Podcasts · History · Education

Fighting Through WWII Stories & History

Paul Cheall WW2

126 episodes

Second World War Stories, WWII Memoirs & interviews. Dunkirk, D-Day, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Omaha, USAF, RAF, POWs, - Britain, USA, Australia, Canada … all the forces … WW2. ... Over 500 5-star ratings. "Thank you for what you are doing. It's incredible and I'm absolutely hooked" AB

Episodes page 1 of 3

  1. 126 Christmas at War 2025 WW2

    · 1 h 27 min

    Heartwarming festive tales of WWII. Cry. Laugh. Learn. German POW story, "Last Flight" Lancaster tale, Wilf Shaw goes to church, Stop Press headlines, much more. Your free christmas gift: The Fighting Through…

  2. 125 (Pt 2) Britain's Darkest WW2 Newspaper Headlines 1940 PART TWO

    · 56 min

    Britain's Darkest WW2 Newspaper Headlines 1940 PART TWO Part Two of a Stop Press Party as we read through more fascinating newspaper headlines of Second World War 1940 - the London Blitz, Battle of Britain, bombers,…

  3. 124 (Pt 1) Britain's Darkest WW2 Newspaper Headlines 1940 PART ONE

    · 55 min

    Part One of a Stop Press Party as we read through the exciting newspaper headlines of Second World War 1940 - the London Blitz, Battle of Britain, bombers, blimps and the silly adverts. Hear about all the war time…

  4. 123 (Pt 3) Battle of Stalingrad Through German Eyes WW2 BY Jonathan Trigg

    · 1 h 21 min

    Part Three of a preview of Jonathan Trigg's blockbuster book Stalingrad Through German Eyes. Operation Uranus sees the Russians attempting to oust the Germans from their frozen enclave in the city of Stalingrad. Part…

  5. 122 (Pt 2) Battle of Stalingrad Through German Eyes WWII

    · 1 h 30 min

    Part Two of a preview of Jonathan Trigg's blockbuster Stalingrad Through German Eyes. Part One starts in episode 121. The fighting advances into the Russian city of Stalingrad itself. Battle of Stalingrad Through…

  6. 121 (Pt 1) Battle of Stalingrad Through German Eyes, Second World War, Jonathan Trigg

    · 1 h 34 min

    A preview of Jonathan Trigg's blockbuster Stalingrad Through German Eyes. Five months, one week and three days of hell. The German offensive to capture Stalingrad from the Soviets began in August 1942, The losses on…

  7. 120 Christmas at War 2024, Chat with Cecili Howard and Ken Cooke

    · 1 h 32 min

    Chat with Cecili who was a young girl in WWII Britain. A Christmas catch up with D-Day veteran Ken Cooke, 98. Plus another helping of festive tales of WW2. Please do subscribe or follow in your listening app as it…

  8. 119 Ch 24-25: Post-war Germany - Oberhausen, Essen and Duisburg

    · 35 min

    Bill's sobering police tour around defeated post-WWII Germany takes in sights and experiences of Oberhausen, Essen and Duisberg, including a poignant and memorable 1945 Christmas. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS…

  9. 118 Ch 22-23: Germany, Hamburg, Devastation at the end of WWII

    · 52 min

    Chapter 22/23 Bill recovers from his wounds and gets back into training in England. He returns to the battlefront to his comrades in WW2 Germany and witnesses first hand the devastation caused by allied bombing and the…

  10. 117 Ch 20-21: D-Day plus 1 to D plus 30 - Bill Cheall's WWII memoirs

    · 1 h 09 min

    D-Day plus 1 to D plus 30. The Green Howards fight through France the next few weeks after the invasion. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by…

  11. 116 Ch 18-19 D-Day - Bill Cheall's WWII memoirs

    · 1 h 00 min

    D -1 to D-Day. Bill and his comrades cool their heels on board ship whilst the invasion is postponed. They land under horrific fire with the first wave of troops on Gold beach. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS…

  12. 115 Ch 15-17 D-Day Preparation, Bill Cheall's memoirs

    · 56 min

    Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Bill returns home via bombed-out Liverpool. He trains hard and prepares for D-Day, witnessing some awful happenings in England before the invasion even…

  13. 114 Ch 13-14 Sicily, Bill Cheall's memoirs, WW2 history.

