Footsteps Of The Fallen podcast

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Vor fünf Jahren hinzugefügt

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The Icelandic Art of Intuition with Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir | 307 40:34

vor 23 Tagen40:34

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We’ve turned intuition into a buzzword—flattened it into a slogan, a gut feeling, or a vague whisper we don’t always know how to hear. But what if intuition is so much more? What if it's one of the most powerful tools we have—and we’ve just forgotten how to use it? In this episode, I’m joined by Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir , Icelandic thought leader, filmmaker, and author of InnSæi: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times . Hrund has spent over 20 years studying and teaching the science and art of intuition through her TED Talk, Netflix documentary (InnSæi: The Power of Intuition), and global work on leadership, innovation, and inner knowing. Together, we explore what intuition really is (hint: not woo-woo), how to cultivate it in a culture obsessed with logic and overthinking, and why your ability to listen to yourself might be the most essential skill you can develop. In This Episode, We Cover: ✅ Why we’ve misunderstood intuition—and how to reclaim it ✅ Practical ways to strengthen your intuitive muscle ✅ What Icelandic wisdom teaches us about inner knowing ✅ How to use intuition during uncertainty and decision-making ✅ Why trusting yourself is an act of rebellion (and power) Intuition isn’t magic—it’s a deep, internal guidance system that already exists inside you. The question is: are you listening? Connect with Hrund: Website: www.hrundgunnsteinsdottir.com TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/hrund_gunnsteinsdottir_listen_to_your_intuition_it_can_help_you_navigate_the_future?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare Newsletter: https://hrundgunnsteinsdottir.com/blog/ LI: www.linkedin.com/in/hrundgunnsteinsdottir IG: https://www.instagram.com/hrundgunnsteinsdottir/ Book: InnSæi: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times Related Podcast Episodes: How To Breathe: Breathwork, Intuition and Flow State with Francesca Sipma | 267 VI4P - Know Who You Are (Chapter 4) Gentleness: Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others with Courtney Carver | 282 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Footsteps of the fallen

Serie-Home•Feed

A journey through the Great War

174 Episoden

#History #Matt Dixon

Footsteps of the fallen

14 subscribers

updated vor 12 Tagen

Serie-Home•Feed

A journey through the Great War

174 Episoden

#History #Matt Dixon

Alle Folgen

1
In the shadow of the Springboks - Delville Wood to Courcelette 1:08:04

vor 12 Tagen1:08:04

1:08:04

Send us a text Welcome to the penultimate episode of Season 7! Today we are on the Somme and walk the battlefield from Delville Wood to Courcelette via High Wood and Martinpuich. We begin we looking at "The Turning Point" a remarkable but little-known narrative of the Somme battle written by the eccentric Harold Perry-Robinson. We visit Delville Wood cemetery and memorial and hear the history of the site, as well visiting the only remaining tree from the Great War. We walk to High Wood - "Ghastly by day, ghostly by night, the rottenest place on the Somme" and discover some of the memorials around this great killing ground. We then head to Martinpuich and conclude at Adanac Cemetery in Courcelette. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://footstepsofthefallen.com/gallery/…

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The Brickstacks 1:03:24

vor 5 weeks1:03:24

1:03:24

Send us a text Welcome to the latest episode! Today, we walk the canal at Cuinchy, one of the forgotten battlefields of the Great War. Cuinchy was the site of the infamous brickstacks and the scene of bitter fighting throughout the entire war. We walk the battlefield to discover the military history of what happened here, and hear the personal stories of the dead as we visit some of the nearby cemeteries. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Fromelles 1:06:27

vor 7 weeks1:06:27

1:06:27

Send us a text Welcome to this latest episode in which we walk the battlefield of Fromelles. On the evening of the 19th July 1916, men of the newly arrived Australian 5th Division were thrown into battle against the heavily fortified village of Fromelles in Artois. In one night, over 5000 men were killed, wounded or missing and the line remained staunchly in German hands. We begin at Pheasant Wood and meander across the battlefield, visiting some key sites and hearing the stories of the men buried in the cemeteries in and around the old front lines. A walking map can be found on the website to allow you to follow the route - please see https://footstepsofthefallen.com/gallery/ My apologies for the sound quality in the final segments of the episode. I don't know what happened with the microphone, but it all went wrong! Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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We don't take umbrellas to war. 55:24

vor 10 weeks55:24

55:24

Send us a text The weather played its part in the Great War, perhaps in more ways than first imagined. The Great War lasted over 1500 days, and over 600 saw rain on the Western Front. The winter of 1914 saw torrential rain and temperatures drop to -10 in France, and the autumn of 1917 in Flanders saw four months' worth of rainfall in just 33 days. London's Met Office offered to help at the outbreak of war, but a terse telegram from GHQ rebuffed this offer. However, the increased use of aircraft and poison gas quickly made senior command understand the importance of meteorology, and the Meteorological Service of the Royal Engineers soon started providing masses of valuable data. Who were these men, and what did they do? In this episode, we look at the work of "Meteor" HQ and their vital role as the war progressed. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Neuve Chapelle 1:08:41

vor 12 weeks1:08:41

1:08:41

Send us a text On the 110th anniversary, we travel to France and walk around the battlefield of the first major offensive launched by the British on the Western Front at Neuve Chappelle. Initial successes were tempered by poor decision-making and poor communications between divisional commanders and the offensive ground to a halt in the face of heavy German resistance. Casualties were 11,000 killed, wounded and missing in three days, but no fewer than nine VCs were awarded for the fighting in this area. These quiet farmers' fields hide the secrets of the past, but there is much history to be found if one knows where to look. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Hohenzollern 1:01:11

vor 14 weeks1:01:11

1:01:11

Send us a text Welcome to this latest episode of the podcast. Today, we walk the battlefield around the area of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, the formidable German strongpoint located on the battlefield at Loos, which was attacked by the 9th Scottish Division on the opening day of the battle of 25th September 1915. Fighting continued until the middle of October when men of the 46th Midland Division tried and failed to retake the redoubt. What happened here, and what can be seen when you walk the battlefields today? Supporting maps and the walking route can be found in the gallery section of the website: https://footstepsofthefallen.com/gallery/ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Trench Talk - Chris Sams and the Battle of Jutland 1:03:02

vor 16 weeks1:03:02

1:03:02

Send us a text Welcome to the first Trench Talk of Season 7! It's a real pleasure to be joined by naval historian and writer Chris Sams as we talk about the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The long-awaited showdown between the Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine turned into an unexpectedly bad day for the British. We look at what happened that afternoon off the coast of Denmark and talk about other naval matters in this fascinating and wide-ranging conversation. Chris' book on the German navy can be found here . Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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"I can't find the damned things!" - Ploegsteert to Le Gheer 1:00:07

vor 18 weeks1:00:07

1:00:07

Send us a text Welcome to the first episode of 2025! Today, we head to Belgium and walk a less-trodden route south of Plugstreet Wood towards the hamlet of Le Gheer. From the village of Ploegsteert, we head south and east across the farmer's fields to discover the long-lost history of this part of the battlefield. These seemingly bare fields tell the story of the rank and file of the Allied infantry who fought and died in this so-called quiet sector of the front. There is much to be found if one knows where to look. We meet the famous (latterly very famous) 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers commander, a certain Mr W.S Churchill, hear the sad story of an officer's death through an appalling piece of treachery, discover the unpleasant and dangerous work of "pond duty", and contemplate how McKenna's bridge got its name. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Out of money and out of luck - life beyond the trenches 1:01:53

vor 21 weeks1:01:53

1:01:53

Send us a text Welcome to the final episode of 2024! One of the great misnomers of WW1 is that soldiers spent all their time in the trenches fighting. Fighting battles took up a tiny amount of soldiers' time, so what did soldiers do when not in the line? In this episode, we look at life behind the lines, where soldiers had the opportunity to spend their pay on treats to make soldiering more bearable. Many soldiers indulged in the age-old vices of women and gambling; gambling was technically illegal, but thousands of francs were known to change hands through unscrupulous soldiers using loaded dice to stack odds firmly in their favour. We look at the ubiquitous concert parties, hear about the leave lottery endured by soldiers, and discover why being a competent "anchor-man" was a financially enviable position. We also hear the sad story of Basil Radford, "Gilbert the Filbert", one of Edwardian theatre's greatest dandies who met a terrible end on the battlefields of France. Footsteps of the Fallen will be back in 2025! Support the podcast https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Feeding Tommy 57:35

vor 25 weeks57:35

57:35

Send us a text A famous saying asserts that an army marches on its stomach, and in this episode, we examine food and drink for men on the front line. The challenge of feeding an army was immense, and the war office employed science to calculate the exact calorific intake needed by a soldier to survive. Feeding the men was one thing; feeding them something palatable was something else. We look at trench rations, from the infamous Army Biscuits to cans of "dog vomit," and see that the culinary life of a soldier in the trenches was not a happy one. Occasionally, however, comfort came in mysterious ways, as men of the Hampshire Regiment found out when the Germans shelled the canal near Cuinchy and provided an unexpected and welcome treat. Alcohol played an essential part in soldiers' lives from all sides, and we discover more about the daily rum ration, "Pinard", and celebratory German beer mugs. We learn the origin of the phrase "to be on the fiddle", and hear about how excessive alcohol consumption caused huge problems for the Germans advancing in March 1918. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblo g…

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Liquid fire 1:08:56

vor 27 weeks1:08:56

1:08:56

Send us a text In the early hours of the 30th July 1915, men of the Rifle Brigade and Kings Royal Rifle Corps were attacked near Hooge by German soldiers using a new and appalling weapon of war - liquid fire. The subsequent counter-attack that afternoon by the British was a military disaster that could have been avoided had the protests of senior commanders in the line been listened to. We examine what happened that day, discover the story of the man who won the first VC for the new armies, and meet the enigmatic and eloquent "Student in Arms." Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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He is not missing, he is here. 1:08:22

vor 31 weeks1:08:22

1:08:22

Send us a text Welcome to this latest episode, in which we explore the history behind one of the world's great monuments, the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in the Belgian city of Ypres. We hear the history of the Last Post, look at the famous lions and their connection to Australia, hear the stories of some of the dead, and contemplate what makes this an iconic place of remembrance. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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I can't say my prayers on a stolen carpet.. 1:19:58

vor 33 weeks1:19:58

1:19:58

Send us a text Welcome to the latest episode! In today's episode, we look at the role played by Army Chaplains during the Great War. Responsible for the spiritual and personal welfare of soldiers, the Chaplain was a source of great comfort for men during the hell of trench warfare. We look at the history of the Army Chaplain Department and discover the massively important role that Chaplains had in the lives of men at war and meet some of them, including the famous Woodbine Willie, "Tubby" Clayton and the Reverend Theodore Hardy, a non-combatant who ended the war with an MC, DSO and finally a VC. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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The black lions of Cantigny 1:13:07

vor 35 weeks1:13:07

1:13:07

Send us a text Welcome to this latest podcast, in which we travel to the southern part of the Somme battlefield, a shell-cratered morass on which the men of Canada, Australia and France died in their thousands in the final 100 days of the War. We tour the battlefield and visit the cemeteries and memorials, which bear testament to the sacrifice of so many who fell so close to the end of four years of conflict. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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A potato and a propellor - Amiens at war 1:12:46

vor 38 weeks1:12:46

1:12:46

Send us a text In today's podcast, we journey through Amiens and its surrounding areas, uncovering the deep connections to the Great War. We start in the village of Naours, exploring caves that hold a remarkable record of soldiers from the conflict. Next, we delve into the history of Amiens Cathedral and discover a moving poem, "The Song of Amiens," written by a lesser-known poet of the Great War. A British Chaplain shares a story of divine intervention after "borrowing" a standard lamp from the cathedral. Amiens was a place of rest and indulgence for officers and soldiers, and it offered abundant good food, wine, and other human pleasures. We visit the graves of the first airmen to die in World War I and hear the tale of one of the war’s great eccentrics, RFC officer Lt. Harvey-Kelly, a man known for living life at full speed, always flying with potatoes in his pockets. We then visit the closest point the Germans reached to Amiens before exploring the site of the first tank-versus-tank battle near Villers-Bretonneux. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Beyond the front - Kemmel 1:02:48

