We Sons of World War Two Vets

About We Sons of World War Two Vets

A podcast about men who fought in World War Two, whose stories are told by their sons. In each episode, Matthew Collins interviews a son who tells the story of his father's war and explores its effects - on his father and on himself. Matthew's father, Patrick, joined the RAF in May 1939 when he was 17. He returned from the war at the age of 24, more mature in many ways than Matthew was at 40. But his father rarely talked about the war. And when he did, he usually told light-hearted stories about it - rather than discuss fully what he'd seen and done. He was, however, serious when discussing other family members - a brother who was shot at Dunkirk; a cousin whose ship was torpedoed; and his own father who'd survived battles in the First World War (as well as uncles who had not). War experiences seeped into Matthew's consciousness. From a young age, he appreciated that he was part of a lucky generation that was unlikely to be called upon to fight. But what if he had been called up? And if war had broken out, how might he have responded? After his father died, he started to compare notes with other veterans' sons. He then interviewed men who told the stories of their fathers' war. And reflected on its effects. On their fathers and on themselves. But the interviews also became explorations of the contrast between two very different generations - wartime dads and their baby boomer sons. And touching explorations of father/son relationships. To coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, nine episodes have, so far, been published. (The most recent - Episode 9, Richard and Jack, about ace night-fighter pilot Jack Foster - came out in August.) More will follow soon. Matthew Collins started his career presenting on TV. (He's best remembered as 'Special Assignments Man' for BBC2's The Travel Show.) He then raised two sons alone and became a prison teacher. For ten years, he ran 'Speaking Shakespeare' workshops in men's and women's prisons. Today he runs public 'Speaking Shakespeare' workshops for businesses; social organisations; and members of the public. To find out more about Matthew, please go to: https://www.matthewcollins.com/about (https://www.matthewcollins.com/about) MEANWHILE, HERE'S A BRIEF POSTSCRIPT: There are many more World War Two Vets' sons out there - with personal-historical reflections to share. Matthew wants to document as many as possible. He's already travelled around the UK recording interviews. And will continue to do so, funding this project out of his own pocket. But ideally, he could do with assistance. If you would like to support this podcast, please see "Support the Show" under each episode’s info. Or go to: https://www.patreon.com/wesonsofww2vets Thank you.

Publisher

Matthew Collins

Category

history · science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Apr 2025

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Episode 16. Rick and Peter - Part 2

   Rick continues the story of Peter's war. We hear about a military VIP whom he took up the Italian coast and about his time in Malta - as commander of the most fragrant ship in the dock. We follow him to India, hear about the commandos he took down the coast of Burma, and learn about Rita - Peter's onboard pet monkey. We also hear about Peter's complicated postwar life and about the restaurant Rick's mother ran whose customers included Prince Charles; Jacob Bronowski; Delia Smith; and Pr...

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Episode 15. Rick and Peter - Part 1

   Retired teacher, Rick Shepperson, talks about his father, Peter, who served on a minesweeper with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and (after travelling to New York to collect his vessel) commanded a landing craft during Operation Husky - the Allied Invasion of Sicily. The story of Peter Shepperson's war continues in Episode 16 - Rick and Peter, Part 2. Send us Fan Mail Support the show

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Episode 13. John and Norman - Part 1

   We Sons' first interview with the son of a non-British veteran! This episode is the first of a two part interview with John Rouse from Sydney, Australia whose father, Norman, spent most of his war as a POW held by the Japanese. Norman was taken prisoner with his brother. So, they looked after each other during their captivity - which took them from The Bicycle Camp, a former Dutch military base (that Norman described as "almost luxurious" compared to the horrors that followed), to camps...

4. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Episode 14. John and Norman - Part 2

   The second of a two-part interview with John Rouse from Sydney whose father, Norman, and uncle John were POWs held by the Japanese. In this episode, John tells the story of their captivity - of their inspiring commanding officer, Weary Dunlop; of their forced labour on the Thai/Burma railway; of the horrific brutality in the prison camps; of their time working underground in a Japanese copper mine when the first atomic bomb was dropped; and of their return to Australia. John also explores the...

5. 

