Podcasts & Specials

It’s August 1990. The Berlin Wall has fallen and the Cold War has come to an end. British troops stationed in Germany aren’t expecting to go into battle, but in five months’ time they will be involved in the biggest build-up of military hardware since the Second World War. Listen as the decision makers, military commanders and ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen all reflect on their roles in the 1991 Gulf War, 30 years on. This is an original podcast series from BFBS. Presented by Jade Callaway. Produced by Jade Callaway and Jess Bracey Sound design by Joe Carden Edited by Josella Waldron Sir John Major spoke to Laura Makin-Isherwood, Forces News Major General Patrick Cordingley and Lord King spoke to Claire Sadler, Forces News Archive: Berlin 30: The Fall of the Wall (BFBS Radio 2019) The Gulf War: How did the British Army Prepare (BFBS TV 1990)

Thousands of British troops are heading to the Gulf to fight Saddam Hussein’s forces. But getting “desert ready” is no easy task when you’ve spent the 1980s preparing to defend Europe from Soviet invasion. There are tanks to prepare, aircraft to paint, uniforms to buy and everyone needs to be vaccinated to protect them from diseases such as anthrax and bubonic plague. On top of all that there’s a LOT of training to do. Listen as the decision makers, military commanders and ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen all reflect on their roles in the 1991 Gulf War, 30 years on. This is an original podcast series from BFBS. Presented by Jade Callaway. Produced by Jade Callaway and Jess Bracey Sound design by Joe Carden Edited by Josella Waldron With thanks to Tim Cooper, Emma Davies, James Hirst, Laura Makin-Isherwood and Claire Sadler at Forces News Archive: The Gulf War: How did the British Army Prepare (BFBS TV 1990)

Thousands of British troops are primed and ready to fight Saddam’s forces in the gulf. The training is done and now it’s time to wait. It’s a bit boring though, especially as smartphones haven’t been invented yet. So to lift morale they read their blueys from home, eat their NAAFI chocolate and tune in to their very own radio station. Listen as the decision makers, military commanders and ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen all reflect on their roles in the 1991 Gulf War, 30 years on. This is an original podcast series from BFBS. Presented by Jade Callaway. Produced by Jade Callaway and Jess Bracey Sound design by Joe Carden Edited by Josella Waldron With thanks to, Simon Guettier, Rory Higgins, BFBS Archivist Alan Grace and Claire Sadler at Forces News. NAAFI By Land & Sea (Copyright Sue A Lowe) Archive: The Gulf War: How did the British Army Prepare (BFBS TV 1990) The Prime Minister speaks to Forces Families in Germany (Simon and the Squad, BFBS Radio 1991) Interview with John McCullough from the BFBS Archive BFBS Announcer: Richard Astbury

Saddam Hussein has not withdrawn his forces from Kuwait and the UN deadline has passed. The air war is getting underway and the RAF takes to the skies adding to the firepower of the coalition. This is the real thing, not a movie and there is danger ahead for pilots, navigators and ground crew. Listen as the decision makers, military commanders and ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen all reflect on their roles in the 1991 Gulf War, 30 years on. This is an original podcast series from BFBS. Presented by Jade Callaway. Produced by Jade Callaway and Jess Bracey Sound design by Joe Carden Edited by Josella Waldron With thanks to Emma Davies, Laura Makin-Isherwood, Simon Newton, Rob Olver and Claire Sadler at Forces News BBC SFX library: NHU9720323, 07070016, 07025003. Archive: The Prime Minister speaks to forces families in Germany (Simon and the Squad, BFBS Radio 1991) The Gulf War: How did the RAF Prepare (BFBS TV 1990)

The air war intensifies but it’s still not enough to defeat Saddam. It’s time to bring in the ground forces. British Challenger tanks begin pushing towards Iraq as part of Stormin' Norman’s “left hook” manoeuvre. But it seems some soldiers are already behind enemy lines… This is an original podcast series from BFBS. Presented by Jade Callaway. Produced by Jade Callaway and Jess Bracey Sound design by Joe Carden Edited by Josella Waldron With thanks to: Lt Col Tim Purbrick for sharing his audio war diary. Emma Davies, James Hirst, Simon Newton and Claire Sadler at Forces News Archive: Forces News BBC Sound Effects Library: 07034194

Coalition forces have crossed into Iraq and Kuwait is liberated. But there is devastation. Oil fields are ablaze, lit by Saddam’s troops as they retreat. Was it the right time to stop? For some it’s time to go home, but others are in for the long haul and many will be back again. This is an original podcast series from BFBS. Presented by Jade Callaway. Produced by Jade Callaway and Jess Bracey Sound design by Joe Carden Edited by Josella Waldron With thanks to: Lt Col Tim Purbrick for sharing his audio war diary. Emma Davies, James Hirst, Laura Makin-Isherwood, Simon Newton and Claire Sadler at Forces News Archive: The Gulf War: How did the British Army Prepare (BFBS TV 1990) George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Jade and the team behind the podcast introduce some more (slightly random) stories from Operation Granby including: A Gurkha running into trouble, boozy shampoo, secret police shenanigans and tank art serendipity. Presented by Jade Callaway. Produced by Jade Callaway and Jess Bracey Sound design by Joe Carden Edited by Josella Waldron With thanks to: Lt Col Tim Purbrick for sharing his audio war diary.