Love Letters from the Front: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio Ulster
Drama series exploring World War I and the tragedies of war through the love letters of two young lovers
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. The final episode in the series.
Major WWI drama series telling the true love story of an English soldier and his Irish sweetheart. Eric relives the horror of seeing the face of a driver trapped under three horses.
A major WWI drama series. 'Heavens. When I think of the poor infantry who have to stay for long hours... in absolute freezing cold.'.
A major WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. The dugout collapses as water destroys the trench.
WWI drama series telling the true love story of an English soldier and his Irish sweetheart. 'I can feel the wonderful thrill of real love go through me as I kiss your lips'.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of an English soldier and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. German troops advance on Eric and his men.
A major WWI drama series telling the true love story of an English soldier and his Irish sweetheart. Eric ponders over the casualties of war and the mounting number of new graves.
A major new WWI drama series. Eric seeks consolation in his distress - 'Oh, lady mine. Think. It's nearly 19 months since I came out here. When will the nightmare end?'.
A major new WWI drama series telling the true love story of an English soldier and his Irish sweetheart. Eric stands glued to the spot as a plane comes crashing towards him.
A major new WWI drama series. Eric tries to reassure Phyllis - 'You seem so dreadfully frightened for some reason, but whatever it may be, I will come to you...'.
A major new WWI drama series. 'Was wakened at 3.45am by a torrent of water on my shoulders and feet. Oh! The devil, what a life this is'.
A major new World War One drama series. The conditions worsen as the wagons are stuck in the mud up to their axles.
WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric is on the wagon trail as the terrible conditions continue.
A major new WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. 'My god! What a place'.
A major new WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. The soldiers capture a German prisoner.
A major new WWI drama series. The casualties mount up as Eric wonders when he will get home - as his heart, 'thumps for the only lady in the world.'.
A major new World War One drama series. Eric continues to be bombarded by shells and is nearly buried alive.
A major new WWI drama series. 'I am sending you a souvenir. It's the shoulder title of the greatcoat of a dead Boche. I cut it off myself the other day.'.
A major new WWI drama series. Decomposed bodies surround Eric as he struggles to continue.
A major new WWI drama series. 'Oh! Lady mine, it's just awful: the dead are lying all over the place; it's simply a ghastly sight.'.
A major new WWI drama series. Eric dreads the thought of going into action again, but it is not far off.
A major new World War One drama series. Eric feels like a 'selfish brute' after writing a harsh letter, but still wants to 'drive the nasty little devil in you away'.
A major new WWI drama series. 'This ghastly din goes on, day in day out, and to top it all I haven't had a letter for eleven whole days.'.
A major new WWI drama series. It has been three months since Eric was last with Phyllis. A photograph is his only company.
A major new WWI drama series. 'I don't quite know what I feel like today. We have just buried dear old Burrows. He died last night about 5.50.'.
A major new WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. Eric is caught in a bitter battle at the front.
A major new World War One drama series. Eric casts his mind back: 'There was a lovely drawing room with a piano in it. We made an awful row and had a dance'.
A major new WWI drama series telling the true love story of an English soldier and his Irish sweetheart. Eric reports that censorship might restrict his letters to Phyllis.
A major new WWI drama series. Eric tells Phyllis: 'I seem to be much, much further away from my lady now, and the letters are few and far between'.
Major new WWI drama series. Eric suffers from the non-stop flies - 'The flies here are awful; there are millions and millions of them. They persist in crawling over my head'.
Major new WWI drama series. Eric speaks of the pain of losing a close friend - 'There are thousands, thousands more that will have to go before it's all over'.
A major new World War One drama series. Eric tells Phyllis - 'What a funny thing it was that that you opened the book of the army list...'.
WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. Eric is haunted by the wailings of a shell-shocked soldier.
A major new WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. Eric is nearly blind and struggles to write.
Major new World War One drama series. Eric is despondent - 'I shall not be allowed to read or write. I really don't know how long I could go on like that'.
WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. As war rages, Eric struggles to find time to write.
WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. Phyllis learns that Eric is practically penniless.
WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. Eric's mind wanders to thought of being reunited with Phyllis.
WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. Eric recounts a moving moment - 'I took his hand...'.
