A season of Remembrance
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four commemorates the end of the First World War with both a documentary and a drama production featuring the first black officer in the British army.
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There is also a new film from Professor David Reynolds exploring the untold story of the Armistice, the network premiere of Inside Out West's film, A Poem For Harry, and the transmission of the epic seven-part documentary series 1914 – 18.
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Armistice
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This documentary film looks beyond the sombre clichés of Remembrance Day to uncover the unexpected and often tragically absurd story of what really happened between the German request for ceasefire in early October 1918 and the Armistice on 11 November.
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Professor David Reynolds unravels the story of wounded egos, political scheming and brinkmanship behind the lines as statesmen and generals haggled over the terms of peace, while, at the front, the soldiers fought on.
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In a journey that takes him through command centres and battlefields, he explores why half a million men were killed or wounded in the bitter endgame of the 'Great War'.
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During these critical five weeks, Germany fell apart in revolution, leaving it unable to resist the Allies' terms. Little wonder that, for many Germans, the new order was a betrayal of all they had fought for.
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November 11 was not a peace, but a prelude to a century-long struggle for mastery of Europe.
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David Reynolds argues that the frenetic politicking and brutality of the fighting in the last five weeks sowed the seeds of the even bloodier Second World War just 20 years later.
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David Reynolds is the Professor of International History, Cambridge University, and a Fellow of Christ's College. He is currently presenting America, Empire Of History, an epic ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 series on the history of the Unites States.
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Armistice follows Professor Reynolds's acclaimed series Summits, broadcast earlier this year on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four.
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Walter Tull – Forgotten Hero
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Walter Tull was a pioneering black British footballer and the first black officer in the British army; he died heroically fighting in the First World War, and yet almost no-one has heard of him.
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Former EastEnders star Nick Bailey has long been obsessed by the incredible story of this forgotten black British hero. In this programme, Nick investigates war records to establish whether there was a colour bar in the British Army and asks how Walter managed to become an officer despite army regulations requiring only men "of pure European descent".
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And given that his commanding officer recommended him for one – why was Lieutenant Tull denied a Military Cross for heroism?
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Both Walter's parents died before he was seven years old; he was sent to an orphanage in London's East End, but despite that, he won a place in the first team of one of Britain's most famous clubs, Tottenham Hotspur.
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But after just seven games and great match reports, he received such racial abuse he never played for the first team again.
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Far from giving up, Walter rebuilt his football career and then signed up at the first opportunity.
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Nick Bailey believes everyone should know about the remarkable Walter Tull.
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Walter's War
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O T Fagbenle (Consuming Passion, Doctor Who, Breaking And Entering) stars as Walter Tull in ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four's fictional drama inspired by events in the life of Walter Tull, the first black officer to lead British troops during the First World War.
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Tull was also one of the first black footballers to play professional football for Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town between 1909 and 1914.
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Having shown considerable leadership qualities while serving on the Western Front, Walter is sent home to recuperate from a bout of trench fever. He learns he has been recommended for officer training at Gailes, Ayrshire, Scotland, a considerable promotion for any man serving his country but of greater importance for a black man at this time.
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However, while at Gailes Walter must fight against prejudice as well as the demons which haunt his dreams before he returns to the front.
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Walter was killed at the second battle of the Somme in 1918 at the age of 29.
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Writer Kwame Kwei-Armah says: "I wanted to give a voice to a forgotten hero. To help present to a new generation the achievements of this great man makes this project one of the most important I have worked on to date."
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Cast list also includes: Ewan Stewart as Sgt Fuller; Dugald Bruce-Lockhart as Captain Coombe; Samara MacLaren as Connie and Michael Wildman plays Edward Tull.
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Janice Hadlow, Controller, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four says: "Walter's War continues ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Four's established tradition of bringing viewers intelligent and stimulating dramas about fascinating subjects."
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Walter's War is written by Kwame Kwei-Armah, awarding-winning writer of Elmina's Kitchen. The producer is Ruth Caleb (Last Resort, Bullet Boy, Learners and Red Dust starring Hilary Swank), executive producer is Kate Harwood (Tess Of The D'Urbervilles; Cranford) and director is Alrick Riley (Spooks, Hustle, Hotel Babylon, Babyfather).
Walter's War was commissioned by Ben Stephenson.
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Kate Harwood, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Controller, Series & Serials, says: "Kwame Kwei-Armah has written a powerful drama based on an imagined period of Walter Tull's life. Walter's War is a bold and moving piece of storytelling."
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1914 – 18
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A re-showing of the acclaimed 1996 series telling the history of the Great War from the build-up to the conflict through to the Armistice and its aftermath.
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A Poem For Harry
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Introduced by HRH The Prince Of Wales, Poet Laureate Andrew Motion unveils his new work in honour of Harry Patch, Britain's last survivor of the World War One trenches.
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The network premiere of an Inside Out West film.
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Wilfred Owen: A Remembrance Tale
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Jeremy Paxman tells the tragic story of World War One poet Wilfred Owen.
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At a time of jingoism and wartime propaganda, one Shropshire lad was compelled to tell the truth.
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Jeremy Paxman travels to the battlefields of France to discover how the ugliest and most terrible arena imaginable gave birth to some of the most poignant and powerful poetry in the English language.
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Wilfred Owen is played by Samuel Barnett.
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Great War In Colour
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Throughout the Great War, Albert Kahn's photographers travelled throughout France, documenting the impact of the conflict on non-combatants in the towns and villages in the opening film of this two-part documentary The Civilians' Story.
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Albert Kahn also dispatched his photographers to the battlefields, where they recorded in remarkably intimate detail the everyday lives of French troops fighting on the Western Front. The Soldiers' Story shows the poignant images they captured as they journeyed through shattered landscapes of Eastern France.
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Their remarkable pictures also document the horrifyingly crude medical procedures at field hospitals; the first aeroplanes and the heavy armaments that were appearing in the war zone; the heroism of the nurses; and the endurance of an army which sustained more casualties than any other during The Great War.
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What Did You Do In The Great War, Daddy?
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Repeat of documentary telling the tragic story of the greatest loss of fathers in British history.
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When the nation was called to arms in the patriotic fervour of 1914 it was difficult to imagine that, four years later, half a million children would have lost their fathers in battle.
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The impact of their deaths was devastating and never forgotten by their sons and daughters.
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Now in their 90s, they go on an emotional journey to remember their lost fathers, culminating in a visit to their graves in France.
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