Soldiers Three (radio serial) explained

Soldiers Three
Format:	drama serial
Runtime:	25 mins^[1]
Start Time:	7.35 pm
End Time:	8 pm
Country:	Australia
Language:	English
Syndicates:	ABC
Director:	Lawrence H Cecil Athol Flemming
Last Aired:	April 1943
Num Series:	1

Soldiers Three is a 1943 Australian radio serial by Edmund Barclay. It was commissioned for the Australian war effort to emphasise the contribution of Australian soldiers.^[2]

Later episodes were written by John MacLeod and directed by Atholl Flemming.

Premise

The story of Australian soldiers, focusing on three of them: Hilary Masters, a student ("Hil"); Daniel Judd (“Mud”), a farmer; and Percy Smith ("Smart Alec Pierce", from the city. They become friends.^[3]

Cast

• Lloyd Berrell as Dan^[4]
• Hal Lashwood as Hilary
• Eddie Finn as Perc

Episodes

• Ep 1 (9 Jan) - w Edmund Barclay d Laurence Cecil - "This new serial is a story of the army of to-day, something different from the good- natured Digger caricatures we . have had in the past. Three men, contrasting types, brought together by the fortunes of war, find a comradeship that could never have existed for them in other circumstances — a country lad, a student and a city “smart-alec.” They squabble, laugh and learn to-gether. Their training and transition from civilian to soldier and subsequent adventures form the basis of this story."
• Ep 2 (16 Jan)
• Ep 3 (23 Jan) - w Barclay d Cecil
• Ep 4 (30 Jan) - w Barclay d Cecil
• Ep 5 (6 Feb) - w John McLeod d Cecil
• Ep 6 (13 Feb) - w John McLeod d Laurence Cecil
• Ep 7 (20 Feb) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming
• Ep 8 (27 Feb) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming
• Ep 9 (6 March) - w John McLeod
• Ep 10 (13 March) - w John McLeod d Athol Flemming
• Ep 11 (20 March) - written John McLeod directed Athol Flemming
• Ep 12 (27 March) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming
• Ep 13 (3 April) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming
• Ep 14 (10 April) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming
• Ep 15 (17 April) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming
• Ep 16 (24 April) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming
• Ep 17 (1 May) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming
• Ep 18 (8 May) - w John McLeod d Athol Fleming

Notes and References

1. News: ABC Coming Features . . 2022 . Queensland, Australia . 12 March 1943 . 2 September 2023 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
2. Book: Inglis, Kenneth Stanley. 101. This is the ABC: the Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1932-1983. 1983. Melbourne University Press. 978-0-522-84258-6 . 2821506M .
3. News: "Soldiers Three" . Daily Examiner . 33 . 8061 . New South Wales, Australia . 6 January 1943 . 2 September 2023 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: Activities in and Around Wilcannia . . XLII . 3745 . New South Wales, Australia . 5 March 1943 . 3 September 2023 . 1 . National Library of Australia.