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Inside Out: Casualty at sea
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Best known for BBC One drama series Casualty, James Redmond has been set a new challenge by regional current affairs series Inside Out.
The programme-makers have asked him to tell the story of a namesake who served in the First World War.
It quickly turns out there is more than a passing connection between the two men.
While the modern day James Redmond has been an actor in a hospital drama, the First World War James Redmond worked on a hospital ship.
And there is a big Liverpool link as well. Actor James Redmond's grandfather was born in the Anfield area, just a stone's throw from Everton, birthplace of his namesake.
James travels up to Liverpool to discover that his namesake was a fireman on board the HMHS Anglia.
Life on board would have been extremely challenging – it was hot, physical work, shovelling five tons of coal a day.
The ship was based at Holyhead in North Wales, and the town's maritime museum reveals that it was hit by a mine from a German U-boat on 17 November 1915.
She went down in the English Channel, not far from Dover.
James travels to Trinity House in London to finally discover the fate of his namesake.
He is told that there were some survivors but more than 130 of the crew were lost in the tragedy, presumed drowned.
Confirmation that his namesake was one of those who perished comes on the wall of the Tower Hill Memorial, where he finds the name James Redmond listed among the casualties.
James says: "I think I'll wear a poppy in a different way from now on. Not at a jaunty angle, but with a different feeling.
"As a child you're told to wear it, told to remember those who have died. But it's so hard to relate to.
"The fact someone with my name and background served and died puts it in perspective for me.
"I'm grateful to James but also to all those millions of people all over the world who put their lives in danger for a better future.
"I've always had respect for the poppy but now I've got a better understanding."
Inside Out can be seen tonight (Wednesday 5 November 2008) at 7.30pm on BBC One in both the West and North West of England.
The programme will also be available on the BBC iPlayer service for seven days after the original transmission.
Notes to Editors
Across TV, radio and online, 1918-2008: Ninety Years Of Remembrance, is a campaign to mark the 90th anniversary of Armistice.
Events are being held across the country with the aim of unifying and personalising the act of remembrance and bringing World War One vividly alive in the present day.
Go to bbc.co.uk/remembrance for more information.
JR
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