Radio Broadcast from Midland Town – November 19, 1940

ETIENNE 1

ETIENNE 2

SCOTT 1

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Transcript

DEEN RAY, CLAUDIA ETIENNE, SIDNEY SCOTT

MIDLAND TOWN – NOVEMBER 19, 1940

[ETIENNE NARRATION] RIGHT NOW WOMEN MUST PLAY THEIR PART IN ORDER FOR US TO SUCCEED IN THE WAR. WE DO THIS BY FINDING WAYS TO MAKE THE LIVES OF OUR SOLDIERS, AND CHILDREN LESS BURDENSOME. JOINING THE WOMEN’S VOLUNTARY SERVICE IS A GREAT WAY FOR US WOMEN TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS DURING THIS TERRIBLE WAR. FOR EACH WOMAN, THERE IS A PLACE WHERE THEIR SERVICES CAN FILL A NEED. SOME OF US WILL WORK IN THE FACTORIES, TOILING OVER THE MACHINES THAT WILL PROVIDE OUR MEN WITH THE BULLETS THEY NEED IN ORDER TO STRIKE AGAINST THE NAZI THREAT. SOME OF US WILL TRAIN IN FIRST AID AND BECOME THE NURSES THAT HEAL OUR WEARY TROOPS AFTER A LONG AND ARDUOUS BATTLE. THESE NURSES WILL TRAVEL FROM FAR AND WIDE IN ORDER TO CARE FOR OUR SOLDIERS. THEY WILL WORK IN TRAINS THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO HOSPITALS. THEY WILL WORK BY THE SEASIDE WHERE INJURED MEN WILL TRAVEL STRAIGHT FROM THE SEAS TO THEIR HELPING HANDS. THEY WILL WORK IN MANOR HOMES THAT HAVE, FOR THE MOMENT, BEEN CONVERTED INTO TEMPORARY HOSPITALS.  EVEN MORE OF US WILL BE READY TO PROVIDE HOT TEA AND FOOD TO THOSE SOLDIERS WHO MIGHT ALSO BENEFIT FROM A KIND WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT OR PRAISE.

ANOTHER WAY THAT WOMEN CAN SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN, IN THE WOMEN’S VOLUNTARY SERVICE, IS BY HELPING THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED TO THE COUNTRYSIDE DURING THE EVACUATION. THESE WOMEN, WHETHER THEY ARE THE LADIES OF GREAT COUNTRY HOMES OR SERVANTS, BAND TOGETHER TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN BILLETED IN THE COUNTRY. SOME OPEN THEIR DOORS TO SHELTER THESE CHILDREN. SOME PROVIDE OUR NATION’S CHILDREN WITH HOT FOOD AND KEEP THEM CLEAN AND SAFE. SOME WOMEN EVEN MAKE TOYS TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN RELATIVELY HAPPY AND ENTERTAINED IN THESE DIRE TIMES. WHEN THE MEN RETURN VICTORIOUS FROM WAR, THEY WILL FIND THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN WELL PROVIDED FOR.

THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE MANY THINGS THAT WE, AS WOMEN, CAN DO TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN IN THIS WAR. IF YOU ARE A WOMAN WHO WANTS TO HELP HER COUNTRY IN THIS WAR, JOIN THE WOMEN’S VOLUNTARY SERVICE. WE ALL HAVE OUR PART TO PLAY IN THE WAR.

[SCOTT ANCHOR LEAD-IN] THIS IS SIDNEY SCOTT BROADCASTING FROM MIDLAND TOWN. THE DATE IS NOVEMBER NINETEEN, NINETEEN-FORTY. THE TIME IS EIGHT O’CLOCK. JUST FIVE DAYS AGO TODAY OUR BROTHERS IN COVENTRY WERE HIT BY THE GERMANS. HOMES WERE DESTROYED, PEOPLE WERE KILLED, THE COVENTRY CATHEDRAL, A PLACE OF UNITY AND WORSHIP, WAS SET ABLAZE. THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF EVERYONE SALVAGED THE CITY. FIREFIGHTERS MOVED AT GREAT SPEED TO STOP THE SPREADING FIRES. MEDICAL FACILITIES TOOK IN THE INJURED. MEN PROTECTED THEIR FAMILIES. OUR BROTHERS IN COVENTRY STOOD THEIR GROUND AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT ON.

THE SIRENS HAVE JUST ALARMED IN MIDLAND TOWN. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY, MEN ARE ADVISED TO GET THEIR FAMILIES TO AN AIR RAID SHELTER. HOLD YOUR WIVES AND YOUR DAUGHTERS CLOSE TO YOU AS WE GO TO OUR ON-FIELD REPORTER, DEEN RAY, FOR THE LIVE REPORT.

[RAY NARRATION] THIS IS DEEN RAY REPORTING FROM MIDLAND TOWN. IT IS EIGHT O’FIVE. I AM STANDING ON THE ROOF OF MIDLAND TOWN’S BELOVED BOAR AND DRAGON. LISTEN TO THESE SIRENS[…]

THESE SIRENS ARE NOT THE SOUNDS OF DEATH. THEY ARE NOT THE SOUNDS OF DESTRUCTION. THESE ARE THE BRITISH AIR RAID SIRENS. THESE, MY BROTHERS, ARE THE SOUNDS OF RESISTANCE. NOW IS THE TIME WE DEFEND OUR GREAT NATION.

