Once the fourth largest inland body of water in the world and half the size of England has over the last few decades almost totally disappeared. The Aral Sea sits in the middle of the Kyzylkum Desert fed by the two rivers, the Syr Darya and Amu Darya. It wasn’t really a sea but a… Continue reading The death of the Aral Sea
Tag: history
The Angel of Mons
Whilst writing and researching my WW1 history book, Lest We Forget, I came across a number of semi-mythical events and accounts that went from the completely unbelievable to those that actually occurred despite being hugely unlikely. There is the grim tale of the Crucified Soldier which went from being common knowledge in WW1 to increasingly… Continue reading The Angel of Mons
Better Together – Scottish Separatist Referendum
For everyone living in the U.K., we’ve all been aware that the big day has been approaching for years (indeed some have been waiting for it for 300 years) whilst for everyone overseas, if you didn’t know there was going to be a referendum in Scotland on thursday then you will soon. As someone born… Continue reading Better Together – Scottish Separatist Referendum
From Hell: Yours truly, Jack The Ripper
At the end of August 1888, the district of Whitechapel in the impoverished east end of London was plunged into terror when a series of killings were perpetrated by a man that would forever be known as Jack The Ripper. ***Please Note that this post does not contain any photos of murder victims but does… Continue reading From Hell: Yours truly, Jack The Ripper
Forever and Until – Book 3 of the Timeless Trilogy
Today is a happy day as it sees the release of Forever and Until, the final book in my Timeless Trilogy. For those of you who have been reading the first two books, please forgive me in giving a little re-cap to those who haven’t. In book 1, The Promise, Ben Milburn is a man… Continue reading Forever and Until – Book 3 of the Timeless Trilogy
WW1: A nation remembers, a family grieves.
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.
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
The mysterious Lud Church and the Green Knight
Lud Church isn’t even a church at all but actually a hard to find crevice in the Staffordshire countryside on the south-west fringes of the Peak District. A narrow canyon in the ground over over 100 metres (328.1 ft) long and 18 metres (59.1 ft) deep. It’s a foreboding place and long has it been this way… Continue reading The mysterious Lud Church and the Green Knight
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)
Stephen Liddell 