Just Finished Reading: Auntie’s War – The BBC During the Second World War by Edward Stourton (FP: 2017) [388pp] 

When the drums of war started beating in the heart of Europe in the late 1930’s the BBC was still a youngster finding her feet. During that turbulent time, she not only found her feet but her voice too. This is her story, told with both knowledge and affection by someone who clearly knows their stuff. 

At the very centre of the discussion of the BBCs place in the upcoming conflict was the pervading belief of the time that the bomber would always get through. This was not entirely fanciful after the experience of civilian populations in Spain and, as war did break out, in the Low Countries and Poland. It was fully expected that mass bombing would cause both mass casualties and mass panic. The role of the BBC was to calm the population and its anodyne programming early on earned it (unsurprisingly) the name ‘Auntie Beeb’. Desperate for ‘real’ news it was discovered, much to the dismay of both the BBC and the UK government, that a considerable number of listeners were tuning into German propaganda radio especially by the infamous ‘Lord Ha-Ha'. The government proposed that the BBC should combat this with its own British propaganda efforts. The BBC had another idea – it would combat lies and half-truths with facts. The BBC would become a truth-teller. Naturally, in war time after all, it couldn’t tell the WHOLE truth but it resolved not to lie to the public. It was in itself a battle both with the government (especially once Churchill took office as PM) and with the military authorities but gradually, as the months passed, it was shown to be a highly effective strategy and the listeners to Lord Ha-Ha dropped off considerably. 

But the BBC didn’t simply broadcast on the Home Service to its UK listeners. It broadcast to the Empire and to an increasingly Occupied Europe. Most importantly, it broadcast to the US to show not only that it was still in the fight but to encourage America in its drift towards being the Arsenal of Democracy and eventually a fighting Ally – helped along by actions of both Hitler and the ultimate attack on Pearl Harbor. With the Liberation of Europe approaching in 1944 the BBC became one of the organising hubs for the French and other national Resistance movements enabling people like Charles de Gaulle to become the pivotal figures they eventually became. It was also the time that the war correspondent came into their own, first reporting on the Battle of Britain (‘recorded live’), the Blitz (from the roof of broadcasting House) and from the D-Day landings until the very end of the war in Europe. Techniques and technology were invented and put into use that had never been tried before and a number of correspondents died to bring back the stories for the BBC to broadcast to the world. 

I picked up this excellent work as part of my reading for the BBCs 100th birthday on 18th October. I’m really glad I did. Not only was this deeply informative and very well written it was honestly gripping in parts as correspondents, producers and heads of departments pushed the envelope of what could and could not be broadcasted in wartime. One of the complaints that made me laugh was when a listener objected to a BBC reporter was observing a fight during the Battle of Britain and making comments like it was a football match. Brilliant! FULL of interesting stories and fascinating people this was once of the best historical reads of the year. Highly recommended for anyone interested in either the BBC or WW2.