BFBS Stories

Warning: the following programme contains sounds of gunfire, explosions and descriptions of war. Some listeners may find this disturbing. If you or anyone needs help or support, bfbs.com/audiencesupport.

For months after VE Day war continued in the Asia-Pacific region. It ended after two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Victory over Japan Day on 15th August 1945 marked the surrender of Japanese forces, which in effect ended the Second World War.

In this original programme, hear the story of VJ Day through original archive recordings of the events following VE Day, that led to the end of the war.

Narrated by Mark Chadwick.

Written and produced by Andrew Wright.

Warning, the following contains material that may be harmful or traumatising to some audiences, if you or anyone needs help or support then visit bfbs.com/audiencesupport.

In 1944 the Allied Forces reinvaded mainland Europe. It was a hard fought but important victory in the fight to free the world from the threat of tyranny. But what happened next?

In this original programme, hear the story of VE Day through original archive recordings of the events after the Normandy landings to the end of the war in Europe.

Narrated by Mark Chadwick.

Written and produced by Andrew Wright.

Image credit: Imperial War Museum

The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus; what are they doing in Nicosia? It’s an intriguing question.

Alice Vickery was given exclusive access to the UNFICYP and the British contribution, Op Tosca, to learn about their roles in this unique, ongoing operation.

Where Time Stands Still; left physically untouched since 1974, what are the benefits of operating in the Green Line?

Trigger warning; this piece contains gun shots.

Misty McCready presents this unique documentary recalling the memories of young inmates at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the Second World War.

The programme includes interviews with survivors of the camp, poignant archive audio, and first-hand accounts written in 1945.

You’ll hear interviews with survivors Rudi Oppenheimer and Miryam Sommerfeld. Bernard Levy, a British soldier who arrived approximately one week after the liberation, also shares his story.

BBC archive audio featuring Richard Dimbleby, the first reporter into Belsen post-liberation, and Harold-Osmond le Druillenec, the only British National found in the camp, set the documentary in raw historical context.

This programme was made to mark the 70th anniversary of the camp’s liberation in 1945.

Produced by Dave Roberts and Misty McCready, ‘Children of Belsen’ won two trophies at the 2016 New York Festivals Radio Awards and was a winner at the 2015 AIBs (Association for International Broadcasting).

Monday the 27th of January marks Holocaust Memorial Day and this year sees the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.

On this day we remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions more people murdered through Nazi persecution, and other more recent genocides.

For the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, it’s about bringing people together to honouring the survivors, and to work to build a better, brighter future.

Tim Humphries spoke to Paul Lopez-Salzedo, their Chief Operating Officer.

As the Royal Airforce Aerobatic team marked 60 years of flying incredible displays across the world in 2024, we take you on a behind-the-scenes special to Canada on exercise Maple Hawk.

Amy Casey - aka Flight Lieutenant Casey - was mobilised with over 120 personnel across 5 weeks in Canada and brings us behind the scenes access to the Red Arrows. 

November is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month. To mark this, Curtis Tyler sat down with Mark Mckenzie, Tom Paine and Dom Atkins to talk about times they had to be brave, who their role models are, how they feel about work-life balance and more!

If you have been affected by any of the topics discussed, you can find support online at bfbs.com/audience-support

Richard Hatch shares memories with BFBS presenters who lived and worked alongside those at Camp Bastion.

We reflect on what a privilege it was to be there and discuss the highs and lows of Op Herrick.

Marking the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, through the voices of the people who made it happen, telling the story of the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

This Pride, BFBS is celebrating how far our Armed Forces have come from accepting, to welcoming, to championing their LGBTQ+ service personnel.

Adam Powney has been finding out more from Commander Mandy McBain MBE, Brigadier Clare Phillips CBE, Flight Lieutenant Louise Tagg, Able Rate Nicole Scahill and Wing Commander Mark Abrahams.

After discovering a story on Ops last year about the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), Forces Radio's Amy Casey set out to learn more and in doing so, was fortunate enough to spend time with one of the few remaining “Spitfire Girls”.

Amy went to meet national treasure Joy Lofthouse at her home in Cirencester. Joy's stories of her days with the ATA were incredible.

To mark the Battle of Britain on BFBS, we aired unique stories of the heroines of the Second World War whose contributions to the war effort were nothing short of exceptional.

In August 2021, Kabul was in chaos as coalition troops were withdrawing from Afghanistan.

The city's airport was under attack from terrorists. Meanwhile, in the air, a Royal Air Force pilot received a call from the German Ops centre.

His mission... to rescue two German soldiers who had been left behind.

Warning - contains strong language

Listen again as BFBS chats with Polar Preet about her adventure to the South Pole - we find out about the highs and lows, her future plans PLUS find out if she broke the world record!

Photo: Credit Preet Chandi

The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), is one of the most ‘exotic’ postings available in the British Army.

BATUK’s main training hub is at Niyati Barracks in the town of Nanyuki, 2,000m above sea level and on the equator.

Mario Chrisostomou’s been finding out what life (and work) is like for the service personnel and their families there.

As we look ahead to Remembrance this weekend we are reflecting on different monuments and memorials across the forces world to reflect on the sacrifices and stories of service men, women and communities.

From Aldershot to Bahrain, Benson, Cyprus and a statue you'd see on your daily commute in London, they all hold a special meaning to remember those before us.

Series produced and presented by: Jess Bracey, Hayley Hammond, Natasha Reneaux, Tamsin Robson and Joe Carden.

Jess Bracey goes behind the scenes with Thames Valley Police as we hear from military veterans about what life has been like since leaving service and putting on a different uniform.

From front-line action dealing with crime and mental health, this is an operation with a difference and no two days are the same.

As BFBS reflects on 75 years of the NHS, we wanted to explore the close relationship between medical units in the Armed Forces and the NHS.

Amy Casey caught up with some members of a highly skilled minority: healthcare professionals who give up their spare time as RAF Medical Services Reservists. Somehow, she managed to fit into the hectic schedules of the following selfless individuals:

Sgt Diane Allebone, Intensive Care Unit Nurse / HRR CCAST

Sgt Jayne Lum Kin, Emergency Medicine Nurse

Cpl Mash Banks, Primary Healthcare Nurse

Flt Lt Suki Sira, Pharmacist

FS 'Wilf’ Williams, MERT Paramedic

They let us know where these adjacent worlds of work overlap and shared lessons they've taken from the front line to the NHS.

To mark world tattoo day, Anthony Ballard from BFBS has been speaking to people about the stories behind their military ink.

Have you been tracking Exercise Joint Viking? It's the huge exercise in arctic operations base in Norway which has seen the UK join with 20,000 Norwegian and allied troops.

Amy Casey from BFBS has been finding out more about it with Sgt Mat Sidders - Media Ops with 30 Commando - Royal Marines who talks what they've been up to in Norway!

Wing Commander (Reverend) Weir & Squadron Leader (Imam) Omar, deployed on operations, spoke to Amy Casey on BFBS Radio about their role in supporting personnel in the UK & deployed.