BRISTOL AT WAR: Bristol History Series

The comprehensive story of Bristol at War, from the preparations for war right up to the jubilation of VE Day. Eye-witness accounts, extracts from personal diaries, wartime sound effects, historical artefacts, films and photographs bring to life major events of the war and the effect it had on Bristolians and the city of Bristol.
📺👀WATCH NEXT in the SPECTEL BRISTOL HISTORY SERIES:-
🎥 A HISTORY OF BRISTOL: • A HISTORY OF BRISTOL: ...
🎥THE DOUGLAS STORY: Douglas Motorcycle History Film • THE DOUGLAS STORY | Do...
🎥A CENTURY OF BRISTOL CINEMA HISTORY: • A CENTURY OF BRISTOL C...
🎥THE MATTHEW SHIP, BRISTOL: • THE MATTHEW : Ship Rec...
🎥A HISTORY OF KINGSWOOD FOREST: • A HISTORY OF KINGSWOOD...
🔔Make sure you've subscribed to my channel for more like this! kzbin.info....
📚Want to know more? Read this article which details the highlights of each documentary in the Bristol History Series and includes links so you can easily select which videos you'd like to watch! practicallyper...
Featured in the film are:-
Air-Raid Shelters
Blackout Restrictions
Evacuation of Children
Soldiers Returning from Dunkirk
Women's Land Army
Rationing
The Black Market
The Home Guard
The Messenger Service
Bombing of the BAC
The Bristol Blitz
Visits by Winston Churchill's, George VI and Queen Mary
Arrival of the Americans
Wartime Entertainments
VE Day Celebrations
A MOST COMPREHENSIVE RECORD OF BRISTOL DURING THE WAR YEARS!
"A striking account, compiled from the memories of the people who were actually there."
Our production company made this film in the early 1990s as part of our Spectel Bristol History Series. If you enjoy history and like this video, make sure you subscribe to this channel to see the rest of the series.
PRODUCED BY SPECTEL, BRISTOL
©Spectel
The Spectel history series includes:-
1- A History of Bristol
2 - Bristol at War
3 - A History of Kingswood Forest
4 -The Douglas Story
5 - The Matthew: Rediscovering North America
6 - A Century of Bristol Cinemas
If you've enjoyed this video, make sure you subscribe to my channel and click the bell icon to be notified when I upload other videos.
You can also find me in the following places:-
Website: practicallyper...
Twitter: / pracperfectmums
Facebook: / practicallyperfectmums
Instagram: / practicallyperfectmums
Pinterest: / ppms
Snapchat!: / janebatt
Like what you've seen? If you'd like to discuss the possibility of working together, please drop me a line
email practicallyperfectmums @ gmail.com
Technical:-
Filmed on broadcast quality equipment
Edited on Avid

[@PPMsTV]

Next in the Bristol History Series 🎥 *THE DOUGLAS STORY: Douglas Motorcycle History Film* kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJikp6R-apx4rs0

[@nikkib78]

Wow, just wow. My nan Joyce is in the programme, she sadly passed away nigh on 30yrs ago, was so lovely to see my nan alive and talking on here. This bought a huge smile to see my nan again. No wonder my nan was terrified of thunder after living through all this. Respect to all who had to live through the world wars

[@darrenquarterman2611]

Watching this make me feel how do we get back to times like this where we united as a county

[@NonConformist-ys4wr]

Doubt it ... goverment fear propaganda..... controls the sheep... too many people are now realising TRUE history....

[@MrDaiseymay]

An excellent detailed account, of Bristols experience of WW2

[@jamesstacey5408]

This is brilliant, so fascinating. I love see old footage of the centre especially Bridge St. Etc as its so different now with Castle Park. This should be shown in Bristol schools, so important for kids to see & understand as a lot of out history gets overlooked nowadays I think.

[@MrDaiseymay]

Naaaagh al they get rammed down the ear holes is what evil sods we were for Bombing Dresden.

[@wilsonflood4393]

Very interesting. More of this needed. Highly informative.

[@estherdeangelis]

Such an excellent documentary with a brilliant mix of first hand accounts, photography, film & narration. Really diverse aspects of war and the fearful bombing vividly brought to life. Such loss of life, history and beauty ... interwoven with incredible spirit, fortitude & creativity which is ultimately inspiring & important to remember at this time in 2021

[@MPM6785ChitChat]

Well said, great comment.

