England at war: photographs from 1940-1945

Here I present a series of photographs of England during the course of the Second World War. We begin with the Bliztz on London in 1940, with the sound of air raid sirens and huge fires. This leads in to the great rallying speech by the British PM, Winston Churchill and then we hear the wonderful song "White Cliffs of Dover" with photographs taken throughout the wars years to VE Day in 1945.......
Please note: the photos shown do not include the rest of Britain, as I am not able to find any colour photos of wartime Scotland, Northern Island or Wales....... no disrespect intended.
Music:
The White Cliffs of Dover" by Vera Lynn

[@tomrusack3266]

They pulled together because they weren’t lied to or treated like cattle. Pride in country and their fellow countrymen

[@marinedrive5484]

Exactly right, fought and died to preserve freedom, liberty and country, only to see it all now given away - The Great Betrayal.

[@LennyJohnson5]

tom cousins They were treated as cannon-fodder by the upper classes though. Laudable men, turned into brave soldiers, but lied to and let down nonetheless.

[@MrDaiseymay]

@HiggsField Don't lose sight of the fact that--if you don't retaliate and defend yourself, you become slaves. We already knew what the nazis had done in other country's. 'Churchills --''We shall NEVER surrender'', was the right message.

[@drayboydog]

Every war is the same, people are lied to, incite hatred and kill on a mass scale another group, often where that hatred would not normally exist. Always on some false pretext, and always because those that don't have to fight and die because of their "status" can redistribute the wealth.

[@markfox1545]

Sorry to tell you but not everyone pulled together. Crime went through the roof during the war. Sexual assaults rocketed during blackouts.

[@JoRonnamo]

How beautiful to see Old England without monstrous tower blocks, estates and betting shops on every block... Sigh.

[@robertmiller5258]

But lots of poverty in the back streets

[@stealthyguy1784]

Go out your front door and witness the poor 😔

[@derin111]

Doesn’t show the masses of under-nourished children living in poverty in damp, tuberculosis infested slums either...and those were the ones lucky enough to have survived beyond infancy.

[@JoRonnamo]

@@derin111 I was talking about the aesthetic beauty but thanks for taking a dump on that.. Do you think of the malnourished slaves who built the Taj Mahal when you look at that as well? Get a life.

[@JoRonnamo]

@@emil_rainbow did you look up the meaning of that big word for you?

[@pwiller7980]

Beautiful, just beautiful. An era that has long gone. Very nostalgic.

[@dlevi67]

The image at 3:39 has changed very little (other than for traffic, and more trees!). It's in Henley-on-Thames (Thameside and the Red Lion Lawn, seen from Henley Bridge)

[@myfilm18]

Is it just me? Despite the horrors of war I see so much in these old photographs that has been ruined over the course of time. When these photos were taken, UK cities were not blighted with massive tower blocks, houses did not have crazy extensions built on them, the population was fairly homogeneous, large parts of the countryside were still unspoiled, etc, etc...................

[@russefrance4869]

That is the yesterday that we long for. Today is the yesterday that others in 50 years will equally cherish.

[@chestercopperpot9294]

Makes you think did the right side win.

[@girlgirl4548]

@@chestercopperpot9294 The right side won but the shtty politicians have just given our country away over the last thirty years. Bstrds!

[@kernow9324]

I flew from Newcastle to Newquay (Cornwall) recently and was very pleasantly surprised to see just how much unspoilt countryside there still is between cities. As I got closer to home, Cornwall looked positively uninhabited from the air. Completely agree about overdevelopment in cities and towns though. We don't have the infrastructure to deal with it.

[@Shoshun2]

@@chestercopperpot9294 No it doesn't

[@junsunglee1256]

I am teenager ,..even not english but I can not forget Very lynn's voice and 1940s england pictures...

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Thank you very much Joseph. I am really pleased you enjoy the voice of the wonderful Vera Lynn and the fascinating photos of England from my parent's time.... Nigel

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

I am glad you like the pictures. Other fils and pictures of this era can be found on KZbin, if you look for Pathe News

[@drjthornley]

This was a beautiful place to live. There are still pockets of it here and there.

