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Hard Graft and Little Glory: the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in WW2 - Part 1 Normandy

WW2TV

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Hard Graft and Little Glory: the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in WW2 - Part 1 Normandy
With Allan Converse
Part of our DDay and Battle of Normandy series
DDay and the Battle of Normandy
Also part of our ongoing British Army series
British Army in WWII

The 50th Northumbrian Division, the most experienced infantry division in the British Army, were the victors at Gold Beach on D-Day. But the division would face even harder fighting and greater challenges inland, where its command, morale, and tactical adaptability were tested to the utmost.

Allan Converse PhD was born in Los Angeles and has taught at Emerson College, Bentley University, Northeastern University and Lesley University. He is presently teaching at Cambridge Center for Adult Education. He is also the host of Noir History, bi-weekly program on Cambridge Community TV. He penned a book called "Armies of Empire" in 2011

Armies of Empire: The 9th Australian and 50th British Divisions in Battle 1939–1945 by Allan Converse
UK https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/978052...
USA https://bookshop.org/a/21029/97805211...

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20 Comments

@iant2215 1 year ago (edited)

Watched this live, it was absolutely superb talk by Allan, his knowledge about this division is mind blowing. Its long but if you want to learn about Normandy, you should watch this. Worth every minute. An absolute gem.

@divaddivag2697 1 year ago

Many thanks to Allan for his fine and insightful intervention. Being a local, mentioning the civilians was much appreciated.

@davidlavigne207 1 year ago

I am very proud that one of my countrymen gave such homage to a storied British Infantry Division. I feel that I now more fully understand the British way of fighting in WW2 than I ever have. Well done Terry (Alan Converse) Downe. I also want to say thank you to the many side bar guests that conveyed wishes of safety towards me regarding the severe storms that were passing through my hometown as I had to leave the chat early because of it. We have a kindly group of supporters on WW2TV Woody, in large part of the example you set on your channel. I suggest that one day a round panel with Alan, Dermot Rooney and Peter Hart might be arranged, discussing the various aspects of the British units of the war-it would be brilliant and entertaining I'm sure.

@andrewflindall9048 1 year ago

I came in at the second 'Command' slide and thought "Great, I haven't missed much". Turns out Allan was half an hour into it at that point! He is to be commended for his stamina and being able to make time fly.

@johnsowerby7182 1 year ago

As a true East Yorkshireman, I really appreciated this show!

@thomasrotweiler 1 year ago

Thoroughly splendid talk by Allan Converse. Not a wasted minute.

@allanburt5250 1 year ago

Brilliant presentation 👏 thanks for covering the 50th. My Grandad always had good words to say about those lads

@OldWolflad 1 year ago

WoW! This was incredibly detailed and quite a superb presentation, so impressed with Allan's take and knowledge that I have just bought his book on the 50th and 9th Aussie Div's. I really do appreciate Allan's obvious appreciation and at the same time it makes me realise the difficulties every unit in war had.

@jimwalsh1958space 1 year ago

Thank you WW2TV this is one of the best presentations i've seen here. Thank you Allan Converse

@Localroundhead 1 year ago

Not only an immense achievement in research, Converse has a talent for presenting

@raulravelo-j2m 1 year ago

First rate stuff gents. Top of the line with fine details about such a broad subject. Outstanding!

@markfriedberger8370 1 year ago

A very fine talk—one of the best on WW2 TV and there have been many of a high standard. It is testament to the state of academic history in the US that it seems that Allen can’t get a tenure track job and is free lancing at a commercial outfit of adult ed. It is pretty unusual for an American to be writing about a British Div in WW2. Allan’s grasp is impressive. He anecdote about Looney Hinde and the Match box, he knows that Prior Palmer’s daughter was an Olympian, that John Mogg of the Ox and Bucks commanded a DLI Bn at very short notice and commanded them for the rest of the war. He obviously read the Hastings autobiography. Hastings was very bright and writes about the experience of being a Greenjacket officer in a line regiment and casting aspersions about that experience and his time in the Desert with 2 RB.
In short, Allan has insights and knowledge about the Officer Corps and the British Army in general that few British academics can match.
It’s probably the same when he writes about the Aussies too. I will have to read his book! Hopefully he will do another talk on the 9th Australian. Great Stuff!!

@mattclark3392 1 year ago

This is my favourite ww2tv talk so far

@jacksonheaven2132 1 year ago

One of my fav conversations on the channel. Great presentation. Watching all the way from Australia.

@mike6239 1 year ago

that was a 5 star show thank you Allan and as ever thank you Paul

@bigtoe333333 2 months ago

What a great talk this was, and his dry sense of humour is great too.

@MaxHoffman-uz2df 4 months ago

Allan's knowledge is just outstanding

@poppyfields0675 1 year ago

This was outstanding. A very comprehensive and enlightening presentation. I will be watching it again. Thank you both.

@johnlucas8479 1 year ago

Woody a very immersive presentation and discussion by Allan

@jakebrowncollection1772 1 year ago (edited)

Absolutely fantastic show Hats off to Allan, and as you know Woody The Hants are my main focus and the fact Allan gave them and all 50th the time and recognition they deserved in fantastic detail is Riveting. Would love to sit down with Allan at some point too hear more.

One more thing that I was vaguely aware of was the moral issues with 1st Battalion but not to the extent that Allan laid out absolutely Fascinating.