. 689 00:44:21,167 --> 00:44:24,443 So D-day, Operation Overlord, 690 00:44:24,487 --> 00:44:28,685 what sort ot effect did it have on the sort ot attitude ot German prisoners? 691 00:44:29,127 --> 00:44:31,402 D-day had a massive effect on several tronts. 692 00:44:31,447 --> 00:44:34,917 l mean, the effect on the Germans was the camps in Britain 693 00:44:34,967 --> 00:44:37,640 then realised that the war was pretty much over. 694 00:44:38,207 --> 00:44:41,756 D-day was the point when most ot the Germans actually came to Britain, 695 00:44:41,807 --> 00:44:44,719 because masses ot German prisoners ot war captured in France, 696 00:44:44,767 --> 00:44:46,962 so many ot them were shipped to Britain. 697 00:44:47,207 --> 00:44:49,516 On the one hand, a kind ot a logistical nightmare. 698 00:44:49,567 --> 00:44:53,606 On the other hand, increasing overall the amount ot labour that you can use. 699 00:44:58,527 --> 00:45:02,202 Another important source of wartime Iabour were Gypsy traveIIers. 700 00:45:03,607 --> 00:45:08,761 Their nomadic IifestyIe Ient itseIf to the intense but short-Iived harvest work. 701 00:45:09,967 --> 00:45:14,119 Dr Becky TayIor is an expert on how war affected their Iives. 702 00:45:16,567 --> 00:45:19,639 Like everybody else, they were massively affected 703 00:45:19,687 --> 00:45:22,440 by the changes ot the Second World War. 704 00:45:22,487 --> 00:45:24,876 So the men went off to tight, 705 00:45:24,927 --> 00:45:28,761 and this left women and children and older people in the community 706 00:45:28,807 --> 00:45:32,243 in quite a difficult position because lite on the road is hard. 707 00:45:32,487 --> 00:45:36,719 So a lot ot tamilies, where they could, they would roll up on tarms 708 00:45:36,767 --> 00:45:39,839 and be there tor much longer periods ot time than they perhaps would 709 00:45:39,887 --> 00:45:41,798 and tarmers were desperate tor extra labour, 710 00:45:41,847 --> 00:45:44,964 so they might be there throughout the harvesting season 711 00:45:45,007 --> 00:45:47,077 and pick up trom sort ot the pea harvest 712 00:45:47,127 --> 00:45:49,402 right through to the different truit harvests, 713 00:45:49,447 --> 00:45:53,201 through to potatoes and sugar beet and things like that. 714 00:45:53,247 --> 00:45:57,206 And then it they'd worked, then they could often then stay over the winter. 715 00:45:57,247 --> 00:45:57,997 OK. 716 00:45:58,047 --> 00:46:01,835 And develop close relations with tarmers who they were working with. 717 00:46:01,887 --> 00:46:03,479 And there's others who are saying, 718 00:46:03,527 --> 00:46:07,315 ''Actually, they're camping on land that l need tor my crops.'' 719 00:46:07,367 --> 00:46:09,085 And so you get a lot ot tension locally, 720 00:46:09,127 --> 00:46:11,163 but some tarmers are happy to have them there 721 00:46:11,207 --> 00:46:14,085 and say they're essential, they need them working on the land. 722 00:46:26,007 --> 00:46:30,876 After a day of backbreaking work, the fIax crop is aImost harvested. 723 00:46:35,807 --> 00:46:38,401 As we're pulling it, this is quite green some ot this. 724 00:46:38,447 --> 00:46:39,482 Yeah. 725 00:46:39,527 --> 00:46:42,166 So it just needs to dry out a little bit more, doesn't it? 726 00:46:42,207 --> 00:46:43,242 Yeah. 727 00:46:43,287 --> 00:46:49,442 And then this is going to be turned into, well, pretty much everything. 728 00:46:49,487 --> 00:46:55,198 - Just about anything, trom canvas to ropes. - Parachute harnesses, hosepipes. 