[@London1064]

This was when this beautiful island nation of ours had a back bone and people where immensely proud to be living here. All we have today is people fighting within. So very sad.🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@christopherdenniston9798]

Really? I think not, we've always talked this country down, only now we realise what we've lost

[@drayboydog]

Today having a backbone is usually called hate speech, which in turn destroys careers, families and often comes with a prison sentence. All purposefully orchestrated for what we are witnessing right now in 2020

[@timwilkinsongs]

Excellent. This should be shown to our children as part of their history lessons.

[@edmundblackaddercoc8522]

Nah they got drag queens to read em stories these days.

[@josemariapedraz3550]

Si, nunca olvides

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

what history lessons?

[@timwilkinsongs]

@@TheOwlsarewatching606 Good lord, have things got that bad?

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

@@timwilkinsongs yes

[@whiteonggoy7009]

Mum hide me in the Anderson shelter when dad was away...he was lucky he came back but never the same,even sad thanks for the memories

[@maxwellfan55]

Tell us more please?

[@whiteonggoy7009]

@@maxwellfan55 dad talked very little about the war days but later he did tell me stories,at the age of about 20 we bonded more

[@maxwellfan55]

@@whiteonggoy7009 Thank you. My mother lived near Chatham RN Dockyard. Her street was bombed, the doctor losing his house opposite. Mum's front door was blown off and landed halfway up the stairs! She married my dad who was in the RAF, all survived.

[@whiteonggoy7009]

@@maxwellfan55 I was close living in sandwich

[@jackie0604oxon]

@ My dad and his family were in Leicester, they could see the glow in the sky from Coventry's bombing from there. Truly awful.

[@normansilver905]

The resolve of the British people really showed through during these very difficult times. I see that period as one on Britain's greatest periods. All who helped did so magnificently!

[@resnonverba137]

Amen.

[@kevinwilliams1602]

A shame it turned out so badly today, our Darkest Hour was actually joining that cess pit of the European Union aka the Common Market, we were not even offered a referendum, just total capitulation to the Germans and French

[@louise_rose]

Agreed

[@grottybt5006]

It destroyed our empire and ruined us, now we have a real invasion and it's not Germans. Biggest embarrassment ever, we chose the wrong side. Sliver is a common jewish name, lord behold

[@doeharris5363]

Absolutely marvellous, l wasn't born then but people were so brave. 😊😊😊😊🐱🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@lylecosmopolite]

The woman you hear singing is Vera Lynn, who died 18 June 2020, age 103. One minute of silence, please, for a great British woman.

[@harleyblue999]

In a word precious a treasure my mam and dad was alive then somewhere out there in England.

[@dulls8475]

I think like that, but wonder what my grandfather was doing when the picture was taken...

[@stestewart1119]

How clean and tidy everything looked no cars.. No clogging up the streets kids playing... lovely little towns..... Its not like that now.....

[@jimmorris5700]

Yeah 60 hrs weeks an Staggering home with six shopping bags for a mile or twoSlipping on the ice to the outdoor bog up road to the water pump and I have a crown to the doctor bloody fool

[@Mpayne1472]

Thank God

[@davidpillinger2699]

Absolutely superb video Nigel. Wonderful photography accompanied by the bitter-sweet Vera Lynn tune.

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@beegee22]

Love that song. It quietly reflects the resolve and hope of the British which carried them to victory.

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Just a different era with different values. Diversity was not seen till the end of the war and the 1950s

[@beegee22]

@@NigelFowlerSutton What does diversity have to do with comments as to the resolve of the British people during the Second World War?

[@johnnyfrisco5354]

Extraordinary collection of wonderful photography. Thank you

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@davewilson4058]

SIGH, A look back at my childhood in Surrey during the war years. I was 5 years old at the start and remember having to carry my gas mask with me every day when going to school. We boys had a great time when we had the morning drill and had to put the masks on. It wasn't long before we discovered that if you blew into the mask it emitted a farting sound from the sides. This caused a lot of laughter and sharp words from the teacher. I can still recall the wet concrete smell of the shelter's we went down into during the blitz.. The concentrated orange juice and cod liver oil the government issued to help with our health. Sweet rationing, The drone of the bombers in the night passing over us, the searchlights crisscrossing the sky. The guns firing and the ping of shrapnel bouncing on the roads. Fossicking in the garden and picking up burned out incendiary bombs as souvenirs. A German pilot dropping into our road and being taken into a house and given a cup of tea and a piece of cake whilst waiting for the army to come and pick him up. By 1942 there were a lot of German and Italian prisoner's working on the railway and nearby farms. We still had the occasional raid, but on a much smaller scale. One time a lone fighter buzzed and shot at our school at low level, but he was soon chased off by Hurricane's. In 1944 the buzz bombs started and at first they were very frightening, but we soon learned that as long as the distinctive sounding engine kept going you were safe. Luckily we were just too far out from London to get the V2 rockets in Woking. There are many other memories of those days, some exciting, some terrifying and Looking back, I am so glad I am of that generation and proud to have experienced a , (hopefully,) once in a lifetime adventure.

