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In this latest episode, we visit one of the must-see locations on the Somme, the Newfoundland Park at Beaumont Hamel.  

We hear the story of the fighting, discover what went so wrong for the men from Newfoundland and find out about the final capture of the village in November 1916. 

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Welcome to the latest episode, in which we look at the opening salvos of the Great War, the so-called Battle of the Frontiers, in which the French suffered the greatest single-day loss of life of the entire War.

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Welcome to the latest podcast.  In this episode, we begin by mulling over what it means to be English, and look at two of those bastions of Englishness - Test Match Special and the Shipping Forecast.

We then follow the shipping forecast and look at the Battle of Dogger Bank, the January 1915 showdown between the Royal Navy and the German High Seas fleet.  We hear about the mysterious work of Room 40, German naval raids on the seaside towns of Northumberland and the battle itself, which was a pyrrhic victory for the Royal Navy. 

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On the afternoon of the 8th April 1917, a German plane flew over the small village of Achicourt near Arras, where preparations were underway for an attack to be made by the 56th Division the following day.

The visit of the German plane set off a catastrophic chain of events that destroyed the village, killed countless soldiers and civilians, and resulted in one of the largest explosions ever seen on the Western Front to that point in the War.

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In our latest podcast, we present an overview of the Battle of Aubers, which was delivered to the Great War Group earlier in March.  

What was supposed to be a gentle stroll across the Artois countryside turned into one of the worst days of casualties of the Great War for the British, with over 11,000 men being killed, wounded or missing for no material gain, and the offensive was abandoned after just one day.

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Welcome to the latest podcast!

In today's episode, we look at the work and perils of the Balloon Corps.  Vital for observation and artillery support, balloon work was one of the most dangerous jobs in the military, with a shockingly short life expectancy.

We begin at Couin Military Cemetery, where a top hat and cane marked the grave of one of Edwardian theatre's most celebrated dandies (and also a balloon corps observer), Basil Radford, aka Gilbert the Filbert.  We hear about the role of balloons, their design, and question whether the so-called "Guardian Angel" lived up to its name.

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Welcome to the latest podcast!

In the first of a new themed series, we take a deep dive into some of the great questions of the First World War. Each episode is carefully researched, drawing on both primary and secondary sources to explore the truth — or the uncertainty — behind some of the conflict’s most important issues.

In this episode, we examine the burial of the Unknown Warrior: the story behind the selection of the body, the confusion surrounding the process, the pomp and ceremony of the interment, and why the grave in Westminster Abbey remains so significant to this day.

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Welcome to the latest episode!

Today we walk the battlefield from Ypres to Poelkappelle and discover the personal stories of some of the men who lie in the cemeteries in this part of the Salient, including that of the greatest French air ace, Georges Guynemer.

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Happy New Year!

By July 1918, the German offensive was running out of steam; heavy losses, combined with overstretched supply lines, put the Germans in a perilous position.  The German Commander, Ludendorff, gambled everything on one final push, the so-called Friedenstrum, or Peace Offensive. The offensive failed and the door was opened to Allied Victory.

In this episode, we look at the events of July 1917, discover the conflict between Ludendorff and his military planners, and hear the story of two of Britain's greatest flying aces.

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Welcome to the final podcast of 2025!

In our second question-and-answer episode, we answer some listeners' questions, covering topics including Home Front recruitment, the evolution of gas masks, rum jars, and the Carlisle Programme.

Got a question you'd like answered? Please email me at [email protected].

Happy New Year! The podcast will be back in 2026!!

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