729 00:46:55,247 --> 00:47:00,526 That has been a remarkable thing, tinding out just how many things this stuff is used tor. 730 00:47:00,567 --> 00:47:01,283 Yeah. 731 00:47:01,327 --> 00:47:02,885 Good stuff. 732 00:47:08,407 --> 00:47:13,606 By earIy June 1 944, everything was in pIace for the D-day Iandings. 733 00:47:15,687 --> 00:47:19,600 1 60,000 troops were ready to go on the first day. 734 00:47:20,287 --> 00:47:22,118 MiIIions more wouId foIIow. 735 00:47:23,167 --> 00:47:26,000 Carrier pigeons brought back messages from France 736 00:47:26,047 --> 00:47:28,515 with information on the enemy's movements. 737 00:47:28,807 --> 00:47:31,241 Now everything depended on the weather. 738 00:47:33,687 --> 00:47:37,805 LocaI historian Bob Nimmo is showing AIex and Peter 739 00:47:37,847 --> 00:47:43,717 the remains of a RoyaI Navy camp caIIed HMS Cricket, just a stone's throw from their farm. 740 00:47:44,687 --> 00:47:48,282 It once covered 1 25 acres of woods and farmIand. 741 00:47:50,167 --> 00:47:54,080 Essentially people stationed here were here to practise tor D-day? 742 00:47:54,127 --> 00:47:55,845 - Yes. - OK. 743 00:47:55,887 --> 00:48:00,677 And prior to D-day, there would be 4,000-odd people living in the camp. 744 00:48:00,727 --> 00:48:03,321 - Right. - And then when D-day came 745 00:48:03,367 --> 00:48:05,961 it was pretty nearly empty apart trom the base staff. 746 00:48:06,007 --> 00:48:07,360 Everybody had gone. 747 00:48:07,407 --> 00:48:10,205 So what part ot the camp are we going to? 748 00:48:10,247 --> 00:48:13,398 - We're going to the extremity ot the camp. - Right. 749 00:48:13,447 --> 00:48:16,757 - Which...you can see one ot the... - Oh, yeah. 750 00:48:16,807 --> 00:48:19,719 Possibly one ot the central ablution blocks 751 00:48:19,767 --> 00:48:23,442 and clustered round that would be 20 or so Nissen huts. 752 00:48:24,447 --> 00:48:27,007 This was HMS Cricket during the war. 753 00:48:27,807 --> 00:48:31,641 Nissen huts, buiIt in the woods, were standard accommodation for troops. 754 00:48:31,687 --> 00:48:33,643 And here there were 1 1 0. 755 00:48:33,687 --> 00:48:35,678 There's a set ot steps here. 756 00:48:36,807 --> 00:48:39,640 At the end ot a Nissen hut there would be a step, l think. 757 00:48:39,687 --> 00:48:42,440 - This is a base tor a Nissen hut. - A base tor a Nissen hut. 758 00:48:42,487 --> 00:48:45,365 So how many people would you have had in a Nissen hut ot this size? 759 00:48:45,407 --> 00:48:47,477 l understand there are about 20 or 24. 760 00:48:47,567 --> 00:48:51,924 So these would be your pals that you were ultimately going to tind yourselt with. 761 00:48:51,967 --> 00:48:56,757 They would ultimately be together as a tlotilla going across to D-day 762 00:48:56,807 --> 00:48:59,719 or being taken across on board a ship to D-day, yeah. 763 00:49:00,287 --> 00:49:03,199 This is a map ot the camp and we are up here. 764 00:49:04,007 --> 00:49:04,757 OK. 765 00:49:04,807 --> 00:49:07,082 There was a cinema and a NAAFl building there. 766 00:49:07,127 --> 00:49:08,765 - A cinema? - Oh, yes, a cinema, 767 00:49:08,807 --> 00:49:11,037 and people came down there and entertained them. 768 00:49:11,087 --> 00:49:12,566 George Formby came down. 769 00:49:12,607 --> 00:49:14,916 - George Formby? - George Formby, l believe, and... 770 00:49:14,967 --> 00:49:16,116 He's one ot my heroes! 771 00:49:16,167 --> 00:49:17,316 - ls he? - Yeah. 772 00:49:17,367 --> 00:49:19,085 You may be treading on the same spot... 773 00:49:19,127 --> 00:49:21,687 Do you think George Formby might have stood here? 774 00:49:21,727 --> 00:49:24,685 On this very spot playing his ukulele or whatever he did. 775 00:49:24,727 --> 00:49:28,322 But also the Americans played baseball in the square at Botley. 