The Wipers Times Poster

The Wipers Times

In dark times, they chose to make light

Not Rated Comedy War Drama TV Movie

Starring: Ben Chaplin, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Michael Palin, Emilia Fox, Ben Daniels

Writer: Nick Newman, Ian Hislop

Release Date:
September 11, 2013
Ratings:
6.3 / 10
Director:
Andy de Emmony
Companies:
BBC

Overview

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.