Ben Smith, a creative director from Ogilvy, has created a podcast based on the letters sent to loved ones by his grandfather during the five years he was a POW during World War II.
Stephen Russell, a young English army officer with the Black Watch, Royal Regiment of Scotland, was just 23 in when he set sail for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1939.
Within months, while holding back the advancing Germans so the allies could be evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk, he was wounded and captured at St Valery.
For a time his parents believed he was missing in action and probably dead but the Red Cross found him in a hospital. He was alive but to spend the next five years as a prisoner of war (POW) in Germany.
He wrote hundreds of letters and postcards home to his parents and to a young woman, Ailsa, whom he married soon after the end of the war.
Writing to his mother of Ailsa: "Do try and meet her. She's so sweet and just my type and yours too. I think very sporting, amusing and good at games. Do ask her over."
These letters were preserved and one of his daughters, Lucy Smith, transcribed them with her husband.
They now form the basis for the podcast LOVE, STEPHEN: A World War II Love Story which chronicles Stephen’s war over a planned six episodes.
The letters are more than a diary of daily life as a POW. They movingly chronicle Stephen’s growing love and adoration for Ailsa which blossomed against the odds.
Ben Smith, Stephen’s grandson, who works in Sydney as a creative director with Ogilvy, says the story is just as relevant in today’s pandemic as it was 75 years ago.
He collaborated with Dan Higson and Nick West at Smith and Western to craft the story, create the sound design and record, mix and master the first episode of LOVE, STEPHEN.
Australian based English actor Rupert Degas gives a pitch perfect portrayal of Stephen.
Support for the project has also come from New Zealand based art director Ben Alden who designed the artwork and Newman Sorensen from Ogilvy for directing and editing the promotional film and a number of generous donors in the UK and Australia.
The first episode of 25 minutes, A Young Man Goes To A War That Will Change His life Forever, can be heard on podcast platforms or here.
A Gofundme appeal has been launched for the production costs to complete the rest of the season of six episodes.
Credits:
Creators: Ben Smith, Chris Smith and Lucy Smith.
Sound: Dan Higson and Nick West at Smith and Western, Sydney.
Voice actor: Rupert Degas.
Artwork: Ben Alden.
Director/Editor: Newman Sorensen.
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