776 00:49:28,367 --> 00:49:30,483 Really? So all ot this happening 777 00:49:30,527 --> 00:49:33,360 right on the doorstep ot our tarm, manor Farm? 778 00:49:33,407 --> 00:49:34,556 lndeed, yes. 779 00:49:36,007 --> 00:49:37,998 The fIax is harvested. 780 00:49:38,167 --> 00:49:43,639 Next, it was processed to extract the fibres from the stem used to make Iinen and canvas. 781 00:49:44,327 --> 00:49:47,319 Anne Cooper is showing Ruth how it was done. 782 00:49:47,367 --> 00:49:51,360 The first stage was to soak the crop in water, known as retting. 783 00:49:52,327 --> 00:49:53,726 So this is our retted tlax. 784 00:49:53,767 --> 00:49:55,758 - That's right. - lt's been in the water. 785 00:49:55,807 --> 00:49:59,766 First we need to get these seed heads off because we don't need those tor the tibre. 786 00:50:02,887 --> 00:50:07,039 And we're just de-seeding here, which is also known as rippling. 787 00:50:09,567 --> 00:50:11,558 (Coughs) 788 00:50:11,647 --> 00:50:13,046 And that was another thing. 789 00:50:13,087 --> 00:50:14,759 lt's very dusty. 790 00:50:14,807 --> 00:50:16,001 Very dusty. 791 00:50:16,047 --> 00:50:20,359 Even in the tactories, you'd have a tremendous amount ot dust around. 792 00:50:21,967 --> 00:50:24,606 - That's it, then. Right, we've rippled. - Job done. 793 00:50:24,647 --> 00:50:27,480 - Now it's time to break, am l right? - lndeed. 794 00:50:27,527 --> 00:50:32,806 So the purpose ot breaking, then, is to crack away the outer... 795 00:50:34,087 --> 00:50:36,078 Core. 796 00:50:39,407 --> 00:50:43,958 So it's quite a quick hard action, but you can see it breaking away really well. 797 00:50:44,007 --> 00:50:47,522 All those little bits ot straw-like stuff tlopping up and down. 798 00:50:47,567 --> 00:50:49,558 And it's softening up already. 799 00:50:52,327 --> 00:50:55,319 Processing fIax by hand was Iabour-intensive. 800 00:50:55,887 --> 00:50:59,926 But as demand grew during the war, the process became mechanised. 801 00:51:01,887 --> 00:51:03,843 So although this is a little mini hand one, 802 00:51:03,887 --> 00:51:06,765 this is more the sort ot thing tound in wartime tlax tactories. 803 00:51:06,807 --> 00:51:09,526 Yes, but on a lot larger scale, obviously. 804 00:51:09,567 --> 00:51:10,761 Now we, we... 805 00:51:10,807 --> 00:51:12,923 - Feed in trom this side? - Through this end. 806 00:51:17,127 --> 00:51:19,436 And it does teel like you're breaking something. 807 00:51:19,487 --> 00:51:21,478 - lt does, doesn't it, yeah. - Yeah. 808 00:51:22,447 --> 00:51:28,556 Next, the fIax is scutched to remove the broken bit of outer stem from the vaIuabIe fibres within. 809 00:51:29,207 --> 00:51:31,357 Now we've already got waste, haven't we? 810 00:51:31,407 --> 00:51:34,126 That's no longer part ot the main bundle. 811 00:51:34,487 --> 00:51:36,318 That's what you would call tow. 812 00:51:36,367 --> 00:51:38,801 Tow would be used tor cordage, tor twine. 813 00:51:38,847 --> 00:51:42,078 Very, very important. Although it seems like a cast-off, not wasted. 814 00:51:42,127 --> 00:51:45,563 lt's going to be saved and turned into... Righty-ho. 815 00:51:46,207 --> 00:51:50,120 HeckIing then separates the fibres into individuaI strands. 816 00:51:51,687 --> 00:51:53,484 This is just combing. 817 00:51:53,527 --> 00:51:57,122 lt's like combing your hair, only not worrying about pulling the knots out. 818 00:51:57,167 --> 00:51:58,361 Exactly. 