Tag Archives: Military

All About the SBS: The Special Boat Service

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

People all around the world have heard of the elite SAS and countless bad people are no longer around because of them. The SAS though are the special forces for the Army; less well known is the SBS which are … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, News, WW2 | Tagged Isle of Wight, Military, SBS, Special Boat Service | 1 Comment

Original hand-drawn battle plans by Admiral Lord Nelson for the Battle of Trafalgar are discovered.

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Incredible a hand-drawn sketch by Admiral Lord Nelson himself showing his plan for victory at Trafalgar has been discovered tucked inside the pages of a scrapbook after nearly 200 years. They were discovered by historian Martyn Downer in a scrap … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, News, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Admiral Nelson, Battle of Trafalgar, Lord Nelson, Maps, Military, Nelson, Royal Navy | 2 Comments

The Battle of Verdun 100 years on.

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Stephen Liddell

France and its military have something of poor reputation amongst many. Centuries of rivalry with Britain where it increasingly came off second best, its requirement to be rescued in WW1 and quick capitulation in WW2 coupled with decisions to stay … Continue reading →

Posted in WW1 | Tagged 100th anniversary, Battle of Verdun, First World War, France, history, Lest We Forget, Life, Long reads, Military, Verdun, war, World War 1, WW1 | 4 Comments

Shot at dawn – Remembering those who bravely died as cowards

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Stephen Liddell

November 11th is Armistice Day and I thought I would write about an aspect of WW1 which is often forgotten, the sad stories of those who were shot by their own side. Over 300 Commonwealth soldiers were shot at dawn, a … Continue reading →

Posted in history, WW1 | Tagged Armistice, Daily Mail, Death, history, In The Footsteps of Heroes, Lest We Forget, Life, Military, News, Remembrance, Shot At Dawn, The Somme, WW1 | 13 Comments

The incredible true tale of Job Maseko – The man who sunk a ship whilst a prisoner.

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Stephen Liddell

As today is Remembrance Sunday, I thought I would share a short account of someone who is rarely spoken of outside his homeland but whom I have been a fan of for many years. For most people when they are … Continue reading →

Posted in history, WW1, WW2 | Tagged Armistice, history, In The Footsteps of Heroes, Job Maseko, Lest We Forget, Life, Military, Remembrance, South Africa, The Somme, war, WW1, Zulu | 4 Comments

The Battle of Agincourt & Why It Still Matters Today!

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Stephen Liddell

Today marks the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, one of countless historical battles one has to remember if you are interested in English or British history. This one though has gained something of a mythical status. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, history | Tagged Agincourt, Battle of Agincourt, Churchill, England, Henry V, history, Life, Literature, Longbow, Military, Shakespeare, V sign, war | 6 Comments

Edith Cavell – Patriotism Is Not Enough

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Stephen Liddell

Many of us are familiar with the phrase “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”, a quote that remains as true today as it was when it was first coined and is still evident by many politicians in particular … Continue reading →

Posted in history, WW1 | Tagged Armistice, books, Death, Edith Cavell, history, In The Footsteps of Heroes, Lest We Forget, Life, Military, Remembrance, war, World War One, WW1 | 7 Comments

I Salute You – The History of Saluting

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Stephen Liddell

Saluting is primarily but not exclusively a military sign of respect with a very long history. This week it hit the news that some senior officers have become upset as recruits are not showing them the respect they are due … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged Curtsey, Flag, Gun Salute, history, Knights, Life, Military, Neil Armstrong, Royal Navy, Salute, The Queen, UK, USA | 7 Comments

At the going down of the sun and in morning, we will remember them

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Stephen Liddell

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in history, News, writing, WW1 | Tagged 100th anniversary, Bovington, history, Lest We Forget, Life, Lights out, Menin Gate, Military, News, Newspapers, Poppy, Remembrance, WW1 | 11 Comments

Our village (Leavesden Green) gets a new WW1 memorial

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Stephen Liddell

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 … Continue reading →