The History Podcast

Overwhelmed by enemy fire, Zulu Company have marshalled their casualties from the "killing ground" and staged a hurried withdrawal.Last to leave, Company Sergeant Major Shep Shepherd describes desperate efforts to account for their missing man.Senior Marine, Lance Corporal Mathew Ford cannot be found. Back at base - the decision is instant. A "no-brainer". "We're going back to get him." A small, mobile group of volunteers is assembled for the "dirty dash" - a race back to the scene of the battle in the Viking vehicles. Captain Chris Witts gives an insight into the nature of decision-making under pressure. But it's a plan that the enemy may see coming. An alternative option comes from a pilot high above them. The Fort is told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces.Produced by Kev Core.

The Royal Marines Commandos have launched their ground assault on Jugroom Fort.A jagged, v-shaped hole has been blasted into its side, and fresh from a nerve-wracking river crossing, the men of Zulu Company surge from their Viking vehicles to take up positions and press home their assault. This will be the location for "the break-in", the moment of any attack on an enemy encampment when the defences are breached. 5 Troop are the tip of the spear. Commanded by Al Weldon, Rifleman Marine Mike Cleary is "point man" - leading the way. Speaking for the first time about their experiences, Al and Mike describe the moment the eerie quiet of a seemingly deserted stronghold is shattered. Overwhelmed by enemy fire, Zulu Company regroup and attempt to marshal their casualties from the "killing ground". Last to leave, Company Sergeant Major Shep Shepherd describes last-ditch efforts to account for their missing man. Senior Marine, Lance Corporal Mathew Ford cannot be found. And as the enemy fire continues around them difficult decisions are made to ensure the safety of the rest of the company. The Fort is told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces.Produced by Kev Core

The story of Jugroom Fort takes a step back in time to the eve of battle. January 2007. The battle-hardened Royal Marines of Zulu Company assemble ahead of a massive air bombardment of the target, a notorious Taliban stronghold. Their orders include the possibility of crossing the Helmand River and attacking on foot. At 5am - that order is given. They're going in. Captain Chris Witts commands the amphibious Viking vehicles. As the treacherous crossing is made, the marines ready themselves. As they launch their attack, they discover that despite a night of heavy bomging - Jugroom Fort is far from deserted. Lance Corporal Glyn Sadler and Company Sergeant Major Shep Shepherd describe the switch from eerie silence - to an intense firefight. The Fort is told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces. Many are speaking for the first time.Produced by Kev Core

The Fort is told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces. Many are speaking for the first time. A Royal Marines raid on a Taliban stronghold has been met with fierce resistance - leaving Lance Corporal Mathew Ford missing behind enemy lines. Commander of the Information Exploitation Battlegroup Lieutenant Colonel Rob Magowan is presented with a live drone feed revealing the location of the Royal Marine. And he's warm. But a ground rescue attempt heading straight back into the hornets' nest presents formidable danger. Attack helicopter pilot Tom O'Malley has a plan - to fly in at speed with four armed volunteers on the sides of two Apaches. They will quickly grab Mathew and deliver him to safety from under the noses of the Taliban. But fuel is low and the clock is ticking. They need an answer now. And Lieutenant Colonel Rob Magowan says: "Do it."But who will go? Former Royal Engineer Captain Dave Rigg and serving Royal Marine Captain Chris Fraser-Perry take up the story. Produced by Kev Core

Afghanistan, January 2007. It's a piece of military daring that went down in history: Three Royal Marines and a Royal Engineer hold on to the side of Apache attack helicopters, heading into battle to recover a fallen comrade.Those involved in a gripping, almost unbelievable day, tell their story, many speaking for the first time.It begins with British forces, tasked with bringing security to Helmand Province in the South of Afghanistan. But Lieutenant Colonel Rob Magowan commanding the IX Battlegroup has a problem. Jugroom Fort. The Taliban command and control centre is a crucial route for enemy fighters making their way in from Pakistan. They train there. They rearm there. Jugroom Fort is the launchpad for attacks on British troops. But a bold plan to occupy the ancient stronghold with the battle-hardened Royal Marines of Zulu Company is about to meet intense resistance. And amid a gruelling firefight, a man is left behind. The Fort is told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces. Produced by Kev Core

For the first time, commanders, soldiers and pilots who served in Afghanistan tell their story of the gruelling assault on Jugroom Fort - and an astonishing rescue mission.

