the memorialfor those who navy. 0ver my shoulder here is the memorial for those who served in the royal navylso the merchant navy. worth remembering that something like 50,000 members of the royal navy died during the course of the second world war, and although todayis the second world war, and although today is one for celebration with old those ve day is parties taking place this morning, and again this afternoon, we should also remember those who did not come home. last post plays. staring out from the portsmouth naval memorial, the list of some of those who couldn't come back and celebrate ve day. this morning, they made their absence felt on this national day of commemoration. i think our veterans need to be reminded how thankful we are for what they have achieved and what they have done. i think it's also important to let them know they still inspire us today from that generation. off the coast of dover, where spitfires and hurricanes once defended the nation, the red arrows soared over, thrilling those below. in rutland, 96—year—old second world war glider veteran ken 0dell marking h

royal navy and also the merchant navy.embering something like 50,000 members of the royal navy died during the course of the second world war and although today is one for celebration with all those ve day parties taking place this morning and this afternoon, we should also remember those who didn't come home. last post plays staring out from the portsmouth naval memorial, the list of some of those who couldn't come back and celebrate ve day. this morning, they made their absence felt on this national day of commemoration. i think ithink our i think our veterans need to be reminded how thankful we are for what they have achieved and what they have done. i think it's also important to let them know they still inspire us today from that generation. off the coast of dover, where spitfires and hurricanes once defended the nation, the red arrows soared over, thrilling those below. in rutland, 96—year—old second world war glider ken 0dell marking his own silence in his own way. —— glider vetera n. silence in his own way. —— glid

his once great u-boat fleet, one by one they enter british ports under taken over by men of the royal navythe terror now like shipping, are all their colleagues in arms, nothing but prisoners of -- their comrades in arms, nothing but prisoners of war. ♪ the news of germany's surrender reaches the people of brussels five years almost to the day after the german invasion of the country. city houseay, every is alive with flags, every street alive with inhabitants. smoke flares, no longer needed for warfare, make effective fireworks. paris, from notre dame, from every church goes out the resounding message of peace and hope for the future, and joyful thanksgiving. [crowds cheering] in the rue. ♪ while general de gaulle approaches the arch of triumph to pay homage from the people of france at the grave of the unknown soldier, to pledge their victory with the men who died to gain it shall for all time be preserved in peace. ♪ to fieldulation marshal montgomery of the remnants of the northern german army and navy is not only a signal of germany's total defeat, it is a signal of liberation for tho

sailboats, trawlers and lifeboats, were used to ferry soldiers off the beaches and onto waiting royal navy dunkirk spirit, and that phrase was coined because of what happened here 60 yea rs because of what happened here 60 years ago. there were a third of a million british and allied troops who were on the other side of the channel. the german army was advancing, thought to be sitting ducks —— micro 80 years ago. operation dynamo, led from tunnels underneath the castle here, to evacuate british troops and the allied troops, too. they thought they would only get 30,000 back, but hundreds of little ships, ordinary people joined hundreds of little ships, ordinary peoplejoined a hundreds of little ships, ordinary people joined a rescue operation and in the end a third of a million were returned. they ended up seeing the sights of the white cliffs of dover, showing them they were home and safe. let's talk to english heritage. how big an operation was this? enormous. it was organised in the last minute, so vice admiral ramsey, in charge of the operation, based about 30 metres underneath us, had

and on the on conquerable island, the royal navy with their continental allies must keep open the ports of europe. and in north wood, the navel forces assisting in the task by their air force. in 1952, two new nations joined the alliance. turkey and greece, recent storm centers of communist threats. and in 1955, the federal republic joined nato. eisenhower said fair well. reasserting america's commitment for the defense of europe. they are acting and planning together. and learning to work together, men and women of the alliance learned a common language. and now people moving slowly working in about 28 inches. it was hard going for nato in the early going. men had to break ground to build airfields. they have delayed pipelines to feed the machinery of the alliance. a unique experiment in neutral experience in time of peace. and the result was powerful. ♪ if he has grown to be 10 years old. indeed, if he and other children are strong, healthy and free, it is at least, in part, because nato was born with him. ♪ >> the big picture is an official report for the armed forces and the america

