With the war memorial services of the last week, I thought that I would share just one or two of several family photos related to WW1. Though I already knew of many of their stories, I did quite a bit of research into those family members that fought and more often than not, died in… Continue reading WW1: A nation remembers, a family grieves.
Category: WW1
At the going down of the sun and in morning, we will remember them
So yesterday was the big day, the 100th anniversary of the start of The Great War – The war to end all wars until of course WW2 at least. Like many other people I spent much of the day watching the live ceremonies from around the country and in France and Belgium. Reading extraordinary accounts… Continue reading At the going down of the sun and in morning, we will remember them
The Lamps are going out all over Europe
It is now 100 years since this famous phrase was first uttered by Sir Edward Grey to describe the ominous feeling that Europe and perhaps the world was about to slip into a war more bloody than most could ever imagine. His remarks were made on the evening of the 3rd August whilst looking out… Continue reading The Lamps are going out all over Europe
Lest We Forget: A Concise Companion to the First World War (my new book)
I know what you’re thinking. Stephen can’t be releasing another book. I know, I know. I’m sorry. Long-time readers will know that I spend my summers giving guided tours and during winter I spend most of my time writing and it just so happens that it takes a certain amount of time for books to… Continue reading Lest We Forget: A Concise Companion to the First World War (my new book)
Our village (Leavesden Green) gets a new WW1 memorial
Like many others have done as the 100th anniversary of WW1 or The Great War looms ever closer over for us, our village has been busy working on a new war memorial which is situated at the end of my street. One of the most popular of my blog posts is that of Armistice Day… Continue reading Our village (Leavesden Green) gets a new WW1 memorial
The real-life Band of Brothers: A good news WW1 story!
A strange thing happened this week whilst researching for my upcoming WW1 book, I came across a good news story! In a war that saw much of an entire generation of young men lost forever, the story of the Calpin brothers is even more amazing as not just one or two joined up but 10… Continue reading The real-life Band of Brothers: A good news WW1 story!
Armistice Day – Remembrance Sunday
I am re-posting this article from last year as many of my reader won’t have seen it before and it is still one of the most viewed posts I have written. Sunday sees the third, final and probably by far the most important in the triumvirate of special days in the UK autumn calendar, Armistice… Continue reading Armistice Day – Remembrance Sunday
Poetry from the Trenches
The 11th of November is Armistice Day, the day that originally marked the end of World War 1. These days Remembrance Day or Poppy Day as it is sometimes called also focuses on the many later wars of the 20thC and now 21st Century too. Whilst all these wars have been bad whether fought for… Continue reading Poetry from the Trenches
The Prisoner of War who took ‘keeping a promise’ to the extreme
Earlier this week an amazing tale came to light about a British Army officer who had been captured during World War One and who learnt that his mother was dying and so was granted the freedom to return home on the condition that he returned back to the POW camp. As the 100th anniversary of… Continue reading The Prisoner of War who took ‘keeping a promise’ to the extreme
In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Hopefully you will have read the previous post about the classic epic movie, Lawrence of Arabia, it’s not entirely necessary but it sets this post in perspective. I came to Lawrence through the film and after watching it, you do get a good idea of what he must have been like. Lawrence was also a… Continue reading In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Stephen Liddell 