Middleton House Productions

During October 2005 and April 2006 Middleton House Productions filmed the Community Archaeology Project, undertaken by The Somme Association and No Man's Land, The European Group for Great War Archaeology at Theipval Wood on the Somme.

The documentary follows the work as sections of the original Great War trenches are excavated and investigated, revealing a greater understanding of the lives of individual soldiers as their equipment and possessions are discovered. The battle-scarred trenches also reveal information on the military tactics and strategy.

The DVD was released for the official opening of the wood for guided tours on the 1st of July 2006 and is now available from The Ulster Tower or via our online sales.

View a short clip

Purchase a Copy of Theipval Wood 90 Years On (this link opens in a new window)

Hailed as a hero in his native Canada, Andrew Mynarski VC, was almost unknown to the people now living close to his wartime base and the millions of passengers who now fly from the same runways. 60 years on from the night he gave his life in trying to save his friend, a small group of people decided that this injustice should be corrected.

Middleton House Productions followed the project as the children of Middleton St George Primary School as they dedicated much of their time to learning about what life would have been like at their local airfield during the war years

This film follows the sculptor Keith Maddison as he worked on the statue, records the educational activities and art projects undertaken by the children, plus interviews with veterans of 419 Squadron. The cameras were there on the 4th of June at the emotional ceremony when the statue was unveiled and one of the last remaining Lancasters made an unforgettable flypast.

A Selection of Screen shots

As the Ju88 attacked the Lancaster, two engines caught fire.	The rear gunner Pat Brophy was trapped in his turret.
The desperate attempt to free Brophy from his turret.	Mynarski Salutes his friend before jumping from the blazing aircraft.
The school children learn about the statue.	Learning about Second World War parachutes.
Keith Maddison working on the clay sculpture.	The bronze statue takes shape.
The statue is revealed.	Betty Amlin places a rose at the foot of the statue moments after it has been unveiled.
Pat Brophy's daughter Colleen answers the children's questions about her father.	Len McGaughey, Canadian veteran of 419 Sqd. relates his experiences.

This incredibly moving DVD, including a dramatic reconstruction of the night Mynarski's VC was won is now available. Profits from the sale of these DVD's will be split between the appeal to erect a replica statue in Mynarski's home town of Winipeg in Canada and Middleton St George Primary School.

Purchase a copy of The Forgotten Hero (this link opens in a new window)

Accumulating over many years as an Air Historian, Geoff Hill's photographic collection covers a wide range of military aircraft and the crews who flew them. The wide range of print types and age and the condition of the photographs required careful handling during the digitisation process.

Each print has been digitised individually and electronic metadata added to record the subject and origin of each photograph as well as catalogue and ownership details.

Blemishes and slight damage to the print have been digitally repaired and the clarity of the image lifted, whilst maintaining the aged look of the photograph. The restored image is stored in the digital collection as a second copy.