819 00:51:58,407 --> 00:52:03,117 - This is beginning to go beautitul. - Hasn't it changed. lsn't it? 820 00:52:03,167 --> 00:52:06,045 That really is starting to look like hair, tlaxen hair. 821 00:52:07,007 --> 00:52:11,205 So turning it into thread is just a matter ot twisting the tibres together, isn't it? 822 00:52:12,167 --> 00:52:16,922 This fibre couId now be woven into canvas or Iinen ready for miIitary use. 823 00:52:16,967 --> 00:52:18,958 lt's easy, really. 824 00:52:19,247 --> 00:52:21,158 l'm trying to break it. 825 00:52:21,207 --> 00:52:22,925 l can't break it. 826 00:52:22,967 --> 00:52:26,084 Look, it's cutting my tingers. Look at that. l really can't. 827 00:52:26,127 --> 00:52:31,724 - From such a delicate blue tlower in a tield... - To the strongest ot tibre. 828 00:52:31,767 --> 00:52:33,678 Fantastic. 829 00:52:34,167 --> 00:52:36,237 Strange though it seems, you can't... 830 00:52:36,287 --> 00:52:39,563 l can't imagine how we would have won the war without tlax. 831 00:52:39,607 --> 00:52:44,158 lt we hadn't had the tibre tor the parachutes and the webbing and the camoutlage nets 832 00:52:44,207 --> 00:52:47,199 and the hosepipes and the tyre covers and everything, 833 00:52:47,247 --> 00:52:49,283 - how would we have managed it? - We wouldn't. 834 00:52:49,327 --> 00:52:51,477 How would we have done those D-day landings? 835 00:52:51,527 --> 00:52:53,518 We couldn't. We couldn't. 836 00:52:55,207 --> 00:53:00,884 As D-day grew ever cIoser, three and a haIf miIIion troops packed into Southern EngIand 837 00:53:00,927 --> 00:53:03,680 and its viIIages had never been so vibrant. 838 00:53:04,607 --> 00:53:10,398 Foreign troops formed cIose bonds with the IocaIs, drinking together and pIaying games. 839 00:53:12,567 --> 00:53:15,400 - Nice one! - Ohh! 840 00:53:16,127 --> 00:53:19,802 Today, basebaII is thought of as an aII-American sport, 841 00:53:19,847 --> 00:53:22,520 but it was very popuIar in Britain before the War, 842 00:53:22,727 --> 00:53:27,039 and in 1 938 Britain had won the first BasebaII WorId Cup. 843 00:53:28,447 --> 00:53:34,966 So the team are recreating a game that took pIace here in 1 944 with the American troops. 844 00:53:36,287 --> 00:53:38,517 This must have come as sort ot sweet reliet, 845 00:53:38,567 --> 00:53:41,764 it you're thinking about around here gearing up Operation Overlord, 846 00:53:41,807 --> 00:53:44,605 - you don't know it you'll live or die. - lt's good, isn't it? 847 00:53:44,647 --> 00:53:50,119 You need something to let the tension...to be able to control yourselt. Let alone anything else. 848 00:53:50,647 --> 00:53:51,921 Ohh! 849 00:53:51,967 --> 00:53:53,958 Ooh! 850 00:53:55,487 --> 00:53:58,206 - must have been such a melting pot ot cultures. - Yeah. 851 00:53:58,247 --> 00:54:02,286 You know, right here we've got Americans, we've got British trom other counties, 852 00:54:02,327 --> 00:54:04,318 German POWs, ltalian POWS. 853 00:54:04,927 --> 00:54:08,476 And even just within Britain you've got people ot all sorts ot classes 854 00:54:08,527 --> 00:54:09,721 and all different areas 855 00:54:09,767 --> 00:54:12,679 all sort ot mixed up and dumped into the countryside. 856 00:54:12,727 --> 00:54:13,477 mm. 857 00:54:14,807 --> 00:54:16,718 Oh! 858 00:54:17,767 --> 00:54:19,723 Yes! 859 00:54:20,847 --> 00:54:22,838 lt's a stupid game anyway! 