Friday 29 August, 2014
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.8MB)
This podcast covers John Adams joining up in September 1914.
Wednesday 8 October, 2014
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.1MB)
This podcast is a short radio interview that Mark did with North Antrim’s Q97.2 FM. In it he shares some of the stories from Letters from the Front.
Thanks to Q97.2 FM for permission to reproduce on the podcast.
Friday 7 November, 2014
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (13.0MB)
This month’s podcast is an interview with Jonathan McGrath of the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum in Armagh, looking at the history of the Royal Irish Fusiliers from their formation right up to the start of WW1.
Monday 15 December, 2014
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.2MB)
December’s podcast looks back to Christmas 1914, and also contains a tribute to John Adams’ love of brass bands.
Monday 26 January, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.5MB)
This podcast episode looks at January 1915, when John Adams was still in training in North Down.
Wednesday 25 February, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (11.3MB)
This podcast looks at further training in February 1915, including a recruiting route march through Co. Armagh.
Friday 27 March, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.9MB)
The podcast for March 1915 covers a recruitment march in Co. Cavan and Co. Monaghan, John Adams looking forward to Easter, and being a country man, observing the seasons in the country around him.
The podcast also gives a glossary of the key people in John Adams’ life, particularly his sister Jeannie.
Thursday 23 April, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (12.1MB)
The podcast for April 1915 features Heather Montgomery from the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen’s University Belfast. Heather is researching the practice trench systems that were built all across Ireland as the three Irish divisions (10th, 16th, 36th) trained for trench warfare.
Saturday 16 May, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.1MB)
The podcast for May 1915 features the second part of our interview Heather Montgomery from the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen’s University Belfast. Heather is researching the practice trench systems that were built all across Ireland as the three Irish divisions (10th, 16th, 36th) trained for trench warfare.
Heather mentioned the Defence Heritage Project that she is involved in. They are looking for the public to contribute information and knowledge about WW1 structures in their area, so please have a look.
A big thanks to Heather for contributing to our understanding of our family history.
Friday 12 June, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.3MB)
This podcast looks at the structure of the British Army and the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers’ move to Sussex for further training.
Wednesday 29 July, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.6MB)
This podcast looks at how the Orange Order helped the men of the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers keep contact with their home and culture while training in Sussex.
Wednesday 19 August, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (11.0MB)
This podcast looks at August 1915.
Wednesday 23 September, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (12.0MB)
This podcast looks at September 1915, the last month of training for the men of the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers before leaving England for France.
Saturday 17 October, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (14.0MB)
This podcast looks at October 1915, when the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers first deployed to France.
Wednesday 11 November, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.1MB)
This episode features a conversation between Mark, Roger and John remembering our trip to the Western Front in 2014. It also covers the discharge of John Adams’ cousin Thomas Davidson, and a frank letter from John Adams to his mother.
Friday 11 December, 2015
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (17.2MB)
This podcast covers John Adams’ first Christmas in the trenches and a further discussion between Mark, Roger and John.
Friday 15 January, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (12.0MB)
This podcast covers a number of letters from John Adams as he is about to go back into the trenches. We conclude the discussion between Mark, Roger and John by looking at their visit to the Somme.
Tuesday 22 March, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.7MB)
Rumours of an air raid over Belfast, a joke between brothers, and the usual concerns for his mother.
Sunday 17 April, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (14.6MB)
The Easter Rising took place 100 years ago at the end of April 1916. In this podcast, Mark talks with Susan Schreibman and Neale Rooney of the Letters 1916 project. We also have a letter from John Adams’ sister Jeannie referencing the Rising from her home in Holywood, Co. Down.
Tuesday 24 May, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.6MB)
John Adams was accidentally wounded in the left hand on the evening of 1 May 1916. This podcast looks at treatment of injured men, and follows John’s letters as he tells his mother what happened.
Monday 27 June, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.8MB)
Tuesday 26 July, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.5MB)
This podcast looks at the momentous events of the 1st July 1916, back at Hamel. Then shifts to the contrast of John Adams walking round Rouken Glen park in suburban Glasgow. That is the contrast of war.
Monday 29 August, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.1MB)
The effects of the 1st day of the Somme as felt at home. And John Adams back in Ireland, closer to home, but still suffering from his injury.
Thursday 29 September, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.5MB)
No letters from John Adams this month, but three postcards from his older sister Jeannie who was a domestic servant in Holywood, Co. Down.
Monday 31 October, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.8MB)
Letters from John, still recovering from his hand wound at Tipperary, and from Jeannie.
Saturday 10 December, 2016
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.0MB)
John getting ready for a long Christmas in Tipperary
Wednesday 4 January, 2017
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.2MB)
John finally gets to leave Tipperary for somewhere closer to home – Newtownards.
We also have Part 1 of an interview with Blacker’s Boys author, Nick Metcalfe.
Monday 6 February, 2017
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)
Only one letter this month – complaining about the wet in Newtownards.
We also have Part 2 of our interview with Blacker’s Boys author, Nick Metcalfe.
Monday 13 March, 2017
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.9MB)
John is still in Ireland, but is about to go back to France.
We also discuss some new evidence about the aftermath of the Somme in Ireland, following a comment by one of our listeners.
Thursday 6 April, 2017
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.6MB)
No letters from John this month, so just a short history section on the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Saturday 13 May, 2017
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.4MB)
John returns to the Western Front in May 1917.
Wednesday 14 June, 2017
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.0MB)
A look at the Battle of Messines in June 1917, where the 36th Ulster and 16th Irish Divisions fought side by side. John Adams and the 9th Irish Fusiliers were in Reserves.
Saturday 19 August, 2017
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.3MB)
No letters this month, just field postcards. This is unsurprising given the context: the beginning of the Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres) on 31 July, and John’s involvement in the Battle of Langemarck around 16 August. Sobering history.
Saturday 20 January, 2018
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.9MB)
John was back with his Battalion in January 1918. His one letter shows that he was very concerned about his mother’s health.
Thursday 15 February, 2018
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.8MB)
In this episode we still see that John is concerned for his mother’s health.
In the history section we look at the logistics of how 12 million letters reached WW1 soldiers every week. We are really grateful to former postman and former MP Alan Johnson for permission to use this material.
Tuesday 13 March, 2018
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.8MB)
This episode looks at the brutal events surrounding the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael). The 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers were at the centre of the attack, and John was on his way home on leave…
Saturday 21 April, 2018
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.4MB)
Brutal fighting continued as the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers moved to Mount Kemmel SW of Ypres, and the Germans start Operation Georgette.
Monday 24 September, 2018
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (13.5MB)
Monday 29 October, 2018
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (16.0MB)
This month we hear about a telegram that arrived at Lisadian…
Monday 26 November, 2018
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (12.9MB)
The end of the war at 11 am on 11.11.18.
And a move from Dublin to Belfast for John
Thursday 21 February, 2019
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.7MB)
In this penultimate podcast of the series we look at demobilisation of the 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Thursday 25 April, 2019
by Mark Adams
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (22.6MB)
In this final podcast of the series Mark, Roger and John cover what happened to John after the War, following the history of the newly-formed Northern Ireland.