vor 1 year1:02:48

1:02:48

Send us a text Welcome to this latest episode of Footsteps of the Fallen. In this episode we travel to Flanders and visit one of the lesser-visited corners of the Great War in this part of Belgium, the area around the mighty Kemmelberg. Our journey begins at Underhill Farm cemetery before heading to Nieuwkerque and across to Kemmel and Dranoutre. On route, we visit some of the cemeteries, memorials and monuments that commemorate the men from France, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Germany who fought and died on this part of the Western Front during the Great War. Supoort the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Cambrai - one day on the battlefield 1:06:52

vor 1 year1:06:52

1:06:52

Send us a text In our latest podcast, we visit the battlefield around Cambrai, where, on the 20th of November 1917, the first mass tank battle in military history took place. The Allies smashed a 5-mile hole in the German's lines. Still, poor communication and placement of the reserves failed to exploit the advantage and when the campaign ended 12 days later, over 40,000 men had become casualties. If you have only one day to visit the battlefields, what should you see? We visit some of the cemeteries and memorials on the battlefield, discover the stories behind some VC winners who are commemorated here, hear the story of "Deborah", and conclude with a poignant poem written by one of Scotland's great war poets. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Cobbers - Australia on the Somme 1:11:57

vor 1 year1:11:57

1:11:57

Send us a text Welcome to our first podcast of 2024! In this episode, we visit the battlefields around Villers Brettoneux on the Somme, an area of Picardy that will be forever associated with the Australian Army. We tour the battlefield and discover the military history of this part of the Somme, discover just how close the Germans came to Amiens in 1918, and visit some of the many cemeteries and memorials which cover this part of the battlefield. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Trench talk - Peter Doyle and the Princess Mary Christmas Box 1:22:08

vor 1 year1:22:08

1:22:08

Send us a text Welcome to our Christmas episode of Footsteps of the Fallen! In this special Trench Talk I'm joined by Professor Peter Doyle who tells us all about the history behind one of the most iconic of all Great War artefacts, The Princess Mary Tin. In this fascinating talk, we hear about the history of the box, the minute attention to detail that went into ensuring that its contents catered to all creeds and nationalities. We hear the incredible story of trench lighters, dispel some of the myths that surround the tins, and discover what receiving these gifts did for the men on that cold Christmas Day in 1914. You can buy Peter's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Sailor-Afloat-Soldier-Front/dp/1913491536 Footsteps of the Fallen will be back in 2024, and I wish you all a very happy Christmas. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Dud Corner - a journey through a cemetery 1:16:01

vor 1 year1:16:01

1:16:01

Send us a text In our latest podcast, we travel to Dud Corner Cemetery and the Loos Memorial in Artois to discover the stories of some of the men who lie here. The podcast begins with an overview of the Battle of Loos, and we look at what went wrong with the offensive in September 1915. Like all cemeteries, every story and every name on a memorial is a tale to be told. We encounter a formidable boxer, known as the "Widowmaker", as well as two officers whose indiscipline landed them in front of the Courts, one for assault and the other for running over a police officer while joyriding on an unlicensed motorbike. No less than five VC winners are commemorated here, and we hear the stories of the deeds behind their medals. One of the finest poets of the Great War, Charles Sorley, is commemorated on the memorial. Found in his kit bag after his death was the least known of the great poems of WW1, and we hear the poem in full and consider why it is such a powerful piece of Great War literature. We hear the tragic story of the Mochrie family, who lost three sons in a single day and discovered how the showboating of a deaf rugby-playing Scottish officer sparked a near riot in the 1913 Scotland vs France game in Paris. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefall…

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Trench Talk: Jules the Poilu - in conversation with Alexandre Lyons 1:05:21

vor 1 year1:05:21

1:05:21

Send us a text The discovery of a huge collection of letters, postcards and writings of his great-great-grandfather has taken Alex on a fascinating journey through the wartime experiences of his ancestor, Jules Destrigniville. A Parisian police officer by trade, Jules was conscripted into the 315th Infantry Regiment in October 1915 and promised to write home every day. The letters provide a fascinating insight into the life of a French infantry soldier who went through the hell of Verdun, was wounded and gassed, but ultimately survived the Great War. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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The end of the line 1:04:14

vor 2 years1:04:14

1:04:14

Send us a text In our latest podcast, we visit the end of the Western Front and take a whistlestop tour around the Lys battlefield near the North Sea coast of Belgium. We look at the military actions that took place in this part of the battlefield including the famous flooding to stem the German advance and look at the heroic actions of French Marines in their stemming the tide of the German advance. We visit the Nieupoort Memorial to the Missing, and the Albert Memorial and then head inland to the German cemetery at Vladslo where we hear the story of the creation of poignant statues "The Grieving Parents". We visit Dixsmuide and hear about the terrible fighting that destroyed the town, visit the Ijer Tower, and finish at the infamous Death Trenches adjacent to the Yser Canal. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The Foresters of Flanders 1:05:05

vor 2 years1:05:05

1:05:05

Send us a text During the Great War the demand for timber for the front line exceeded at one stage 50,000 tonnes a month. But where on earth could this amount of timber be sourced and who would be capable of felling that many trees? In WW1 over 35,000 men served in the Canadian Forestry Corps; recruited from the millions of acres of Canadian wilderness, these were physically tough men who thrived on the backbreaking work of lumberjacking. In this episode we look at a little-known aspect of the war, but one which was utterly vital to the wider war effort. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Bunkers and bards - Boesinghe to Ypres 1:03:46

vor 2 years1:03:46

1:03:46

Send us a text In today's episode, we travel the Ypres salient from Boesinghe to Ypres and visit some of the many cemeteries and memorials that dot this part of the battlefield. We begin at the Ziegler Bunker and one of the finest bunkers left on the Western Front before continuing to a roadside memorial bedecked with the tricolor of Ireland, and hear the sad tale of one of Ireland's finest poets. Our journey continues taking in demarcation stones and memorials before we had back toward Ypres and pay a visit to Talana Farm cemetery. We stop at Duhallow ADS cemetery and here the story of a tragic incident for men of the Labour Corps and discover the story of Private Seymour who was shot dawn for desertion. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefalle…

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The most dangerous man I ever knew. 1:03:14

vor 2 years1:03:14

1:03:14

Send us a text Our latest podcast begins at the Guards Grave in the Retz Forest near the village of Villers Cotteret on the Aisne battlefield. It contains the graves of 98 men of the Guards Brigade who fought one of the most remarkable rear-guard actions of the Great War near this spot on the 1st of September 1914. We meet the eccentric and dangerous-to-know Irish Guards officer Lt Aubrey Herbert. A loose cannon with a volcanic temper, Herbert was almost blind, but despite this, he proved to be a capable officer. Opinionated, argumentative, and dangerous to know, Herbert successfully delivered a vital message that allowed reinforcements to be rushed up into the forest to help rescue the beleaguered Guards Division. We also discover the story behind one of the most impressive private memorials anywhere on the Western Front, and the remarkable perseverance of a formidable woman, desperate to find out what happened to her only son. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblo…

1
Mazengarbe - a journey through a cemetery 59:59

vor 2 years59:59

59:59

Send us a text In today's episode, we visit the communal cemetery and extension at Mazengarbe on the Loos battlefield and discover the stories of some of the men who lie buried within. We begin by reminiscing on an encounter in a cemetery on All Souls Day, hear the story of a Scottish VC winner who performed two remarkable acts of heroism on the battlefield at Hill 70, and meet one of the lesser-known poets of the Great War, the idealistic Canadian Bernard Trotter. We meet a man of the cloth who was awarded a Military Cross for bravery, hear the stories of some of the men who were shot at dawn and lie buried in the cemetery, and discover how the Mayor of Laventie and a parish priest ended up brawling in a British dugout, having tried to take on the Germans single-handed armed only with a bottle of eau de vie and stolen British rifle. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Mount Sorrel 1:03:34

vor 2 years1:03:34

1:03:34

Send us a text In this episode, we travel to Flanders and look at the fighting of June 1916 for Hill 62, or Mount Sorrel as it was known. Standing on the top of the ridge today overlooking Sanctuary Wood is a Canadian Memorial and this is a battlefield always associated with the soldiers of Canada. We begin at Hooge Crater Cemetery and hear the story of two remarkable VC winners, before we move to Hill 62 and examine the ebb and flow of the fighting in June 1916. We hear the remarkable story of the Colour of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, hear about the unfortunate fate of the 3rd Canadian Divison commander, and meet Colonel Buller, whose foresight and determination helped prevent a German breakthrough. We hear about the encounter between a Canadian heavyweight boxer and a German officer and look at the deserved reputation gained by Canada's soldiers during the fighting. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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The Nivelle Offensive 1:06:09

vor 2 years1:06:09

1:06:09

Send us a text In 1917 French general Robert Nivelle launched an offensive against the Germans on the River Aisne which he was convinced would break the Western Front once and for all. After nine days of fighting 187,000 French soldiers had been killed, wounded, or missing, and the French Army was in a state of mutiny. In this episode we look at the Nivelle Offensive, why it happened, and what went so wrong for the French Army. We look at the mutinies and discover a story where fact and fiction are sometimes hard to separate, and hear about a vitriolic soldier's song deemed so inflammatory it was banned in France for over 50 years after the Great War ended. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Farming the front 1:01:23

vor 2 years1:01:23

1:01:23

Send us a text During the course of the Great War, the problem of feeding the vast numbers of men and animals in the military was a constant source of concern for Army command. The Army contained many men whose background was in agriculture and the decision was made to turn 45000 acres of fertile French land into a central farm to supply food to the front. Run by the Army Agricultural Companies, the cultivation of land was a remarkable and very successful endeavor. We hear about the dangers of using tractors on former battlefields, an innovative approach to dealing with the vast quantities of food waste from the Etaples basecamp, and hear about the great Goat Riot of Rouen in 1917. Footsteps will be back on the 1st of October. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Le Cateau - one day in August 1:02:50

vor 2 years1:02:50

1:02:50

Send us a text In this episode, we visit the battlefield of Le Cateau. In August 1914 Horace Smith-Dorrien's II Corps stood and fought when they had been ordered to retreat. This disobedience delayed the Germans and has been described by one military historian as being "the battle that saved the BEF". Sir John French later used Smith-Dorrien's insubordination as a tool to dismiss him. What happened that day? We look at the battle itself and then take a journey around the battlefield to visit some of the cemeteries and memorials commemorating the dead. Our journey takes in the most famous tree on the battlefield, the grave of arguably the most famous war poet of the Great War, and finishes at the poignant vista of the Suffolk Memorial. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Here we fight, and here we die! 1:03:53

vor 40 weeks1:03:53

1:03:53

Send us a text In this latest episode, we answer a couple of listener questions and then tour the battlefield near St. Quentin. We hear the story of the tragic death of two British soldiers shot for spying by the Germans, stand on the very trenches from which the offensive began, and visit some of the redoubts which stood in the way of the German onslaught. Our journey concludes with the story of Manchester Hill and the heroic efforts of Lt Col Wilfrith Elstob VC DSO MC. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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The black day of the German army 1:04:02

vor 42 weeks1:04:02

1:04:02

Send us a text In this episode we look at the Kaiserschlact, or Kaiser's Battle which was launched by the Germans in March 1918, a final roll of the dice to win the war before American superiority in arms and men came to the fore. Logistical problems tempered initial successes, and by early summer, the advance had faltered. On the 8th of August, the Allies counter-attacked with an offensive near Amiens that captured nearly 15,000 men and saw estimated German losses of 30,000. Ludendorff described it as the "black day of the German army" Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
All roads lead to Ypres 1:05:06

vor 44 weeks1:05:06

1:05:06

Send us a text Why do we always do the same thing? This question was posed during a work call last week, and it got me thinking about travelling around the battlefields and why I always seem to take the easy route to Ypres. In this episode, we meander up the coast from Calais to Nieupoort, taking in Zuydcoote, Adinkerke, Coxyde, Nieupoort and Ramskappelle to see what Great War history can be found when heading to Ypres along a road less travelled. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
A mile and a half of history - White House to Kitchener's Wood 1:06:09

