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Auntie's War
"An engaging, balanced and thoroughly researched history. It is often a moving and amusing tale containing plenty of mavericks and colourful episodes." (Lawrence James, The Times)Auntie's War is a love letter to radio. The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British institution unlike any other, and its story during the Second World War is also our story. This was Britain’s first total war, engaging the whole nation, and the wireless played a crucial role in it. For the first time, news of the conflict reached every living room – sometimes almost as it happened; and at key moments:- Chamberlain’s announcement of war- The Blitz- The D-Day landings - De Gaulle's broadcasts from exile- Churchill's fighting speechesRadio offered an incomparable tool for propaganda; it was how coded messages, both political and personal, were sent across Europe, and it was a means of sending less than truthful information to the enemy. Edward Stourton is a sharp-eyed, wry and affectionate companion on the BBC’s wartime journey, investigating archives, diaries, letters and memoirs to examine what the BBC was and what it stood for. Auntie’s War is an incomparable insight into why we have the broadcast culture we do today.A BBC RADIO 4: BOOK OF THE WEEK
432 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 24, 2018
For those who aren’t aware of why the BBC is, affectionately, called ‘Auntie,’ it refers to the slightly prim, fussy way it sees its role. Its mission is, “to inform, educate and entertain,” and, generally, it does so very well. I would pay my license fee just for BBC4 and, frankly, without it, standards would probably sink pretty low…
This is the story of the BBC during the Second World War and planning for this eventually started in the mid-1930’s, when it seemed fairly obvious that war was coming. By 1936, a report stated bluntly that, in a serious national emergency, the government control of the BBC was necessary. By the mid-1930’s there was a limited television service; although this was confined to London and sets were very expensive. Having decided it would not be necessary to keep this service going, the television service was simply halted – without warning – leaving those who did possess a television set wondering what had gone wrong.
War broadcasting was for radio, which most people had access to. War was, of course, famously declared on radio and it quickly became the focus for information, where people discovered the latest war news. The BBC had always tried to be impartial, fair and honest (claims from a BBC journalist, which were derided by the current President of the USA). However, much of Europe – indeed, much of the world, relied on the BBC for news during those dark days when the difficult decision was made that it was important to tell people the truth, no matter how unpalatable it might be. Aerial attacks on civilians were expected and the BBC engineering staff had undertaken immense plans to maintain uninterrupted coverage, as, “the bomber will always get through.”
Although this book has the BBC firmly at its centre, it is also the story of reporting the news in wartime. There is Richard Dimbleby, audaciously making suggestions of how to improve news reporting – giving the ‘human angle,’ that is taken for granted in modern journalism. This is also not limited to English news – there is much about the ‘Murrow Boys;’ US correspondents reporting from London during the blitz. There is the beginning of modern news reporting; of immense bravery and going into dangerous situations to tell people what was happening and where. It is a tale of censorship, propaganda, the ‘V for Victory,’ campaign, the bizarre popularity of ‘Lord Haw-Haw’ and the decision not to ban him, and Auntie in her best, spinster aunt role; hectoring and lecturing the people of England.
When the endless news programmes began to bore listeners, more ‘cheerful,’ programmes were suggested – to entertain and improve morale, as Churchill felt the BBC was too pessimistic. This was the BBC in its role as the comforter, during the country’s darkest hour. The hugely popular, “It’s that man again!” and, “The Brain Trust,” where experts were available to answer any question – in true British fashion, the first question was to list all of the Seven Wonders of the World, and nobody on the panel could answer it… There were gardening programmes, to help people eke out their meagre rations by growing fruit and vegetables. Even a radio doctor, to answer medical questions. Some at the BBC deeply disliked Vera Lynn, but she was grudgingly given airtime when, to the surprise of those senior staff, she was deemed popular.
Although this is a very entertaining read, it also shows the importance of journalism, which is, currently, so under attack. During wartime, the BBC had the trust of listeners around Europe. There is much about France and De Gaulle in this book, but, undoubtedly, most of Europe seemed to tune into the BBC for news they could trust – even in Germany. Broadcasting was a weapon of war and the BBC could send messages via the radio to those in Occupied Europe, help damage morale in Germany and event contact agents in the field. Other aspects of wartime broadcasting, such as George Orwell’s rather dispirited programmes to India, neither had his enthusiasm or, indeed, much impact, as radio had not yet caught on widely in the Indian sub-continent yet (the experience was not wasted, as it inspired, “1984”). Overall, though, this is a fascinating account of the BBC during wartime, with a cast of wonderfully eccentric characters, and a constant battle between the BBC and the government as to what news could be told and how best to tell it.
This is the story of the BBC during the Second World War and planning for this eventually started in the mid-1930’s, when it seemed fairly obvious that war was coming. By 1936, a report stated bluntly that, in a serious national emergency, the government control of the BBC was necessary. By the mid-1930’s there was a limited television service; although this was confined to London and sets were very expensive. Having decided it would not be necessary to keep this service going, the television service was simply halted – without warning – leaving those who did possess a television set wondering what had gone wrong.