[@oldman1734]

Did your gas mask have a “Micky Mouse” nose? Mine did!! Also one of the worst things about going down the shelters when you are five was having to hold hands with GIRL(!!!) Urg. Still my opinion about girls changed somewhat dramatically soon after.

[@funkydozer]

The country looked so clean and cared for, even in the cities. People had pride back then. Gone times.

[@stephenmatura1086]

"...we shall fight them on the beaches" - not any more we don't.

[@adscri]

Stephen Matura Pointless as those of neo-Nazi disposition now reside and thrive in our cities and towns.

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

@@adscri not to mention hard-core Marxists

[@PeterPete]

lol!!!

[@nazarene5680]

Winston Churchill would turn in his grave at how weak we have become. We can’t even make our own face masks. Terrible

[@stephenpowstinger733]

Nazarene poor Winston found out quickly after WWII just how fast the mood towards his core beliefs were drifting.

[@sawleyram7405]

@@stephenpowstinger733 His core beliefs are quite separate to simple patriotism.

[@bossamood6536]

@@sawleyram7405 But after the war the simple patriotism (required to defeat the enemy during the war) would no longer be needed? Whether core beliefs or simple patriotism or not, after the war, attitudes would necessarily need to change for example in the rebuilding of towns, cities, economy, commerce, industry and so on; all this would need a very new, forward thinking strategy and outlook i think. But I absolutely agree with Nazarene and believe that current UK politicians have neither the guts, patriotism or core beliefs for this country past their own self-interested gains and are weak and ineffective.

[@Richard-pe4cx]

yes we can but our government prefers awarding contracts to foreign companies some that are substandard .

[@makeacomment1001]

You made me laugh. In good way. From old war photos to face masks today

[@genekelly8467]

The photos are great-being American, I can appreciate the tremendous struggle that the British people had to win. So sad that the UK of today is not like this.

[@FiveSigma72]

Be sad about your own country, you are being led by historys biggest asshole.

[@derekantill3721]

Excellent video, it brought back some memories for me as a child during the war.

[@ЛараКосовцева]

There''ll be bluebirds over, The white cliffs of Dover Tomorrow. Just you wait and see There'll be love and laughter, And peace ever after Tomorrow. When the world is free. Thank you, Nigel. Warm greetings! L

[@annabeltheunicorn9374]

Trouble is there are no bluebirds in Dover or anywhere else in the uk . Not native to the the british isles in any shape or form

[@ianjohnboy]

@@annabeltheunicorn9374 erm kingfishers are blue birds and so are blue tits .

[@annabeltheunicorn9374]

I suppose so but i think bluebirds are a american species

[@LennyJohnson5]

We live in a beautiful country; I know time and age tend to make our viewpoint a little jaundiced, but it still is. Change is inevitable, but the old place is still glorious.

[@LennyJohnson5]

Jésus Rapigay I live in the South Wales valleys - my grandfather worked in the same mine for 51 years; there’ve always been working-class and deprived areas. It shouldn’t blind you to the beauty that has always been on our doorsteps, and still is. Sometimes your determination to hold on to your class-identity can hold you back, rather than being a badge of honour. Look around you - there’s beauty everywhere if you just look hard enough.

[@LennyJohnson5]

Mark Stevens The nurse has put them down her bra and glued my teeth together...

[@LennyJohnson5]

David M It was ever thus... every generation mistakenly thinks the past was better: “The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.” Socrates.

[@frugalitystartsathome4889]

Jésus Rapigay excuse me, some of us live there and are in a better position than most to be aware of the beauty that exists in the North-East - you clearly don’t, or you wouldn’t be making such ignorant, sweeping statements

[@stanleywoodison8699]

I shouldn't have watched it ,it made me cry..