vor 46 weeks1:06:09

1:06:09

Send us a text Welcome to this latest episode. We find ourselves in Ypres, on a part of the salient that offers real bang for the buck regarding military history. Our journey today covers just over a mile and a half from White House Cemetery to Kitchener's Wood, and we hear the stories of the cemeteries and memorials on this part of the old front line. We visit White House Cemetery, where we also discover the social history behind a small wooden house opposite the cemetery entrance. We visit Oxford Road, the 50th Division Memorial and Mousetrap Farm, where we hear the remarkably tragic story of two fighting Irish brothers before heading to Kitchener's Wood. There, Marechal Foch described the actions of the Canadian soldiers in April 1915 as the finest feat of soldiering of the entire war. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Unseen and unwanted - a colonial soldier's war 1:18:03

vor 48 weeks1:18:03

1:18:03

Send us a text In this latest episode, we look at colonial soldiers' experiences in the Great War. Britain and France made full use of the human capital of their global empires to provide extra manpower for their armed forces. Our journey begins in an art gallery in Belgium, and we look at the work of the famous German artist Karl Goetz and his most scandalously infamous medallion depicting "The Black Shame." We examine the role played by French colonial troops and discover the story of the most decorated Division in the French Army. King George V's intervention created the British West Indies Regiment, an organisation founded on maternal coercion and wild promises that the British Government had little intention of fulfilling. We look at the military experience of black soldiers and discover how years of repression, racism and segregation exploded in the Taranto Riot of December 1918. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
The man they couldn't kill. 1:07:41

vor 50 weeks1:07:41

1:07:41

Send us a text In this episode, we travel to the Somme and begin our journey at one of the most iconic sites on the battlefield, the Basilica at Albert. We hear about its founding and discover more about the legend of the Golden Virgin. We leave Albert, head onto the battlefields over the Tara and Usna line, and visit the Lochnagar Crater at La Boiselle. Just to the right of the crater on the 2nd of July 1916, a Victoria Cross was won by one of the great characters of the First World War. A man whose life was a real "Boy's Own" tale of dangerous escapes and seizing every moment of every day - of course, we are talking about Adrian Ghislain Carton de Wiart VC KBE CB CMG DSO. who, when asked about his experience of the Great War, famously replied, "The War? Oh, I rather enjoyed it!" Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Palestine 1:16:01

vor 1 year1:16:01

1:16:01

Send us a text In this episode, we visit one of the forgotten fronts of the Great War and look at the fighting in Palestine in 1917-1918. This was an unforgiving landscape that saw numerous battles, the removal of a Corps Commander and one of the most impressive military victories in history. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Festubert - a walk round a battlefield 1:07:47

vor 1 year1:07:47

1:07:47

Send us a text In this episode, recorded live on the battlefields, we are at Festubert, the forgotten battle of 1915, and we visit some of the cemeteries around the battlefield to hear the personal stories of the men buried within them. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
The Devil's breath 1:07:58

vor 1 year1:07:58

1:07:58

Send us a text Welcome to Season 7! In our first episode, we look at poison gas, its development and use on the battlefield, and how the science of chemical weapons saw the militarisation of academia in the pursuit of developing more lethal and deadly weapons. We discover how the Allies combated the German gas threat, what it was like to be a gas victim and how a common garden pest was, in fact, nature's most effective gas detector. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
The farm cemeteries - Ypres 1:14:17

vor 1 year1:14:17

1:14:17

Send us a text Welcome to the final episode of Season 6 and our 150th podcast! In this episode, we look back at the podcast since it began 3 1/2 years ago, examine some of the statistics about the pod, and contemplate some of my favourite episodes that have been released. We then head over to Belgium and travel from Essex Farm to Elverdinghe, where we visit some of the smaller and less visited cemeteries in this part of the Ypres salient, including Talana Farm, Bleuet Farm and Ferme Olivier cemeteries. The podcast will be back with Season 7 on Sunday 28th April 2024. Support us: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Trench Talk - Tom Isitt and the Italian Front 1:12:49

vor 1 year1:12:49

1:12:49

Send us a text In this latest podcast, historian and author Tom Isitt joins us. Tom has a passion (or, he might say, obsession) with the Italian Front in the Great War. An inhospitable battlefield with appalling weather conditions and treacherous terrain, the fighting around the Isonzo River proved to be the graveyard of the Italian army in a series of 12 battles that cost hundreds of thousands of casualties. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the fighting at Isonzo and Caporetto, the Asiago plateau, the problems of supply and fighting in the mountains, and meet a belligerent commander who dismissed no fewer than 270 Generals during the course of the War. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Fricourt 1:09:02

vor 1 year1:09:02

1:09:02

Send us a text With the sad news of the passing of Martin Middlebrooke, this podcast heads to the Somme battlefield where we walk across the battlefield at the village of Fricourt. Our journey takes in some of the cemeteries and memorials that cover this part of the Somme battlefield, and we look at some of the literary figures whose output provides so many insights into Fricourt and its surroundings during the Great War, including John Masefield, Siegfried Sassoon and Bernard Adams amongst others. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Special podcast update 8:09

vor 1 year8:09

8:09

Send us a text Many of you who listen to the podcast aren't on social media and are not followers of me on Twitter so please find attached a very brief update on what's happening with the podcast going forward. I posted a video on Twitter on Sunday 18th February and this is the audio recording of that video. You can view the video on YouTube with the following link: https://youtu.be/AmNHLbK_rWk?si=TVvX8atZEBm5sSNF…

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Trench Talk - Roger Steward in conversation about Langemarck German Cemetery 1:11:35

vor 1 year1:11:35

1:11:35

Send us a text In this latest episode of Trench Talk, it's a real pleasure to be joined by military historian, battlefield guide and author Roger Steward. Lockdown allowed Roger to write the book he always wanted to write about the German Cemetery at Langemarck. Very few places on the Western Front have as many myths attached to them, and in this wide-ranging chat we discuss the cemetery, what there is to see, the unpalatable history it played in the mindset of the Third Reich and debunk some of the myths. You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Studentenfriedhof-Soldatenfriedhof-Langemark-Cemetery-Self-guided/dp/1913491676/ref=sr_1_1?crid=372C8DU76FNP1&keywords=Langemark&qid=1707776314&sprefix=landmark%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1 Interested in engaging Roger as a guide? https://www.ypresbattlefieldtours.be/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
Where it all began - Vimy 1:12:15

vor 1 year1:12:15

1:12:15

Send us a text In this latest episode, we visit the battlefield where my journey through the Great War began some 35 years ago - Vimy Ridge. We look at what happened in this part of the front and have a brief look at the battle of the 9th April 1917, before we travel around some of the cemeteries and memorials that cover this part of the battlefield. We begin at the French National Cemetery at Notre Dame de Lorrette where we discover the story behind how the Basilica got its name. We hear about the death of a great French cyclist before we visit the remarkable Ring of Peace memorial. Heading down into the valley, we hear about General Barbot, and visit the massive cemetery at Caberet Rouge before visiting the Canadian memorial on top of Vimy Ridge. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Surrender be damned! The Battle of Frezenberg Ridge 1:06:09

vor 2 years1:06:09

1:06:09

Send us a text Between the 8-13th of May 1915, the Germans attempted to smash their way through the British lines in the Ypres salient launching an attack against the Frezenberg Ridge. The British were subjected to an artillery bombardment of a ferocity never seen before and suffered over 8,000 casualties in defending the ridge. Our journey begins at the Menin Gate where we discover the works of one of the lesser-known poets of the Great War before we look at the ebb and flow of the battle. We hear stories of remarkable defence and resilience, and personal courage and discover the heavy price paid by the British in beating off the German attacks. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
The sculpting soldier 1:05:22

vor 2 years1:05:22

1:05:22

Send us a text Standing at Hyde Park Corner in London, the Royal Artillery Memorial has been cited by one art critic as the finest work of sculpture of the 20th Century. Its creator, Charles Sergeant Jagger, was once described by Auguste Rodin as "The Master". Who was Charles Jagger? In this episode, we look at one of the finest sculptors of the human form to have lived, his work including the RA Memorial and his incredible piece which stands on Platform 1 at Paddington Station commemorating the dead of the Great Western Railway. Jagger served as an officer in the Worcestershire Regiment and was awarded an MC for his actions at Neuve Eglise during the German offensive in Spring 1918 where he was severely wounded. We look at the trials and tribulations that surrounded the creation of the Royal Artillery Memorial and look at his work on the magnificent "No Mans Land" Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
The lost cemetery 58:55

vor 2 years58:55

58:55

Send us a text Our journey today begins at Berkshire Cemetery Extension near Ploegsteert Wood, home of a stunning memorial to the missing, and two magnificent stone lions guarding the entrance in allegorical perfection. We hear the story of a short-sighted 2nd Lt whose father pulled strings to get his son a commission and look at the tragic death of a New Zealand chemist who lies buried in the cemetery. But it's the graves in Plots II and III that grab our attention. The 457 men who lie buried in these two plots came from elsewhere. Where did they come from? We discover a tale of obstinancy, political machinations, and a tale where the line between legality and morality becomes very blurred indeed. https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Fricourt to Flatiron 1:10:33

vor 2 years1:10:33

1:10:33

Send us a text Welcome to Season 6! My wife went away with the kids and instructed me not to anything rash while she was away. So I got on a ferry and went to the Somme.... In this episode, recorded on the Somme battlefields we travel from Fricourt to Mametz via Flatiron Copse and visit some of the cemeteries and memorials on this beautiful part of the Somme battlefield. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
I died in hell.... 1:10:57

vor 2 years1:10:57

1:10:57

Send us a text Welcome to the final episode of Season 5! In today's episode, we look at the 3rd Battle of Ypres, more commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as the Battle of Passchendaele. A campaign flawed in its inception, and blighted by the weather, when the ridge at Passchendaele was finally captured some ninety-nine days after the offensive began, over 250,000 men had become casualties. We conclude with a visit to Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world, and contemplate why Ypres is such a special place to visit. Footsteps will be back on the 28th of July. Support the podcastL https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
The Astrologer of Flanders 1:06:01

vor 2 years1:06:01

1:06:01

Send us a text During the course of WW1 over 34 million maps were produced by the Royal Engineers and the Ordnance Survey. From primitive beginnings, by the end of the war, the British Army was in possession of the finest and most accurate maps of any of the combatant nations. How did this happen and who were these men? We look at the work of the Field Survey Companies commanded by the meticulous Bovril drinking Major E M Jack, who assembled a crack team of surveyors and cartographers to undertake the massive task of surveying the Western Front. Using skills such as aerial photography, sound ranging, flash spotting and the scientific skills of a Nobel Prize winning physicist, Jack's team produced exceptionally detailed maps. To meet demand the Ordnance Survey launched a new team of map-making experts the OBOS in France, whose output was prodigious. We hear the story of a gallant RFC officer whose illegal use of a camera revolutionised aerial photographic interpretation, hear the unfortunate fate of the first survey party to be sent out into No Mans Land, and meet Lt. Henry "Crystal Ball" Rowbotham, the so-called Astrologer of Flanders. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Mr Tickler's Suicide Squad 55:07

vor 2 years55:07

55:07

Send us a text In this episode, we look at the weapons of war used by men in the trenches. The standard rifle of Tommy Atkins was the Short Magazine Lee Enfield, a highly effective rifle, that was deadly in the hands of a trained marksman. As casualties rose the declining standards of British musketry were a real concern for senior command. At the business end of the rifle was often found the sword bayonet, 12" of honed steel used in close combat with the enemy -what did soldiers really think about this ancient weapon of war? We conclude by looking at the development of grenades, starting with the famous "Jam Tin" bombs, we look at the cottage industry of trench-based explosives which developed from the start of the war; an endeavour that was generally more hazardous for the deliverer than the recipient. We hear about the Mills bomb, possibly the most famous grenade in history, meet Monsieur X. Plosif the famous French dressmaker, and discover the perils of carrying cricket balls while wearing a kilt. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Trench Talk: Dr Lindsey Fitzharris - The Facemaker 55:49