860 00:54:22,887 --> 00:54:25,720 l don't know why they can't play cricket, a very decent game. 861 00:54:26,167 --> 00:54:28,522 Three-two. Nobody on. 862 00:54:28,567 --> 00:54:33,846 lt must have been such a hive ot activity just prior to Operation Overlord, prior to D-day, 863 00:54:33,887 --> 00:54:37,084 and then the weather's right, the time comes, everyone leaves... 864 00:54:37,127 --> 00:54:39,083 All overnight. One night. 865 00:54:39,127 --> 00:54:42,642 l mean, it's not moving out by degrees. lt is one night, isn't it? 866 00:54:42,687 --> 00:54:44,120 Everyone just goes. 867 00:54:44,167 --> 00:54:45,805 lt must have been eerie afterwards. 868 00:54:45,847 --> 00:54:49,920 You must have got so used to this lite, this vibrancy, and then all ot a sudden - nothing. 869 00:54:49,967 --> 00:54:52,561 Stillness, and reports coming back on the news. 870 00:54:52,607 --> 00:54:57,237 lt's like, my lord, l knew these guys and they're there and they're dying in their thousands. 871 00:54:57,287 --> 00:54:58,606 l know. 872 00:54:59,007 --> 00:55:00,201 Who's tor beer? 873 00:55:00,247 --> 00:55:01,965 Over you come then. 874 00:55:05,047 --> 00:55:06,196 Elderflower cordial. 875 00:55:07,207 --> 00:55:09,277 - There you go. - Cheers. 876 00:55:09,327 --> 00:55:11,363 - Chin, chin. - mud in your eye. 877 00:55:11,407 --> 00:55:12,681 Oh, l say! 878 00:55:13,607 --> 00:55:14,642 Cheers! 879 00:55:18,927 --> 00:55:24,320 Productions were often put on tor the troops through organisations such as, was it, 880 00:55:24,367 --> 00:55:28,599 Entertainments National Service Association, ENSA, 881 00:55:28,647 --> 00:55:32,765 which the populist vote thought stood tor Every Night Something Awful. 882 00:55:32,807 --> 00:55:36,561 So on that thought l give you, Alex Langlands. 883 00:55:36,807 --> 00:55:38,798 Thank you! 884 00:55:39,047 --> 00:55:40,162 OK, this is a song. 885 00:55:40,207 --> 00:55:42,721 lt's called When The Boys Come Back From War. 886 00:55:47,087 --> 00:55:48,679 When the boys come back trom war 887 00:55:48,727 --> 00:55:51,002 Was the bravest thing l ever saw 888 00:55:51,047 --> 00:55:53,481 With Hitler and his mob we'll wipe the tloor 889 00:55:54,007 --> 00:55:59,445 SoIdiers were unabIe to traveI to the theatre, so ENSA brought the entertainment to them. 890 00:55:59,847 --> 00:56:01,599 As weII as George Formby, 891 00:56:01,647 --> 00:56:06,163 Tommy Cooper, Spike MiIIigan and Laurence OIivier aII worked for ENSA. 892 00:56:06,207 --> 00:56:09,324 Gather round, you pretty girls, and shed a silent tear 893 00:56:09,887 --> 00:56:13,436 Cos George Formby's got a melody that'll till your heart with cheer 894 00:56:14,407 --> 00:56:16,284 When Paris talls we'll be on top 895 00:56:16,607 --> 00:56:18,916 Berlin city our next stop 896 00:56:19,407 --> 00:56:23,241 We'll sing the songs we did betore when the boys come back trom war 897 00:56:26,407 --> 00:56:33,085 Dear mother, Father, Sister 898 00:56:34,087 --> 00:56:39,684 Lay a place tor me 899 00:56:40,327 --> 00:56:44,286 When it's all over 900 00:56:44,327 --> 00:56:49,799 l'll be back tor tea 901 00:56:49,847 --> 00:56:51,485 (Cheering) 902 00:56:51,527 --> 00:56:52,596 (Whistles) 903 00:56:59,447 --> 00:57:03,406 On the 6th June 1 944, in the earIy hours of the morning, 904 00:57:03,847 --> 00:57:07,806 7,000 vesseIs, the Iargest armada ever assembIed, 905 00:57:07,847 --> 00:57:12,363 saiIed to the Normandy coast and began the Iiberation of France. 906 00:57:13,207 --> 00:57:16,517 D-Day was the turning point of the war in Europe. 907 00:57:17,127 --> 00:57:23,646 But for the farmers of Britain, victory was stiII another harvest, and another year, away.