[@hannecatton2179]

We should never forget those people on that island who defied Hitler when all Europe had fallen and everybody was saying ´give up , you cannot resist the greatest military force the world has ever seen´, including the snarky Joe Kennedy ! They resisted , held off the Luftwaffe and preserved that stepping stone for the eventual invasion in Normandy. What people , what courage !

[@danieljames2015]

Thanks for that. USA were quite special in that time as well. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada all sacrificed so much.

[@oscarfordson9064]

Hanne Catton as Winston said “some chicken some neck”

[@stumccabe]

Hanne Catton . Thank you. The USA was a true friend to the UK. I believe Joe Kennedy was inculcated in anti-British Irish republican prejudice and couldn't be objective about who were the good guys and who were the bad guys.

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

They are called “The Few”.

[@adscri]

Yes they fought. But don’t falsify history. Were it not for the Russians, we’d all still be saluting Adolf’s successors.

[@jeffsparey9585]

Absolutely beautiful photo,s

[@juliegale3863]

This brought back my childhood age 4 to 10.

[@Dezzasheep]

I live near an old RAF base in south london (RAF Corydon), in a house built during 1935. I often sit and stare into the sky, trying to imagine how the contrails would have appeared at the height of the BoB 80 years ago.

[@pim1234]

I am Dutch and born after the war but after Churchill and Vera even i have tears in my eyes ....

[@markbaldwin9878]

Deserves more views

[@colinharbinson8284]

Very moving, don't think I'll bother reading the comments below, as I can guess most of them.

[@LolaK]

Excellent video.. photographs from 1940-1945 '' thanks

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Thank you very much, dear Lola. Greetings and best wishes. Nigel

[@Oliver-tm7jm]

Thank you for sharing these photos....it makes me very nostalgic. My Grandad used to tell me (when he was alive) how beautiful his country was and what great lives they had even though they were poor and had nothing. Before he died he told me that the country has gone to the dogs and I have to agree.

[@caroldickens3028]

I am so proud of what my grandad did in the war, he worked all day at his job on the railway, then come home, quick tea & put on his ARP coat and hat then off to do his bit for the war. My grandad never told me how hard and dangerous it was, but my god my heart bursts with pride for him & every other person who endured the 2nd world war. Thank you every one of you 💞 🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@christianvancara8255]

Lovely Song & Lovely Photos.... Me Mam was a Land gurl & Me Dad went over the Aden,such a hard time,but folk helped each other,sadly Hull got badly bombed.. The World changed a lot afterwards... We still need to Cherish the Simple Pleasures in life😘

[@dogsbollox5]

Absolutely amazing photo's. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@martinmason5008]

Terrific. Thanks. Looking at this on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning in September 2020, Detroit. Proud of my roots and parents who served in this conflict. Then again, all those in Britain did as these great photographs attest. The smiles weren't strangers.

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

Greetings Detroit!

[@almeggs3247]

Beautiful. God bless you!

[@livesteam]

Beautifully made ... The speech of Sir Winston Churchill, full of hope and which in the end would lead to a United Europe in Peace .. A hope which the Likes of Farage and Bojo have shattered into smithereens ... Poor Britain

[@col4574]

THEY are the new Tories....AKA fascists like Hitler's lot.

[@geoffreystyles6783]

I WAS BORN IN 1929. I WAS A MESSENGER LAD AT AGE 12 IN THE CIVIL DEFENCE. I WAS AN RAF CADET IN 1944 AT AGE 14. I SLEPT IN AN AIR RAID SHELTER EVERY NIGHT WHEN I WAS NOT OCCUPIED WITH 'WAR WORK'. I SPENT THREE SUMMERS WORKING ON FARMS - A HIGH SCHOOL BOY. WE TRUSTED CHURCHILL - HE WAS OUR LEADER AND SAVIOUR. WE LOVED HIM. I HAVE MANY MEMORIES. TODAY MOST YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TOOK PLACE OR HOW MUCH THEY OWE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE ALL THEIR ALL.

[@Nina5144]

Great video. My mum lived in Bethnal Green during WWII (born in 1932) and she told us of the doodle bugs, the awful moment when they went quiet. These photos are wonderful. I love watching Foyle’s War with Micheal Kitchen as Detective Foyle. Set in Hastings, we are are given an interesting take on the war years.

