Subscriber-only episode

* Episode publicly available on Wednesday 18th September.

Jane is joined by Ally Campbell-Grieve ( James isn't available this week) to debate the thorny topic of how we should deal with veteran's accounts as historical sources.

They explore the challenges historians face when analysing accounts from veterans, particularly those from Bomber Command during WWII. The conversation delves into the background of Ally's great uncle, Steve, and the discrepancies in his accounts of service during two operational tours, which culminated in his aircraft being shot down in July 1944.  The episode emphasizes the importance of critical analysis of veteran narratives, the influence of memory, and the impact of popular media on how stories are told. It concludes with reflections on the need for sensitivity when dealing with family histories and the importance of questioning accepted narratives in military history.

Links:
The Veteran's Tale by by Frances Houghton

Collected Memories: Holocaust History and Postwar Testimony, by Christopher R Browning

Article:

THE MEMORY MINEFIELD – VETERAN TESTIMONY AND THE SEARCH FOR THE ‘FACTS’, by Jane Gulliford Lowes

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