vor 2 years55:49

55:49

Send us a text In our latest podcast, it's a privilege to be joined by the writer and historian Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris, who wrote the superb book "The Facemaker" about the pioneering WW1 surgeon Dr. Harold Gillies. Gillies was determined to give wounded and disfigured servicemen as normal an appearance as possible and his groundbreaking plastic surgery revolutionized maxillofacial medicine, and developed techniques that are still used to this day. Beautifully written and impeccably researched, The Facemaker is a magnificent book about a remarkable man. You can buy the book through this link: https://amzn.eu/d/gDmYyYr Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Le Touret - a journey through a cemetery 1:04:04

vor 2 years1:04:04

1:04:04

Send us a text Standing at the side of the main road from Bethune to Armentieres, the Le Touret Memorial commemorates over 13,400 men who died on this part of the battlefield between October 1914 and September 1915. In our latest podcast, we discover the stories of the men who are commemorated here including a Private who wasn't, the distant relative of the founder of Georgian England's most salubrious drinking den, discover a family connection to the Queen Mother's rocking horse, and hear about the Australian Government's very own Saving Private Ryan moment. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
The sound of sadness - a journey round The Birdcage 1:01:10

vor 2 years1:01:10

1:01:10

Send us a text In our latest podcast, we visit the hulking mass of Plugstreet Wood and look at the actions of December 1914 around the German strongpoint known as The Birdcage. Formed of trenches captured from the Worcestershire Regiment and three ruined farm buildings, it was a show-stopper for the men of the Rifle Brigade, Somerset LI and Hampshire Regiment who paid a heavy toll in trying to capture it. We begin with a reminiscence of guiding a remarkable man around Plugstreet Wood, consider why some places on the Western Front have such a powerful impact on us, and then look at the fighting for the Birdcage in December 1914. The episode concludes with a special recording made in the wood itself early one morning in 2019. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Graham Stapleton. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
Was I brave? 1:13:41

vor 2 years1:13:41

1:13:41

Send us a text In this latest episode of the podcast, we look at bravery on the battlefield through the stories of six remarkable men. Between them, they won 4 Victoria Crosses, 4 Distinguished Service Orders, 8 Military Crosses, 6 Military Medals, 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals, and 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and were mentioned in despatches no less than 17 times. What does bravery on a battlefield mean, and how does one define the "value" of a particular medal? Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
"Take one more step and I'll bloody shoot you!" - Aubers Ridge 1:03:15

vor 2 years1:03:15

1:03:15

Send us a text On the 9th May 1915, the British launched an attack on the billiard table flat fields of Artois against the Aubers Ridge. What was supposed to be a gentle stroll across the Artois countryside, turned into one of the great military disasters the British suffered during the Great War. As night fell, nearly 11,000 men lay dead or wounded, and the ridge remained firmly in German's hands. The ensuing crisis saw the Government toppled in what became known as the "shell scandal". Support the podcast https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
Trench Talk: William Stroock - "Blackjack" 1:03:25

vor 2 years1:03:25

1:03:25

Send us a text In this episode, it's a real pleasure to be joined by the American writer and former History professor, William Stroock. William's historical interests are many, but his book on the WW1 American general John J "Blackjack" Pershing is a fascinating insight into one of the Great War's most complex and colourful characters. We talk about Pershing's early life and military career, examine whether some of the more disagreeable traits in his character were compatible with Generalship, and consider his legacy, as well as look at the often strained relationship between Blackjack and other members of Allied high command during the Great War. You can find a copy of William's book by clicking on the following link: https://amzn.eu/d/hhhd8cg Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Conchies - the men who wouldn't fight 1:27:41

vor 2 years1:27:41

1:27:41

Send us a text During the Great War over 16,000 men registered as Conscientious Objectors; men whose conscience wouldn't allow them to take the life of another human. Ridiculed in the press, humiliated by the Government, and shunned by friends and neighbours, the life of a CO was a lonely one. An organisation aimed at helping those who objected to war was set up, the No-Conscription Fellowship, which became one of the most powerful anti-war bodies of the time. Our episode begins with looking at the back story behind one of British TV's most loveable characters and then hears the story of the writer "Mark VII" an officer who resigned from his commission on religious grounds to become a conscientious objector. We hear about the Tribunals, a pseudo-legal Government panel that allowed COs to plead their case, the remarkable women who kept an underground newspaper running, and the tragic story of the first CO to die in prison. In 1916, in a show of force, the Government shipped 35 COs off to France to be subjected to military justice, where they encountered a regime that was both inhuman and brutal. Sentenced to be shot, a secret telegramme saved the men, and on their return, they were transferred to the harsh regime of Dartmoor prison where they created what is still known as Conchies Field. Our podcast ends by looking at the life of one conscientious objector who fell foul of military law in two World Wars. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
Gully Ravine 1:07:34

vor 2 years1:07:34

1:07:34

Send us a text The Gallipoli campaign presents military historians with some of the great "what-ifs" of Great War history, and perhaps nowhere more so than the fighting around Gully Ravine in June 1915. The ravine was a barren strip of land running from the Aegean to within touching distance of the town of Krithia. Flanked by tall spurs on either side, Gully Spur to the North and Fir Tree Spur to the South, the Ravine was the scene of some of the most brutal fighting of the campaign. Ghurka Bluff and Fusilier Bluff were two of the battlefield strongpoints whose names were testament to the tenacity of the attacking troops. We look at the ebb and flow of battle, hear stories of unbelievable courage and horrific suffering of the wounded who lay under the merciless Mediterreanean sun, during a battle that was flawed from its inception. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Here we fight and here we die! 1:05:39

vor 2 years1:05:39

1:05:39

Send us a text 1917 was a difficult year for the Allied high command. With the British and the French suffering from the exertions of the Somme and Verdun, the French army was in a state of mutiny on the Chemin des Dames, and the British were bogged down in the hell of Passchendaele. The Spring of 1918 saw the British on the defensive around the city of St Quentin, in a series of eight heavily defended strongpoints called Redoubts. On the 21st of March, the Germans launched Operation Michael, their last great offensive of the War. Standing in the way of their advance on St Quentin were the redoubts. The fighting was brutal and casualties were high but the defence of the redoubts around St Quentin was remarkable. The 30th Division, unwanted by the Corps Commander General Maxse, fought with distinction, nowhere more so in their heroic defence of Manchester Hill. Led by the inspirational Lt. Col Wilfrith Elstob DSO MC, the Manchesters held the hill to the last man, in an action that has gone down in military history as one of the great acts of defiance in the face of insurmountable odds. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Beyond the front - Epehy 1:11:48

vor 2 years1:11:48

1:11:48

Send us a text In today's podcast we visit one of the forgotten battlefields of the Great War, the tiny farming village of Epehy. While small in size, it proved a formidable obstacle to be captured as the Allies advanced towards the Hindenburg Line. We look at the origins of the Hindenburg Line and the fighting for villages and copses that the British had to undertake in order to get near to this masterpiece of German military engineering. We hear about new British tactics involving armoured cars, the first village to be captured by British cavalry since the opening months of the War, and a Canadian officer whose bravery saw him awarded a Victoria Cross. The battlefield will always be associated with the soldiers of Leicester and we look at the actions of the Leicestershire Regiments in some of the brutal fighting that took place around Epehy. Having lost the village in the German offensive of March 1918, the British recaptured it in late 1918, where the Territorial Battalions of London showed their spirit and bravery. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
God wears velvet........ 1:08:35

vor 2 years1:08:35

1:08:35

Send us a text In our latest episode we visit a group of cemeteries that were attached to the Casualty Clearing Stations and discover the stories of some of the men and women who lie buried within them. Our journey begins at Dozinghem, Bandaghem, and Mendinghem cemeteries in Belgium, where we hear the personal recollections of an American surgeon, and meet a VC winner who was a Lt. Col aged only in his mid-twenties. We hear the remarkable story behind the award of what is possibly the world's rarest gallantry award, and hear the sad story of the death of the son of one of England's finest surgeons. At Lijssenthoek, we hear about an act of subterfuge that led to an illegal burial, and discovers the terrible reality behind the bland phrase "died of wounds". Our journey concludes at Godeswaersvelde Cemetery where we talk about the unusual grave of a New Zealand nurse and reflect on the sometimes difficult relationship between civilians and the military, which culminated in a terrifying encounter between a British officer and knife-wielding French woman. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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One day in Artois 1:12:42

vor 2 years1:12:42

1:12:42

Send us a text In today's podcast, we visit the battlefields of Artois, the scene of so much fighting during the spring and summer of 1915. It's a battlefield region that provides so much for the battlefield tourist in a very small place. But, if you haven't visited the battlefields of Artois and only have one day in which to visit some of the key sites, where should you go and what should you see? Beginning at the massive French memorial on the Notre Dame de Lorrette ridge, we head from south to north across the billiard table flat fields of Northern France, taking in the Double Crassiers of Loos, Dud Corner, and the Loos Memorial to the Missing, a sunken gem of a battlefield cemetery, the stunning memorials at Le Touret and Neuve Chappelle, before finishing at what is probably my favourite cemetery anywhere on the Western Front, Le Trou Aid Post at Fleurbaix. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

1
Footsteps in the city - six magnificent memorials 1:10:35

vor 2 years1:10:35

1:10:35

Send us a text Welcome to our latest podcast, which was recorded live on the streets of London. In this episode, we travel around the capital to discover the stories behind six memorials, all of which have a connection to the Great War. Some of them are very well known, some of them less so, but they each tell a story of this tumultuous period of social and military history. Please do check out the website for images of all the memorials - www.footstepsofthefallen.com Please support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
Trivial, Treatable, Terrible - medicine goes to War 1:06:01

vor 2 years1:06:01

1:06:01

Send us a text The Great War saw casualties on an industrial scale. The changing face of warfare placed demands on the medical profession like no conflict before or since. How did medicine adapt to cope with the demands of Great War casualties? We begin at Lijssenthoek Cemetery at the grave of Nurse Nellie Spindler who was killed by shell fire while working at a CCS near Brandhoek, and is the only female buried amongst 10,000 men. We look at the chain of evacuation, the complex series of medical facilities that moved a man from the battlefield to the hospital, and the remarkable feats of organisation that made this possible. We look at the work of Harold Dakin, a softly spoken tank-top-loving Bridge playing chemist whose discovery of an antiseptic solution revolutionised the survival rates of wounded soldiers. We discover the history of the "Petites Curies" wagons that patrolled the battlefields, and find out the origins of the "Fagman". We examine the work of a Canadian surgeon whose chance discovery changed the way blood transfusions were managed forever, and conclude by looking at the pioneering work of Harold Gillies, the plastic surgeon who changed the lives of thousands of mutilated soldiers, whose life is the subject of the remarkable book "The Facemaker". Support the podcast https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
Trench talk - Tim Godden illustrating the Great War 1:10:19

vor 2 years1:10:19

1:10:19

Send us a text In our latest episode of Trench Talk it's a real pleasure to be joined by illustrator Tim Godden ( http://www.timgodden.co.uk ) Tim is an artist and illustrator with an instantly recognisable style of cartoon drawings illustrating scenes of life in the trenches and cemeteries of the Great War. In this wide ranging chat we talk about his career as an artist, his unique style of drawing, his work on the wonderful book Percy, his latest exhibition in Talbot House, and how his love of cycling gives some of his neglected coloured paints a good workout. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Croisilles - a journey through a cemetery 1:01:51

vor 2 years1:01:51

1:01:51

Send us a text In today's podcast, we visit Croisilles cemetery near Arras to discover the personal stories of some of the men who lie within. Many of the men who lie dead in the cemetery were killed in the actions against the formidable German strongpoint of Tunnel Trench which ran just to the east of the village. We look at the Sassoon poem "The Rear-guard" which documents his experiences of being underground in the troglodyte kingdom the Germans created. We hear about two British sappers, found dead on a staircase without a scratch on them, and discover the stories behind the "Soldiers Medal" the DCM. We discover a connection between an officer and the infamous "Bodyline" series between England and Australia, meet a fly-fishing expert who lost his life in a costly raid on the German lines, and hear about an officer, who features in one of the Great War's finest personal narratives, who foresaw his own death. Our episode concludes at the grave of a British officer whose death provided a stark reminder of the destructive power of artillery. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Suvla - catastrophe in the salt marsh 1:09:56