[@wellsteadfamilytv9687]

Thank you everyone who contributed

[@PPMsTV]

Absolutely, their stories are so interesting aren't they?

[@angelfriend5211]

My grandparents were born in Bristol in 1890 and 1903. I had a British father and a German mother who had opposed the Nazis. Despite this, my British grandmother never really liked my mother although she wasn‘t a Nazi. Not all Germans were Nazis, and yet, when I watch a film like this, I can understand where the dislike of Germans came from. A great film, thanks.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

The Blitz was in response to the RAF bombing cities and towns in Germany.

[@marine4lyfe85]

​@@JamesRichards-mj9kwFalse

[@michellepeoplelikeyoumurde8373]

​@@JamesRichards-mj9kwTroll

[@andyharding8630]

Absolutely brilliant, thank you .

[@PillSharks]

My old grand was working in Bristol and would walk from Pill to her work and back everyday and was in Bristol when it was heavily bombed, she said part of it was all flooded and she had to walk through it to get home! The only light she would see on her way home was a little lamp in the window at the George pub in Abbots Leigh.. sometimes she would walked along the river path or get a boat back to Pill as her father was a Pill Hobbler and boatman.

[@carolinecollett956]

I love the Bristolian accent . I am so pleased I also have this accent ♥️🙏

[@MrPaultopp]

Brilliant

[@PPMsTV]

Thank you!

[@keithwilliams1243]

I used to be proud of Bristol and proud of England, today I am ashamed of both.

[@jeremypnet]

Why? Bristol is the best place I’ve ever lived.

[@TheSuperHarrygeorge]

I know what you mean. Bristol born and bred and it has no community cohesion today .

[@villarule]

which bits make you ashamed? Things were not all sweetness and light back in the day. Nostalgia is very powerful but shouldn't make us blinkered to the bad things of the past

[@cedricwierzchowski3414]

Brilliant people

[@stephenfrench4417]

As a Bristolian having been born to a home in St George this was a very interesting video to watch. I am saddened that many of the wartime constructions and relics appear lost I know of only a few remaining bunkers and defense site such as anti aircraft bunkers and the like on the approaches to what is now Bristol airport. I find it the same throughout the UK I do feel some should be preserved as monuments to those fallen but also as a record of what can happen when Politicians fail. It is strange that the Heritage agencies seem to discount such places yet promote the places of historic wars, Castles monastic as listed buildings

[@stevethomas5849]

The finest generation that endured the Second World War

[@julieboyd5847]

Great video, shame about the subtitles, they really didn't work when it came to the names of places. Colston hall for example reads as coast & hall, St George - San Jose

[@PPMsTV]

Interesting. I didn’t add subtitles so I believe they’re self-generated and not always accurate. You should be able to turn them off if they’re not helpful!

[@TheSuperHarrygeorge]

Excellent documentary. Very sad to see the devastation on our wonderful city.

[@MrMetalChris]

I work in filton at gkn/Airbus site, loads of air raid shelters are still intact there just sealed up. Lived in horfield my whole life so used to seeing purdown gun placements, theres still a big air raid shelter in my next door neighbours garden.

[@MrDaiseymay]

Excellent, they won't catch us a 2nd time.

[@JohnSmith-ei2pz]

It was bombed and many fitters died!

[@clairepeace5783]

My mother and grandparents explained to me in the 60s what happened in Bristol during the war ! They lived at Bedminster down at the time ! My mother as a little girl had to go to the childrens hospital and was terrified when the sirens went off and staff tried to evacuate the children ! How people were on rations and started to grow their own veg ! Some never seeing an egg for all of the war ! Farms were used by the government ! City life during the war kids being taken away from their parents !! The Luftwaffe an elite air machine against our little spitfires ! Dunkirk ! A disaster ! But we as 🇬🇧 won ! And that was comradely and bravery and hope ! And that is 🇬🇧 even when we were bombed by the IRA we stood together 🇬🇧

[@robnewman6101]

20th Century's Emergency Services. Constabulary. Police. Fire & Rescue. Medical Service.