the royal navy with its continental allies must keep open the vital supply ports of western europe.rters at northwood, these naval forces are assisted in their task by the royal air force. here is the defense of western approaches to the british islands. in 1952, 2 new nations joined the alliance, turkey and greece, recent storm centers of communist russian threats. and in 1955, the federal republic of germany joined nato. eisenhower said farewell, and ridgeway succeeded him, and then grunther, and norstadt, each man by his presence and his uniform reasserting america's commitment for the defense of europe. to learn to act and plan together, colonels and captains went back to school. and to learn to work together, men and women of the alliance learned a common language. now, everybody opened the throttle slowly, to approximately 28 inches. right. (drumroll) it was hard going for nato in the early days of the atlantic decade. men had to break ground to build airfields. they had to lay pipelines to feed the machinery of the alliance. a unique experiment in mutual defense in time of pe

we also met the royal navy veteran, ken benbow, after he charmed us with his emotional reaction to beingthere was the d—day veteran, harry billinge, who has spent so much time campaigning for a permanent memorial in france to his fallen comrades. today's anniversary seemed like the perfect moment to introduce tom, ken and harry to each other — using video technology, of course — and share their memories of ve day. our reporterjohn maguire did the honours. how are we all? shall we all wave to each other, first thing to say? give everyone a wave. their combined age is pushing 300. these men have shared an experience that now belongs to an ever smaller number. they fought in a world war. when the german surrender came, captain — now, of course, colonel tom moore — was training tank crews in dorset. i was very pleased for all the people in europe. but i was very apprehensive, and it was unfortunate, because all the friends that i had were still back in burma. harry billinge landed in france on d—day. eleven months later, when victory was announced, he was in hospital being treated for injuri

early davis who served in britain's royal navy and served on the arctic convoys which brave german air raids the liver much needed military equipment and food to the u.s.s.r. and here is his story. as in this side as goat song really guy was at so i'm churchill say it was one of the worst journeys in the world and there's a. most respect for them. if you think you've got it all began. and indeed it's always well we say he summed up. starving to death. and. up into a sad a cemetery where they just mans of earth where they local was wide and i just saw a bear with them then no nines they just numbers. there was $27000000.00 russians would during the war. and where they had their sacrifice and the sacrifice of days russian convoys that will never been one the only regret. dumps by russia. no i hear of you know. quite happy. to reply to any letters that you with the saying. we just. try there's a white face. we salute you said you know a relatively new tradition each year on the tree day sees hundreds of thousands of russians march with portrayed some of their relatives who fought in the w

that is right, it is the home of the royal navy.hing like 50,000 members of the royal navy lost their lives during the course of the second world war. we are at the portsmouth royal navy memorial, you can see the names on the plaque behind me and catch a glimpse of corporal david who has just sounded the last post and marked the two minutes' silence. it is a remarkable place, they obviously cannot mark ve day in the way they wanted to, but it was a poignant ceremony here a couple of minutes ago, the last post, two minutes' silence, and we had a couple of members of the public look in, and retired members of the navy who came to lay a small read. portsmouth is also the headquarters of the royal marines and they paid a heavy price during the course of the second world war. —— small wreath. it is where many of the musicians come to change. we are joined by the head of music, we are at the headquarters of the royal marines, standing next to the names of some of those who lost their lives in the second world war. we are still here today

this is for ernie davis who served in britain's royal navy and he served on the arctic convoys which braved german raids to deliver much needed military equipment of food to the u.s.s.r. was especially for him and now we've got a story for you. there i was in this side as song really guy was at so i'm churchill who say it was one of the worst journeys in the world and. most respect for them. did not and i don't know began. and indeed it's always well we say he summed up places i wish starving to death. and. up into a sad a cemetery where they just mans of earth where they know cousteau i had and i just saw a bear with them then no. they just numbers. there was $27000000.00 russians would during the war. and where their sacrifice and the sec crystal us of days russian convoys that woke would never have been one the only regret of dumb spite russian. you know. quite happy. to reply to any letters that you lot to send. we did our pride as your wife and my. sister in a davis a long with all the other veterans we salute you today especially the relatively new tradition each year on victor

to mark the occasion had to be cancelled, but our correspondent, duncan kennedy, watched a small royal navyplays last post dunkirk, said churchill, was a miracle of deliverance. lawrence churcher was a witness to that miracle. today, he came to portsmouth to recall dunkirk, its story of liberation and great loss. in may, 1940, lawrence found himself in the chaos of dunkirk. evacuation the only hope against the german advance. he had two brothers serving somewhere in the army. but his only thought was to get off that beach. i didn't think about my brothers. i thought, well, how am i going to get back, that's the thing, you know. but then, incredibly, in the confusion of evacuating more than 300,000 men, lawrence, here in the middle, ran into his two brothers — george on the left and edward on the right. their reunion came in the bomb—cratered sand dunes of a beach under siege and it's a moment lawrence says he will never forget. relief, just relief. because there were so many soldiers there and continuous aircraft coming over, dropping bombs and things, you know. all three brothers were resc

