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Post by Kruger on Jun 1, 2009 17:35:41 GMT -8
There was a reality "documentary" that BBC aired awhile back. It had to do with taking a handful of ordinary "joes" and putting them through the ropes in terms of training and trench living. Anyone remember that series? What was it called?
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Jun 1, 2009 17:52:24 GMT -8
The Trench!
Seph
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Post by Kruger on Jun 1, 2009 19:07:20 GMT -8
That's it, thank you! Now I just got to find a copy somewhere...
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Post by rmli on Jun 1, 2009 19:13:53 GMT -8
CBC (Canada) put together a really good reality/documentary a few years ago. Bob knows the details about that one.
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Post by riflecpl on Jun 3, 2009 13:24:09 GMT -8
Let me know if you have trouble finding The Trench. It can be difficult to locate.
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Jun 3, 2009 13:51:09 GMT -8
I've got the film, but not the BBC programme. I've found that 'Barnes and Noble' is the best place to aproach for finding things like this.
Seph
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Jun 3, 2009 14:40:01 GMT -8
Wasn't "The Trench" that awful WWI horror movie? :-)
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Post by Kruger on Jun 3, 2009 16:38:26 GMT -8
Chris, I am definately interested in the BBC program. I don't need the movie.
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qms
Full Member
Posts: 100
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Post by qms on Jun 17, 2009 5:39:02 GMT -8
Wasn't "The Trench" that awful WWI horror movie? :-) No, that was "Deathwatch" <goes off to gargle after mentioning that piece of total s***> The film "The Trench" was a piece set in the trenches (Opposite Mametz?) during the last days of June 1916 - mixmatched casting, all unknowns and better than I'd expected (but then, I had low expectations  . As I recall (from a very faulty memory of TV some 5 or 6 years ago), the TV 'docudrama'/'reality show' "The Trench" saw a number of volunteers from Hull serving in a specially dug section of trench in France. Having been given a brief 'tone up' be Army PTIs they were trained up by re-enactors (members of GWS and Khaki Chums) and sent into the line under re-enactor NCOs and a Regular Army office (himself a re-enactor*). All aspects of the event were based on a genuine Bn. War diary (including the casualties - who were suddenly just quietly removed, with no warning and no information given to the rest of the platoon). The BBC televised this series over (IIRC) 4 episodes, but, I am informed that there was a fifth, dealing with their training which was only broadcast on a local cable channel in Hull - I'd loved to have seen that. If you can get a copy, you might enjoy it, (Apparently the BBC were hoping that some of the group would throw a hissy-fit and storm off copmplaining it was too hard, but instead - I'm told - they bonded into a decent unit). Tom * or at least an ex re-enactor |
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Jun 17, 2009 8:26:37 GMT -8
Tom.. as always, you've hit the Hun right on target!
The section of chaps selected assumed the role of a 'Real Life' section of the period in the trenches. Every so often, one of their number was called away, then a member of the programme staff (dressed in period uniform) would inform the remainder of the section (still in the trench) the Pte So-and-such was shot by a sniper, or blown up by a shell, or so forth. It went on that way until the programme finished.
At its climax, it showed the remainder of the section after their stint in the trenches, marching out and returning to the training area of the camp. I think there were about four individuals left.
One really heart rending part of the programme, was when they were interviewing the participants afterwards. The tallest of the group who portrayed the Lewis Gunner, mentioned that during the night hours, as he was trying to write a letter by the moonlight, he actually felt as though he was participating in the real conflict, and began to think of those family members still in Blighty. With the odd individual disapearing as though real life killed, the constant very's illuminations and the sound effects, made it all feel as though it were on-the-day.
That was one of, if not the best programme on the Great War that I have seen to date.
I would seriously recommend that anyone who is even remotely interested in the period... to seek out that recording, and make it a pride of place in ones collection.
Seph
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