vor 2 years1:09:56

1:09:56

Send us a text In today's podcast, we make a welcome return to the battlefields of Gallipoli and look at the fighting at Suvla. It was a disaster that spelled the end of a disastrous campaign. Ian Hamilton, the commander of the British Mediterranean Force had been dealt a bad hand by the British Government. Short of trained soldiers and supplies, and forced to fight on a battlefield defended with almost fanatical idealism by Turkish soldiers under the inspirational command of Mustafa Kamal, the campaign was flawed from its inception. Our podcast looks first of all the wider Gallipoli campaign, examines the plan and logic behind the offensive, and discovers some of the problems that senior command had in fighting in such an inhospitable landscape. Hamilton wanted new blood for the campaign but was provided with a Corps Commander with little to no battlefield experience, Lt General Frederick Stopford. Stopford was an indecisive man who allowed the plan to be diluted by the machinations of his staff. We look at the landings at Suvla and discover a litany of command failings that cost the British thousands of casualties for no material gain. We also hear about Fred Potts VC, who remarkable exploits earned him the nickname of the "Shovel VC" Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Carnoy - a story on the Somme 1:01:38

vor 2 years1:01:38

1:01:38

Send us a text Welcome to our first podcast of 2023! In today's podcast, we are off to Carnoy on the Somme, a farming hamlet between Mametz and Montauban that was the scene of terrific fighting on the 1st of July 1916. Dominated by the massive Pommiers Redoubt, this area of the front line was one of the few successes for the British that fateful day. We meet Captain Wilfred "Billy" Neville who brought footballs back from England for men of the 8th East Surrey's to kick across No Man's Land towards the Germans. We hear about a wounded officer who was more concerned about a broken bottle of whisky than a serious wound to his arm and then look at the Pyrrhic victory that was the explosion of the Kasino Point mine. We discover the story of the remarkable CO of the 12th Middlesex who was decorated for gallantry three times and finally encounter the mysterious "Mark VII", author of a superb personal memoir who resigned his commission as an officer to become a conscientious objector and a leading member of the Pacifist movement. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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"No War today" - a soldier's view of the Christmas Truce 1:13:34

vor 2 years1:13:34

1:13:34

Send us a text Welcome to our Christmas episode of Footsteps of the Fallen. The Christmas Truce has often been portrayed as a mass act of rebellion by soldiers tired of fighting, who wilfully disobeyed the instructions of senior officers not to fraternise with the enemy. The commander of II Corps issued an order on the 5th of December 1914 forbidding any form of ceasefire or armistice with the enemy. Yet, within his Divisions, seven battalions reported fraternisation with the enemy on or around Xmas day. If, as it is portrayed, the Truce was a direct contravention of orders, then it seems highly likely that it wouldn't be mentioned or recorded in the various official records kept by Battalions, Brigades, and Divisions. In this episode, we look at how the truce was reported by the men who were involved in it and question whether the impromptu armistice really was a mass act of collective indiscipline as is so often reported. We look at how the Truce was reported in the various war diaries of the regiments who were involved and discover a tale where fact and popular fiction are sometimes hard to differentiate. I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year - Footsteps of the Fallen will be back on Sunday 15th January 2023. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The Leipzig Redoubt 59:01

vor 2 years59:01

59:01

Send us a text In this latest podcast, we look at the fighting for a small but heavily defended German strongpoint on the Somme battlefield, which proved to be one of the only successes for the British in this sector on the 1st of July 1916, the Leipzig Redoubt. We begin by looking at John Masefield whose seminal work The Old Front Line provided a remarkable view of the Somme battlefields and describes in detail the redoubt. Masefield had worked as a hospital orderly in a French military hospital where he associated with some of the greatest minds of English literature and art, and his eloquent prose describing the Somme battlefields was all the more remarkable when one considers it was written on the battlefield itself. We look at the fighting in and around the salient which was described as resembling an abattoir at the end of the first days of fighting, with the men of the Highland Light Infantry paying a particularly heavy price for its capture. We meet Percy Machell, a force of nature who single-handedly raised the so-called Lonsdale Battalion, which was all but annihilated by German machine guns. We look at the actions of a sport-loving NCO who was awarded a posthumous VC for his actions in the redoubt and hear about the introduction of a new weapon of war, the push pipe bomb which proved highly effective against German positions. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Trench Talk - Sarah Wearne: epitaphs of the Great War 53:18

vor 2 years53:18

53:18

Send us a text In this latest episode of Trench Talk, it's a real pleasure to be joined by the writer Sarah Wearne, whose 30-year odyssey to study the epitaphs of the Great War culminated in the publication of three collections of epitaphs, The Somme, Passchendaele, and The Last Hundred Days. In this wide-ranging chat we talk about Helen's quest to track down some of the more unusual and unique epitaphs of the Great War, how epitaphs were chosen, the different approaches to commemoration by the various nations, what epitaphs can tell us about societies views of memory and commemoration, and of course, hear the personal stories behind some of Sarah's personal favourites.…

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Five years and five VCs 1:09:21

vor 2 years1:09:21

1:09:21

Send us a text Welcome back to Season 5 of the podcast! In this first episode, we meet five remarkable men, Maurice Dease, Hugo Throssell, Noel Chavasse, Phillip Konowal, and Martin Doyle. They all came from very different backgrounds, different countries, and different regiments; their lives took very different paths to each other, but each of them was awarded a Victoria Cross (in Chavasse's case, twice) during the Great War. We hear stories of remarkable bravery, humility, danger, and great personal tragedy as we look at a VC winner from each year of the War from 1914 through to 1918. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Turn left on Piccadilly - a day in the life of a British trench 1:13:08

vor 3 years1:13:08

1:13:08

Send us a text Welcome to our 100th podcast! In today's episode, we look at the trenches that formed the 450 miles of the Western Front, running from the Swiss border to the Belgian coast. We look at how trenches were designed, and where the naming patterns came from. We hear the macabre reasoning behind Woman Trench, learn about the role of the Sanitary Corporal and discover how a German artillery attack did wonders for a British officer's digestive problems. Footsteps of the Fallen will be back on the 4th December! Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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For God and for France! The battle of Touvent Farm 55:53

vor 3 years55:53

55:53

Send us a text This episode looks at the fighting around Touvent Farm, a critical strong point on what was to become the Somme battlefields. For seven days in June 1915, French infantry fought hand-to-hand with fanatical German defenders to capture this important strongpoint. We begin by looking at the French army and its evolution during the Great War. Consisting largely of conscripted men, over 8 million were called into service. We look at their weapons and how their famous red trousers became a political issue in the French parliament. We meet a French gunner who wrote one of the most powerful narratives of combat to come out of the Great War, and why supply problems led to the production of the famous blue French uniform. We then look at the fighting around Touvent Farm, where France emerged victorious, but at what cost? Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Trench talk - Richard Dunning MBE 1:06:30

vor 3 years1:06:30

1:06:30

Send us a text Apologies for the sound issues in this episode, it was recorded online and sadly the Internet connection was misbehaving. The sound is not of the usual standard, but this was out of my control. In our latest episode of Trench Talk we are joined by Richard Dunning MBE, the owner of the Lochnagar Crater at La Boiselle. In this wide-ranging chat we talk about how reading a paperback book in the middle of a riot in Chicago led Richard on a lifetimes journey into the Somme battlefields. We hear about the impact the fighting at La Boiselle had on the veterans who fought there, the most common question Richard gets asked, how a conversation in a clump of weeds led an inner-city lad to study history at University, and the perils of inviting Cossacks to the 1st July memorial service. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Hill 35 and the story of Fray Bentos 57:55

vor 3 years57:55

57:55

Send us a text In today's podcast, we look at the remarkable story of Tank F41 "Fray Bentos" which took part in an attack on the heavily defended German lines near Hill 35 just outside Zonnebeke in August 1917. The attack failed but for three days and nights, Fray Bentos and its crew performed one of the greatest defensive actions of the Great War. Our journey begins at Oxford Road cemetery near Wieltje, where we hear about one of the greatest cricketers to play the game, Colin Blythe, before we visit the grave of Clement Robertson VC, the first man of The Tank Corps to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the Great War. We hear about Robertson's remarkable actions during the fighting of October 1917. Two months before Robertson won his VC, the crew of Frey Bentos performed an incredible rearguard action in the face of fanatical German firepower while fighting near Pond Farm, just outside Ypres. The story of Capt Richardson and his crew of "tankies" is quite remarkable and led the men to become the most highly decorated tank crew of the Great War. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Eat Apples 1:02:32

vor 3 years1:02:32

1:02:32

Send us a text Our latest episode visits the massive military facility at Etaples on the French coast. Known as Eat Apples to the Tommies, the facility contained 20 hospitals and enough accommodation for 100,000 men. Why was the camp there, how was it run, and what was life like for those who stayed there? We hear about the logistical issues of running such a massive camp, meet the "Pencil General" responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of this mini-city, and look at the medical evacuation process. We finish by looking at the fabled mutiny of 1917, and contemplate the enigmatic story of the so called "Monocled Mutineer." Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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A bloody great hole in the ground - La Boiselle 1:01:10

vor 3 years1:01:10

1:01:10

Send us a text In our latest episode we visit the tiny Somme hamlet of La Boiselle and look at the action which led up to the creation of the massive Lochnagar Crater, which stands on the site to this day as a memorial to the men who died in combat on the first day of the Somme. The men of Tyneside paid a heavy toll at the hands of German machine gunners, and we look at how German intelligence intercepts rendered any element of surprise obsolete. We hear about the three Victoria Cross winners from the fighting at La Boiselle, including the eccentric and bellicose Adrian Carton de Wiart, a man who described WW1 as really rather good fun. Our episode concludes with looking at the works of William Orpen, the official war artist, a man who never let the truth get in the way of gaining access to the battlefields, and who used his connections with senior command to get him out of numerous scrapes as he travelled the battlefield producing his exceptional works of art. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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"Doesn't it ever get boring?" 1:25:03

vor 3 years1:25:03

1:25:03

Send us a text In this episode, we visit Ypres and look at five locations around the battlefields that keep calling us back trip after trip. We begin with a reflection on the personal connection one feels with history when visiting the battlefields and consider the impact that the changing seasons have on one's perceptions of the Great War landscape. Our journey begins at the war memorial of war memorials, The Brooding Soldier at Vancouver Corner, before looking at the chequered past of the huge German cemetery at Langemarck. We visit Bedford House cemetery near Ypres, take a walk through Plugstreet Wood, and finish at the mighty Menin Gate memorial in the heart of Ypres itself. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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"I refuse to command a Divison......" the Royal Naval Division at Gavrelle 58:29

vor 3 years58:29

58:29

Send us a text In April 1917 the men of the Royal Naval Division went into action against the German-held village of Gavrelle. Once the village was taken, however, the problems for the British began, with the strong point of the Windmill needing to be captured. Attack after attack was thrown against the Germans, each beaten back as the body count mounted. In this episode, we look at the quirky history of the Royal Naval Division. We hear about a vitriolic poem written by an officer about the CO, discover the story of the Mills bomb, look at the fighting for Gavrelle, and reflect on the inspirational leadership of the son of a former Prime Minister whose tactical nous and strategic thinking were instrumental in the capturing of the village. APOLOGIES FOR THE SOUND - WE HAD SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Beyond the front - Givenchy 1:02:11

vor 3 years1:02:11

1:02:11

Send us a text Our latest podcast brings us to the small village of Givenchy, a non-descript farming hamlet on the banks of the La Bassee canal, which was, for six days in December 1914, the scene of brutal fighting between the men of the Indian Corps and the Germans. Against a backdrop of some of the worst weather experienced by troops anywhere, the Indians were outnumbered, outgunned, and out-supplied, but managed to fight with the tenacity to hold onto the ground they gained. The attacks were confused, and the situation was not helped by the absolution of any responsibility in the event that the attack failed, by Sir John French, the commander of the BEF. We look in detail at the complex series of attacks and counter-attacks that took place on this small snow-covered corner of Artois just before Xmas 1914. We hear stories of incredible bravery and loyalty, the terror caused by the German's first encounter with Nepalese Ghurkhas, and conclude by looking at what the battle teaches us about the belligerents at this stage of the Great War. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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The week of suffering - Vimy 1917 1:07:46

