The BBC: A Century on Air

by David Hendy

He framed Dunkirk as a ‘miserable blunder’ that had ended as an ‘epic of gallantry’ and contrasted the soulless efficiency of the German war machine with the plucky British, who had improvised their way to safety with hundreds of small boats sailing into ‘the inferno, to defy bombs, shells, magnetic mines, torpedoes, machine-gun fire’. ‘And our great-grandchildren,’ he concluded, ‘when they learn how we began this War by snatching glory out of defeat, and then swept on to victory, may also learn how the little holiday steamers made an excursion to hell and came back glorious.’ Churchill’s response to Dunkirk had been to ask the nation to carry on and make ever greater effort. Priestley’s broadcast recognised the sacrifices already made; it saw reasons for hope, even celebration, describing things not only as they were but as they might be. Above all, it forged allegory from the everyday. That flotilla of little ships symbolised the coming together of ordinary British citizens. It pushed what Priestley called ‘the official and important personages’ into the background and put ‘the people’ – their ‘spirit… sense, courage and endurance’ – centre stage.