Following the footsteps of a WW2 prisoner of war

HistoryExtra podcast

HistoryExtra

History

4.3 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 23 February 2026

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Captured in Libya, imprisoned in Italy, and twice an escapee: historian Malcolm Gaskill's great-uncle Ralph's experiences of the Second World War were certainly dramatic. Yet he left behind little more than a few photos, a wartime memoir, and a few stories filtered through family legend. But through years of research, travel and a unique partnership with an Italian historian, Gaskill has pieced together a story of quiet courage and unexpected connections. Here, in conversation with Elinor Evans, he discusses the resulting book, The Glass Mountain, and the challenges of telling such histories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hidden beneath the streets of Westminster lies one of Britain's best kept secrets.
0:05.0	The underground headquarters where the course of the Second World War was determined.
0:09.0	Now you can step back in time and see it for yourself at Churchill War Rooms.
0:13.0	Discover what life was like for the people living and working underground
0:17.0	and walk in Churchill's footsteps through the historic rooms,
0:20.0	including the War Cabinet Room, the Map Room and Churchill's footsteps through the historic rooms, including the
0:21.2	War Cabinet Room, the Map Room and Churchill's bedroom, all left untouched since 1945.
0:26.9	Book your visit now at Iwm.org.uk slash Churchill.
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