[@783nata]

War is the worst thing that could think of humanity... we Will seek peace on the planet. Thank you very much, dear Nigel! Happy weekend! Hugs!

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Thank you my dearest Natasha for your attention. When I look at the state of the world, today, I think MANkind enjoys making war!!I believe is an Utopian dream...... but despite this, I wish you a good and happy weekend and send you a big hug! Nigel

[@timhickman3407]

Blimey! The blitz photos looked like Portland, Oregon today!

[@satishvaghela4567]

Excellent Nigel 👍👍👍👍👍 love from India 🙏

[@jamesoneill5070]

In Manchester we had the lovely Piccadilly Gardens which was sunk below ground level with a riot of blooming flowers. It is now a concrete mess full of junkies. Heaton Park and Boggart Hole Clough had, and still have, boating lakes. The only difference is that the boats have gone. Come in number 91, your time is up. We haven't got a 91. Number 16, are you in trouble?

[@tinahardman9805]

I remember Piccadilly Gardens in the 1970's and how beautiful they were. I used to sit there with Mum on trips to Manchester. I am appalled at the disgrace it is today.

[@PeterPete]

When I lived in Manchester, early 2000's most parks under Manchester City Council's (labour) jurisdiction didn't have flower beds in them. The only time I saw flowers on any council property was hanging from the Town Hall (got to keep that building looking nice). Anyway you should move to Trafford (tory) at least they had flower beds in parks, well they did when I walked through Longford Park!!!

[@TravelsWithPhillip]

Great sharing dear Nigel, wonderful song! we love the peace! Thanks my friend Have a nice weekend, Peter and Phillip :-)

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Thank you very much, Peter and Phillip. When I see the state of the world, today, peace fels far away. Have a good weekend. Nigel

[@onthemove301]

And all of it thrown away by every British politician since Churchill, with the sole exception of Thatcher.

[@col4574]

wrong.

[@jakestilson1947]

The post war Attlee government saved this nation from collapse and possible starvation. Export or die rebuilt the country that still punches above it`s weight.

[@patriciahopewell5291]

@@jakestilson1947 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@ChrisSmith-bw1nt]

You forgot Thatchers privatisation frenzy, I'm not sure but I think maybe all our utilities are foreign owned.

[@oscarfordson9064]

These are great photos and they conjure up a bygone time. I am in my early 70s born in 1949. I recall my mother saying say that for those on the home front during the war it was all pretty grey and folk were always hungry but there was the occasional splash of colour with a wedding or coming of age and some things carried on ........like the procession shown here.

[@davidproudfoot6668]

There is a rare photo of the High Street in Moreton-in-Marsh, Cotswolds. The Redesdale Arms Hotel shown on the left is still the same today as it was then and worth a visit. Remarkable!

[@maccagee693]

There were none of the conveniences or technology, everything manual BUT there was community spirit and the bits unaffected by the bombs looked lovely.

[@junsunglee1256]

and thank you nigel...

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

..... and I thank you Joseph for taking the time to visit and comment. Have a good day! Nigel

[@kevinwilliams1602]

Good to see the Union Flag flying, a criminal offence today

[@col4574]

Often flies here,

[@paulbroderick8438]

And now? Everyone has a degree in useless subjects, oh so educated, and the country manufactures nothing anymore, all reduced to service industries.

[@davidthompson4662]

Brought to it's knees by the EU.

[@oscarfordson9064]

paul broderick you are so right

[@jackie0604oxon]

Yes, someone with a degree in Soap Opera Studies is 'more educated' than me.

[@christopherfranklin972]

@@jackie0604oxon Until you actually engage them in intelligent conversation that is and then the worth of their degree becomes only too apparent.

[@petermorris3665]

Very wrong. Manufacturing in the UK is greater in absolute terms than ever. Its only smaller in relative terms because the growth in our service industries. Manufacturing would be even greater if, like in Germany, our companies were run by engineers. Instead, they are run by accountants. The Unions also have a lot to answer for with their tactics of creating friction to boost membership and thus boost subscriptions and thus boost the union leaders salaries, pensions and free houses.

