The Wipers Times backdrop

The Wipers Times 2013 Directed by Andy de Emmony

In dark times, they chose to make light

When Captain Fred Roberts discovered a printing press in the ruins of Ypres, Belgium in 1916, he decided to publish a satirical magazine called The Wipers Times - "Wipers" being army slang for Ypres. Full of gallows humour, The Wipers Times was poignant, subversive and very funny. Produced literally under enemy fire and defying both authority and gas attacks, the magazine proved a huge success with the troops on the western front. It was, above all, a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. In his spare time, Roberts also managed to win the Military Cross for gallantry.

Production Country United Kingdom
Language English
Spoken Language English
Gneres Comedy , Drama , TV Movie , War
Production Companies BBC , Trademark Films
Release Date 11 September 2013
92 mins
Cast
Ben Chaplin Roberts
Michael Palin General Mitford
Emilia Fox Kate Roberts
Ben Daniels Lieutenant Colonel Howfield
Steve Oram Sergeant Harris
Patrick Fitzsymons Deputy Features Editor
Jarrod Cooke Henderson
Colin Ash Smith
Paul Kennedy Winston Churchill
Emma Little Field Nurse
Faolan Morgan Chaplain