A major WWI drama series telling the true love story of English soldier Eric Appleby and his Irish sweetheart Phyllis Kelly. A death in the family brings heartache for Phyllis.
'I had to fire about 15 times at machine guns which were causing trouble all night. Then at about 12:30 a terrific bombardment started on our right'.
'How much happiness seems to rest on that little word, "Yes" and how much misery I would have gone through had it been, "No"', Eric tells Phyllis.
Even though he feels wretched and is sleeping rough, Eric is delighted to be engaged to Phyllis.
Eric wonders how Phyllis will tell the world about their engagement - 'Why couldn't I have been with you when you have to tell the world that you're engaged?'.
Phyllis hears that Eric has had his fill of war - 'I've had my fill of this war, but at the same time, the beastly Hun has to be thoroughly licked'.
Eric confides to Phyllis - 'It almost makes me want to get wounded so that I could be with you for more than a few days'.
Eric tells Phyllis of his despair as his men plunder and steal from local towns - including a precious crucifix.
Eric expresses his fears to Phyllis that he might not survive - 'At times I get the most horrible doubts and fears that something might happen to stop me'.
Eric enters hospital telling Phyllis: 'I am the most unlucky devil that ever walked this earth in many ways...'.
Eric is outraged by a letter he receives from Phyllis - 'How dare you say there is not much use in writing letters...'.
Eric tells Phyllis: 'Phyl, I am most terribly afraid something awful may have happened to you. Heaven knows what those brutes may be doing to you'.
Eric asks Phyllis - 'Do you want your Englishman as he is you? It's just the awful "want, want" feeling which will never leave me.'.
Weather conditions start to take their toll as Eric reveals to Phyllis that he has to walk through 12 miles of mud each day.
Phyllis hears how Eric's days drag on - 'The days seem to drag and drag and there seems to be no ending to this weary road. No house in sight where one could rest'.
Eric is left heartbroken after leave to see Phyllis is cancelled and he faces more wearying warfare.
'I am going to write just a little to let you know I am still alive. Why am I such an unlucky bloke?' - Eric sends a heartfelt message to Phyllis.
'I remember you saying in a very low, quiet voice, "Eric you mustn't". 'It was the first time you had ever called me by my name'.
Eric seeks reassurance from Phyllis as he asks: 'Will you be watching for me as the train comes past at the end of the garden?'.
As shells burst all around, Eric explains what it's like to be in full view of the German lines.
Eric is candid about Phyllis's love for singing - 'Phyl, I have told you before. I hate your singing, or rather your love for it, because it seems to be my rival.'.
As the pelting rain makes life wretched, Eric and Phyllis realise they can't escape the grim reality of war.
Eric is in sombre mood - 'Phyl, when will this cursed war ever end? Everything seems to be going wrong all at once'.
Eric shares his regret about war and what it's meant for their love - 'I used to think I was your knight and I was going to fight for you...'.
Eric describes what it's like at the front, with the trenches set alight with shell bursts and rockets.
Eric recounts the latest action at the front - 'This place is never quiet now; even at nights there is someone firing'.
Eric's hope of leave to see Phyllis is dashed. 'A message came in and what do you think it said? All leave is stopped.'.
As another period of leave seems certain, Eric dreams of meeting Phyllis again in her home town of Athlone.
'I have just been looking at the army list and I find that I am 122nd on it; that isn't much when there are about 2,000 second lieutenants'.
Eric leaves the trenches and ventures into a nearby village, where he is appalled by the devastation wreaked by war.
Amid unrelenting anti-aircraft fire, Eric reflects on the meaning of a piece of paper which Phyllis has kissed.
Eric and Phyllis reflect on an uncertain future - 'Do you know that, low down in me, I have a horrible idea that it will go on for years and years?'.
Eric is assigned to horse duties and takes the men on gun drill, shouting himself almost speechless in the process.
As the absence from Phyllis lengthens and the battle grinds on, Eric begins to lose hope.
Eric gives Phyllis an account of a bloody attack by German troops - 'We waited a while, then saw one figure, then two, three and four. They were the remainder of the patrol'.
Eric and Phyllis are left reeling after a German patrol attacks and inflicts large casualties.