[@johnbell7552]

Thank you Nigel that bought back some lovely memories of my childhood, though I wasn’t born until 49

[@ericellis3506]

Even through the trials and tribulations of the second world war, England looked such a green and pleasant land.

[@margaretzoheir7905]

Vera Lynn had a lovely voice, God rest her soul.

[@giovannirivoira5496]

Great people,great photos,great Churchill words!!Thanks to those heroes the monster was finally defeated.Honour to them !

[@BluesfeelingLive]

Hello Nigel... Your video is excellent..!! I've watched it well. Thank you for sharing. Cordial greetings..(BF)

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

You are most kind, my friend. Thank you very much. Have a good weekend. Seasonal greetings and best wishes. Nigel

[@christopherfranklin972]

At 3.08 is a view of High Street,Stratford-upon-Avon almost as I remember it as a child,the half-timbered building with horizontal flagpole showing Union Jack and Stars and Stripes is Harvard House where the mother of John Harvard founder of the university was born.Immediately to the left of that was the Garrick Inn named after the actor and right at the end of the street the tall building was Lloyds bank.

[@alasdaircalder6301]

Fantastic piece of work. Brings it very much to life.

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@egdiryellam68]

A time when Britain really was great, inept and self serving politicians have allowed it to turned into a basket case of the worlds misfits. Sadly but thankfully I no longer live there or call it home. Was there on V.E day and have great memories of growing up in the post war.

[@video99couk]

Winston Churchill would have been so disappointed in Boris The Liar who has helped drive a wedge through our once united nation.

[@ianjohnboy]

thank you sir,very beautiful to see,before my time but how i wish it could be like that now,people proud of this beautiful country instead of self absorbed selfish humans.

[@shevetlevi2821]

Winston Churchill was the essence of a leader, and statesman. Thanks for posting.

[@billanderson8602]

Read some unbiased history. He was a drunken liability throughout the war and much hated. My mother was an ambulance driver in London through the blitz. He was booed when he dared show his face - something the propaganda never mentions. He created a killer famine in India just after the war to try to force them to remain in the empire. Etc etc etc.

[@almac2598]

Captions or a list of places in the 'about' section would be nice and helpful.

[@lew6433]

Thank you for taking the time to upload these videos. Amazing work!

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

My pleasure!

[@jackiefoster1641]

I could cry, our beautiful country decimated.

[@davidstevens3934]

My "white privilege" is a result of all the struggles and hardships these people endured. Of all the lives that were laid down by that generation and many before, in the name of king and country. People living in this country today claiming to be oppressed are incredibly arrogant in ignoring the enormous struggles previous generations went through to build the country into what it is. If you don't like it, leave!

[@adscri]

Think you needed to add ‘king, country and social justice’, the latter being an on-going struggle. Nothing at all unpatriotic or arrogant in that.

[@Oliver-tm7jm]

I often think the same. I have the opportunities now because my Grandad worked in a factory, my Great Grandad fought in the trenches and my Great Great Grandad shovelled coal into a ships steam engine. They all died poor but passed on a country better than it was given to them....that was their White Privilege

[@PeterPete]

what's with the "white privilege"? Lots of asians, blacks, chinese etc who are british citizens have the same privileges as you! Anyone would think you guys are racist from these comments!!

[@PeterPete]

Quote - If you don't like it, leave! Love to, give us some money and i'll be off!!!! How much? Howabout £250,000? When can I expect payment?

[@Oliver-tm7jm]

@@PeterPete It's tongue in cheek but you proved the point that it's not about being white.

[@thehumancanary131]

We have so little to look forward to now, except - more immigration, higher taxes, less employment, more personal restrictions, fewer pubs, widespread drug use, unaffordable housing, global warming, concrete warehouses for poor people, congested streets, expensive but useless university courses, more violence, globalism, inept politicians, etc., etc.

[@christopherfranklin972]

At 3.01 is the annual procession on Shakespeare's birthday (April 23rd same as St George's day) passing Shakespeare's birthplace on Henley St., Stratford-upon-Avon. From there it makes its way through the town past King Edward VI grammar school where a contingent of boys head the procession as it goes to Holy Trinity church where Shakespeare is buried to lay wreaths and posies in remembrance. The man in red is the town 'Beadle' who I think might be Fred Baker who held the post for many years,always looked like W C Fields in fancy dress!