to mark the occasion had to be cancelled, but our correspondent, duncan kennedy, watched a small royal navy ceremony in portsmouth and heard the remarkable story of one 99—year—old veteran. he plays last post dunkirk, said churchill, was a miracle of deliverance. lawrence churcher was a witness to that miracle. today, he came to portsmouth to recall dunkirk, its story of liberation and great loss. in may, 1940, lawrence found himself in the chaos of dunkirk. evacuation the only hope against the german advance. he had two brothers serving somewhere in the army. but his only thought was to get off that beach. i didn't think about my brothers. i thought, well, how am i going to get back, that's the thing, you know. but then, incredibly, in the confusion of evacuating more than 300,000 men, lawrence, here in the middle, ran into his two brothers — george on the left and edward on the right. their reunion came in the bomb—cratered sand dunes of a beach under siege and it's a moment lawrence says he will never forget. relief, just relief. because there were so many soldiers there and continuous a

we also met the royal navy veteran ken benbow, after he charmed us with his emotional reaction to beinginge, who has spent so much time campaigning for a permanent memorial in france to his fallen comrades. today's anniversary seemed like the perfect moment to introduce tom, ken and harry to each other — using video technology, of course — and share their memories of ve day. breakfast‘s john maguire did the honours. how are we all? shall we all wave to each other, first thing to say? give everyone a wave. their combined age is pushing 300. these men have shared an experience that now belongs to an ever smaller number. they fought in a world war. when the german surrender came, captain — now, of course, colonel tom moore — was training tank crews in dorset. i was very pleased for all the people in europe. but i was very apprehensive, and it was unfortunate, because all the friends that i had were still back in burma. harry billinge landed in france on d—day. eleven months later, when victory was announced, he was in hospital being treated for injuries sustained in the liberation of europ

what had happened was two royal navy sloops had trapped blackbeard's ship in a cove. but blackbeard had more firepower. after getting very drunk, he went to the bow and started cursing out his would be captors . he did that for several hours, drank and cursed. and then when he could not date them into attacking him, he opened fire. with his superior fire it was not long before he pounded them into submission. one was nearly destroyed, the other disabled pre-thought he had won -- disabled. .e thought he had won there would be little assistance because he had killed all of the sailors, but he was surprised by a sneak attack from the crew which had been hiding below deck. an enormous hand-to-hand close range battle broke out. the captain, maynard, shot blackbeard, but it didn't kill him. and then one of maynard's sailors stabbed blackbeard in -- neck and blackbeard and in what could only be described as the perfect line from a johnny depp pirate movie said well done, lad. and the sailor was flattered with the compliment, but it didn't show because he proceeded to decapit

duncan kennedy, watched a small royal navy ceremony in portsmouth he plays last post.the only hope against the german advance. lawrence had two brothers serving somewhere in the army. but his only thought was to get off that beach. i didn‘t think about my brothers. i thought, well, how am i going to get back? that‘s the thing, you know. but, in the confusion of evacuating more than 300,000 men, lawrence, here in the middle, literally ran into his two brothers george on the left and edward on the right. their reunion in the bomb—cratered sand dunes of a beach under siege is a moment lawrence will never forget. relief, just relief. because there were so many soldiers there and continuous aircraft coming over, dropping bombs and things, you know. all three brothers made it off the beach with the help of the armada of little ships that had been sent from britain. and all three sailed home safely to their mother covid—19 means this year‘s gathering of little ships to mark the 80th anniversary of dunkirk cannot take place. but one small naval ceremony was enough for lawrence

not know how to use signals intelligence and we have the same problem in britain with the british royal navy. the admiralty did not know how to use signals intelligence. they were being told things and it was just another piece of intelligence and we will treat it the same way like all of the other stuff. they did not realize you could treat it as being on a higher plane than human intelligence. i think that is what went wrong. but those generals are not here to answer for their conduct. most of them disappeared into obscurity after the fall of france and i don't think they were regarded as national heroes and nobody wanted to speak to them. so we don't know. >> could you possibly explain in more detail how and when the polish contributions became known to the general public, and the polish role -- and his interactions? >> it's easy to answer your question in a negative sense. there was a polish historian who was writing about polish military intelligence between the wars period. he was researching, this was in the 1960's. he was researching in the polish military archives in warsaw and came

