Calling Blighty: relatives of WW2 servicemen visit SODA for a special screening
A special screening was held at Manchester Metropolitan University’s School of Digital Arts (SODA) for the relatives of WW2 veterans to watch a series of short films known as the Calling Blighty films.
The Calling Blighty series of short films, now held at the North West Film Archive, were made by the British Army between 1944 and 1946, and show British servicemen of the Fourteenth Army who were stationed in India, Burma, Singapore and Malaya.
To combat low-morale, soldiers were encouraged to record a message to be watched by their families and friends back home in England. The film would be shown weeks later in local cinemas to their relatives, who may not have seen them in up to six years. It has been described as the equivalent as a one-way Zoom call for the people of the day.
Geoff Senior, Access and Engagement Co-ordinator for NWFA, said: “It’s been a privilege to be able to reunite families with the films their loved ones made all those years ago. It really shows the power of both the academic research into the films we hold in the collection and the huge public engagement that can result from that research.
“The Calling Blighty project was born from an academic collaboration over 10 years ago which was part of the University’s contribution to REF 2021. Its legacy, as evidenced by recent media interest, is impressively strong, and members of the public are still able to search and access the original website and database.”
The messages on the films ranged from simple wishes that children back home were getting ready for school, to assurances for their loved ones that they were well.
“Hoping to see you soon! I miss your cooking, Mum,” says one young man.
Clips from some of the films were played on BBC Breakfast two weeks ago with a call-out for any relatives to get in touch and many did. They were interviewed at SODA after the screening for a special programme to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Many of them had brought old photographs and even medals of the people onscreen.
“I didn’t think I’d be emotional,” said John Purves, the son of the veteran Harry Purves who appeared onscreen, “But I really was. I had tears in my eyes.”
The programme aired last week and featured touching family memories from the relatives and an interview with Senior at the studio.
Senior said: “The huge number of emails and phone calls to the archive after the films have been screened has been fantastic and shows how despite being known as the ‘Forgotten Army’, these men and women who served in the far east, have not been forgotten by their families and friends down the years.”
You can find out more about the Calling Blighty films on Manchester Met’s North West Film Archive website.