[@jeanbrown8295]

I was evacuated age nine,my foster parents were good people,but I still hated it there,I never stopped crying for the first couple of weeks ,I just wanted to go home to my parents,I would have willingly walked back to london if I could

[@PPMsTV]

I’m sorry to hear that. It must have been so difficult for you.

[@criscross572]

My dad and his brother ran away after abuse from there home, came back to Bristol and they went out looking for unexploded bombs after the all clear, still have some incendiary bombs that was extinguished with sand bags in his garage.

[@bivers4399]

Although traumatic, weirdly all the interviewees look back with fond memories of being united, sadly whatever has this country become it far from united and long gone are happier times.

[@robnewman6101]

Keep Calm and Carry on.

[@stevekelly5166]

Whilst I'm a Bristolian, no idea how this was recommended.

[@sam_avanti]

Fate my friend, glad I'm not the only one.

[@ShaunandGemma1986]

same, so random but obviously a good KZbin algorithm

[@villarule]

Anyone know the location at 4:18 ?

[@dommidavros2211]

When was this made?

[@boris8787]

Reminds me of the 1944 movie in the town of Chillingbourne.

[@kokobwild2413]

Back when to be English was to be selfless and to have empathy and to be brave. It's ironic that the people who bang on most about being English these days are the ones that are least like these people.

[@davidhewson1234]

Had boat in Bristol 88. Cabot boat was sailed opposite me. Dave

[@robnewman6101]

How Very Tragic Times!

[@deanlawrence3881]

I used to "play" (slosh about looking for wartime artifacts, you know, German helmets etc.) in the shelters that was then B.O.A.C. , (Big sign), used to get chased off by a single security guard, used to be a gap in the fence at the end of Knighton Rd. Just sayin'. Fantastic post.

[@debbiefrench664]

Born in keynsham also lived in kingswood

[@carolinecollett956]

My father was evacuated to the country with a Bristol city councillor

[@michaelbritton9778]

The Bristol people must have gone through hell in those times.

[@mary.e645]

Bristol city fell into the hands of talentless architect's and corrupt planners since the war. Big contractor's fill their pockets parasiting Bristol and I'm sure those in planning benefit from it financially, otherwise we might have had a truly loved and beautiful city, and that could only have happened if we had been determined to employ respectful architect's with talent. There are small pocket's of Bristol with a hint of it's ancient Soul we can still proudly point tourist's to, aplogising when overshadowed by tower's of a growing concete jungle and swathes of tarmac, potholes, and badly laid pavement's. George Ferguson you were at least that much better than the present day Mayor. Sadly the city has been taken by woke ideologies and this mental illness may never be cured.

[@carolinecollett956]

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine almost 12 months ago we've been making the case that the only real solution to the war lies in a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement. The current course of escalation on both sides can only lead to more catastrophe for the people of Ukraine and an ever increasing risk of nuclear confrontation. That's why we need you to get down to London on Saturday 25th February to mark the anniversary of the war by taking to the streets to sound the alarm for peace. Assemble at BBC, Portland Place, W1A 1AA at 12 Noon. Marching to Trafalgar Square. Speakers include Tariq Ali, Brian Eno, German MP Sevim Dağdelen (Die Linke), Lowkey and many more to be announced soon. Please support peace by being there before a nuclear catastrophe happens ❤🙏🌻

[@spannaspinna]

You mean 8 or 9 years ago

[@jeremypnet]

It’s a bit pointless, isn’t it? Neither side wants a ceasefire. Ukraine wants its land back and Russia wants to genocide Ukraine.

[@carolinecollett956]

Aged six, Barbara Windsor was evacuated to Blackpool to live with a married couple, but they sexually abused her and I believe she went back home to her mother. ♥️🙏

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

Who?

[@stevethomas5849]

The Great Actress Babs Windsor star of The Carry On Films and latter EastEnders.

[@robnewman6101]

WW2 1939-1945.

[@witnessprotection4075]

Holla

[@PPMsTV]

Hey you!

[@ultimate_pleb]

ahhh the glory days

[@austincromwell]

Anybody who thinks war was "inevitable" should watch "everything is a rich man's trick"

[@raynarks]

It’s was avoidable. They had their chance 2 years before. Same as what’s happening in Eastern Europe. Very convenient for some people.

[@JohnyG29]

Well its pretty inevitable if people like Hitler invade their neighbours willy nilly.