To escape the horrors of war, Eric dreams of spending a night at the opera with Phyllis.
Back in the trenches, the reality of the conditions of war resumes - 'At present my hands are so cold that they hardly form the letters properly'.
Eric asks Phyllis for her forgiveness after kissing her in public and is stung by her harsh words expressing 'disgust'.
Eric remembers the precious time spent with Phyllis - his 'treasure' - away from the trenches.
Eric and Phyllis relive the tender moments of their brief encounter - "Do you remember saying, as I drew you close to me to kiss you a second time, 'Eric, don't'?".
Eric and Phyllis meet - 'What a dear, dear day that was. But it went so horribly quickly. I was worried that I didn't give you a last kiss...'.
Eric and Phyllis share thoughts of a tender moment - 'I knew you did care a bit, so I came to you..'.
Eric and Phyllis discuss their feelings for each other - 'Turn back will I never do. It would break my heart if I lost your love now'.
The thought of three and a half 'love days' together give Eric and Phyllis the will to continue.
With the chance of being home and closer to Phyllis in sight, Eric dreams of leaving war behind.
In this episode, Eric confides to Phyllis that the harsh conditions at the front are making him miserable and affecting his health.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric and Phyllis try to keep up their spirits - 'Thank you my dear, dear, love for all your prayers - I do need them so much at present'.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Trapped in the trenches with no hope of seeing Phyllis, Eric reaches his lowest ebb so far.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric feels devastated when all leave is suspended and his chance to see Phyllis in Athlone or Liverpool disappears.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. The joy of a possible visit home to Liverpool and Athlone sets Eric to thinking even more of Phyllis.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric tells Phyllis of the unrelenting German bombing, causing ammunition to explode close by.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric and Phyllis speak of the power of their feelings and the circumstances they find themselves in - 'My soul felt as though it had left my body and was very near to you and I loved you, adored you and, though I shame to say it, idolised you'.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric tells Phyllis of his narrow escape after a bomb explodes - 'I saw the brute burst and it was only 15ft away...'.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric and Phyllis share their deepest thoughts - 'Want you! Why, my love, it is all that is worth living for now. You and nothing else'.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric and Phyllis contemplate the uncertain future - 'God knows, there may never be one for me'.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric is disappointed as he waits to receive a letter from Phyllis.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric visits the graves of the fallen and wonders will he share the same fate of dying in action.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Surrounded by the grim reality of war, Eric daydreams from the trenches of taking Phyllis for a leisurely boat trip.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric relives the drama of a suspected German gas attack.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric yearns for Phyllis as feelings of love return to their letters.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Cruel words from Phyllis cause an outburst from Eric.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric and Phyllis feel the stress of being apart - 'I can't make out why I have not heard from you for six days...'.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. As the casualties mount around him, Eric confides to Phyllis the horrors of war that he has personally witnessed.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. On the centenary of the Battle of Waterloo, Eric loses a friend and shares his thoughts about war with Phyllis.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric and Phyllis exchange views by letter on what they think about marriage - 'I'm afraid I don't agree with you at all about the question of marriage'.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric endures another near miss which makes him realise how close he came to death and losing Phyllis.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. On his birthday and in spite of his love for Phyllis, Eric is at his lowest and loneliest ebb.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric is plagued by doubts about whether, and why, Phyllis even likes him, let alone is in love with him.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric's love for Phyllis is the only thing that allows him to endure the horror of war.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. The constant bombardment from the enemy becomes almost too much for Eric to bear.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. The romance hits the rocks as Eric and Phyllis row by letter.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Death strikes Eric's battalion as he remembers his first encounter with Phyllis.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. The relationship between Phyllis and Eric deepens as troops receive new kit to protect them against a new enemy - the risk of a gas attack.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric moves to a new dugout and paints a vivid picture for Phyllis of life at the front.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric experiences a near miss as the bombardment increases and has to choose a horse as his steed.
From the trenches, Eric reminisces about one of their earlier dances, whilst under attack from the enemy.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric battles jealousy as well as the enemy.
A major new World War One drama series telling the true love story of English soldier, Eric Appleby, and his Irish sweetheart, Phyllis Kelly. Eric writes to Phyllis from the front line.