In a recent episode of the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?, Vicky McClure, renowned for her role in Line of Duty, took viewers on an emotional journey as she uncovered the harrowing experiences of her great-grandfather, Harry Millership, during World War II. The episode, which resonated deeply with audiences, revealed the heartbreaking story of a man who endured unimaginable hardships as a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp in Taiwan.
Vicky, who is 41, embarked on a 17-hour journey to Taiwan, determined to trace her maternal great-grandfather’s footsteps and understand the struggles he faced during his internment. Harry Millership, once a coal miner in Yorkshire, was captured in Singapore in 1942, along with 130,000 other Allied troops. His journey to Taiwan, aboard a so-called “hell ship,” was marked by extreme conditions, with many prisoners suffering from starvation and dysentery.
The programme’s revelations were profoundly moving for Vicky. As she pieced together Harry’s tragic fate, she learned that he had died after falling 30 feet while being forced to work in a copper mine at the camp. The stark reality of her great-grandfather’s suffering left Vicky visibly distressed. She admitted that her vivid imagination, a key asset in her acting career, made it particularly difficult to process the horrific details of Harry’s ordeal. “My head’s all over the shop,” she confessed during the episode. “I’m learning information that is just horrific. He is my great-grandad; it’s my mum’s grandad.”
The emotional toll was evident as Vicky grappled with feelings of loneliness and a deep, inexplicable connection to a man she had never met. Reflecting on her great-grandfather’s isolation and tragic death far from home, she expressed a poignant desire to have her family by her side during the experience. “I want my family here with me,” she said. “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.”
Vicky’s emotional response did not go unnoticed by viewers, who took to social media to share their own feelings about the episode. Many described it as one of the most moving and heartbreaking installments of the series. Comments poured in, with one viewer writing, “Tears shed for the poor prisoners of war held in Japanese camps in WWII—an emotional watch.” Another remarked, “Blown away by Vicky McClure’s family story. Poor Harry to have escaped the darkness of the Yorkshire coalfield, only to die in a mine thousands of miles from home.”
The programme also highlighted Vicky’s reflections on the broader importance of remembering such history. She had previously spoken about her grandfather, Ralph McClure, who served in the Royal Navy during the D-Day landings. Vicky underscored the significance of preserving the stories of veterans like her grandfather and great-grandfather, ensuring that future generations understand the sacrifices made during the war.
Vicky McClure’s journey on Who Do You Think You Are? was a powerful reminder of the personal cost of war and the enduring impact it has on families across generations. Her emotional discovery not only shed light on a painful chapter of her own family history but also resonated deeply with viewers, serving as a poignant tribute to those who endured and suffered in the pursuit of freedom.
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- Vicky McClure breaking down in tears: BBC
