The People Remember

Sophie Raworth and JJ Chalmers are joined by special guest Murray Walker, the former motor racing commentator. Murray, now 93 years old, commanded a Sherman tank during the latter stages of the Second World War and has vivid memories of his time as a soldier. We also hear JJ's personal story – he was badly injured by an IED in Afghanistan which killed three of his colleagues. JJ has faced a long road back to recovery but now he's celebrating the birth of his first child – a baby girl who he has named after one of his fallen comrades. We feature the work of the Battle Back Centre in the Midlands, where members of the armed forces come for help with their recoveries from both mental and physical injuries. And there's also a performance from Chris de Burgh singing a song called ‘The Soldier'.

Sophie and JJ are joined by special guest Sir Matthew Pinsent, who has spent many hours finding out about the wartime service of his great uncles. One of them took part in the Battle of the Somme. The son of a Somme veteran returns to the battlefields to hear about his father's experiences as a sixteen year old serving with the Accrington Pals. Matthew Pinsent reads the final letter home of a Somme soldier, killed as he led his men over the top. Plus we explore a new exhibition celebrating a century of war movies and there's a performance from the orchestra of the Chetham's School of Music as they play a specially composed score to the first ever feature length documentary from the front line.

Sophie and JJ are joined by special guest Helen Skelton who wants to find out more about the wartime service of her grandparents. Army reservist nurse Anna Cross returns to Sierra Leone, where she caught ebola while she was trying to save the lives of local people. Anna is also a guest with Sophie and JJ at the Imperial War Museum. There's more from the Battle Back Centre in the Midlands as a soldier tries to overcome PTSD. And singer John Reilly performs a tribute to the ‘Women of Steel' who kept Sheffield's steel factories running during the two world wars, despite the constant threat of bombing raids.

Sophie and JJ are joined by Sir Tony Robinson who reflects on the wartime service of his grandparents and how it has inspired a lifelong interest in history. Historian Richard van Emden tells the story of the musicians who found themselves fighting in the biggest naval battle of the First World War. And Gareth Malone and his choir perform ‘Brothers in Arms', a moving tribute to those who lost their lives during the Falklands conflict.

Sophie and JJ are joined by Anneka Rice as she hears about her father's role in the Second World War for the first time. Anneka's dad helped to defend the city of Hull from intense German bombing raids but he never talked about it after the war. The family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan organise a motorbike ride in his honour, bringing together some of his former colleagues. Some of the service men and women who've been helped by the Royal British Legion's Battle Back Centre tell us why the work of the centre is so important. And there's a moving performance from opera soprano Melissa Alder as she sings a song for the fallen, written by Frederick Forsyth.

A selection of highlights from a week of The People Remember, including Murray Walker's experiences in a Sherman tank and the emotional moment Helen Skelton was told about the role played by her grandfathers during the war.