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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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In our latest podcast, we meander across the battlefield to the east of Ypres, starting at Polygon Wood and heading south to Hill 60.  We look at the cemeteries and memorials and find out some of the personal stories of men who fought and died on this part of the salient. 

I wish every one of you a very Happy Christmas and thanks for your support in 2025.

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In November 1914, the British attempted to capture the strategically vital port of Tanga in German East Africa.  Poor planning, an indecisive commander, poorly trained troops and the fanatical idealism of brilliantly trained Askari troops combined to turn the operation into a disaster for the British.

In this episode, we look at Germany's colonial history in East Africa, the skill and excellence of the remarkable German General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, and meet an enigmatic British intelligence officer who may, or may not, have been one of the world's leading ornithologists.  We hear about the appalling conditions faced by the troops and discover Mother Nature's brutal side, which earned the Battle of Tanga its nickname, The Battle of the Bees.

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Welcome to this latest episode of Trench Talk!

Today I sit and talk with Briana Gervat, an author and photographer who, in the aftermath of the COVID lockdown, decided to connect with history and walk the length of the Western Front.

She documented her journey in a book, There Will Come Soft Rains, and in this wide-ranging discussion, we talk about her deeply spiritual journey across all 450 miles of the old front line.

You can buy a copy of the book here https://amzn.eu/d/4B8NA60

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Welcome to the latest episode!

In a slightly shorter episode than usual, we travel to Belgium and discover the story of two lieutenants, Lt Ronald Poulton Palmer and Lt Frederick "Tanky" Turner, rugby captains of England and Scotland respectively.

Rivals on the rugby pitch and comrades in the military, we look at the lives and careers of these two great characters, their deaths and the remarkable ceremony that brought a little piece of London to Belgium.

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Welcome to our first-ever questions and answers episode! In today's episode, we address questions posed by listeners and delve into a range of topics.

If you have a question you'd like answered, please email me at [email protected], and we will see if we can get it into a future Q&A episode. 

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