War broadcasting was for radio, which most people had access to. War was, of course, famously declared on radio and it quickly became the focus for information, where people discovered the latest war news. The BBC had always tried to be impartial, fair and honest (claims from a BBC journalist, which were derided by the current President of the USA). However, much of Europe – indeed, much of the world, relied on the BBC for news during those dark days when the difficult decision was made that it was important to tell people the truth, no matter how unpalatable it might be. Aerial attacks on civilians were expected and the BBC engineering staff had undertaken immense plans to maintain uninterrupted coverage, as, “the bomber will always get through.”
Although this book has the BBC firmly at its centre, it is also the story of reporting the news in wartime. There is Richard Dimbleby, audaciously making suggestions of how to improve news reporting – giving the ‘human angle,’ that is taken for granted in modern journalism. This is also not limited to English news – there is much about the ‘Murrow Boys;’ US correspondents reporting from London during the blitz. There is the beginning of modern news reporting; of immense bravery and going into dangerous situations to tell people what was happening and where. It is a tale of censorship, propaganda, the ‘V for Victory,’ campaign, the bizarre popularity of ‘Lord Haw-Haw’ and the decision not to ban him, and Auntie in her best, spinster aunt role; hectoring and lecturing the people of England.
When the endless news programmes began to bore listeners, more ‘cheerful,’ programmes were suggested – to entertain and improve morale, as Churchill felt the BBC was too pessimistic. This was the BBC in its role as the comforter, during the country’s darkest hour. The hugely popular, “It’s that man again!” and, “The Brain Trust,” where experts were available to answer any question – in true British fashion, the first question was to list all of the Seven Wonders of the World, and nobody on the panel could answer it… There were gardening programmes, to help people eke out their meagre rations by growing fruit and vegetables. Even a radio doctor, to answer medical questions. Some at the BBC deeply disliked Vera Lynn, but she was grudgingly given airtime when, to the surprise of those senior staff, she was deemed popular.
Although this is a very entertaining read, it also shows the importance of journalism, which is, currently, so under attack. During wartime, the BBC had the trust of listeners around Europe. There is much about France and De Gaulle in this book, but, undoubtedly, most of Europe seemed to tune into the BBC for news they could trust – even in Germany. Broadcasting was a weapon of war and the BBC could send messages via the radio to those in Occupied Europe, help damage morale in Germany and event contact agents in the field. Other aspects of wartime broadcasting, such as George Orwell’s rather dispirited programmes to India, neither had his enthusiasm or, indeed, much impact, as radio had not yet caught on widely in the Indian sub-continent yet (the experience was not wasted, as it inspired, “1984”). Overall, though, this is a fascinating account of the BBC during wartime, with a cast of wonderfully eccentric characters, and a constant battle between the BBC and the government as to what news could be told and how best to tell it.
October 2, 2018
4 stars.
Fascinating!
Fascinating!
January 6, 2018
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09ltj8gDescription: The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British institution unlike any other, and its story during the Second World War is also our story. This was Britain’s first total war, engaging the whole nation, and the wireless played a crucial role in it. For the first time, news of the conflict reached every living room – sometimes almost as it happened; and at key moments – Chamberlain’s announcement of war, the Blitz, the D-Day landings – the BBC was there, defining how these events would pass into our collective memory.
Auntie’s War is a love letter to radio. While these were the years when her sometimes bossy tones first earned the BBC the nickname ‘Auntie’, they were also a period of truly remarkable voices: Churchill’s fighting speeches, de Gaulle’s broadcasts from exile, J. B. Priestley, Ed Murrow, George Orwell, Richard Dimbleby and Vera Lynn. Radio offered an incomparable tool for propaganda; it was how coded messages, both political and personal, were sent across Europe, and it was a means of sending less than truthful information to the enemy. At the same time, eyewitness testimonies gave a voice to everyone, securing the BBC’s reputation as reliable purveyor of the truth.
A War Footing: In this first episode, Ed describes how the BBC adapted to being on a war footing, the boredom of the Phoney War and the experiences of reporters sent to France.Wartime Propaganda: Ed investigates propaganda, coded messages sent across Europe, and relaying less than truthful information to the enemy.Remarkable Voices: General de Gaulle rallies the French from London and US journalists arrive to report the Blitz.George Orwell: Propaganda, truth and lies and the space between. George Orwell joins the BBC.Eyewitness Accounts: the BBC's War Reporting Unit comes into being, and correspondent Guy Byam is parachuted behind enemy lines.
January 7, 2018
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the week:
The BBC is a British institution unlike any other, and its story during the Second World War is also the story of Britain's people.
Writer and presenter Edward Stourton is a sharp-eyed and affectionate companion on the BBC's wartime journey, investigating archives, diaries, letters and memoirs to examine what the BBC was and what it stood for.
In this first episode, Ed describes how the BBC adapted to being on a war footing, the boredom of the Phoney War and the experiences of reporters sent to France.
These were the years when Auntie (the BBC's enduring nickname) earned a reputation for bossiness. It was also a period of remarkable voices - Churchill's fighting speeches de Gaulle's broadcasts from exile, George Orwell, Ed Murrow, Richard Dimbleby and Vera Lynn.
During these extraordinary times, eyewitness testimonies gave a voice to everyone, securing the BBC's reputation as a reliable purveyor of the truth.