vor 3 years1:07:46

1:07:46

Send us a text The final week of artillery fire that preceded the Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge, was an experience that German soldiers holding the ridge would never forget. Known by the Germans as "Die Liedenwoch" or "The week of suffering", one veteran stated that his experience at this time was the worst week he went through in four years of war. In this episode, we look at the Canadian preparations for the assault on Vimy Ridge, and hear about how the French experiences at Verdun drove Canadian planning. Canadian units sought to outdo each other in terms of trench raids and we hear about the disaster of the 1st March 1917, where over 600 Canadians were killed, wounded, or missing in a trench raid that went wrong from the moment it began. We hear the story of a German soldier's first encounter with a "Red Indian" and look at the contribution of indigenous Canadians to the war effort. We meet "Ducky" Norwest, a Cree Indian who became the most feared sniper on the Western Front, whose stalking skills earned him the sobriquet "The Ghost of No Man's Land". Our episode concludes with a remarkable visceral document found in German archives, written by a man who survived the week of suffering. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Bonus Bitesize - Pond Farm 30:24

vor 3 years30:24

30:24

Send us a text In this special bonus episode, we visit the site of Pond Farm near Ypres, a non-descript farmstead between Wieltje and St Jean, that was to prove a real show-stopper for Allied infantry in both 1915 and 1917. A masterpiece of German military engineering, the concrete blockhouses, and machine gun posts took a heavy toll on the attackers. Such was the skill in construction, that the bunkers remain to this day. We look at the fighting of the London Rifle Brigade in 1915, where we look at the actions of three brave men whose perseverance and subterfuge delayed a German company assault, and saw the award of three gallantry medals. We then hear the story of Lt Colonel Best-Dunckley's VC awarded during the fighting in 1917 in the area around Pond Farm. The podcast will be back with a full episode on the 4th of September! Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Cabaret Rouge - a journey through a cemetery 56:45

vor 3 years56:45

56:45

Send us a text Our latest episode takes in the massive cemetery of Cabaret Rouge which stands in the shadow of Vimy Ridge. We hear a remarkable first-hand account of being captured by the Germans, written by an Olympic oarsman, and the connection to an officer of the Queens who lost his life in a costly raid. We meet a flying obsessed officer who lost his life in company with a relation of one of the greatest scientists of all time, hear about the perils of joyriding in a Rolls Royce behind the line, discover the tragic story of a soldier shot at dawn, and hear about a plowing accident that uncovered a British dugout, and the remains of an idealistic officer killed after being in the trenches for less than three hours. I recall a terrifying encounter with a crowbar-wielding French builder, and our podcast concludes at the grave of Canada's Unknown Warrior. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Ben Simmonds. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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No ordinary Monday - the day of the 7 VCs 1:00:48

vor 3 years1:00:48

1:00:48

Send us a text On Monday 2nd September 1918, men of the Canadian Infantry attacked the formidable German strongpoint of the Drocourt-Queant line to the east of the city of Arras. In a day of ferocious fighting, the Canadians fought their way through this masterpiece of precision German defensive engineering, successfully opening the way to the Canal du Nord and winning seven Victoria Crosses in the process. In this episode, we look at the Hindenburg Line, its construction, function, and purpose, and then examine the fighting that took place in the days leading up to the successful Canadian assault. We hear the stories of the seven men whose actions saw them awarded the highest gallantry award there is, and hear about the unfortunate capture of a German officer that provided a senior Canadian officer with an unexpected souvenir of war. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Trench Talk - Rory Forsyth, CEO of the Western Front Way 53:03

vor 3 years53:03

53:03

Send us a text In our latest episode, it's a real pleasure to be rejoined by Rory Forsyth, CEO of the Western Front Way project. Rory last came on the podcast in April 2021, and in this latest episode, he provides an overview of the work that's been completed on the epic path of peace since then. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the spirit of international cooperation that's been such a vital part of the work completed, the challenges of fundraising, the development of the new WFW app, and reflect on the momentous running challenge undertaken by Rory and a team who ran the length of the Western Front Way in early summer 2022. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Beyond the front - Festubert 1:01:12

vor 3 years1:01:12

1:01:12

Send us a text Our latest episode takes us to one of the forgotten battlefields of the Great War - Festubert. Over ten days in May 1915 the British suffered 16,000 casualties for no material gain. Why did this battle happen? We begin by looking at the "entente discordiale" between the British and the French, with relations between Sir John French and General Joffre at an all-time low. The battle, was designed to stop the Germans from sending resources south to combat the French offensive at Vimy, but it was a fight the British could ill afford to take on. Initial success in some parts of the battlefield was tempered by the horrific loss of life in others, and we look at the ebb and flow of the fighting. The podcast concludes with a consideration of the "lions led by donkeys" mindset and looks at Haig's approach to command, and his willingness to change tactics and develop his command strategy. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Mons 56:48

vor 3 years56:48

56:48

Send us a text On the 23rd of September 1914, the BEF went into action, fighting the Germans around the Belgian city of Mons. The small but highly trained BEF was outnumbered three to one by the Germans and found themselves isolated by a natural salient formed in the Mons Canal at the village of Nimy. It was here that the first two VCs of the war were won, whereas just upstream, two further VCs were won in the Allies' desperate attempts to hold the bridges and prevent the Germans from crossing. We hear about the first shot memorial, visit the beautiful St Symphorien Cemetery, and conclude just 100 metres from where we started, at the memorial commemorating the location of the Canadians as the Armistice was sounded. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Because dead men can advance no further.... 1:01:27

vor 3 years1:01:27

1:01:27

Send us a text In our latest episode, we visit one of the most iconic battlefields anywhere on the Western Front, the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel. The park was the site of the tragedy of the first day of the Somme for the Newfoundland Regiment - we look at who these men were, their contribution to the wider war effort, and what happened on that fateful day in July 1916. We then look at the work of Geoffrey Malins, the official cinematographer whose footage taken from the sunken lane at Beaumont Hamel produced some of the most famous images in all warfare, and whose film of the Somme became so important it was granted UNESCO heritage status in 2006. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Polygon Wood 1:03:03

vor 3 years1:03:03

1:03:03

Send us a text To the northeast of Ypres stands a dark and forbidding woodland, formerly an equestrian centre and rifle range that became a ferocious battlefield in the September of 1917. Known as Polygon Wood, the shell-ravaged landscape was captured in bitter fighting by men of the 5th Australian Division. In this podcast, we look at the events of the 26/27th of September and hear the personal stories of some of the men who died in capturing this vital woodland. We hear about two VC winners who displayed reckless bravery to ensure that the advance moved on; meet once again Albert Jacka VC MC and Bar one of the great Australian characters of WW1 and visit some of the sites that remain, including Scotts Post and Black Watch Corner. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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The forgotten battlefield- Cuinchy 1:00:42

vor 3 years1:00:42

1:00:42

Send us a text In our latest episode, we visit one of the forgotten battlefields of WW1, the small village of Cuinchy. Location of the infamous brick stacks, the village appears in many personal memoirs, and while there were no major offensives per se, it was a mincing machine for British troops for the duration of the war. We hear about the scandalous court case intrigue of a Coldstream Guards officer, a highly talented painter who lost his life, the winner of the first DSO of the Great War, and a 15-year-old private whose death from a barbarous weapon of war made front-page news. We look at the exploits of a hugely brave Irish Guardsman whose bravery and desire to kill Germans saw him awarded the Victoria Cross and discover how a German artillery barrage had unexpectedly good results for the stomachs of men of the 1st Glosters. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Beyond the front - Guedecourt 53:23

vor 3 years53:23

53:23

Send us a text Our journey today takes us to the small Somme village of Guedecourt. Throughout September 1916 the village was the scene of violent fighting as the Allies sought to gain control of the village and the high ground beyond. In their way stood a formidable German defensive line, the Gird system of trenches which had to be taken trench by trench. The battalions involved, especially those from the east of England paid a heavy price. Drawing on personal narratives, we look at the fighting through the eyes of the men who were there, hear the story of a Tasmanian VC winner who ended the war as one of Australia's most highly decorated soldiers, and finish our visit at the magnificent Newfoundland Caribou on the outskirts of the village. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Faubourg d'Amiens - a journey through a cemetery 58:56

vor 3 years58:56

58:56

Send us a text In our latest podcast, we visit the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery in Arras to discover the personal stories of some of the men who lie buried within. The cemetery has a real connection with Birmingham and the men of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. We hear the story of two sets of brothers from Birmingham who died in very different circumstances, the first man to join the Birmingham Pals, a tragic accident that led to the deaths of three Scottish soldiers and visit the unique headstone of an officer of the Veterinary Corps. We also look at war diaries and the Midlands history behind the famous British Mills Bomb. We hear the sad story of a German flying ace whose memory was tainted by political propaganda some twenty years after his death, the drunken antics of a newly-promoted Black Watch officer, and look at the tragic execution of two British soldiers for desertion. Our visit concludes at the grave of 22-year-old Harold Vizard MC and Two Bars - a truly remarkable and very brave young man. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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"To take away the taste of death" - rum, Van Blonk, and booze 59:22

vor 3 years59:22

59:22

Send us a text This latest episode looks at alcohol and its influence at home and the front. Our journey begins in a London pub containing a remarkable piece of WW1 memorabilia, where time has remained still since 1915. We examine the alcohol restrictions imposed on the home front to preserve industrial production, especially amongst munitions workers, and hear about the so-called "Carlisle Experiment," which changed the way pubs were run for over sixty years. We then head to the front line and behind to look at the soldier's experience of alcohol when serving. From the daily rum rations to acidic glasses of "van blonk" in behind the lines estaminets, alcohol formed a big part of the average soldier's life in the military. We look at how the Abbot of Belgian Monastery restricted beer production after a run-in with the Army Service Corps, hear about "3-bottle Officers" origins, and discover the WW1 history behind possibly the most famous cocktail in the world. Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Trench talk with Helen Roberts: A little piece of Australia 1:02:36

vor 3 years1:02:36

1:02:36

Send us a text In this first Trench Talk of Season 4, it's a real pleasure to be joined by Helen Roberts. Helen is an avid history fanatic who was fascinated by the large chalk map of Australia carved into the side of a hill near her home in Wiltshire. Her research into the map led her on a fascinating journey of discovery into the lives of many Australian soldiers who were based at the nearby Hurdcott Camp during WW1; these men created the first map in 1917. Determined not to let such a wonderful piece of Great War history disappear, Helen set up a charitable trust to ensure that the map was preserved. This is a fascinating chat with an inspirational and hugely passionate history lover, whose enthusiasm for this project is infectious. Please check out the corresponding blog post at www.footstepsofthefallen.com for lots of images and links to this podcast. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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The 48 hour VCs 58:41

vor 3 years58:41

58:41

Send us a text To the southeast of Ypres, in what was once a lover's lane, stands a small artificial hill created from the digging of the Ypres-Comines railway. Standing just 60ft above sea level, Hill 60 was strategically a vital spot, giving unbroken views towards Ypres. For a period of four days in April 1915, this small hilltop became one of the most dangerous places on earth, with four battalions of infantry battling the German defenders with bombs, bayonets, and picks and shovels. The fighting was so intense that no less than 4 VCs were won on the hill, 3 by the East Surreys and one by an officer of the Queen Victoria's Rifles who became the first Territorial soldier to win the VC during WW1. Support the podcast https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Beyond the front - Fampoux 1:02:13

