At his graduation from the Annapolis Naval Academy, Minter Dial was presented with a ring. When he shipped out to the Far East, shortly before America's entry into the Second World War, the ring went with him. He kept it throughout his harrowing experiences fighting in the Philippines and as a POW of the Japanese, and it was his dying wish that it be returned to his family. Little did his family know, a remarkable chapter in the ring's story was still to come. In this heartfelt documentary, his son and grandson recount the story of Lieutenant Dial's life and military service, and reveal the impact his story and bravery has had on them and their family.
Avi Shlaim is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at St Antony's College, Oxford. Here he discusses his life - from his birth in Baghdad, to studying in Britain and his ongoing historical research.
The Battle of Jutland was the decisive naval clash of the First World War, pitting the German High Seas Fleet against the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet in an all or nothing battle for supremacy and survival. At the end of the war, the defeated German fleet was scuttled at Scapa Flow. Or so we thought....
He is a German Luftwaffe ace with 81 confirmed victories on the Eastern front. Now a 95-year-old veteran, his talent and courage remain legendary throughout the world. It is the most iconic British fighter ever built. The hum of its Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the wonderful elliptical wing, and th...