Auntie's War is more than a portrait of an institution at a critical time, it is also a portrayal of the British in wartime and an insight into why we have our broadcast culture today.
Read by Edward Stourton
Abridged by Anna Magnusson
Produced by Pippa Vaughan
A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09ltj8g
The BBC is a British institution unlike any other, and its story during the Second World War is also the story of Britain's people.
Writer and presenter Edward Stourton is a sharp-eyed and affectionate companion on the BBC's wartime journey, investigating archives, diaries, letters and memoirs to examine what the BBC was and what it stood for.
In this first episode, Ed describes how the BBC adapted to being on a war footing, the boredom of the Phoney War and the experiences of reporters sent to France.
These were the years when Auntie (the BBC's enduring nickname) earned a reputation for bossiness. It was also a period of remarkable voices - Churchill's fighting speeches de Gaulle's broadcasts from exile, George Orwell, Ed Murrow, Richard Dimbleby and Vera Lynn.
During these extraordinary times, eyewitness testimonies gave a voice to everyone, securing the BBC's reputation as a reliable purveyor of the truth.
Auntie's War is more than a portrait of an institution at a critical time, it is also a portrayal of the British in wartime and an insight into why we have our broadcast culture today.
Read by Edward Stourton
Abridged by Anna Magnusson
Produced by Pippa Vaughan
A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09ltj8g
September 14, 2018
This is the story of the BBC during WWII, highlighting how for the first time radio played a crucial part. Key historical moments were eagerly listened to all across the country. People in Occupied Europe tuned in to the BBC because they trusted it to give a reliable account of how the war was progressing. Furthermore, the BBC became involved in the spreading of propaganda to aid the Allies and mislead the Nazis, and in passing on coded messages to Allied agents alongside genuine messages to friends and family from those engaged in the conflict.
Ed Stourton has researched his subject thoroughly, and writes with style and enthusiasm. For me, the strongest parts were those that dealt with the characters who figured in war broadcasting - Stourton brings depth and lustre to stories about George Orwell, Ed Murrow and J B Priestley.
Unfortunately the war years were also characterised by lengthy political struggles between the BBC and the politicians at the Ministry of Information - while these were certainly significant as part of the BBC's determination to retain its independence, these chapters were rather repetitive and less engaging.
Overall, though, a valuable and very readable look at one of our most important institutions at a key time in our history.
Ed Stourton has researched his subject thoroughly, and writes with style and enthusiasm. For me, the strongest parts were those that dealt with the characters who figured in war broadcasting - Stourton brings depth and lustre to stories about George Orwell, Ed Murrow and J B Priestley.
Unfortunately the war years were also characterised by lengthy political struggles between the BBC and the politicians at the Ministry of Information - while these were certainly significant as part of the BBC's determination to retain its independence, these chapters were rather repetitive and less engaging.
Overall, though, a valuable and very readable look at one of our most important institutions at a key time in our history.
June 1, 2026
This is my latest history read, and I found it quite enjoyable, even if it wasn’t quite what I wanted. Isn’t that always the way.
The author’s name may be familiar to you from the Today programme on Radio 4. I have not been a listener to that programme myself for many years, but Stourton’s writing was immediately familiar. He has clearly absorbed the house style to a great extent, which made for an easy and relaxing read.
So what did I want, and what did I get instead?
I suppose what I really wanted was something akin to Penelope Fitzgerald’s novel Human Voices, which I read back in the days when I didn’t have time to review every book I read. Human Voices is about a group of people who work (and sometimes live) together at Broadcasting House during the Blitz. I was hoping that Stourton’s book would take me into the buildings and give me the flavour of sand that had leaked from sandbags crunching under my feet and the smell of overheated valves in the studios. Or the sights sounds and smells of places like Woburn Abbey, which were requisitioned by various units and turned into studios and transmitters.
What Stourton does instead is give an account of how the BBC invented it’s own style of war reporting during the second world war, having decided early on that telling the truth to the public – no matter how upsetting – was better than delivering comfortable lies. Which is not to say that the BBC wasn’t involved in propaganda, but there were more overt propagandists in the Political Warfare Executive and elsewhere, connected to the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Economic Warefare, and so on. A bewildering collections of initialisms and turf wars.
So the BBC really carved out for itself a unique role, and it was a slow old process, considering there was a war going on. It wasn’t until 1943 that the military agreed to contemplate the idea of embedded radio reporters. The problem being that the traditional approach was to have one correspondent per publication when it came to newspaper reporters. But for an operation like the BBC, the idea of just one correspondent was nonsense. For a start, most of the time, an engineer was needed, and the BBC wanted to embed reporters with different services and different units in different locations.
When it came, then, the reporting from D-Day to VE Day by the War Reporting Unit for the nightly War Report, was incredible and delivered by a group of brave men who became radio legends. Going in with the first wave at Normandy, being spilled into the sea by a mine, and surviving to deliver an eyewitness account in sodden clothes. Or parachuting in behind enemy lines, being on the wrong side of the Rhine at Arnhem, and swimming back across to safety. Wading onto the beach with a portable recording unit on your head. First reporter through the gates at Belsen. Killed in an American bombing raid.
