The Search: The true story of a D-Day survivor, an unlikely friendship, and a lost WW2 shipwreck
John-Henry Phillips
- Region:
- Anywhere
- Notice Period:
- Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
- Type:
- Professional
- Fee:
- Paid: 150-350
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 18th January 2025
- Tagged:
- D-Day | Second World War | Archaeology | Inspiring
This talk combines readings from John-Henry's bestselling book The Search, video clips from his award-winning PBS documentary No Roses On A Sailor's Grave, and an emotional, sometimes lighthearted, and poignant anecdotes to tell the full story of a generation defying search for a lost Second World War shipwreck off the coast of France.
"When archaeologist John Henry Phillips volunteered with a charity that took D-Day veterans back to Normandy, due to an administrative error he found himself without a hotel room and reliant on the generosity of one of the veterans who had a spare bed. That veteran was Patrick Thomas - and it was an encounter that would change both their lives forever.
Patrick's landing craft, LCH 185, had led the first wave into Sword Beach on D-Day, and stayed off Normandy until the 25th June when an acoustic mine sent it to the seabed along with most of the crew. His story transfixed John, and the resulting search for the shipwreck was to consume him. Jumping back and forwards in time, between vivid descriptions of the final days on board LCH 185 and John-Henry's thrilling search to find the shipwreck, The Search is an emotional story of a devastating time in history, an unlikely, life-changing friendship and a quest to honour a wartime home and family lost over 80 years ago."
Views: 20 | Enquiries: 0About John-Henry Phillips
John Henry Phillips FSA is an author, television presenter, archaeologist, and film-maker. John Henry co-hosts the award-winning Channel 4 series The Great British Dig, alongside comedian Hugh Dennis. He produced and appeared in the PBS documentary No Roses On A Sailor's Grave, and has also appeared on television shows such as Digging For Britain and The One Show. John-Henry authored the bestselling book The Search, published by Hachette, and has written for British Archaeology, Current Archaeology, Military History Matters, Vice, and more. He co-founded and runs Romani Community Archaeology, a non-profit that excavates historic Romani sites alongside present-day Romani communities, led an international search for a lost Second World War shipwreck, and has spoken everywhere from Glastonbury Festival to the University of Oxford.
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