βThis was just one baby out of thousands and thousands of other babies.β How James got involved in a war.
βThis was just one baby out of thousands and thousands of other babies.β How James got involved in a war.
When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets β rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria β and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier β his detractors say β was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions.
Produced, written and presented by: Chloe Hadjimatheou
Editor: Emma Rippon
Researcher: Tom Wright
Mixed by: Neil Churchill
Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak
Turkish researcher: Nevin Sungur
Narrative Consultant: John Yorke
Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum
Production Coordinator - Gemma Ashman
REFERENCES
PM, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, 13 November 2014
ββFind her for me! Her name is Aya!β, Her mother. SCD in Damascus were able to rescue Ayaβ - The Syria Civil Defence - The White Helmets, 20 Feb 2017
βFirst explicit pictures of massive barrel bomb dropped on rebel zones in Syriaβ - euronews (in English) Credit: DaryaRevlution, 31 Jan 2014
βBaby in the rubble: Syriaβs White Helmetsβ - UN Humanitarian, 22 Oct 2015
βDirect targeting to the white helmets teamsβ - Syria Civil Defence - The White Helmets, 19 December 2019
βRescuer weeps after saving Syrian babyβ β CNN, 30 Sep 2016
PM, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4, 13 November 2014
Storyville - Last Men in Aleppo - ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ collaboration with the Aleppo Media Centre, 27 Nov 2017
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Intrigue
A tragic kidnapping that shook Britain and launched a tabloid war.