And these portable recorders were new—and pre-magnetic tape. Reports were recorded using a crystal recording head on a disk, which was then sent back to be transmitted. One journalist crouched in a ditch while mortar rounds screamed around him, just so he could record their sound. It took two attempts.
Then there was Big Bertha, or Aspidistra, a powerful transmitter that was obtained from the United States and which became the battleground of the various services who wanted to use it. It was powerful enough to reach North Africa, and definitely various German cities, where it was used to hijack local radio broadcasts. What the BBC wanted, of course, was for the BBC to use it to broadcast their truth. But the Political Warfare people wanted to use it for blacker purposes.
Inevitably, in order to detail the BBC’s role, Stourton finds himself going into detail on the build up and aftermath of such events as Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, or the activities of SOE and the Resistance (old territory for me). And there is a lot of Whitehall-based disputation, battles with Churchill, Montgomery, Eisenhower, for permissions and over such things as censorship and propaganda.
And then there are such giants as Priestley and Orwell. I’ve always believed that Priestley’s short-lived Postscripts was taken off the air because Churchill demanded it. Actually, according to Stourton, it was Priestley himself who was prickly and primadonna-ish, and who did himself no favours with his behaviour and demands. For sure, Churchill didn’t like him, but he also had a tendency to self-sabotage. Orwell, on the other hand, swallowed a lot of his principles in order to join the India service to support the war effort—which was all he could do, given that he was never going to be allowed to serve in the military (because of his TB). Then again, it’s fairly certain that a lot of 1984 was inspired by his time at the BBC, including Room 101.
There were other figures who came up against censorship—especially in the early days of the war. Like the methodist preacher who started to go off his pre-approved script and was silenced by the so-called “switch censor”.
And it wasn’t just the government and the military that the BBC had to reckon with. Always and forever, they have their enemies in the press, who (as they so often do) simply made up shit to make the BBC look bad. For example, a live description of a Battle of Britain dogfight, when broadcast, garnered zero complaints and lots of praise from the public. But in the newspapers, it was “controversial”. On another occasion, Arthur Askey was berated for mentioning the weather as part of his routine. And there was a trumped up story complaining about a chicken farmer giving away secrets in a broadcast interview. No such interview, no such farmer, no secrets revealed. But the Daily Mail never let the facts get in the way of an opportunity to kick the BBC.
Now, I’ve got as many complaints about today’s BBC as anyone. There’s a reason I don’t listen to Today. But it’s clear from this book that there were heroic deeds done by BBC reporters in the war, and that the people of occupied Europe valued its broadcasts. And radio, short-, medium-, and long-wave, made great strides in the war.
The author’s name may be familiar to you from the Today programme on Radio 4. I have not been a listener to that programme myself for many years, but Stourton’s writing was immediately familiar. He has clearly absorbed the house style to a great extent, which made for an easy and relaxing read.
So what did I want, and what did I get instead?
I suppose what I really wanted was something akin to Penelope Fitzgerald’s novel Human Voices, which I read back in the days when I didn’t have time to review every book I read. Human Voices is about a group of people who work (and sometimes live) together at Broadcasting House during the Blitz. I was hoping that Stourton’s book would take me into the buildings and give me the flavour of sand that had leaked from sandbags crunching under my feet and the smell of overheated valves in the studios. Or the sights sounds and smells of places like Woburn Abbey, which were requisitioned by various units and turned into studios and transmitters.
What Stourton does instead is give an account of how the BBC invented it’s own style of war reporting during the second world war, having decided early on that telling the truth to the public – no matter how upsetting – was better than delivering comfortable lies. Which is not to say that the BBC wasn’t involved in propaganda, but there were more overt propagandists in the Political Warfare Executive and elsewhere, connected to the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Economic Warefare, and so on. A bewildering collections of initialisms and turf wars.
So the BBC really carved out for itself a unique role, and it was a slow old process, considering there was a war going on. It wasn’t until 1943 that the military agreed to contemplate the idea of embedded radio reporters. The problem being that the traditional approach was to have one correspondent per publication when it came to newspaper reporters. But for an operation like the BBC, the idea of just one correspondent was nonsense. For a start, most of the time, an engineer was needed, and the BBC wanted to embed reporters with different services and different units in different locations.
When it came, then, the reporting from D-Day to VE Day by the War Reporting Unit for the nightly War Report, was incredible and delivered by a group of brave men who became radio legends. Going in with the first wave at Normandy, being spilled into the sea by a mine, and surviving to deliver an eyewitness account in sodden clothes. Or parachuting in behind enemy lines, being on the wrong side of the Rhine at Arnhem, and swimming back across to safety. Wading onto the beach with a portable recording unit on your head. First reporter through the gates at Belsen. Killed in an American bombing raid.
And these portable recorders were new—and pre-magnetic tape. Reports were recorded using a crystal recording head on a disk, which was then sent back to be transmitted. One journalist crouched in a ditch while mortar rounds screamed around him, just so he could record their sound. It took two attempts.