IT’S STARTING TO GET DARKER NOW. THE SEARCHLIGHTS ARE BEING DEPLOYED. THERE ARE FIVE OF THEM. BEAMS OF LIGHT STRAY UPWARDS AGAINST THE NIGHT SKY AND DISAPPEAR UNDER THE FAINTNESS OF THE MOON’S GLOW. I’M SURE YOU CAN HEAR THE SIRENS ARE STARTING TO SOUND DOWN. THE SILENCE BEFORE WAR IS EERIE, LIKE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. BUT I ASSURE YOU WE’LL STAND BY THE END OF IT.

OFF INTO THE FAR DISTANCE IS VICTORIA SQUARE. I CAN’T SEE IT RIGHT NOW BUT IT’S THERE. HOME TO ONE OF OUR NATION’S GREATEST HALLS. AND HOME TO THE MAGNIFICENT STATUE OF THE GREAT QUEEN VICTORIA, MADE IN MARBLE BY A MAN I BELIEVE OF THE NAME THOMAS BROCK. SHE’S FAR AWAY BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT LOOKING DOWN ON US RIGHT NOW.

[…]

CAN YOU HEAR THAT? THOSE ARE THE SOUNDS OF THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS, THE BRITISH RESISTANCE. THE NIGHT IS BLACK BUT EACH FIRE OF THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN FLASHES A SHARP LIGHT THAT LINGERS ON JUST FOR ONE MOMENT. THE BARREL IS INCREDIBLY LONG AND IT’S AIMED DIRECTLY INTO THE SKY.

[…]

THOSE ARE THE SOUNDS OF GERMANS DROPPING BOMBS OFF INTO THE DISTANCE. FIRES ARE BREAKING OUT, LOW RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY’LL CATCH ON AND GROW LIKE WILDFIRE. FIRETRUCKS, I’M SURE YOU CAN HEAR, ARE HUSTLING TO GET THERE FAST. FIREFIGHTERS ARE OUT THERE AMIDST THE GUNFIRE AND BOMBS JUST TO GIVE US THE SLIGHTEST EDGE IN THIS WAR. THE FIRE EMITS LIGHT AND GIVES THE GERMANS VISION OF WHAT THEY’VE HIT. THE SMOKE IS BLACK AND AWFUL AND IT BLENDS IN AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE NIGH[…]

[…]

WHAT WE CAN BE SURE OF IS THAT SAINT PHILIP’S CATHEDRAL HAS BEEN HIT IN SOME WAY. THE DOMED TOP IS LIT UP LIKE THE STAR ATOP A CHRISTMAS TREE. FIRE IS BLAZING OUT FROM WHERE THOSE BEAUTIFUL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS USED TO SIT. THE FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL FACES ME WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE THE FIRE STARTED. IT’S SPREADING FROM FRONT TO BACK IT LOOKS LIKE. THE WIND IS CARRYING THE SMOKE OFF INTO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION DISAPPEARING BEHIND SOME BUILDINGS THAT ALSO SEEM TO HAVE GOTTEN HIT.

ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CHURCH ON COLMORE ROW… I BELIEVE THAT’S THE LADY MARY INN. I ALMOST CAN’T RECOGNIZE IT ANYMORE. IT WAS HIT TWO WEEKS AGO AND NOW WHAT’S LEFT IS UNSPEAKABLE. OLD AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN HIT WILL BE REMEMBERED AND HONORED IN OUR GREAT NATION’S HISTORY… UNTIL THE NEIGHBORS ARE HIT AND THE NEIGHBORS AFTER THAT. THE OUTSIDE OF THE LADY MARY INN HAS COLLAPSED AMONGST ITSELF AND ALL THAT REMAINS IS A VAGUE OUTLINE OF THE FOUNDATION. THE BRICKS AND WOODEN PLANKS OF WHAT USED TO BE ARE SITTING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER FORMING A BIG PILE OF RUBBLE… OVER THAT MASSIVE BRUSH THAT USED TO SIT JUST OUTSIDE.

ONE SIDE OF COLMORE ROW IS REDUCED TO RUBBLE, THE OTHER SIDE IS ON FIRE. YET STILL, SAINT PHILIP’S CATHEDRAL HAS NOT FALLEN. FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORKING HARD ON IT NOW, HOSING DOWN THE MONSTROUS FLAMES. WE HAVE STOPPED THE SPREAD OF THE FIRE BUT NOW THE JOB IS TO CONTAIN AND END IT. THE GERMANS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY TO DESTROY OUR PLACE OF WORSHIP, BUT WE PROTECT GOD’S PLACE AND GOD FIGHTS ON OUR SIDE. THE SMOKE IS BLINDING, VEILING SAINT PHILIP’S IN A SHROUD OF UNKNOWN. BUT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, GOD’S PLACE STANDS. IT STILL STANDS.

[SCOTT SIGN-OUT] THANK YOU. WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST SO MUCH IN THIS FIGHT AGAINST EVIL. BUT WE CANNOT LET OURSELVES BE DISTRACTED DWELLING ON THE PAST, LEST THE GERMANS USE IT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. JUST FIVE DAYS AGO OUR BROTHERS IN COVENTRY WERE HIT BY THE GERMANS. THEY SURVIVED AND THEY ARE FIGHTING ON. TODAY WE ARE HIT, BUT WE ARE NOT DEAD, WE ARE VERY MUCH ALIVE AND STRONGER THAN EVER. GOD HAS CHOSEN US TO WRITE A HISTORY OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN. SO WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING AND FIGHTING AND FIGHTING.

BROADCASTING FROM MIDLAND TOWN, THIS HAS BEEN SIDNEY SCOTT FOR THE NEWS.