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22 August 1918

Arriving in France, the US Army includes 200,000 black soldiers. Mrs Addie Washington is one of only four YMCA workers sent to support them, as they face their own particular war.

Mrs Adeline Washington is one of only four black American YMCA workers, sent to support the 200,000 black American soldiers arriving in France in 1918.

In this story by Patricia Cumper and Jonathan Ruffle, Mrs Washington's duties should keep her away from the fighting. But when she uncovers a shocking secret about the US 371st Regiment, currently in the frontline at Esnes-en-Argonne, she has to find any way to get there - and fast.

Meticulously based on unit war diaries and eye-witness accounts, each episode of TOMMIES traces one real day at war, exactly 100 years ago, telling untold stories about the war in Gaza, Gallipoli, Serbia, Mesopotamia, Russia, Macedonia, Italy, Turkmenistan and Tanzania, as well as on the Western Front.

And through it all, we've followed the fortunes of Mickey Bliss and his fellow signallers, from the Lahore Division of the British Indian Army. They are the cogs in an immense machine, one which connects situations across the whole theatre of the war, over four long years.

Produced and directed by Jonquil Panting.

45 minutes

Last on

Thu 8 Nov 2018 21:15

Credits

Role Contributor
Adeline Washington Clare Perkins
Leland Moody John Macmillan
Major Elias John Macmillan
Bliko Sidibe Buom Tihngang
Jake Triplett Buom Tihngang
Oscar Busch Ryan Whittle
Henry Hayward Daniel Betts
Erwin Radke Daniel Betts
William Malveaux Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong
Paul-Jean Ganeval Alexander Devrient
Soldier Peter Bankole
Orderly Cameron Percival
Writer Patricia Cumper
Writer Jonathan Ruffle
Producer Jonquil Panting
Director Jonquil Panting

Broadcasts

  • Wed 22 Aug 2018 14:15
  • Thu 8 Nov 2018 11:15
  • Thu 8 Nov 2018 21:15

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