Then there was Big Bertha, or Aspidistra, a powerful transmitter that was obtained from the United States and which became the battleground of the various services who wanted to use it. It was powerful enough to reach North Africa, and definitely various German cities, where it was used to hijack local radio broadcasts. What the BBC wanted, of course, was for the BBC to use it to broadcast their truth. But the Political Warfare people wanted to use it for blacker purposes.
Inevitably, in order to detail the BBC’s role, Stourton finds himself going into detail on the build up and aftermath of such events as Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, or the activities of SOE and the Resistance (old territory for me). And there is a lot of Whitehall-based disputation, battles with Churchill, Montgomery, Eisenhower, for permissions and over such things as censorship and propaganda.
And then there are such giants as Priestley and Orwell. I’ve always believed that Priestley’s short-lived Postscripts was taken off the air because Churchill demanded it. Actually, according to Stourton, it was Priestley himself who was prickly and primadonna-ish, and who did himself no favours with his behaviour and demands. For sure, Churchill didn’t like him, but he also had a tendency to self-sabotage. Orwell, on the other hand, swallowed a lot of his principles in order to join the India service to support the war effort—which was all he could do, given that he was never going to be allowed to serve in the military (because of his TB). Then again, it’s fairly certain that a lot of 1984 was inspired by his time at the BBC, including Room 101.
There were other figures who came up against censorship—especially in the early days of the war. Like the methodist preacher who started to go off his pre-approved script and was silenced by the so-called “switch censor”.
And it wasn’t just the government and the military that the BBC had to reckon with. Always and forever, they have their enemies in the press, who (as they so often do) simply made up shit to make the BBC look bad. For example, a live description of a Battle of Britain dogfight, when broadcast, garnered zero complaints and lots of praise from the public. But in the newspapers, it was “controversial”. On another occasion, Arthur Askey was berated for mentioning the weather as part of his routine. And there was a trumped up story complaining about a chicken farmer giving away secrets in a broadcast interview. No such interview, no such farmer, no secrets revealed. But the Daily Mail never let the facts get in the way of an opportunity to kick the BBC.
Now, I’ve got as many complaints about today’s BBC as anyone. There’s a reason I don’t listen to Today. But it’s clear from this book that there were heroic deeds done by BBC reporters in the war, and that the people of occupied Europe valued its broadcasts. And radio, short-, medium-, and long-wave, made great strides in the war.
November 30, 2022
Stourton’s tribute to ‘Auntie’ is as balanced as can be expected from a long-term BBC employee. It is a lively and widely researched study in which he argues that the affection of the BBC emerged from the Second World War years. During this period, it was a trusted friend at home and abroad. If ever there were a time when impartiality was at a justifiable discount. At this point the Government mobilised every branch of the media on behalf of the Allied war effort. That doesn’t mean that Stourton’s affectionate insider’s view is uncritical. But it tends to accept the BBC’s complicity with those in power as a given rather than a dereliction.
I listened to the abridged version available on BBC Sounds.
I listened to the abridged version available on BBC Sounds.
August 17, 2021
Via Audible.
As the BBC got going in earnest in the 1930's, war was looming. TV would cease till after the second world war, but radio would become a mainstay. This book gives some insight into pre war broadcasting before taking us through the war.
It was war that brought news to be a broadcasting mainstay- previously this had been minimised as newspapers feared declining sales. Then as now, Government and BBC interests and views clashed. The Ministry of Information wanted upbeat spins on events but the public knew when they were being fooled and demanded truth- the truthfulness and detail of BBC news would make it popular in other countries too. The MoI would try more than once to assume editorial control, and there would be disputes over when to broadcast losses- the BBC was once withheld from doing so for some time even though this allowed a German propaganda coup putting their spin on events.
The BBC would be a key propaganda tool. PG Wodehouse would be the first candidate to try and counter Lord Haw Haw, until his capture in Germany and persuasion to broadcast for Germany. The next candidate came in the perhaps unlikelier form of socialist playwright (yes, socialists can be patriotic!) J B Priestley whose broadcasts would rival Churchill's in popularity. Priestly tapped into something which would help explain Churchill's shock election defeat at the end of the war- whatever people were fighting for, it wasn't just to maintain the old status quo. De Gaulle would broadcast from London to galvanise the French resistance- satires on the French occuping forces would be transmitted too- think 'Allo 'Allo made in the 1940's. The rich tradition of radio comedy and satire begins here. Later, programmes would hide coded messages to the resistance. Though these would be curbed by the Vichy Government, BBC Radio remained vital to many- as late as 1944, Anne Frank in her hideaway would hear BBC programmes on the exiled Dutch Free Radio. America, in awe at London's resilience during the blitz, would also broadcast from here, even before the USA entered the war.
Churchill did not quickly warm to the BBC as he felt they had not paid him the attention he deserved in his wilderness years. He took time to adjust to radio and the public took a while to warm to his efforts too. Initial feedback suggested he sounded drunk; which, of course, he frequently was. Though he did not end Priestly's run , political concerns about the latter's socialism were an issue.
To an extent this was establishment BBC but there was progressiveness too- lack of men due to the fighting allowed female journalists and technicians to start to come into their own, though establishment misogyny was not quickly shaken. The BBC was reflecting changing times politically too. Later, the abdication of Edward VIII would give the BBC it's first home grown crisis.
