Forgotten Battlefield: The Reunion

Posted on April 1, 2023 by

19 Comments

More than twenty years after the BBC made a film about the work of ‘The Diggers’ called ‘Forgotten Battlefield’, in this special edition of the podcast we bring together three of us connected to the film – Aurel Sercu from the Diggers, BBC Producer John Hayes Fisher and me, Military Historian Paul Reed. We look back on the work the group did, the making of the film in 2001, and what happened with the film was released the following year.

Forgotten Battlefield now available on BBC iPlayer:

BATTLEFIELD MAP:

PODCAST EXTRAS: 2001

PODCAST EXTRAS: 2023

Category: Archaeology, Flanders, Podcast Episode, Ypres

19 Comments on “Forgotten Battlefield: The Reunion”

  1. Great one, Paul! Have contributed a few pics of Yorkshire Trench under ‘As1 Battlefields ‘ on your FB post, a really fascinating and evocative area,
    Regards
    Andy

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  3. Hi Paul, not had chance to listen yet but so nice to see Aurel once again. We have helped each other over many years with research into the West Riding Regiment men buried in Aurel’s local cemetery Talana Farm or into those remermbered on the Menin Gate who were highly likely to be buried in the cemetery as unknowns. The black day of the gas attack at Bosinghe on 19th December 1915 was of great interest to us both, particularly as it involved my local regiment including my close neighbour’s grandfather To this day we have never met. We have come close when chatting to other volunteers at the In Flanders Fields Museum, but not on the day he was there. Hopefully on a visit in the near future we will make contact finally. Looking forward to the episode.
    Cheers
    Wayne

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      • Thanks Paul,
        Looking forward to that. If you need anything for that just let me know. I have much information on those buried within the cemetery from the WRR including photos and reports from the local newspaper regarding the gas attack and the effects on the local community.
        Cheers
        Wayne

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  4. That was really interesting Paul, your comments about the clinging clay reminded me of when I was fortunate to visit the Zonnebeke dug out when it was briefly open, I couldn’t resist touching one the uprights that was still muddy and dripping wet and despite bathing and scrubbing that mark remained on my finger days !

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  5. So enjoyed your podcast of The Forgotten Battlefield of the Diggers. Watched the documentary all those years ago .Hope it’s repeated some time.
    Kind regards John Wylie.

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  6. Fascinating. Was this too early for DNA? Just such a shame nothing was documented about this battle. And tragic that they were only just found after 85 years. May they rest-in peace now.

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  7. A great “reunion” podcast. Very interesting to hear about life on the cusp the Internet age as well as the attitudes towards the exhumation of the deceased soldiers.

    You took me to Yorkshire Trench on a “Walking Ypres” tour in 2003 when the events depicted in the documentary were still fresh and other members of the group mentioned the tv programme. Thanks for the link, I look forward to watching the programme again.

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  8. Watched ” Diggers” after listening to the podcast ,I never thought a documentary would cause that much controversy. I bet your pulse was racing at the discovery of the RWF soldiers. Heartbreaking to see those trenches covered up.

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  9. Just catching up with Podcasts and listened to this one today. I have also just watched the programme again. I really wish the dogtag could be found and using todays technology the soldier identified.

    Really enjoy your podcasts still. Keep up the great work Paul and thank you.

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  10. Is the Forgotten Battlefield video still on YouTube Paul? The link says it’s been removed by the BBC for copyright reasons.

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