    · 1 h 02 min

    Bill trains in the desert heat before invading Sicily, experiencing bombardment and action around the Primasole bridge and Catania airport, before cooking a meal for Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery! Hear the…

  14. 113 Ch 10-12: North Africa, Battle of Wadi Akarit,. Bill Cheall's memoirs

    · 1 h 03 min

    Chapters 10 The Desert (Egypt), 11 Back to the Green Howards, 12 Wadi Akarit, Into Battle WW2. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill…

  15. 112 Ch 8-9: Queen Mary voyage to N Africa, Bill Cheall's memoirs. WW2 history.

    · 42 min

    Chapters 8/9 - I Am Posted. Bill cools his heels in Britain before finding out he's going to do some travelling - on the Queen Mary ship - to the Middle East. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS…

  16. 111 Ch 5-7: Dunkirk Aftermath, Bill Cheall's memoirs,WW2

    · 1 h 02 min

    Chapters 5,6,7, The Aftermath, Reorganisation, Training. Bill recovers from Dunkirk and the Green Howards re-equip and reorganise for war. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting…

  17. 110 Ch 4: Dunkirk. Bill Cheall's memoirs, WWII history.

    · 23 min

    Chapter 4, Dunkirk. Bill's horrific experience in France continues. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story of one British…

  18. 109 Chapter 3, British Expeditionary Force, France, 1940. Bill Cheall's memoirs of WW2 history.

    · 29 min

    Chapter 3, We Join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and fight in France 1940. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall. The story…

  19. 108 Chapters 1-2, The Beginning. Bill Cheall's WW2 memoirs

    · 24 min

    Chapter 1, The Beginning - joining The Territorial Army Reserve in 1939. Chapter 2, Call-Up Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS EPISODE 107. Fighting Through from Dunkirk to Hamburg, by Bill Cheall.…

  20. 107 Bill Cheall's complete war memoirs - Dunkirk intro & Prologue. The Book, Fighting Through From Dunkirk to Hamburg - by Bill Cheall

    · 22 min

    Introduction & Dunkirk Prologue. Hear the complete book, now ON THIS PODCAST, STARTS here on EPISODE 107. Bill joins the territorial reserve army and fights in Dunkirk, living to escape and fight another day. He…

  21. 106 Blitz, Tanks, D-day and Sappers - Tenth Anniversary PART THREE

    · 2 h 28 min

    More second world war stories on the Blitz, Evacuees, Gallipoli, Tanks, Dunkirk and D-day, Sappers …. PART THREE of an anniversary special celebrating ten years in podcasting. Episode artwork: Trooper Ernest Thomas,…

  22. 105 Sniper, POW, Blitz, more WW2 stories - Tenth Anniversary PART TWO

    · 2 h 04 min

    Veteran Wilf Shaw, Australian Les Cook, POW's, Gallipoli and more, PART TWO of an anniversary special celebrating ten years in podcasting. Episode artwork:Jesse Rance, London Metropolitan Police between 1936 - 1966.…

  23. 104 Germany stories and Bismarck - Tenth Anniversary PART ONE

    · 2 h 03 min

    An anniversary special celebrating ten years in podcasting. Featuring old favourites and new alike. This episode has a particular focus on Germany in the war, with much more. Episode artwork:German ship Bismarck. Buy…

  24. 103 Matt Cain interview on Lady of Mann, Dunkirk Little Ship, Manxmen in WW2

    · 2 h 03 min

    Boat enthusiast Matt Cain enthralls us with the history and restoration project behind one of Dunkirk's most famous rescue ships. The Lady of Mann from the Isle of Man. Matt and Paul discuss the Dunkirk operation and…

  25. 102 Arctic Convoy with WW2 memoir Armageddon in the Arctic Ocean, by Paul Gill

    · 2 h 37 min

    A thrilling family memoir from Paul Gill from USA who sailed in the Arctic convoys during the Second World War. "The enemy planes were flying just a few feet over the surface of the water on our starboard bow, towards…

  26. 101 Legacy of D-Day WWII, AKA Get off the beach, lads! AKA New Tank Tracks, Coffee and Donuts!