The author is a former war corrrespondent and appreciates what it meant to on location in blitz strewn London or occupied Paris; there are fascinating stories. This is a rich and interesting chronicle that shows a BBC already central. Inveitably, as online TV grows, the terrestrial share diminishes but as this book shows, the BBC is more than this. Perhaps when our Governments cease their hero worship of the private sector, debts to Rupert Murdoch and regarding nationalist willy-waving as policy we will cease to undervalue it. Meanwhile, what is on the proms tonight?
As the BBC got going in earnest in the 1930's, war was looming. TV would cease till after the second world war, but radio would become a mainstay. This book gives some insight into pre war broadcasting before taking us through the war.
It was war that brought news to be a broadcasting mainstay- previously this had been minimised as newspapers feared declining sales. Then as now, Government and BBC interests and views clashed. The Ministry of Information wanted upbeat spins on events but the public knew when they were being fooled and demanded truth- the truthfulness and detail of BBC news would make it popular in other countries too. The MoI would try more than once to assume editorial control, and there would be disputes over when to broadcast losses- the BBC was once withheld from doing so for some time even though this allowed a German propaganda coup putting their spin on events.
The BBC would be a key propaganda tool. PG Wodehouse would be the first candidate to try and counter Lord Haw Haw, until his capture in Germany and persuasion to broadcast for Germany. The next candidate came in the perhaps unlikelier form of socialist playwright (yes, socialists can be patriotic!) J B Priestley whose broadcasts would rival Churchill's in popularity. Priestly tapped into something which would help explain Churchill's shock election defeat at the end of the war- whatever people were fighting for, it wasn't just to maintain the old status quo. De Gaulle would broadcast from London to galvanise the French resistance- satires on the French occuping forces would be transmitted too- think 'Allo 'Allo made in the 1940's. The rich tradition of radio comedy and satire begins here. Later, programmes would hide coded messages to the resistance. Though these would be curbed by the Vichy Government, BBC Radio remained vital to many- as late as 1944, Anne Frank in her hideaway would hear BBC programmes on the exiled Dutch Free Radio. America, in awe at London's resilience during the blitz, would also broadcast from here, even before the USA entered the war.
Churchill did not quickly warm to the BBC as he felt they had not paid him the attention he deserved in his wilderness years. He took time to adjust to radio and the public took a while to warm to his efforts too. Initial feedback suggested he sounded drunk; which, of course, he frequently was. Though he did not end Priestly's run , political concerns about the latter's socialism were an issue.
To an extent this was establishment BBC but there was progressiveness too- lack of men due to the fighting allowed female journalists and technicians to start to come into their own, though establishment misogyny was not quickly shaken. The BBC was reflecting changing times politically too. Later, the abdication of Edward VIII would give the BBC it's first home grown crisis.
The author is a former war corrrespondent and appreciates what it meant to on location in blitz strewn London or occupied Paris; there are fascinating stories. This is a rich and interesting chronicle that shows a BBC already central. Inveitably, as online TV grows, the terrestrial share diminishes but as this book shows, the BBC is more than this. Perhaps when our Governments cease their hero worship of the private sector, debts to Rupert Murdoch and regarding nationalist willy-waving as policy we will cease to undervalue it. Meanwhile, what is on the proms tonight?
June 18, 2020
Auntie's War is about the significance of the BBC during the second world war and how it became to be such the trusted media powerhouse we've come to take for granted today.
The importance of radio during the war should not be and is not understated in this book, and Stourton discusses many of the pioneering techniques that were required for successful broadcasting that are either taken for granted today or wouldn't even be entertained as a genuine consideration.
From broadcasting nearly no news to creating broadcasts recorded with a mobile gramophone like device (known as the midget) from German trenches, the power of radio surged, and Stourton does an excellent job of compiling accounts and sources to talk about the technological, political and logistical challenges that the BBC faced.
Some of my favourite sections included learning about different recording techniques; the time spent on air by George Orwell and the vast amount of bureaucracy that the BBC had to go through with regards to censorship for fear of giving the enemy an advantage on the battlefield. I was also astonished to learn of the Beeb's importance outside of Britain, being used as a propaganda machine in Germany, France, India and more. Why this wouldn't be the case I'm not sure, but it was interesting learning about the varying content and on air personalities that were used in different regions to boost the status of the Brits and diminish the Nazi influence.
At times, I found the book hard to absorb - the language is very prim and proper, and occasionally I found myself re-reading sections I'd not absorbed first time. That said, it's clear Stourton has a love for the source material and the subject, and for anyone with an interest in audio technology, radio broadcasting or world war two will find a lot to like here.
The importance of radio during the war should not be and is not understated in this book, and Stourton discusses many of the pioneering techniques that were required for successful broadcasting that are either taken for granted today or wouldn't even be entertained as a genuine consideration.
From broadcasting nearly no news to creating broadcasts recorded with a mobile gramophone like device (known as the midget) from German trenches, the power of radio surged, and Stourton does an excellent job of compiling accounts and sources to talk about the technological, political and logistical challenges that the BBC faced.