[@grahamthacker6498]

Bristol before it turned into a toilet.

[@brickbat44]

@@matt01506 Aye and they knock hartcliffe

[@brickbat44]

@@matt01506 bastard you touched my harp strings lol

[@brickbat44]

@@matt01506 Been away to long and som3etimes you forget and not been back after 15 years Working

[@brickbat44]

My mrs booked me a trip to Home next month lol

[@brickbat44]

@@matt01506 ferrets and nets

[@lawrencebishton9071]

Trisha's on

[@onepartofone]

1200 people died. Very sad. Between 600 thousand and 1,5 million of civilians died during the siege of Leningrad.

[@lawrencebishton9071]

Bristol got any old I on to whiegh in ?

[@allenschmitz9644]

Propaganda takes generations to bloom.

[@MrDaiseymay]

Well the Germans invented that skill.

[@allenschmitz9644]

@@MrDaiseymay USA no,#1.

[@lawrencebishton9071]

The black out during the mine train operation had a ford out on training operations during the Lew offer

[@JohnSmith-ei2pz]

1940's they started arriving!

[@lawrencebishton9071]

2.2 hillboxes you have to be carefull the hills have eyes

[@lawrencebishton9071]

The polish germ Ann's caused a loud bang that blew the shutters off the phill boxes on the hills during which the Sherman tanks was on way

[@peterwhitaker4038]

bad choice of sectaian music at the end of this excellent video. those in Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool will know what i am talking about.

[@wilsonflood4393]

Is the tune not "God bless the Prince of Wales" ? Simply a military tune. If you are British there can be no offence. Anyone from the Free State was not involved in the war so have no say in what a UK band plays.

[@peterwhitaker4038]

@@wilsonflood4393 the tune is more recognised as a protestant marching song referred to 'Derry's walls' as subg and played by orange lodges in Belfast, Liverpool and Glasgow also a root song of Glasgow Rangers F.c. it's anti Catholic. You don't have to be from Ireland to be Catholic . See it's started something which is why I suggested a more appropriate tune at end.

[@wilsonflood4393]

The tune is the tune. As played in the video it is wordless. Bristol borders Wales and no doubt some Welsh people were killed in the bombing. It is a Welsh unionist song as Derry's Walls is an Irish unionist song. Oh dear, have we upset some Provos, distracting them from murdering a decent Belfast mother giving succour to a dying British soldier or from blowing up two wee boys in Warrington. We can't have that now can we? The song is NOT anti catholic. It is anti Irish Republican and no doubt annoys those who wave Irish tricolours at Celtic Park which I have always thought must mightily confuse European teams wh think they are playing a Scottish team.

[@peterwhitaker4038]

@@wilsonflood4393 see what i mean? The 'tune' has opened a can of worms and we are now in full flow. Go to Ibrox park and ask them if they are just anti-irish or anti-Catholic.

[@gvdlpgg2406]

I have to ask, do you come from the Glasgow area or Liverpool or N Ireland?

[@lawrencebishton9071]

Yea was that during the mandar Tory evacuations

[@lawrencebishton9071]

Ark eyes for the UN I verse city from a bright flash that caused the river banks to gush

[@lawrencebishton9071]

Being a cash machine it's agrovating having money being pulled out of your head and knob infact it means my nob is 1 rub is worth the Bristol section by the looks of the math of it

[@lawrencebishton9071]

This was during the Moto roller parking lies on English land clearly states has signed so why is it on English land my land with out paying the 7 trent ?

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

The Blitz was in response to the RAF bombing cities and towns in Germany.

[@michellepeoplelikeyoumurde8373]

LIES!

[@jeremypnet]

@@michellepeoplelikeyoumurde8373it’s more complicated than that. It’s true that the RAF bombed Berlin during the Battle of Britain and that led to a change in German targets from military to cities. However, they did have previous form - you’ve probably heard of Guernica. Anyway, we visited a hundred times more destruction on Germany than they did us.

[@lawrencebishton9071]

Cork guns and phone hacking 🤣

[@lawrencebishton9071]

Viccy pole hard was Vic Tory us during the mandar Tory evacuations the pill boxes on the hills had to be security's at hall costs

[@brickbat44]

Wills cig factory thank god was not hit lol or otherwise cigs would be on the blackmarket