Born in Liverpool in 1899, JOHN BROPHY was an Anglo-Irish soldier, journalist and author who wrote more than forty books, many of which were based on his experiences during the First World War. Having lied about his age to enlist in the British Army, Brophy served for four years in the infantry before being honorably discharged in 1918. He died in 1965.
Born and brought up in New Zealand, ERIC PARTRIDGE was also a First World War veteran, having volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force in April 1915. Having gone on to become a renowned lexicographer of the English Language, he passed away in 1979.
Malcolm Brown studied at St John’s College, Oxford. He spent his national service in the Royal Navy. He joined the BBC in 1955 and has been a documentary producer since 1980, specializing mainly in historical and biographical programs. He has worked on many programs including the landmark BBC documentary The Battle of the Somme. He died in December 2017.