   1 May 2026

   Robin and Ron

   Classical music conductor, Robin Page, talks about his father, Ron, who was a prisoner-of-war held by the Japanese - in Changi Jail and in the railway death camps. Ron hated the film The Bridge on the River Kwai because, he said, "The reality was far worse than that..." Ron witnessed savagery during his four years as a prisoner. When he got home to Ipswich in 1946 his body and his faith in humanity were damaged. But he built a happy postwar life - as an Ipswich postman (delivering letters to ...

6. 

   20 Jan 2026

   Episode 11 - Arthur and Syd

   Comedian Arthur Smith discusses his father Syd Smith's experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II, revealing the surprising reason he was sent to Colditz in this interview episode.

7. 

   3 Oct 2025

   Episode 10, Ray and "Nick"

   Ray Wells recounts stories his father, Nick Wells, a Royal Navy artificer, shared about sabotaging enemy supply lines in Crete during World War II, revealing the impact of war experiences on family narratives in this interview.

8. 

   7 Aug 2025

   Episode 9. Richard and Jack.

   Richard Foster recounts his father Jack Foster's experiences as an ace night fighter pilot during World War II, detailing combat reports and his later work as a test pilot, in an interview with Matthew Foster.

9. 

   2 Jul 2025

   Episode 8. David and Edward.

   Matthew interviews Edward Toms and David Toms about Edward's extraordinary experiences during World War II, revealing the hidden depths of a seemingly ordinary life.

10. 

    16 Apr 2025

    Episode 7. Eric and George. And George.

    Eric Grant talks about his father George who took 11 bullets after parachuting into Arnhem. He also talks about his mother, Pearl; about wartime romance; and about a desire to erase wartime history. Send us a text Support the show

11. 

    16 Apr 2025

    Episode 6. Robert and Hugh

    Matthew talks to Robert Sackville-West about his father Hugh. Hugh won a Military Cross for his heroic actions in a tank battle during the liberation of France. But none of his family knew the full details of how he won his medal until after he died. Send us a text Support the show

12. 

    16 Apr 2025

    Episode 3. Andy and Andy

    Matthew speaks to Londoner Andy Trevillion about his father, also called Andy. Andy Senior's war saw him rescued from Dunkirk; fighting Rommel in the Western Desert; seeing action in Southern Italy; and, after the war, fighting in Greece. Retired architect Andy describes his father as "A good bloke, an easy person to be around". But it was only after his death that Andy Junior fully appreciated the extent of the toll that his father's war experiences had taken. Send us a text Support the show

13. 

    16 Apr 2025

    Episode 5. Richard and Thomas

    Richard Hicks and Matthew met in prison - when they were teaching in Wormwood Scrubs. Richard's father, Thomas, was a Wellington bomber pilot. Thomas had so many lucky escapes that his crew thought he was in league with the devil (because the devil looks after his own....) and his crew refused to fly with any other pilot. Thomas was a survivor but, says Richard, his war experiences left him desensitised. Send us a text Support the show

14. 

    16 Apr 2025

    Episode 4. Joe and John

    Matthew speaks to Cumberland farmer Joe Roe about his father John. Joe was born in 1947 but describes the Second World War as "a thread which ran through my entire life". John's war took him to Dunkirk; the Western Desert; Italy; and, afterwards, to Palestine. When he came home, John took over the local post office. But, says Joe, "Not a day seemed to go by when the war wasn't mentioned in some way." Send us a text Support the show

15. 

    16 Apr 2025

    Episode 2. Murdo and John

    Matthew speaks to Brighton-based journalist Murdo Morrison - who grew up on the Isle of Lewis - about his father John. John took part in the Normandy landings (on D-Day plus 4). They explore the huge cultural differences between the baby-boomer son and his war vet father. Send us a text Support the show

16. 

    14 Apr 2025

    Episode 1. Taster Episode

    A pre-launch taster for this new series in which sons talk to Matthew Collins about their World War Two Vet fathers. Sons tell their fathers' stories. And explore the effects of the war – on both their fathers who fought in it and on themselves, the sons born after it. In this trailer we hear from some of the sons who appear individually in episodes of the series. We Sons of World War Two Vets - launching April 2025. Send us a text Support the show

Who has been a guest on We Sons of World War Two Vets

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Arthur Smith
• Ray Wells
• Jack Foster
• Edward Toms
• David Toms

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

39

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact We Sons of World War Two Vets

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.