was suggestions for his masterpiece the acme of the rocking. 69 the royal naval hospital was closed down veterans of her majesty's navy preferred to spend that declining years in less blended surroundings the building became the royal naval college and itself since then as a training center for naval offices. but back to the problem determining the degree of luggage you caught was it finally solved. visitors will find the onza in the royal observatory at greenwich the puzzle was solved not by a physicist or a ron astronomer but by an ordinary common to from southern england john harrison at the age of 22 john harrison built his 1st chronometer he spent 60 years of his life studying how time could be measured precisely his premise was that if a navigator at sea knew the exact time in his home port then from the difference between that time and the time on board ship he could calculate the position of the vessel in degrees latitude and long it cheap. for centuries no one had been able to make a clock that measured the time accurately at sea without being influenced by fluctuations in temperature or humidity oh by the sh

generals didn't know how to use signals intelligence and we have the same problem in britain with the royal navy, the admiralty didn't know how to use signals intelligence and they were being told pieces but it is another piece of intelligence and treat it the same way as we do all of the other stuff and they didn't realize that you could treat the intelligence on a higher plain than human intelligence and i think that is what went wrong. but those generals are not here to answer for their conduct. most of them disappeared into obscurity after the fall of france and i don't think they were regarded as national heroes and nobody really wanted to speak to them. so we don't know. >> you could possibly explain in more detail how and when the polish contributions became known to general pub and what was the role of the historians such as [ inaudible ] and his personal interaction. >> i'll call on this gentleman to answer that question. okay. um, it's easy to answer your question in the negative sense. t there was a polish historian who was writing about polish military intelligence in between the war

sailboats, trawlers and lifeboats, were used to ferry soldiers off the beaches and onto waiting royal navyl along the rivers and creeks of britain, yachtsman and part—time sailors are kissing their wives farewell and making their way to dover. the true story that became a legend, arguably the greatest escape of world war ii. i wish i could meet the people, the chaps who came over and picked us up, because they were very brave blokes. because there we re very brave blokes. because there were mines, and there were a good chance of being machine—gunned as well. our countrymen is on a tiny merchant ship. he is risking his life to bring you the pictures. he is on his way to dunkirk. crossing the channel on a trawler or a pleasure boat in 1940 to face the killing fields of the dunkirk beaches was a test of bravery bordering on madness. they were in the thick of it for several days, some of them. though i have huge admiration for them, and i have huge admiration for them, and i have huge admiration for the little boats, because they are tiny little boats that were used to go up to the beaches to

we are there and we currently have three destroyers sailing along with the united kingdom navy as well as the royal norwegian navy to ensure that production exists and deterrence as a parthedeterrence is a parte calculus for those of us in nato. and i think we need to continue to do that. we need to continue to be vigilant and present and that requires to be there. >> general brown very briefly as i only have about a minute remaining, the air force does provide a very powerful supportg to the ground forces. those of us do appreciate your cover up ground force commanders are fully integrated to provide precision. the focus is developing the fifth generation platforms and fighting out the contest of environment rather than the uncontested environment that they are used to right now. what would that training look like for the next generation of pilots and crew and how are you going to work with our ground forces to incorporate as you are doing that? >> part of the word is to understand the concept and how we work together. one of the key aspects they are able to do i this provide commad and control as

sailboats, trawlers and lifeboats were used to ferry soldiers off the beaches and onto waiting royal navyarguably the greatest escape of world war ii. i wish i could meet the people, the chaps who came over and picked us up, because they were very brave blokes. because there were mines, and there was a good chance of being machine—gunned, as well. our cameraman is on a tiny merchant ship. he is risking his life to bring you the pictures. he is on his way to dunkirk. crossing the channel on a trawler or a pleasure boat in 19a0 to face the killing fields of the dunkirk beaches was a test of bravery bordering on madness. they were in the thick of it for several days, some of them. so i have huge admiration for them, and i have huge admiration for the little boats. because they are tiny little boats that were used to go up to the beaches, to get the boys off the beaches, and then ferry them to the larger vessels standing offshore. so they stayed. our ideas today come largely from recreations, dramas and films. home. at 100 years old, john port is one of the last left to describe what it was t

we are there we currently have three destroyers along with the united kingdom navy as well as the royal norwegian navy to ensure that power projection exists in deterrence is part of the calculus for those of us in nato. i think we need to continue to do that. we need to continue toe be vigilant, the present in the request inadequate size navy to bend there. >> very good. appreciate that. general brown, very briefly i still have about a minute remaining, the air force does provide very valuable support to our ground forces. those of us that were ground powders really do appreciate your cover. but our ground force commanders are fully integrated with our aircrews to provide precision fires especially are soft, which is community that i have close ties to. as the air force focuses on developing their fifth-generation platforms and fighting in in a near. contested environment rather than the uncontested vibrant that they are very used to right now, what will that training look like for the next generation of pilots and crews, and how are you going to work with our ground forces to incorpor

