The First Day
Drama revealing real experiences of British soldiers in the First World War. In August 1914, the Royal Fusiliers reach the town of Mons in Belgium.
Inspired by the Bafta-winning series Our War, which tracked the first-hand experiences of British troops on the front line in Afghanistan, this series immerses viewers in the real stories of British troops serving on the front line during World War I.
August 1914, two weeks after the First World War was declared. 80,000 British troops have arrived in southern Belgium, but they have yet to engage the enemy. Amongst these professional soldiers are the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, some of the best-trained gunners in the British Army.
Lieutenant Maurice Dease and his friend, Australian Lieutenant Fred Steele, command two companies of riflemen and machine gunners who find themselves camping overnight at Nimy Bridge, the northernmost point of the Mons-Conde Canal. The canal, surrounding the town of Mons, supports 18 bridges stretched along 20 miles of water - but everyone, including Private Sid Godley and his mate Private William Holbrook, expects to be crossing those bridges in the morning. Overnight, however, intelligence reports the Germans may be closer than the British think, and the Royal Engineers, including Lance Corporal Charles Jarvis and his sapper, Private Neary, are ordered to start preparing the bridges for demolition.
What happens next, on Sunday 23 August, tests the soldiers' skill, courage and ingenuity to the absolute limit, leading to the first Victoria Crosses of the First World War. Not everyone will make it through the First Day.
Last on
Clips
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Training on the bridge
Duration: 02:15
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The first shots of the war
Duration: 01:47
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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The Prodigy
Invaders Must Die
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PJ Harvey
Big Exit
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Alva Noto & Blixa Bargeld
Bersteinzimmer
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Goat
Run to Mama (Gnod and Raikes Parade Remix
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Groove Armada
Purple Haze
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Murcof
Camino
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Tobor Experiment Disco Experience
A Brand New World of Allatonceness
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Robert Logan
Older Jug II
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These Hidden Hands
Trelesire
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Murcof
Ruido
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Roly Porter
Corrin
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Dan Skinner & Adam Skinner
Kill Zone
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Deuter
Soham
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Ital Tek
Endgame
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Cat Power
Red Apples
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These Hidden Hands
Trelesire
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Raffertie
Entagled
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Library Tapes
Fragment VIII
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Raffertie
Abide
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Ital Tek
Endgame (v2)
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Sid Godley | Theo Barklem-Biggs |
Maurice Dease | Dominic Thorburn |
Fred Steele | Jefferson Hall |
Billy Holbrook | Calum Callaghan |
Charles Jarvis | Brian Ferguson |
Sapper Neary | Sion Daniel Young |
Neville | Daniel Kendrick |
Frank | Frankie Wilson |
Von Armin | Julian Michael Deuster |
Supply Officer | Stephen Leask |
Director | Bruce Goodison |
Producer | Susan Horth |
Writer | Joe Barton |
Broadcasts
- Thu 7 Aug 2014 21:00
- Fri 8 Aug 2014 03:00
- Sat 9 Aug 2014 00:30
- Sun 10 Aug 2014 21:00
- Tue 12 Aug 2014 01:30
- Mon 13 Oct 2014 23:35Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Wales & Wales HD
- Tue 14 Oct 2014 00:05Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Wales HD & Wales only
- Tue 14 Oct 2014 00:15Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Northern Ireland HD & Northern Ireland only
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