vor 3 years1:02:13

1:02:13

Send us a text Welcome back to Season 4 of the podcast! In this episode, we're on the little-visited battlefields around Fampoux, east of the city of Arras. These few acres of farmland became a slaughterhouse for the British infantry in April 1917. The village of Fampoux and the fearsome Hyderabad Redoubt was captured with relative ease, but as they attacked and pushed east towards Roeux and its heavily fortified chemical works, German machine guns took a heavy toll on the exhausted British divisions. We visit some of the cemeteries that litter the battlefield, hear the story of the 1st Rifle Brigade's attack on the Redoubt which resulted in the capture of a very unexpected prisoner and visit the magnificent Seaforth's memorial on the sunken lane outside Fampoux. We hear about the heroism of a severely wounded officer whose bravery lead to the award of a posthumous VC, the youngest member of the Magic Circle whose father tried desperately to prevent him from going to fight and meet the eccentric and dangerous to know RFC officer who flew with a potato in his pocket and once chased a German aviator across a cabbage field at gunpoint. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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So fall the flowers of Scotland - Contalmaison 1916 57:02

vor 3 years57:02

57:02

Send us a text In our final episode of Season 3, we travel to the village of Contalmaison on the Somme battlefields and begin by visiting the magnificent Contalmaison Cairn, the memorial to the 16th Royal Scots. Known as McCrae's Boys, the regiment was a Pals Battalion, with many members of the Heart of Midlothian football team making up its first members. They paid a heavy price on the opening day of the Somme for their desire to do their bit. We hear about the fighting for the village, how the geography created endless problems for the British, and how the actions of Donald Bell VC are commemorated with a memorial at Bells Redoubt. We look at a British tactical masterstroke that saw the successful capture of Bailiff Wood, discover the origins of the "Gospels and Gaspers" Club and hear about the remarkable heroism of a terribly wounded Middlesborough steelworker, whose bravery saw him awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. We will be back with Season 4 on Sunday 1st May 2022! Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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The pen is mightier than the sword 59:12

vor 3 years59:12

59:12

Send us a text "If the British public knew what was really happening, the war would be over tomorrow" stated David Lloyd George to the editor of the Manchester Evening News in 1917. In this episode, we look at the press, their involvement in the front line, and how the War was reported back at home. How accurate a picture did the British public get of the reality of War? How could reporters produce a balanced copy when hamstrung by censorship of every word they wrote? Unwanted, censored, and followed at every step, the Press were viewed with suspicion bordering on hatred by the British Military establishment. We meet some of the characters of the Press Corps, including the fabulously eccentric, airplane-loving, bowler hat-wearing H P Robinson, a man who wrote on average 3000 words a day with a gold Cartier fountain pen. We hear about the origin of the acronym "3Bs", the dangers faced by reporters, and how the actions of one reporter produced a story of such political dynamite, it brought down the Government Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Trench Talk with Simon Batten - "Futile Exercise?" Britain's preparations for war 1:09:25

vor 3 years1:09:25

1:09:25

Send us a text In this latest of our series of Trench Talk, it's a pleasure to be joined by author and historian Simon Batten. Simon is the author of the critically acclaimed and award-winning book "Futile Exercise?" which examined the British Army's preparation for WW1 in the form of the massive all arms exercises that took place in the run-up to WW1. The scale of these maneuvers was incredible, and some of the Generals who went on to become well-known during the Great War cut their teeth in these war games. We look at the genesis of the project, some of the exercises themselves, and talk about how effective these war games were when combat broke out in WW1. You can find a copy of "Futile Exercise?" by following the below links https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/futile-exercise-the-british-armys-preparations-for-war-1902-1914.php https://www.amazon.co.uk/Futile-Exercise-Preparations-1902-1914-Wolverhampton/dp/1911512854/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Q0ECAFRJCV8U&keywords=Futile+Exercise%3F&qid=1648244417&sprefix=futile+exercise+%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-1 Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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The Poor Man's mill 55:05

vor 3 years55:05

55:05

Send us a text On the 25th September 1915, the Battle of Loos began in Artois, in what was the largest British offensive of the war to date. While the majority of the fighting took place around the mine workings and slag heaps around Loos and Hulluch, some fourteen miles to the north, a diversionary attack took place at Mauquissart in an attempt to try and prevent German reserves being sent south to reinforce the German lines. Their objective was to capture German lines between Pietre and Mauquissart, an area of battlefield dominated by a landmark windmill, the Moulin de Pietre - the Pauper's Mill. The fighting for the mill and the German lines around it was a massacre, with poor communications and heavy German resistance taking a sickening toll on the attacking infantry. In only 36 hours, the attacks in this area cost the Allies over 3000 men killed, wounded, or missing and had little to no impact on the movement of troops. What happened that day and why did it go so wrong for the Allies? Find out more as we journey across one of the forgotten battlefields of the Great War. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Bellevue Ridge - a black day for the silver ferns 1:04:27

vor 3 years1:04:27

1:04:27

Send us a text In this latest episode, we return to Belgium and look at the opening actions of the attempts by the Allies to capture a small Flanders farming village, whose name has become synonymous with the futility of the Great War - Passchendaele. The capture of Passchendaele was the story of the Empire, men from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand who travelled from the other sides of the world to lay down their lives for the mother country. In this episode, we look at the fighting at Gravenstafel, where New Zealand successes belied the tragedy that was to fall upon the men from Wellington and Otago in the following days. We meet again one of my heroes, Dick Travis, the King of No Mans Land, cast an eye over one of the most controversial military decisions made during the entire war, and hear the story of a future New Zealand MP whose solo act of bravery saw him turn the fighting at Bellevue back in New Zealand's favour. http://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Mesopotamia - the forgotten front 1:01:42

vor 3 years1:01:42

1:01:42

Send us a text In our latest podcast, we head to one of the Great War's forgotten fronts - Mesopotamia, or modern-day Iraq. A campaign that was almost medieval in its approach to fighting, the critical waterway, the Shatt al Arab became the focus of fighting in a landscape devoid of any proper infrastructure. In this episode we look at some of the key events, culminating in an analysis of the siege of Kut, a 147-day campaign that cost the lives of 30,000 Allied soldiers, and sent 13,000 men on a death march to Turkish captivity, of which 1 in 4 died. What have we learned from the fighting in Iraq one hundred years ago and what will future historians make of the current global situation? https://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Private X and the Immortals of Festubert 58:23

vor 3 years58:23

58:23

Send us a text On the 9th April 1915, Private Isaac Reid of the 2nd Scots Guards was shot dead by a firing party of men from his own regiment. Charged with desertion at Neuve Chappelle, according to the writer Stephen Graham, Reid's fate was sealed by the malevolent actions of his CSM James Lawton. As a result of Reid's execution, the men of the Scots Guards vowed to restore their honour by fighting to the last bullet during their next engagement. During the fighting at Festubert in May 1915, eighty men of F Company, 2nd Scots Guards found themselves isolated and surrounded, and when the battlefield was cleared they were found in circle surrounded by hundreds of dead German soldiers and the legend of the Immortals of Festubert was created. But, what actually happened that day? In this episode, we look in detail at Reid's court-martial and discover a story where fact and fiction are hard to separate. We then look at the actions of the 2nd Scots Guards during the fighting at Festubert to discover whether their demise really was the result of a suicide pact or a military disaster that was unavoidable. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Retreat? Hell, we just got here! - Belleau Wood 56:47

vor 3 years56:47

56:47

Send us a text Along with Khe Sahn and Iwo Jima, the fighting at Belleau Wood is part of the US Marine Corps legend. In 26 days in June 1918, the US Marine Corps fought its first major engagement of WW1, when it was tasked with taking the heavily defended Belleau Wood. Despite being massacred by German machine guns, the Marines fought with tenacity and bravery, in a gladiatorial arena of violence that was described by one veteran as the most brutal hand-to-hand fighting witnessed in four years of war. We hear about the fighting at Chateau Thierry and learn about the colonial troops of West Africa who fought with distinction, look at some of the incredible acts of bravery shown by US soldiers in the fighting for Belleau Wood, and hear the origin of the most famous phrase in United States military history. Support the podcast: Http://www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen http://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Trench Talk - The Doughboys with Mike Cunha 1:03:34

vor 3 years1:03:34

1:03:34

Send us a text In this latest episode of Trench Talk it's a pleasure to be joined by Mike Cunha. Mike is a military historian, researcher, podcaster, and high school teacher from Boston in the United States. His podcast "Battles of the First World War" is hugely successful and examines battles in almost microscopic detail. We talk about how a heavy metal track inspired Mike's interest in the Great War and in this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about Mike's podcast, and his desire to bring WW1 to the wider American public. We look at the Doughboys, the American readiness for a European War, and the crucial role played by the Americans on the Western Front in 1918. Mike's passion for the Meuse-Argonne offensive shines through as we chat about what happened in Eastern France and discuss the enigma that is "Blackjack" Pershing. Please be sure to check out Mike's podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/battles-of-the-first-world-war-podcast/id1119044000 Support the podcast: http://www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen http://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Hellfire Jack and the Manchester Moles 52:35

vor 3 years52:35

52:35

Send us a text In our latest episode, we look at the life and work of one of the Great War's most colourful characters, Major John Norton-Griffiths. Conservative MP, philanthropist, jingoistic, and imperialistic to his core, Griffiths took the skills he had learned as a mining engineer, to reap a trail of destruction against the Germans through his campaign of mining across both the Western and Eastern Fronts. Opinionated, passionate, and by all accounts extremely difficult to work for, Griffiths toured the battlefields in a battered and decrepit Rolls Royce, enjoyed port for breakfast, and bribed any officer who came in his way with copious bottles of port and fine claret. The 20 men recruited from his Manchester sewer building project, who formed the nucleus of the first tunneling company, found the geology of Flanders much to their liking, and the legend of the Manchester Moles was born. Griffiths was one of the great eccentrics of WW1 - this is his story. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Cropper's Craters 57:14

vor 3 years57:14

57:14

Send us a text As the land of the Great War has been reclaimed for housing, industry, and agriculture in the hundred or so years since the War ended, there's very little of the battlefields left for us to see. One exception to this, however, is in the area around the small village of Messines, to the south of Ypres. The fields are dotted with peaceful fishing lakes, which belie the ferocity in which they came into creation. The Messines offensive in 1917 was arguably the most significant British military success of the Great War until the fighting at Cambrai. 950,000lbs of explosives detonated, killing over 10,000 German soldiers and changing the geography of this part of Flanders forever. Many of these mines were down to the work of one man and the 250th Tunnelling Company. Major Cecil Cropper was a force of nature whose iron will and determination helped produce the most enormous manmade explosion ever seen until the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. We hear about the challenges of digging in Flanders, and possibly the most remarkable story of survival of the whole of WW1, Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepspod www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The fields of fire - Hooge 1915 50:44

vor 3 years50:44

50:44

Send us a text Our podcast today takes us back to the fields around Hooge near Ypres where once stood Zouave Wood. On the 30th July 1915, the Germans attacked men of the 8th Rifle Brigade and 7th Kings Royal Rifle Corps with a terrifying new weapon of war - the flammenwerfen - or flame thrower. What followed was one of the disasters of military planning where senior command's refusal to listen to men on the ground caused the deaths of hundreds of soldiers in an attack that was fatally flawed from its minute of conception.…