hundreds of royal air force planes engaged in an aerial offensive over continuedurope that days.ntingly for 10 [airplane engines] while the tide was turning in the air over hitler's fortress army, navynd, started to fight and push them out of new guinea and the solomon islands. [explosions] [gunfire] enemy forces were wiped out. to the airfield on new george island. [airplane engines overhead] [explosions] ♪ with all of north africa in allied hands preparations for , operation husky were begun immediately to attack the soft underbelly of europe. the immediate target, sicily. no time was lost. ♪ only 60 days after the surrender xis forces north africa, athens is seventh army sicilynvaded simultaneously with british and canadian troops under montgomery. [explosions] some 3000 craft were deployed to land with 160,000 troops. ♪ almost 14,000 vehicles, about 600 tanks, and nearly 2000 guns. but sicily was held by more than 200,000 italian and german troops, strongly entrenched on rugged terrain. it was to be a tough, hard-fought campaign. [explosions] [airplane engines] ♪ >> we invaded sicily just 18 months after pearl harbor. actually, an incredibly short period of time for a peaceful a

royal air force planes engaged in a nonstop, aerial offensive over occupied europe that continued unremittingly for 10 days. while the tide was turning in the air over hitler's fortress europe, american army, navyong with those of australia and new zealand, launched a concerted offense to drive the japanese out of new guinea and out of the north and south solomon islands. [gunfire] enemy forces on the islands were wiped out. our troops strove for the airfield on a new george island. [explosions] flying] with all of north africa in allied hands, preparations for "operation husky" were begun to meet lee to attack the soft underbelly. the target, sicily. no time was lost. only 60 days after the surrender of access forces in north africa, patton's seventh army invaded sicily simultaneously with british and canadian troops under montgomery. ♪ [explosions] from 3000 craft, employed with 160,000 troops. ♪ almost 14,000 vehicles, about 600 tanks, nearly 2000 guns. but sicily withheld by more than 200,000 italian troops, strongly entrenched all the terrain. it was to be a tough, hard-fought campaign. ♪ ♪ just 18 monthsly , actually anarbor incredibly short period of time for a peaceful and unprepared na

royal air force planes engaged in a nonstop aerial offenses over occupied europe that continued unremitingly for ten days. >> while the tide was turning in the air over hitler's fortress europe, american army and navyith new zealand launched a defensive to drive the japanese out of new guinea and the northern solmen islands. >> enemy forces on the island were iwiped out. our troops drove for the airfield on new georgia island. >> with all of noofrth africa i allied hands, preparations for husky began immediately. the immediate target sicily, little time was lost. only 60 days after the surrender of axis forces, the army invaded sicily with british and canadian troops under montgomery. >> some 3,000 craft were employed to land an initial force of some 160,000 troops. >> almost 14,000 vehicles, about 600 tanks, nearly 2,000 guns. but sicily was held by more than 200,000 italian and german troops strongly entrenched on rugged at the rain. it was to be a tough, hard-fought campaign. >> we invaded sicily just 18 months after pearl harbor. actually, an incredibly short period of time for a peaceful and unprepared nation to have accomplished so much. to have come so far. it was a brilliant reflection of o

royal air force planes engaged in a nonstop aerial offensive over occupied europe that continued unremittingly for ten days. while the tide was turning in the air over hitler's fortress europe, american army, navyse of australia and new zealand, launched an offensive to drive the japanese out of new guinea and the northern solomon islands. [ artillery ] enemy forces on randoba island were wiped out. our troops drove for numenda air field on new georgia island. with all of north africa in allied hands, preparations for "operation husky" were begun immediately. to attack the soft underbelly of europe. the immediate target -- sicily. little time was lost. only 60 days after the surrender of axis forces in north africa, patton's 7th army invaded sicily simultaneously with british and canadian troops under montgomery. some 3,000 craft were employed to land an initial force of 160,000 troops. almost 14,000 vehicles, about 600 tanks, nearly 2,000 guns. but sicily was held by more than 200,000 italian and german troops strongly entrenched on rugged terrain. it was to be a tough, hard-fought campaign. ♪ we invaded sicily just 18 months after pearl harbor. actually, an incredibly short period of time for