BBC viewers break down in tears at Vicky McClure’s tragic family history on Who Do You Think You Are? episode dubbed ‘saddest ever’ in show’s history
As a dedicated follower of Who Do You Think You Are?, I must say Thursday’s episode was truly heart-wrenching. The story of Vicky McClure’s great-grandfather, Harry Millership, left me in tears and filled with a profound sense of empathy for the experiences of war that are often too easily forgotten.
On Thursday, I found myself deeply moved while watching an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, as I uncovered the heart-wrenching family history of Vicky McClure.
41-year-old actress known for Line of Duty delved into her ancestry on a family history program, uncovering the tragic end of her great-grandfather, a Japanese POW in Taiwan during World War II.
In a deeply moving moment, Vicky wept upon learning about her paternal great-grandfather Harry Millership’s tragic demise and the severe struggles he faced prior to passing away.
Besides Vicky, many viewers found themselves emotional too, quickly flooding X, previously known as Twitter, with their heartfelt reactions to the episode. One viewer even called it one of the ‘most sad’ episodes they had ever seen.
Audience commented: ‘Eyes filled with tears as they watched about the unfortunate prisoners of war kept in Japanese camps during WWII, a moving experience.’
Among the most heartbreaking scenes I’ve ever witnessed, yet Vicky McClure takes great pride in her Great Grandad, Harry Millership. Rest In Peace, Harry.
‘Vicky_McClure that was incredibly sad. God bless Harry’; ‘That’s it I’m gone [crying emoji]’
Overwhelmed by Vicky McClure’s moving family tale, I can’t help but wonder, “Who do you think you are?” It must have been heart-wrenching for Harry, having left the bleak Yorkshire coalfield behind, to tragically perish in a mine, far away from his homeland.
“@Vicky_McClure, it was a deeply touching, emotional journey for you. I truly believe he’d be incredibly proud of you and your pursuit. A few years back, I had a similar experience in northern France, and it’s an memory that has remained etched in me ever since.”
In the show, she uncovered the harsh truth behind Harry’s travel from Singapore, his post in 1941, to the prisoner-of-war camp in Taiwan, which he was taken to following the Japanese attack on December 8.
Vicky discovered that Harry was set to be confined in an airless compartment with minimal resources. Upon reaching the prisoner-of-war camp, he was compelled to labor in a copper mine.
At the camp, it was tragically confirmed that Harry had passed away following a fall from a height of approximately 30 feet. The actress found solace in the knowledge that his demise was likely instantaneous.
Speaking about her high-profile role, Vicky shared that she possesses a highly active and creative mind, mentioning that she often finds herself grappling with these thoughts as she delves into Harry’s challenges, situated thousands of miles away from his familiar surroundings.
She expressed, “I’m overwhelmed with information that’s truly distressing, and it’s about my great-grandfather – it’s a family matter that’s too personal for me.”
She went on: ‘I want my family here with me. I feel really alone in this because it’s so much to take in, yet I feel terrible for feeling like that because he was alone and didn’t make it home.
‘I feel connected, which is weird because I never even met him.’
Additionally, Vicky confessed that she bore no resemblance to the tough personas portrayed on TV during her genealogy exploration and visit to a Taiwanese prisoner-of-war camp.
As a die-hard fan, I must confess there have been moments I’ve struggled to grasp. Despite starring in high-octane series and projecting an image of steeliness in some aspects, the truth is, I’m as soft as a marshmallow underneath.
Additionally, marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasions earlier this year, a BAFTA Award-winning actor reminisced on another relative who served during World War II for a documentary produced by ITV.
In simpler terms, Vicky’s grandpa, Ralph McLure (age 97), shared his harrowing experience from the D-Day invasion in Normandy, where his landing vessel came under attack by the enemy, narrowly sparing him from death.
At seventeen years old, he enlisted for duty with the Royal Navy. On that notable occasion, he was assigned the role of signaller on a landing craft tank.
As a devoted admirer, I hold my grandfather in high regard, and I can’t help but ponder the significance of D-Day. It’s crucial that we preserve his memory and ensure our children are well-informed about this pivotal moment in history.
It’s crucial for individuals similar to my grandfather to be capable of remembering their experiences, and I’m confident that numerous veterans found themselves unwilling or uncomfortable with the task.
‘So any kind of information we can have that comes in about that history is important.’
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2024-08-16 11:21