    · 1 h 15 min

    Three veterans' sons coming together to discuss all things D-Day 80. Facts, stats, legacy, beaches, movies and … more beaches. A discussion amongst Angus Wallace of the WW2 Podcast, Steve Erskine, curator and…

  27. 100 D-Day 80th anniversary special – Gold, Omaha and more

    · 51 min

    A special episode to commemorate the events of D-Day 6 June 44. The 80th anniversary. Four veteran accounts of the landings. D-Day Episodes mentioned: Bill Cheall: Episode 3 William Hershel Nelson: Episode 99 Eric…

  28. 99 Omaha Heroes and their WW2 stories

    · 1 h 21 min

    More Omaha WWII history action with family stories and a memoir feature you do not want to miss. And if you want to end with a smile do not miss the PS! Please do subscribe or follow the show in your listening app as…

  29. 98 World War II Snipers Part TWO - The Men, Their Guns, Their Story

    · 1 h 14 min

    Another great line-up of WW2 sniper stories featuring female snipers, British veteran Harry Furness, the psychology of sniping and stories from Crete and Sicily along with one or two more surprises. And the usual PS's!…

  30. 97 World War II Snipers Part ONE - The Men, Their Guns, Their Story

    · 1 h 19 min

    Another tranche of Sniper stories based around the book, World War II Snipers - The Men, Their Guns, Their Story, by Gary Yee. Features selection of personnel, training, tactics and the weapons themselves. Lots of WW2…

  31. 96 Christmas at War with the V1 missiles - 2023

    · 1 h 42 min

    Christmas at war, with more seasonal tales, including a special feature on what Christmas was like in various countries around the globe during WW2. Specials in this episode:German Boy Soldier's Christmas Shoes V1…

  32. 95 Bob Metcalfe memoirs PART TWO Dunkirk/N Africa/Sicily/Italy WW2

    · 1 h 17 min

    PART TWO Featuring No time for dreams: a soldier's six-year journey through World War II. By Robert W. Metcalfe, 4th Green Howards. PLUS: What someone's father found in the jungle AFTER the war. Who wrote to Bob…

  33. 94 Bob Metcalfe memoirs PART ONE Dunkirk/N Africa/Sicily/Italy

    · 1 h 41 min

    Featuring No time for dreams: a soldier's six-year journey through World War II. By Robert W. Metcalfe, 4th Green Howards Bob Metcalf enlisted in the fourth battalion, the Green Howards in December 1935. He saw action…

  34. 93 The 82nd airborne Part 2, letters from Sicily and Italy WW2

    · 1 h 29 min

    More from Dave Thomas about his father's exploits in the 82nd airborne in Italy. Preview of The Secret Beach: A Kids World War 2 Adventure. By James Papalia Green Howards feature - online Sicily exhibition Telephone…

  35. 92 The 82nd airborne Part 1, letters from Sicily/Italy

    · 1 h 20 min

    A great family story from Dave Thomas about his father's exploits in the 82nd airborne in Sicily and Italy. Telephone chat with veteran Ken Cooke who has some more titbits to share with us about his time in Normandy,…

  36. 91 Kisses on a Postcard - Blitz evacuees of WW2 - Interview with Dominic Frisby

    · 1 h 44 min

    An interview with Dominic Frisby. The Kisses on a Postcard musical charts the true story of two young British evacuees during the Blitz of WW2. Features mystery postcard messages, the bombing of Plymouth, American GI's…

  37. 90 Alf Blackburn Part 2, British Infantry War Memoirs, WWII

    · 1 h 03 min

    Part 2 A classic tale of British infantry adventure in WW2. How the Fighting Through WW2 memoirs podcast put the families of two war comrades in touch with each other. Sicily and D-Day campaigns featured. Durham…