[@makeacomment1001]

Very good video and audio Nigel. Nicely put together.

[@radec1566]

The very thing we fought for will be for nothing if we do not change our ways

[@BN1960]

This video literally shows Britain at war and people are reminiscing at how things are worse now! Unreal...just unreal

[@alexandramassey9258]

Beautiful. Thank you Nigel.

[@Steve14ps]

Excellent presentation of times gone by

[@zacharowariane2957]

De la sueur ,du sang et des larmes.... Beaucoup et très grand Respect . Sacrés " grands bretons" 👏👏👏👏

[@joansavage1857]

Wonderful photos, great music. When I was young my mum would often sing this! Dear mumxx

[@welshpete12]

The photograph at about 3:21 of the men on the tractor . Looks like they are prisoners of war , that worked on the land . Many, eventually were allowed to lodge with British families . And becoming good friends with us . Some stayed on after the war , married, settling down . I knew three of them , they never lost their German accents . But we thought of them as some us , we never thought of them as the enemy , the ones I knew were good blokes .

[@royphillips4751]

Another great set of nostalgic photos Nigel.Change is everywhere but that period in England invokes special feelings in many I am sure. Life would have been extremely stressful for many during that time but, oddly enough, it just does not look like that in these images. Thank you.

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

Thanks Roy. Yes, these years must have been very stressful and harrowing for many, especially in the big cities where bombing was a constant. Yet I remember hearing from many people that this was also the best time of their lives.

[@royphillips4751]

@@NigelFowlerSutton I have heard similar tales Nigel.Yet I understand England became quite difficult to live in Post War with rationing etc etc. Mind you my mother was totally shell shocked when we arrived in Aus. She never adjusted and returned to England often whereas my father just embraced Australia and the opportunity at that time.Great work Nigel.

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

@@royphillips4751 Life was hard in Post War. My parents who married in 1944, waited ten years to start a family. 1954 was a good year!!

[@NelliHakela]

Чудесный исторический фильм...! Прекрасная песня...музыка и исполнение,очень нежное и душевное...!!! Спасибо,дорогой Найджел! С большим интересом, смотрю ваши прекрасные видео....! Благодарю за нашу дружбу...! Всегда рада видеть,Вас! С большим уважением и теплом,Нелли.

[@NigelFowlerSutton]

... и, как всегда, я благодарю вас, дорогие Нэлли за вашу поддержку и поддержку моих усилий. Я действительно ценю получать ваши отзывы. Посылаю вам сезонные поздравления и наилучшие пожелания. Хороших выходных! С большим уважением и теплотой. Найджел

[@theprior46]

Excellent choice of photos and so many re-enchanced in colour very realistically. The 6 year struggle of 1939- 45 puts us to shame today with the amount of whingeing going on over Covid-19 - If we had another war now - would we cope? I doubt it. Millions died in WWII - everyone knew a family who had lost a member to warfare.

[@alfiehillhsaliill8880]

"If your going through hell keep going " Winston Churchill

[@sasukefaan]

Nice of him to say that while he was hiding in his cosy private little countryhouse.

[@johnnyfrisco5354]

“If you’re going through hell keep going”

[@lisahinton9682]

@@sasukefaan You're incredibly rude. Should the leader be on the front, so he can get blown to smitherines, and then there's no leader? You should educate yourself. Go watch the movie with his name - the man was certainly not "hiding in his cozy little" anything.

[@sasukefaan]

Lisa Hinton you want me to educate myself by watching a movie? Hahaha lady you are something else. Go read the works of David Irving if you want to know the real Churchill. The man withheld information about where bombing strikes on Britain would occur just so he could look like a hero by bravely sitting out in the open in places they weren’t. He was funded by a brain trust of British Jews to subvert young British men into selling their futures, so he could afford his degenerate sons gambling habits. If you look up to the pig that was Churchill then you’ve been brainwashed my love.

[@sasukefaan]

Lisa Hinton did you also know he signed a waiver to drop 400,000 anthrax bombs on Germany that would’ve left a significant portion of Western Europe uninhabitable to this day? The drunken bastard played games with the lives of millions and his advisors had to keep him in check. He was a miserable failure in everything he did before becoming the prime minister.

[@keithbrierley710]

Thank you very much indeed !

