April 21st 2018 sees the 100 anniversary of the death of one of the most famous names not just in the history of air-combat but aviation generally. The Red Baron was the name given to Manfred von Richthofen, a German fighter pilot who was the deadliest flying ace of World War I. Along with some… Continue reading Manfred Von Richthofen – The Red Baron
Tag: war
The Americans Are Coming!
When war was declared in Europe, the United States of America had no interest in joining what they labelled as the European War. American doctrine of the time was insular with regards to the old world and instead concentrated on shaping the Americas as to its own liking. Indeed a significant portion of the American… Continue reading The Americans Are Coming!
When WW1 came to East Africa
As we approach Armistice Day, it’s become something of a blog tradition for me to write some posts related to WW1. I thought this time to pick a little bit of an unusual subject and a little discussed arena in the war, East Africa. Whilst the fighting of the war concentrated in Europe, it… Continue reading When WW1 came to East Africa
Prince Eustace and Joffrey
Once again, much of the television watching world is gripped by the latest installments of Game of Thrones. Not myself sadly as I don’t have access to the channel that broadcasts it in the U.K. so face another long and perilous 7 months before the next Bluray Boxset comes out. As incredible as it may… Continue reading Prince Eustace and Joffrey
Rebuilding the Great Library of Mosul
Libraries are one of the hallmarks of civilisation, the availability of knowledge and ideas has been inherent to our progress as a species for thousands of years. The destruction of such knowledge is also an often repeated and always unforgivable crime of many a tyrant whether it be the destruction of the treasured Great Library of… Continue reading Rebuilding the Great Library of Mosul
My Film With The CWGC For The 100th Anniversary of Reuel Dunn & The Red Baron
You might remember that in early February I received an impromptu telephone call which had me driving and crawling around the old Western Front in France to do a video for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who had seen my blog posts and were inspired and touched by the story of my relation, Reuel Dunn;… Continue reading My Film With The CWGC For The 100th Anniversary of Reuel Dunn & The Red Baron
A tragic hero, forgotten in his own time but now remembered in ours.
Whilst out with his metal detector on the muddy foreshore of Thameside, amateur historian and enthusiast Tobias Neto stumbled on a very small but very special piece of history in December 2016. It was a medal, a VC or Victoria Cross, the highest medal for valour possible in the United Kingdom and old Commonwealth… Continue reading A tragic hero, forgotten in his own time but now remembered in ours.
I Am The Army – The Incredible Story of William Brydon
There are many great and understated quotes from British history. “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” is known around the world. Which child in the UK at least doesn’t smile at the supposed last words of King George and the famous “Bugger Bognor”. There is Captain Lawrence Oates with his amazing act of self-sacrifice on… Continue reading I Am The Army – The Incredible Story of William Brydon
WW1 Iraq & The Desert Campaigns
Last week I wrote on how it was the 100th anniversary of the death of my Great Grandfather in Iraq in WW1. In fact just last night I found a bookmark from my Great Grandmother who must have had it made long ago to remember her husband. So much of the history of The Great… Continue reading WW1 Iraq & The Desert Campaigns
The longest ongoing conflicts in the world
It’s that time of year when most websites and blogs do a rather whimsical review of the year with an overly saccharine Christmasy feeling. That may be all well and good for those of us living in something of a peaceful and prosperous existence but I think it’s important to remember that for many… Continue reading The longest ongoing conflicts in the world
Stephen Liddell 