Tune in to the latest Mentioned in Dispatches Podcast, where we engage in a compelling conversation with Professor Joost Augusteijn about his in-depth study of County Mayo, 1912-23. Delving into a period of unprecedented turmoil, this examination offers a comprehensive look at all facets of life in County Mayo during the revolutionary era. Joost draws from a diverse range of sources, including memoirs, interviews with former IRA members, newspaper reports, police records, and official documents from both British authorities and Sinn Féin-led governments. The narrative commences with an exploration of the pivotal role of the land question in Mayo's political landscape prior to World War I and reveals how Sinn Féin successfully challenged the entrenched Irish Party's influence post-1916. The book underscores the significance of notable nationalist figures such as Michael Davitt, William O'Brien, James Dillon, and John MacBride in local developments. It also delves into the impact of World War I on the shifting dynamics of various political groups and marginalized segments of Mayo's population, including unionists, suffragettes, and labour activists. A central theme is the gradual radicalization of activists and their growing confrontation with authorities, drawing increasing numbers of Mayo residents into the fold. The book's focus on how daily life was affected adds depth to the narrative, culminating in a comprehensive account of Mayo's experiences during the Civil War. Don't miss this engaging exploration of a pivotal period in County Mayo's history. Published by Four Courts Press Ltd.

Join us in the latest episode of the Mentioned in Dispatches Podcast as we delve into the life and career of Field Marshal Lord Cavan. In this enlightening conversation with Dr. Michael Senior, author of the recently published book 'Field Marshal the Earl of Cavan: Soldier and Fox Hunter,' we explore the multifaceted character of a distinguished British army commander. Cavan's legacy was a subject of debate among his contemporaries, with some dismissing him as ignorant and vain, while others lauded his calm self-confidence and leadership. Uncover the real qualities and achievements of this often-neglected officer, who served in the Boer War, World War I, and played a pivotal role in post-war army reductions. Michael Senior offers a comprehensive biography, assessing Cavan as a leader, corps commander, and administrator, positioning him among the foremost soldiers of his era. We also delve into Cavan's personal life, his aristocratic background, wealth, and his love for fox hunting, shedding light on how these factors influenced his actions in both war and peace. This episode is a fascinating exploration of a remarkable figure in British military history. This book is published by Pen & Sword.

In this episode of the Mentioned in Dispatches Podcast, Michael Nugent delves into his book 'A Bad Day, I Fear,' shedding light on a little-known chapter of World War I history. Join us as we explore the tragic Battle of Langemarck on August 16, 1917, where the 16th (Irish) Division and 36th (Ulster) Division, after their previous success at Messines, faced an unmitigated disaster. Nugent unravels the causes behind the failure to capitalize on their previous victory, including a lack of urgency, tactical misunderstandings, and mismanagement of crucial assets. Discover how the delay between the Messines offensive and the Third Battle of Ypres allowed the Germans to fortify their defences, leading to a harrowing two weeks of constant shelling and adverse weather conditions. Through contemporary accounts and in-depth analysis, we gain a new perspective on the tragic events of that fateful day and the impact it had on Ireland and its divisions. This book is published by Helion & Company.

Doctoral candidate Glyn Taylor talks about his research into the response of the 5th British Army to the German Spring Offensive in 1918. Glyn is a former Army officer who has taken up an academic career following his retirement from the Services. He graduated with a MA in ‘The History of Britain and the First World War’ at the University of Wolverhampton in 2020 and is currently researching for a PhD at King’s College London on the performance of Fifth Army in 1918. He is a member of the Royal Engineers Historical Society and author of a chapter in the latest volume of the Corps History. He is also a member of the WFA and contributor to its journal, Stand To!

Author and historian Dr Derek Clayton talks about this book Decisive Victory: The Battle of the Sambre: 4 November 1918. This battle was a decisive British victory. The battle has, however, been largely neglected by historians: it was the last large-scale, set-piece battle fought by the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front: the Armistice was only one week away. Seven Victoria Crosses were won and the poet Wilfred Owen was killed in action. In scale it was similar to the first day of the Battle of the Somme: thirteen divisions of the BEF led the assault on a frontage of approximately twenty miles, supported by over a thousand guns, with initial plans presuming an involvement of up to seventy tanks and armoured cars. The German Army was determined to hold a defensive line incorporating the Mormal Forest and the Sambre-Oise Canal, hoping to buy time for a strategic withdrawal to as yet incomplete defensive positions between Antwerp and the Meuse river and thereby negotiate a compromise peace in the spring of 1919. This is the only book devoted solely to this battle and includes original, bespoke, colour maps covering every inch of the battlefield. The work analyses the battle at the operational and tactical levels: the BEF was no longer striving for a breakthrough – sequential ‘bite and hold’ was now the accepted method of advance. Drawing on information largely from unpublished archives, including over 300 formation or unit war diaries, Dr Clayton casts a critical eye over the day’s events, examining the difference between plan and reality; the tactical proficiency of units engaged; the competence of commanders, some of whom proved capable of pragmatic flexibility in the face of stubborn enemy resistance and were able to adapt or even abandon original plans in order to ensure ultimate success. The role of the Royal Engineers is also highlighted, their tasks including devising improvised bridging equipment to facilitate the crossing of the waterway. Other questions are raised and answered: to what extent was this an ‘all-arms’ battle? Where does this engagement fit in the context of the BEF’s ‘learning curve’? Was it necessary to fight the battle at all? Was it indeed decisive? Dr Clayton’s analysis places the battle into its wider strategic context and reaches important, new conclusions: that this victory, hard-won as it was by a British army hampered by logistical, geographical and meteorological constraints and worn down by the almost continuous hard fighting of the summer and autumn, irrevocably and finally crushed the will of the German defenders, leading to a pursuit of a demoralized, broken and beaten army, whose means of continued resistance had been destroyed, thus expediting the armistice.