As people back home partied in the streets, celebrating victory in Europe in May 1945, war wasn’t over for the many thousands of soldiers and civilians on the Asian front. For those in Japanese prison camps, or fighting in distant jungles, it wasn’t always over on the day Japan announced its unconditional surrender on August 15th.Episode 3 of The Second Map traces the complex remembrance of the war on the Asian Front in Britain, India, and Japan, 80 years after it ended. We hear of the trauma of those who lived as prisoners and how they coped with life once back in Britain. And we learn how the horrors of war returned to veterans in their nightmares, and speak to descendants across Britain who are making new discoveries today about what their family members did in the war on the Asian Front. Creator, Writer and Presenter: Kavita Puri Series Producer: Ellie House Script Editor: Ant Adeane Sound Designer: James Beard Series Editor: Matt Willis Production Coordinators: Sabine Scherek, Maria Ogundele Commissioners for Radio 4 and The World Service: Dan Clarke, Jon ZilkhaOriginal music: Felix Taylor Archive Curator: Tariq Hussain Voice actor: Bhasker PatelWith thanks to Dr Diya Gupta, Dr Vikki Hawkins, Dr Peter Johnston, Professor Rana Mitter and Tejpal Singh Ralmill.

In Episode 2 of The Second Map, the war against Japan enters a new phase. Some of the most significant battles of the Second World War were fought on the Asian front - including by the 14th Army, which was known as ‘The Forgotten Army’, even at the time. It was formed after a string of defeats to Japan and was made up of nearly a million men, the majority from India and across the British empire. Their main aim: to win Burma back. Assisting them was a remarkable British woman from North London who became known as “The Jungle Queen,” and the tribal group she was living with. Their intervention would be critical. And we hear rare voices from Japanese forces, as the war shifts against them. Creator, Writer and Presenter: Kavita Puri Series Producer: Ellie House Script Editor: Ant Adeane Sound Designer: James Beard Series Editor: Matt Willis Production Coordinators: Sabine Scherek, Maria Ogundele Commissioners for Radio 4 and The World Service: Dan Clarke, Jon ZilkhaOriginal music: Felix Taylor Archive Curator: Tariq Hussain Voice actor: Dai Tabuchi Translators: Hannah Kilcoyne, Sumire HoriWith thanks to Dr Diya Gupta, Dr Vikki Hawkins, Dr Peter Johnston, Professor Rana Mitter and Tejpal Singh Ralmill.

We all know the heroic story of Britain fighting the Nazis in World War Two. But what’s less well-known in popular memory is the war on the Asian front, against Japan. Yet it touched many families across Britain. Their descendants are still uncovering stories today. On the same day as Japan’s attack on the US Naval bases at Pearl Harbor there were simultaneous strikes on British territories in South East Asia. Episode 1 of The Second Map charts the humiliating defeats that the British suffered by Japanese forces as they rapidly took key colonies in South East Asia. We hear from eyewitnesses who were in Singapore when it fell, and were then later captured and held prisoner. We hear from a 104-year-old veteran, who desperately wanted independence for India, but decided to fight alongside the British against Japan. And we explore why this part of the war is not as well known as the one against the Nazis. This is the other story of the Second World War. Creator, Writer and Presenter: Kavita Puri Series Producer: Ellie House Script Editor: Ant Adeane Sound designer: James Beard Series Editor: Matt Willis Production Coordinators: Sabine Scherek, Maria Ogundele Commissioners for Radio 4 and The World Service: Dan Clarke, Jon ZilkhaOriginal music: Felix Taylor Archive Curator: Tariq Hussain Voice actor: Dai Tabuchi Translators: Hannah Kilcoyne, Sumire HoriWith thanks to Dr Diya Gupta, Dr Vikki Hawkins, Dr Peter Johnston, Professor Rana Mitter and Tejpal Singh Ralmill.Includes archive material from ‘Singapore 1942: End of Empire’ (2012), Electric Pictures.

We may know about Pearl Harbor and how the war against Japan ended with the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But in popular memory, what happened in between is less well-known. Marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we hear of how defeat turned to victory, from epic battles in jungles, to one that played out on a tennis court and saved the British Empire, through remarkable testimonies from British, Indian, and Japanese soldiers who were there, as well as former prisoners of war and civilian internees. Plus we speak to descendants across Britain who are uncovering a family member's story of heroism, imprisonment, and survival.