BBC TV "WDYTYA?" Series 10 Episode #3 - Patrick Stewart

[stonechat]

My heart sank halfway through when I realised it was just going to be all about one man. 

Yes  that is what I mean -it's hardly family history

[Guy Etchells]

I must admit I didn't enjoy this episode at all.  It was disappointing after such a promising start with the first two episodes.  This one seemed to be an in-depth study into the mindset of one man through an exploration of his career as a wartime soldier.  My heart sank halfway through when I realised it was just going to be all about one man. 

If the programme was suggesting that Alfred's wartime experiences as a soldier somehow explain his violent, controlling nature towards his family, then I wasn't convinced of that at all.  Many men who had similar such wartime experiences were not violent within their own families.  I agree with Sarah here that he was probably an angry man long before he was ever a soldier.  Perhaps we could have had more info about Alfred's own parents and upbringing and more on Patrick's mother too.  There was definitely more to her than met the eye.  A little more genealogy might have given Patrick more insight into his father's complex character and we, the viewers, a more rounded and interesting episode to watch!   

That is exactly why so many were shot at dawn in the first world war.
Shell Shock affects different people in different ways the fact that others were not affected has nothing to do with it.

However the program did not diagnose the problem rather it raised the question.

It also raised the question was his training in the army a contributing reason for his treating his family in that way?
There were no excuses given just questions to be considered.

I thought it was one of the better family history programmes better than many of the how far back can we go genealogy programs that make huge leaps of faith.
Cheers
Guy

[PGC1962]

As usual the programme is limited in time and resources and couldn't hope to do everything.  I found it fascinating and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I only wish that I could have a few of those resources at my disposal though!   I'd love to be able to trace my own father's involvement in the 2nd World War.  Just how easy is it to access the records and at what cost?

Phil

Hello Phil

Check out this link to MOD web-site.


MOD Link Shortened


I applied for my fathers WWII service records last Nov & received a letter back saying it might be a year before they will be aple to reply, but I hope it will be worth the wait.


I hope it's of use to you

Patrick

[Phil Goater]

Thank you Patrick.

How much do they charge for this "service" ?

Regards,
Phil

[mshrmh]

Thank you Patrick.

How much do they charge for this "service" ?

Regards,
Phil

Phil - the MOD prioritises requests from service personnel and their surviving spouse/civil partner then those from other people.

From my personal experience in my wider family - earlier this year a request from a widow produced service records within 2-3 weeks free of charge while a request from next of kin (child of person) took 10 months - cost is now £30.

[bucksboy]

I for one enjoyed it, as always.     Why do others think we must trace back to William the conqueror and beyond.

It was Patrick's journey, and he needed to resolve some unanswered questions and doubts etc.

How many of us, have put all their dark family secrets into their own trees, or laid them bare for others to peruse and criticise, only to form opinions which are usually wrong.

As for PTSD.......it can happen at any time.    I watched my father die in agony,  coughing up blood in a hospital bed, and I begged the doctor to overdose him on morphine.  With his dosage of pain killer, he was still in agony.

His(my father) death cert only tells some of the truth, and IF the doctor bent to my request, I bless him for it.

So, to some up..........take each program for what it is, and enjoy it. 


Steve.

[genjan1953]

I for one enjoyed it, as always.     Why do others think we must trace back to William the conqueror and beyond.

I don't think anyone was saying we must trace back to William the Conqueror.  It just would have been interesting to have gone further back than just one generation, that's all.  The WDYTYA series is supposed to be about family history and usually covers more than one generation and certainly more than one ancestor in a single programme.  I prefer it when it does that.  I think the Patrick Stewart episode strayed from the originial remit and hope it isn't a sign of things to come.  That's just my opinion.  Obviously some people enjoyed it for what it was - I didn't 

[baggygenes]

Out of interest has WDYTYA done a single person research before?   In my head they did it with Kim Cattrell and her missing Grandfather - but that was a while back I could be wrong.

[gaffy]

Out of interest has WDYTYA done a single person research before?   In my head they did it with Kim Cattrell and her missing Grandfather - but that was a while back I could be wrong.

Hi there, several posts seem to have disappeared from this thread, I'm currently lost!