Some of my favourite sections included learning about different recording techniques; the time spent on air by George Orwell and the vast amount of bureaucracy that the BBC had to go through with regards to censorship for fear of giving the enemy an advantage on the battlefield. I was also astonished to learn of the Beeb's importance outside of Britain, being used as a propaganda machine in Germany, France, India and more. Why this wouldn't be the case I'm not sure, but it was interesting learning about the varying content and on air personalities that were used in different regions to boost the status of the Brits and diminish the Nazi influence.
At times, I found the book hard to absorb - the language is very prim and proper, and occasionally I found myself re-reading sections I'd not absorbed first time. That said, it's clear Stourton has a love for the source material and the subject, and for anyone with an interest in audio technology, radio broadcasting or world war two will find a lot to like here.
September 30, 2020
This is the fascinating story of the early days of BBC radio, affectionately known as ‘Auntie.’ In the 1930s the BBC concentrated on ‘talks’ on a wide variety of subjects but there was no News as we know it – there was a gentleman’s agreement with the newspapers that they should be the only source of news. When the BBC did eventually run a news service, it was broadcast after 6.30 pm so as not to affect newspaper sales!
The BBC gained national importance during World War II as people came to rely on it for information and news – the beginning of modern news reporting; of journalists putting themselves into danger to tell people what was happening. American reporters broadcasting from London changed the way that news was reported to make it more immediate.
The BBC also played a role in raising morale, with light entertainment (ITMA and the Brains Trust) and musical performances (British songbird Vera Lynn), and helpful programmes such as gardening – how to grow fruit and vegetables to augment their rations.
This book contains a great deal of detail about the politicking that went on behind the scenes during WWII. To be honest, a bit too much detail for me. For an evocative fictional story of the times I recommend Penelope Fitzgerald’s Human Voices.
The BBC gained national importance during World War II as people came to rely on it for information and news – the beginning of modern news reporting; of journalists putting themselves into danger to tell people what was happening. American reporters broadcasting from London changed the way that news was reported to make it more immediate.
The BBC also played a role in raising morale, with light entertainment (ITMA and the Brains Trust) and musical performances (British songbird Vera Lynn), and helpful programmes such as gardening – how to grow fruit and vegetables to augment their rations.
This book contains a great deal of detail about the politicking that went on behind the scenes during WWII. To be honest, a bit too much detail for me. For an evocative fictional story of the times I recommend Penelope Fitzgerald’s Human Voices.
March 11, 2019
This is an excellent book about the BBC's role as a news organisation during World War Two. It details the political battles around BBC independence in the face of a desire for it to focus almost purely as a propaganda organisation.
Indeed, the decisions made here put the current BBC to shame. The realisation early on that the best kind of propaganda was something as close to the truth as possible strengthened the perception of those listening - both inside and outside the UK - that the BBC was worth listening to. (Although there are exceptions to this - Stourton mentions the reporting on Dieppe as an example.)
Stourton covers how the BBC helped De Gaule, Murrow's role in broadcasting the Blitz to America (and how that example influenced a changed in BBC reporting style) and the battle between 'black' propaganda & the BBC's desire to tell the 'truth'.
It's purely focused on news etc - although there is a brief diversion into popular programming - but I'm sure that has been covered elsewhere.
Worth a read. Especially to remind yourself of when the BBC actually stood for something.
Indeed, the decisions made here put the current BBC to shame. The realisation early on that the best kind of propaganda was something as close to the truth as possible strengthened the perception of those listening - both inside and outside the UK - that the BBC was worth listening to. (Although there are exceptions to this - Stourton mentions the reporting on Dieppe as an example.)
Stourton covers how the BBC helped De Gaule, Murrow's role in broadcasting the Blitz to America (and how that example influenced a changed in BBC reporting style) and the battle between 'black' propaganda & the BBC's desire to tell the 'truth'.
It's purely focused on news etc - although there is a brief diversion into popular programming - but I'm sure that has been covered elsewhere.
Worth a read. Especially to remind yourself of when the BBC actually stood for something.
May 2, 2020
It would be easy to underestimate the role of the BBC during the Second World War, and indeed much of contemporary history has done just that skipping over the role of the BBC. This is addressed by Edward Stourton’s book here. Stourton covers the politics, the organisational structure and some of the key personalities throughout the war. The majority of the book focuses on the early war years 1939-41, though the whole war is within scope. More detail on the later war years would have certainly added to the book, the discovery of Belsen is mentioned, but receives relatively light touch treatment, as does the reporters who went in frontline troops. Stourton does an excellent job at conveying the innovation, and excitement that was driving the evolution in the use of the radio.
Auntie’s War is an excellent start to uncovering the history of the BBC, and does not get overly bogged down in what would have been significant Whitehall wrangling, but it does leave the reader wanting more. Accessible to the expert and interested lay person, this is highly recommended, and was hard to put down once started.
Auntie’s War is an excellent start to uncovering the history of the BBC, and does not get overly bogged down in what would have been significant Whitehall wrangling, but it does leave the reader wanting more. Accessible to the expert and interested lay person, this is highly recommended, and was hard to put down once started.
