In 1940, for 113 harrowing days, Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe unleashed relentless attacks on Great Britain, aiming to secure an early victory in World War II.

The defence of southern England fell to the brave pilots of the Royal Air Force, joined in their hour of need by over 100 Canadian airmen. These men, hailing from all walks of life—some from prominent families, others fresh off the farm—served with distinction in 47 different Battle of Britain squadrons.

In this episode, Ted Barris, author of Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in their Finest Hour, joins me to explore their incredible contributions during this pivotal chapter of the war.

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In 1939, incredibly, the British Army still fielded cavalry units that had yet to be mechanised, relying on horses as they prepared for war. When conflict broke out, these regiments—many of them Territorial Army Yeomanry units—were mobilised, with horses being requisitioned to meet the demand. By 1940, the 1st British Cavalry Division was deployed to the Middle East, where they would play a significant role in Operation Exporter, the Allied invasion of Vichy-controlled Syria.

Today, I’m joined by Jonathan Washington, author of Fighting Vichy from Horseback: British Mounted Cavalry in Action, Syria 1941, to explore this fascinating chapter of military history.

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During the Second World War, the Home Intelligence Unit—a branch of the Ministry of Information—was tasked with monitoring public attitudes on the home front. They compiled confidential reports on the state of popular morale, which were circulated among decision-makers in Whitehall.

These reports offer a fascinating insight into how ordinary people coped with the stresses of wartime life, their hopes for victory, and their fears about what the post-war world might bring.

Joining me today is Jeremy Crang, Professor of Modern British History at the University of Edinburgh. Together with his late colleague, Paul Addison, Jeremy has edited three volumes of these reports (Our People's War, The Spirit of the Blitzand Listening to Britain), bringing to light the voices and concerns of wartime Britain.

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