Living History with Mat McLachlan

Damien Parer was one of Australia's greatest war photographers and cinematographers. His images and footage of Australians in the Second World War helped define the conflict, both for the people who were in it and for generations to come. His camera work on 'Kokoda Frontline' helped earn Australia its first Academy Award, and his work with American forces in the Pacific set new standards for combat photography. In this episode Mat is joined by Karl James from the Australian War Memorial to tell the story of the life and death of Damien Parer.

Presenter: Mat McLachlan

Guests: Karl James

Producer: Jess Stebnicki

Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory

Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.

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Mat visits the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the artefacts and large items that are rarely on public display. During this special visit he is guided by Head of Military History Dr Karl James, and speaks to historian Dr Lachlan Grant about the new Australians in Bomber Command exhibition.

Topics discussed: 'G for George', the AWM's famous Lancaster bomber; the German ME262 German aircraft; a Chinook helicopter that carried Australian troops into combat in Afghanistan; a smashed engine from a Hawker Hurricane that tells the story of an Australian airman who died over Europe; a caravan that was home to a famous WW2 general; a Japanese midget submarine that raided Sydney Harbour; a German V2 rocket on its original carrier; and a special preview of the future Australians in Bomber Command exhibition, which utilises aircraft, objects and technology to tell the story of the air war in WW2.

Presenter: Mat McLachlan

Guests: Karl James and Lachlan Grant

Producer: Jess Stebnicki

Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory

Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Mat to hear all about guidl, a new audio tour app that he is contributing to. guidl takes you on walking tours to the world's most historic sites, narrated by leading historians. Mat's first guidl tour is of wartime Ypres and, in this special episode, Mat shares the first chapter of his Ypres walking tour.

Download the app and find out more about guidl: https://www.guidl.tours/

Join Mat on a battlefield tour: https://battlefields.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Somme region in northern France was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the First World War. Today, it is one of the most important and evocative battlefields for Australian visitors. In this special episode, Mat explores the Somme region and tells you where to go, where to stay and what you will see when you are there.

Watch the video version of this podcast! https://youtu.be/vo1LDZI5UZg?si=ru4wT_lpT1JJkkOk

Presenter: Mat McLachlan

Producer: Jess Stebnicki

Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory

Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from Vietnam! In this very special episode of the podcast, Mat is joined by veteran of the Battle of Long Tan, Dave Sabben, MG. Mat and Dave have just walked the entire Long Tan battlefield on the 58th anniversary of the battle, and share their thoughts about this very special experience.

Presenter: Mat McLachlan

Guest: Dave Sabben, MG

Producer: Jess Stebnicki

Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory

Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the Second World War, the Allies were desperate to sink the two biggest battleships in the German fleet, Bismarck and her sister ship Tirpitz. Bismarck went to the bottom in 1941 but in 1944 Tirpitz was still threatening Allied shipping. In a series of daring raids over the icy waters of Norway, Royal Air Force bombers eventually sank the mighty warship. And Australian crews played there part. In his new book, Buckham's Bombers, Mark Baker tells the story of Australian captain Bruce Buckham and his fearless Lancaster crew, who not only participated in the mission that sank Tirpitz, but also in dozens of other daring raids across Europe.

Buckham's Bombers: The Australian Airmen who Hunted Hitler's Deadliest Battleship is available now in bookshops Australia-wide.

Presenter: Mat McLachlan

Guest: Mark Baker

Producer: Jess Stebnicki

Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory

Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The First World War is drawing to a close, as the unstoppable forces of France, Britain and America grind the German army into the ground. But some of the toughest fighting of the war is still to come before an Armistice is finally signed. How did the men keep going through this terrible ordeal, knowing that the war could end any day, and yet death still lurked on every corner of the battlefield?

In the fourth and final episode of our special series about the triumphant campaign that ended the First World War, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to tell the story of the final days that led to victory.

Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter Hart

Producer: Jess Stebnicki

Subscribe via Patreon to receive exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory

Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.

Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mat McLachlan and Peter Hart are going to Gallipoli! In this special episode of the podcast, the two historians and chums discuss their upcoming tour in May 2025, which will discover the battlefields of Gallipoli by walking in the footsteps of the men who were there!

The 10-day tour begins in Istanbul on May 21, 2025, and we'd love you to join us! There are limited places still available! Click here for full details: https://battlefields.com.au/gallipoli-signature-tour-with-mat-mclachlan-2025/

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The Battle of Krithia was one of the bloodiest ordeals at Gallipoli, and cost the Australians and New Zealanders nearly 2500 casualties. But for some reason the battle has slipped through the cracks of history, and barely rates a mention in the Anzac story of Gallipoli. Mat McLachlan's new book, Krithia: The Forgotten Anzac Battle of Gallipoli, redresses that oversight, as he tells the story of the bravery and sacrifice of the Anzacs on the plains of Cape Helles in May 1915.

In this unusual episode of the podcast, Mat is the interviewee, with special guest host and veteran journalist Ray Martin asking the questions that reveal the true horror and bravery of the Battle of Krithia.

Krithia: The Forgotten Anzac Battle of Gallipoli is now available in bookshops throughout Australia and New Zealand. International listeners can order from online retailers or download the audio or e-book on Audible, Apple Books and Google Books. Australian listeners can order an autographed copy by clicking here: https://livinghistorytv.com/book/krithia-the-forgotten-anzac-battle-of-gallipoli/

Host: Ray Martin

Guest: Mat McLachlan

Producer: Jess Stebnicki

Subscribe via Patreon to receive exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory

Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.

Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In three years of combat the Australian Imperial Force evolved from a keen but inexperienced group of new recruits who landed at Gallipoli, to one of the elite assault forces on the Western Front. No discussion of the closing days of WWI would be complete without exploring the key role played by Australian troops, and their enigmatic leader, Lieutenant General Sir John Monash. Was Australian success the result of skill, luck, good management or a combination of all three?

In the thirs episode of our special series about the triumphant campaign that ended the First World War, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to tell the story of John Monash and his Australian Corps.

Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter Hart

Producer: Jess Stebnicki

Subscribe via Patreon to receive exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory

Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.

Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.