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October 20, 2020This thrilling disquisition on how broadcasting during World War II shaped the BBC has really struck a chord as the same organisation, albeit with much more than a single radio station has entered a similar kind of war footing. Once again it's getting the government's message across to the public whilst providing the necessary scrutiny when necessary, educating, entertaining and informing. During the war, the BBC proved its worth and once again, just weeks after it seemed like it was due to be wound up, it's confirming its importance again.
Other elements resonate. The work of the "black ops" teams filling the continental airwaves with radio stations authentic enough to convince the local population that they could sneak in propaganda and untruths are exactly the tactics employed now by fake news sites, combining standard news with the extravagant conspiracy theory. There's also a thread throughout about how the BBC's independence is forever under threat and how the people they seek to perlustrate are often also the ones with the capacity to defenestration it. It's a dense read but comes highly recommended.
Other elements resonate. The work of the "black ops" teams filling the continental airwaves with radio stations authentic enough to convince the local population that they could sneak in propaganda and untruths are exactly the tactics employed now by fake news sites, combining standard news with the extravagant conspiracy theory. There's also a thread throughout about how the BBC's independence is forever under threat and how the people they seek to perlustrate are often also the ones with the capacity to defenestration it. It's a dense read but comes highly recommended.
October 5, 2023
I found out about this book when I recently read Edward Stourton's memoir. It was quite interesting, although I didn't feel that it hit the heights.
Some areas of the book I found more interesting than other. For example, the section covering George Orwell#s contribution held my attention more than the fairly lengthy sections covering the coded messages going into occupied France, although this section did cover some of what I recently read in the Whalebone Theatre. I thought that this section could have been dealt with more economically. I also found it a little irksome that he frequently referred to the BBC as 'Auntie'. I realised that he was referring to his title and it is a term used when referring to the BBC, but I felt it overplayed.
However, it was interesting to read of the key role played by the BBC during the war - something that my parents often alluded to. It was also enlightening to read the discourse regarding the role of a public service broadcaster dealing with propaganda during a war.
Some areas of the book I found more interesting than other. For example, the section covering George Orwell#s contribution held my attention more than the fairly lengthy sections covering the coded messages going into occupied France, although this section did cover some of what I recently read in the Whalebone Theatre. I thought that this section could have been dealt with more economically. I also found it a little irksome that he frequently referred to the BBC as 'Auntie'. I realised that he was referring to his title and it is a term used when referring to the BBC, but I felt it overplayed.
However, it was interesting to read of the key role played by the BBC during the war - something that my parents often alluded to. It was also enlightening to read the discourse regarding the role of a public service broadcaster dealing with propaganda during a war.
August 8, 2019
A fascinating review of the role of the BBC, its various domestic and international wartime programmes and its relationship with government. The latter topic is where Stourton provides some valuable fresh insight, revealing as much about the tensions within government when it came to broadcasting as within the BBC itself.
It also provides a fitting tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of BBC staff during the war and especially after the invasion of Europe in 1944.
It also provides a fitting tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of BBC staff during the war and especially after the invasion of Europe in 1944.
March 27, 2026
Having just enjoyed Ministry of Truth - which includes mention of Orwell's time at the BBC during the way - I remembered I had this sitting on my shelves and was inspired to pick it up again.
I'm glad I did - it's a fascinating look at the developing role of the BBC during the war and how that shaped both the institution and the way we expect news to be reported.
I'm glad I did - it's a fascinating look at the developing role of the BBC during the war and how that shaped both the institution and the way we expect news to be reported.
March 6, 2018
Sadly another book that I lost the ability to carry on with due to the sapping virus that won't die doing the rounds this year.
Returned to the library and I'll have another go when my mind is in the right place!
Returned to the library and I'll have another go when my mind is in the right place!
August 1, 2018
A fascinating tour through the BBC's war record, covering broadcasts at home and away, propaganda, misinformation, secret codes, resistance, speeches, arguments and more. Engagingly written, meticulously researched, definitely worth a look.
September 13, 2018
The BBC was very busy during the war, entertaining, educating and informing both the home audience and many overseas. There is a lot of detail of both the mainstream broadcasting and more shadowy covert operations. Much of it was fascinating.
December 5, 2018
the back drop when writing fiction of this era often rely on 'pop' references and this does provide them, though they take a little teasing out.
July 2, 2020
Fascinating and very well researched. Stourton clearly knows his subject. I had no idea of the important part the BBC played during the Second World War.
July 4, 2020
Engaging study of radio’s power.
May 8, 2021
Really interesting!
June 11, 2023
BBC
Interesting story of the BBC or Aunty during war time. It was certainly surprising to learn how large the BBC TV service it was before the war ended it.
Interesting story of the BBC or Aunty during war time. It was certainly surprising to learn how large the BBC TV service it was before the war ended it.
May 10, 2023
Fascinating (if, in the style of all the best history books, occasionally strongly opinionated) history of the BBC during WWII, which in this case means a thorough exploration of radio and part of the founding mythos of objective journalism versus (or in same cases incorporating) wartime propaganda, as well as some fascinating side forays into individuals notable during this time period including Edward R Murrow and George Orwell. A delightful read.
November 8, 2017
Well observed history of the BBC during the Second World War. Probably the most exciting time to be in broadcast media.
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