I Was There! - another chapter of episodes now complete

9 June 2025

The latest series of videos from the 'I Was There!' project has just been published. In these videos we are 'voicing' the original magazine articles from the 1939 publication 'I Was There!' in which personal accounts of those 'who were there' were published over hundreds of instalments. 

The original publication grouped these accounts into chapters, which we are replicating on the WFA's Youtube channel as 'playlists'. 

The last playlist (number 13) only contained three personal accounts, but all are on the theme of 'First Bombs on England'

In episode 83 the original publication described Sylvia Pankhurst "The famous woman publicist.... who was a welfare worker in the East End at the time, [who] describes with deep sympathy the sufferings of the civilian population under this new terror.

In episode 84, the description reads "Major Linnarz, who was commander of Zeppelin LZ38, had been four times over England before, on May 31, 1915, he succeeded in reaching London...He describes in this historic narrative his sensations throughout the journey and the raid. While he was returning he was attacked by anti-aircraft guns and nine British pilots, but succeeded in making his escape."

In episode 85: "One of the most destructive of the Zeppelin raids took place over the West End of London on October 13, 1915 — when bombs were dropped in the heart of theatreland, causing great loss of life and damage to property. The author, call-boy at the Gaiety Theatre on that evening, was seriously wounded. He here describes in graphic staccato phrases the scenes which he witnessed and pays tribute to the great courage shown by the actors who were performing at the time."

All these episodes and more can be found on the I Was There! Index Page 

I Was There! Part 10 4
I Was There! Part 10 4

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The videos are being grouped (following the format in the original magazine) into 'Chapters' (on YouTube these are 'playlists') and can be seen here:

Searchable Magazine Archive

I Was There! magazine was originally published in 51 weekly issues between 1938 and 1939. The Western Front Association has undertaken a long-term project to digitize and narrate these historical accounts. The digital scans are available to members as PDF files in the Searchable Magazine Archive.

Not a member? Join us and get access to a wealth of digitised resources.

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