Audio Presentation

A key feature of the exhibition is an atmospheric collection of popular songs and political speeches from the beginning of the war with Japan until the first POW arrivals in Southampton at the end of the war.

The radio played a vital part in keeping people in Britain and around the world in touch with events as well as maintaining morale with all manner of entertainment. Hope made frequent reference to listening to the radio throughout her diaries.

Exhibition audio presentation of broadcasts and music from World War 2.

The running order is as follows:

      • BBC Home Service Announcement Alvar Liddell
      • “White Cliffs of Dover” – Vera Lynn (originally 1942 but this is a later version)
      • Announcement of Declaration of War against Japan – Winston Churchill (8th December 1941)
      • “Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major” – Arthur Askey – British comedian (1939)
      • Announcement of Fall of Singapore – Winston Churchill (15th February 1942)
      • “Moonlight Serenade” – Glenn Miller Orchestra (1939 – but Glenn Miller released other versions during the war)
      • Announcement of Surrender of Japan – Clement Atlee – Prime Minister  (20th August 1945)
      • “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” – Andrews Sisters (1942)
      • Interviews with returning POWs on board the liner Corfu in Southampton – Pathé News (7th October 1945)
      • “We’ll Meet Again” – Vera Lynn (1939 but this is a later version)