Passchendaele: John Palmer

Dan Snow presents the story of WWI through the voices of those who were there.

An episode of the Voices of the First World War podcast, hosted by BBC Radio 4, titled "Passchendaele: John Palmer" was published on December 13, 2017 and runs 12 minutes.

December 13, 2017 ·12m · Voices of the First World War

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

Among the recordings made for the BBC's landmark series 'The Great War' in the early 1960s, one in particular stands out. John Palmer, a British Gunner who served as a signaller from 1914 onwards on the Western Front, admitted to being at his lowest ebb by November 1917. Towards the end of his time in Flanders fields, he admitted considering a self-inflicted wound to get out of Passchendaele, and the apocalyptic landscape he was crawling around in night after night. Finally, on his last night in the front line, sheer exhaustion left him unable to react as he heard a shell coming towards him. According to the historian Peter Hart, who recorded many of the interviews with First World War veterans for the Imperial War Museums' collection, John Palmer is the voice of the British soldier of 1917: suffering, drained, and almost broken.

Episode Description

Among the recordings made for the BBC's landmark series 'The Great War' in the early 1960s, one in particular stands out. John Palmer, a British Gunner who served as a signaller from 1914 onwards on the Western Front, admitted to being at his lowest ebb by November 1917. Towards the end of his time in Flanders fields, he admitted considering a self-inflicted wound to get out of Passchendaele, and the apocalyptic landscape he was crawling around in night after night. Finally, on his last night in the front line, sheer exhaustion left him unable to react as he heard a shell coming towards him. According to the historian Peter Hart, who recorded many of the interviews with First World War veterans for the Imperial War Museums' collection, John Palmer is the voice of the British soldier of 1917: suffering, drained, and almost broken.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

How to Live, and that Well in all Estates and Times, Specially when Helps and Comforts Faile

Apr 21, 2026 ·64m

A Great Wonder in Heaven Part 1

Apr 21, 2026 ·44m

A Great Wonder in Heaven Part 2

Apr 21, 2026 ·31m

England's Ebenezer

Apr 21, 2026 ·65m

Of Marrying After Divorce

Apr 21, 2026 ·10m

The Foundation of Christian Religion Gathered into Six Principles

Apr 21, 2026 ·34m

Similar Podcasts

Voices of History Mr. Cappetto "History is best learned from those who were there."Journey back through time with your host, award-winning filmmaker, producer and songwriter, Larry Cappetto."These are first-hand accounts from those who were there."Listen to stories from over 1000 military veterans Mr. Cappetto has interviewed over the past 15 years across North America. Hear stories from World War II, Korea and Vietnam Veterans. "These veterans are my eyes and ears to a doorway of the past."For a catalog of Mr. Cappetto's timeless work visit: https://lcappetto.wixsite.com/honorstoreEMAIL: [email protected] Letters of Love in WW2 Sky HISTORY From North Africa, back to Britain and then through Europe, Letters of Love in WW2 tells a unique story of the Second World War from the perspective of two real people that lived through it. Three months after they wed, Cyril and Olga Mowforth found themselves separated by the Second World War. Between 1940 and 1946, their love was kept alive on the pages of a thousand letters and postcards, found decades later by their family after they had both passed on. With their family’s poignant and emotional interviews bookending each episode and featuring the voices of Mr Bates vs The Post Office and Downton Abbey’s Amy Nuttall and Afropean author and broadcaster Johny Pitts, Letters of Love in WW2 gives an incredible first-hand insight into what it was like to live through this tumultuous period.<p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75e Emotionally Raw Coverage Sapan & Komet Two neighbors in Tel Aviv meet for the first time on October 7th and start recording that night. Join Sapan & Komet as they traverse complex emotions and navigate life during wartime in a new surreal reality. (FKA "October 7: Emotionally Raw Coverage") Season 1: Episodes 1-31Step into the wild and unfiltered world of Season 1, where emotions ran high, voices sang, tears flowed, and hearts bared. From heartfelt conversations to moments of raw vulnerability, Amy and Dor guide listeners through a landscape of nervous laughter, tearful confessions, and heartfelt conversations, creating a space where listeners could laugh, cry, and connect deeply. Buckle up and tune in to Episode 21 for a glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster that defined this season, a deeply personal exploration of the human experience in the weirdest times we've ever lived through.Season 2: Episodes 32-40Embark on a journey of captivating interviews and thought-provoking discussions with illustrious guests Net Talk World Matt Bruce Only the best Talk Show's make it to Net Talk World...Tune in to hear The Captain's AMERICA, Talk Show America, The Kyle Warren Show, The Scott Fuller Show, Troop Talk Radio - The Voice Of The Troops, Bob's Radio Journal, Radio First Termer, The Gina Allen Show, Stock Talk LIVE and more Show's added each month...

URL copied to clipboard!