  38. 89 Alf Blackburn Part 1, British Infantry War Memoirs, WWII

    · 1 h 07 min

    A classic tale of British infantry adventure in WW2. How the Fighting Through WW2 memoirs podcast put the families of two war comrades in touch with each other. Sicily and D-Day campaigns featured. More great…

  39. 88 Christmas/Hogmanay at War 2022 WWII

    · 1 h 42 min

    Celebrating another Christmas at war and indeed Hogmanay, with a Christmas stocking absolutely heaving with seasonal tales of goodwill. More great unpublished Christmassy! Full show notes, photos and transcript at:…

  40. 87 German Boy Soldier 2 - Save the Last Bullet

    · 1 h 04 min

    Previewing the newly published book, Save the Last Bullet, about a German boy soldier in the Nazi army. "This is the story of my father's traumatic ordeal as a boy soldier in Hitler's Army. It is an account in his own…

  41. 86 Mighty Eighth podcast preview USAAF WW2 V2

    · 59 min

    A preview of a brand new podcast all about the United States Air Force in the guise of the Mighty Eighth - and their role in Britain during the war. And as a prelude I'm going to chat with Johann, one of the hosts.…

  42. 85 Bill Turner, POW, and the Cockleshell Heroes, WW2 Commandos

    · 1 h 44 min

    How the Cockleshell Heroes upset Nazi supply lines with canoes! The Cockleshell Heroes, Operation Frankton, was a commando raid on ships in the German occupied French port of Bordeaux in southwest France PLUS: How…

  43. 84 Canadian Lance Corporal David Johnson, Italy WW2

    · 57 min

    A great tale of one man's survival when so many around him lost their lives in Italy and beyond. Features 5th Canadian Division. Plus a fascinating U-Boat tale about weather station Kurt sneakily set up by the enemy…

  44. 83 Australian Corporal Leslie Cook and the Japanese Doll

    · 1 h 07 min

    The tale of an Australian soldier who has to bury dead Japanese soldiers - a very distasteful duty but one which years later paid him back in positive ways he could not have imagined at the time. More great…

  45. 82 Coffee with Cpl Leslie Cook Part 2, Australian

    · 1 h 19 min

    Second part of a long chat with Australian veteran Leslie Cook, his views on the Pacific war and more tales of his WW2 adventures. Play link re the mobile tank mine – the Goliath https://overcast.fm/+lXX7AU7I/1:17:22…

  46. 81 Coffee with Cpl Leslie Cook Part 1, Australian

    · 1 h 12 min

    A long chat with Australian veteran Leslie Cook, his views on the Pacific war and more tales of his WW2 adventures. Various family stories and an opportunity to donate to one of the several charities supporting the…

  47. 80 Ukraine 2022 Appeal, & Dutch Hunger Winter

    · 47 min

    Insights into the 2022 Ukraine crisis from 1944. Various family stories and an opportunity to donate to one of the several charities supporting the refugees. Plus: An insight into Operation Manna and the allied…

  48. 79 German Submariner Part 2: Atlantic U Boat!

    · 1 h 42 min

    A thrilling Part 2 of German submarine U-111's tour of the North Atlantic during the second world war. By Kurt Schoenthier. Sinkings, survivals and POW's. Plus stacks of family stories and more. LINK TO KO-FI LINK TO…

  49. 78 German Submariner Part 1: Atlantic U-Boat, POW in Canada.

    · 1 h 19 min

    German submarine U-111's tour of the North Atlantic during the second world war. By Kurt Schoenthier. Sinkings, survivals and POW's. Plus stacks of family stories, including a Green Howard Padre's account of the…

  50. 77 CBI Hump Pilot lost in China - The Seabees

    · 2 h 16 min

    The Able Queen, Tales of an Indiana Hump Pilot Lost in the Himalayas, China - by Rainy Hovarth - Extracts from the true story, told in his own words, of highly decorated CBI Hump Pilot, Robert Binzer, who flew combat…

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