[@petereastwood7868]

My bladder is so full it’s leaking out of my eyes.

[@barkebaat]

not a fortunate metaphor, I'm afraid.

[@maxwellfan55]

@@barkebaat Agree, truly inappropriate.

[@petereastwood7868]

maxwellfan55 And some people stereotype conservatives as a bunch of humourless stuffed shirts! Where do they come up with thatbidea? It’s a mystery!

[@petereastwood7868]

barkebaat Plop. I say, Barkebaat, old bean, one rather fears that you might have been so shocked that you have dropped your monocle into your soup!

[@barkebaat]

@@petereastwood7868 : Why on earth would I be shocked by you telling us that you're crying piss ?

[@toots7189]

My Mother was born during this timeframe and often talks about being carried down to shelter at all hours of the night by my Grandmother. She told me there was just a cold concrete slab in the shelters to sleep, or sit on. I can't imagine what my Grandparents went through during that time. My Grandfather had just gone to bed after working 12 hours when the sirens went off to head to the shelter, and he is quoted as saying, "Oh, let Hitler kill me tonight, as I am too tired to move."

[@mariawilliams9129]

Those soldiers who sacrificed so much would be horrified to see what leaders have done to the country, Churchill would never have tolerated its demise!!!

[@Dog.soldier1950]

My late mother in law was a young woman of London at the time. UXB ended up in her bathtub, watching dogfights atop her office building (forbidden of course) nazi bomber crews machine gunning streets as they went down in flames...never forgave the Germans

[@rudigerendlos6413]

It would have been better for England and the empire that Churchill and Chamberlain hadn't started the war.

[@martinjohnson9316]

@@rudigerendlos6413 I think you need a refund on that history book you bought!

[@rudigerendlos6413]

@@martinjohnson9316 You need to check the Nizer plan it is the Re-education plan. This is part is the truth. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6O1dIl-lN1pgK8

[@rudigerendlos6413]

@@martinjohnson9316 After Poland was defeated, peace was offered to England. After France was defeated, peace was offered again. Germany asked for peace a total of 40 times, and Churchill rejected everything.

[@martinjohnson9316]

@@rudigerendlos6413 Does'nt matter about Poland and France then? Hitler wanted total subjugation to the 3rd Reich. Sounds like you thought he was trustworthy.

[@leedsman54]

Lovely pictures, some are just so timeless and idyllic. I really like this sort of thing but they can soon get you thinking about the transience of life. All those people,living their lives..all gone I imagine. Oh well,mustn't dwell on things!

[@josef596]

This is so very sad. Not because of the war, but because of what England has become.

[@billanderson8602]

It became your England. Don't blame other people, you live here too...

[@josef596]

Bill Anderson - I was born into it. I never had a say. I never got to experience the good years.

[@Ritterhall]

Don't worry, you won the War! :-D

[@joserafaelzepeda-garza9971]

BRAVO.

[@sarahstrong7174]

Thankyou for sharing.

[@stephenpowstinger733]

This is not as popular as I would expect. The emotional ties to WWII are fading. But they do seem to be stronger in GB than here in U.S.

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

possibly because Britain fought for a long time before we were fortunate to have the USA as an ally. There was never much chance that the US would be invaded and your towns, thank goodness, were not persistently bombed.

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

Try to think before you write. It is an emotional tie to our parents, grandparents and so on. The USA was not bombed relentlessly and also did not suffer the privations seen in Europe. We are glad the US was our ally, as most europeans are for obvious reasons.

[@wombatperson]

Very nice work with the colour rendition.

[@paulmurphy2583]

Thanks for the amazing photos, you did a great job. Do you have locations for any of them. I spotted Morton in the Marsh at 2:43 (buildings are unchanged today), and a couple looked like Oxford, possibly.

[@sarahhall738]

Nan worked for a while in white cliffs of Dover on telephones but wanted a driving job so went to civil defence driving ambulances in Canterbury only canvas topped the firemen played water on it as she was near the cathedral during the Canterbury blitz.

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

Very evocative, well done.

[@Laura55sere]

Now what do we have. ‘POTTERS VILLE’ , a scene from Its a Wonderful Life’ .

[@Ritterhall]

Plutocracy

[@russbringhurst9972]

Wonderful photos

[@montyzumazoom1337]

4.04 Goudhurst Kent