BBC Forces Programme (1940-1944)

The BBC Forces Programme was a BBC radio station which operated from January 7, 1940 until February 26, 1944.

Upon the outbreak of World War II, the BBC closed the existing BBC National Programme and BBC Regional Programme, combining the two to form a single channel known as the BBC Home Service.

The BBC Home Service had been put together in a hurry and many of the pre-war favourite programmes had been lost. The new network mainly concentrated on news, informational programmes and music. It became clear that the members of the armed services, especially those in France who had been expecting to fight, were now mainly sat in barracks with little to do. The BBC Forces Programme was launched to appeal directly to these men.

The Forces Programme's mixture of drama, comedy, popular music, features, quiz shows and variety was richer and more varied than the former National Programme, although it continued to supply lengthy news bulletins and informational programmes and talk.

The BBC Forces Programme was replaced when the influx of American soldiers, used to a different style of entertainment programming, had to be catered for in the run up to D-Day. The replacement service was named the BBC General Forces Programme and began broadcasting on February 27, 1944.

After VE-Day, the frequencies of the former National Programme were taken over by the new BBC Light Programme.

Find out more at Wikipedia* and History of the BBC (1940s)*

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