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Point du Jour - a journey through a cemetery 58:02

vor 3 years58:02

58:02

Send us a text In today's episode, we visit Point du Jour Cemetery near Athies, just outside Arras to walk through the cemetery and hear the stories of some of the men who lie buried within. We begin with an overview of the Battle of Arras, before visiting the magnificent stone cairn to the memory of the 9th Scottish Division, known informally as The Jocks and Boks division. We hear the story of a New Zealand soldier who died during a disastrous trench raid with the men of the Cheshire Regiment, and looks at 5 men who lie together having died on the same day during the fighting at Auby. We visit the grave of a motorcycle loving Lieutenant, who won the 1911 Isle of Man TT race before losing his life at the hands of one of Germany's greatest flying aces, and hear the story of "Pregnant Percy", one of the trailblazers of aviation, and who should have had credit as being the first member of the BEF to set foot in France, were it not for a shortcut taken against orders by a fellow officer from his squadron. Our visit concludes at the graves of the "Brothers in Arms" of the Grimsby Chums, who lay undisturbed and arm-in-arm in a battlefield grave until 2002 when their remains were found during road-building works. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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The fight in the farmyard 50:11

vor 3 years50:11

50:11

Send us a text In our first episode of 2022, we pay a visit to one of the lesser-known killing fields of WW1. Covering just a few acres of arable land between Cambrai and St Quentin, the strong points of Gillemont Farm, The Knoll, and Quennett Copse, were the scene of some of the most brutal hand-to-hand fighting between the British and Germans anywhere on the Western Front. One veteran described the aftermath of a British attack on the farmyard, as looking like an abattoir, with the blood of the dead running like a river through the farmyard drainage system. We hear the moving stories of some of the men involved in the fighting. The remarkable eulogy of a Major in the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars provides a unique insight into a much-loved officer and allows us to discover the story behind "M" of James Bond fame. We meet the macintosh-wearing "Chocolate Soldier" and hear the tragic tale of a severely wounded officer of the Gloucestershire Regiment who managed one last act of defiance in the face of horrific injuries, to win himself a posthumous Victoria Cross. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepspod www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Christmas tales - turkeys, trench raids and tee shots 1:01:57

vor 3 years1:01:57

1:01:57

Send us a text In this episode, we look at Christmas in wartime, both on the home front and in the front line. We talk about a lucky purchase from a small Northamptonshire auction house that provided insight not only into the political history of South Africa, but also an affectionate Christmas gift sent to a soldier in 1916 who was to lose his life just sixteen days later, in tragic circumstances. Fifty-six men with the surname Christmas lost their lives in World War One, and we look at two of these soldiers, who came from very different ends of the social spectrum, and both of whom died in trench raids on the front. Captain Bernard Christmas came from a well-to-do family, was educated at Public School, and lived off private means. Private Walter Christmas, by contrast, grew up in the slums of East London and was employed as a "pure worker" in a leather factory, one of the most ghastly jobs in all of Edwardian England. We discover why cigarettes were the true gift of love for a man in the trenches, how an unfortunate mix-up involving a Christmas pudding and pigeon led to "Captain Custard" gaining his nickname, and why you should never accept a Christmas drink from a drunk Army chef. We finish our episode at the grave of the fabulously named Private Bertie Snowball and hear about how his legacy lives on through the Carnoustie golf club. I wish each and every one of you a very Happy Christmas and peaceful New Year - Footsteps of the Fallen will be back in 2022! Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Beaucourt - the day the sailors died 51:55

vor 3 years51:55

51:55

Send us a text The Royal Naval Division, made from men whose presence wasn't needed onboard ships, fought with distinction during WW1, from the defence of Antwerp in 1914, through Gallipoli, and onto the Somme in 1916. It was during the fighting for the village of Beaucourt that the men of the Hawke Battalion paid a heavy price, with only 20 men surviving from the 400+ who went into battle. In this episode, we look at the Royal Naval Division, its history, and the actions of the 13/14th November 1916. Immediately prior to the fighting at Beaucourt, the Divison had lost its beloved commanding officer Major-General Archibald Paris, who was replaced with the much-loathed Major-General Cameron Shute. Shute, obsessed with cleanliness and much frustrated by the naval traditions, found himself lampooned in a vitriolic ditty composed by one of the Divisional officers. We hear about Bernard Freyburg VC, who was awarded his Victoria Cross for exemplary bravery during the fighting at Beaucourt, and look at the sad story of one of only three British officers to be executed during WW1, Sub- Lt Edwin Dyett of the Nelson Battalion, who lies now in Le Crotoy cemetery on the French coast. Support the podcast www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The souvenir king 45:42

vor 3 years45:42

45:42

Send us a text The Army Postal Service (APS) was a remarkable organisation that handled over 2 billion letters and 12 million parcels throughout the Great War. A letter posted in London would normally arrive in France with a soldier in less than 48 hours. The postal service played a vital role in many areas including the emancipation of women, espionage and played a vital role in the morale of the troops. Letters and parcels brought welcome news and much-needed supplies. Many soldiers, however, would use the postal service to send home souvenirs collected from the battlefields. The collection of souvenirs is as old as warfare itself, but one man, Barney Hines was so prolific at plundering the Germans he was universally known as "The Souvenir King." His pilfering reached such levels, the Kaiser allegedly put a price on his head. Mad, bad, and dangerous to know, Hines would steal anything that wasn't nailed down. Exceptionally brave, he famously danced on top of a German pillbox, daring the occupants to come out, before robbing them of everything they owned. We hear about a legendary trench party conducted in stolen formal wear, the sad demise of a beautiful clock, and how even the Bank of France wasn't safe at the hand of the Souvenir King. Supoort the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Trench talk - The village with the gun with Dr Irfan Malik 52:45

vor 3 years52:45

52:45

Send us a text In our latest episode of "Trench Talk" it's a real pleasure to sit down and chat with Dr Irfan Malik. Dr. Malik grew up with stories of the men from his home village of Dulmial who went off to fight for the British in WW1 in greater numbers than from any other Indian village. In this wide-ranging chat, we hear about how a chance conversation with one of his patients led Dr. Malik on a research journey that has given him unparalleled knowledge of the contribution made by Muslim soldiers during World War One. We hear about how Dulmial became known as "the village with the gun", how the British accommodated the particular dietary and spiritual needs of Muslim soldiers on the battlefield, the medical care provided to the wounded, and the multi-faith approach to burial that ensured that wherever possible the requirements of the Islamic faith were afforded to the dead. We hear about a mosque built in a German POW camp, turbans, spices, and cooking, and discover why being a goat in France and Belgium probably wasn't a very appealing prospect. For so long the contribution of the soldiers of India has been overlooked, and Dr.Malik explains why it's so important to remember those who came so far and gave so much. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/foostepsofthefallen…

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Till we meet beyond the grave. 50:36

vor 4 years50:36

50:36

Send us a text Our journey today begins in Unicorn Cemetery near Vendhuile, just outside St Quentin at the headstone of Lt. David Clemetson. The wealthy son of Jamaican banana traders, he enlisted into the Army from Cambridge University and served with the Pembroke Yeomanry. Commissioned as an officer, he can, perhaps, lay claim to being the first black officer to serve in the British Army. History points to Walter Tull, the former professional footballer as holding this honour, but Clemetson's case is compelling. In this episode we look at the views held by the British military establishment about black soldiers, hear the story of 2nd Lt George Bemand who was forced to lie about his heritage to gain a commission, and the man refused a commission even though his application was supported by the Governor-General of Jamaica on the grounds that he was "too black". Despite these challenges, men like George Bemand, Walter Tull, and David Clemetson broke through the barriers of prejudice, and sadly all paid the ultimate price. This is their story. Recommended reading: Please see our podcast recommended reading page https://footstepsofthefallen.com Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The Indians are coming - Festubert 1914 54:00

vor 4 years54:00

54:00

Send us a text In this episode, we look at the fighting at Festubert in November 1914 where men of the Indian Army found themselves out-manned, out-gunned, and out-supplied by a rampaging German army. Despite this, the Indian Corps fighting together as a full Corps for the first time on the Western Front stopped the Germans from getting through. We hear about the remarkable actions of Derwan Singh Negi who won the Victoria Cross for his near-suicidal bravery when clearing German trenches, the race to develop the perfect hand grenade, the origins of the "tickle-bomb", and the story of Lt Frank de Pass the first Indian officer, and the first member of the British Jewry to be awarded a VC during WW1. Support the podcast: www/buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The poets of Pilkem 55:34

vor 4 years55:34

55:34

Send us a text In this latest episode we head back to Flanders for another walk around the battlefield near the canal at Boesinghe. Starting at Little Swan Farm we look at a wonderful project aiming to restore the ancient elms of Flanders. Our journey takes in many of the tiny battlefield cemeteries that litter this part of the battlefield, including Colne Valley, where two mysterious epitaphs catch our imagination. We hear about the perils of building trenches on farmland, visit Dragoon Camp Cemetery to hear about a disastrous trench raid, discover how Caesar's Nose got its name, and follow in the footsteps of two literary heavyweights who both served in this sector of the line. Our podcast concludes with reflections on thirty years of visiting the battlefields, and contemplates why remembrance still matters. Recommended reading: Storm of Steel - Ernst Junger In Parenthesis - David Jones Francis Ledwidge; a life of the poet - Alice Curtayne Boesinghe (Battleground Ypres) - Stephen McGreal Support the podcast www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Trench Talk - Paul Reed 1:18:32

vor 4 years1:18:32

1:18:32

Send us a text In our latest episode, it's a real pleasure to be joined by military historian, podcaster, writer, and broadcaster, Paul Reed. A professional military historian for over 30 years, Paul has worked as a historical consultant for many television programs including Meet the Ancestors and Who do you think you are? In this podcast, we talk about his career as a military historian and podcaster, some of the Great War veterans he's met and interviewed, why boy bands and history don't mix, as well as some of the highlights of his career both in front of and behind TV cameras. Link: www.oldfrontline.co.uk Support us: www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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A tale of two cemeteries 48:11

vor 4 years48:11

48:11

Send us a text In today's podcast, we take a walk through two small but fascinating cemeteries in Artois, La Targette British Cemetery near Neuville St Vaast, and Le Trou Aid Post located near Fleurbaix. Not necessarily on the itinerary of many battlefield visitors, they contain men whose stories are fascinating, and in this episode, we look at some of them. We hear about the staggering losses suffered by the French during the offensives of 1915 and the story of a remarkable piece of deception, performed by a British officer using a stolen German helmet and a large pile of turnips, which enabled him to escape from German custody. We look at sets of brothers who died including a remarkable epitaph on the grave of a fallen soldier, and the sad story of a horse's final journey back to Canada. In Le Trou Aid post we hear the story of a cricketing painter who fell victim to the wily bowling of the creator of Sherlock Holmes, a one-legged Wimbledon champion, as well as the remarkable connection between an officer of the Rifle Brigade and English literature's most famous little girl. Recommended reading: Vimy by Pierre Berton The lost legions of Fromelles - Peter Barton A visitors guide - The battles of Arras North - Jon Cooksey and Jerry Murland Support the pod: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Those magnificent men - the life and death of a British airman 49:55

vor 4 years49:55

49:55

Send us a text Of all areas of warfare that developed during the Great War, the advances in technology that accompanied the development of flight were surely the most dramatic. Our story of the Royal Flying Corps at war begins in a residential street in east London, where a non-descript house carries a unique place in the history of aerial warfare. We hear about the German Zeppelin raids in London before looking at the changing role played by aircraft. From being viewed as a quirky novelty in 1913, to being an essential part of military planning by 1915, men rushed to join the glamour of flight. We follow the life of a young British officer, Oswald Nixon, who joined the RFC and had been qualified as a pilot for just six days when he had the great misfortune to come across a squadron from Jasta 2, the elite fighter group of the German air force. We hear the tragic tale of the German airman who shot Nixon down, the discovery of some macabre pictures in the German archives, and we look at the myth of the "twenty-minuters". Support the podcast www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Operation Alberich 56:10

vor 4 years56:10

56:10

Send us a text As the sun set on the Somme battle, over 125,000 Allied soldiers lay dead on the fields of Picardy. Every inch of ground that had been gained had been paid for in blood. The Germans, badly mauled from their experiences both in Picardy and Verdun, and concerned by Austrian failures against the Italians took the remarkable decision to withdraw their armies from the Somme to a newly constructed defensive line, a remarkable feat of precision German defensive engineering, the Siegfriedstellung or Hindenburg Line. Codenamed Operation Alberich, after the malevolent dwarf King from German mythology, the withdrawal was a tactical masterstroke, that left the Allies both bemused and stranded in a desolate wilderness of scorched earth. Why did the Germans make this decision? What did their commanders think, and what was the strategic impact on the Allies' planning? Find out all in our first episode of Season 3. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Bernafay Wood 49:01

vor 4 years49:01

49:01

Send us a text In our 50th podcast, we return to the Somme battlefield and look at one of the lesser-known areas of the fighting, Bernafay Wood. While there were no major battles per se, the wood itself turned into a mincing machine for the Allied infantry. While successfully captured on the 3rd July, the wood was no prize for the Allies. Shelled constantly by the Germans, as well as being subjected to gas attacks the wood was a dismal place to be a soldier. The weather, which proved to be almost a dangerous an enemy as the Germans took a heavy toll on the battlefield which soon turned into a sea of liquid mud. What happened in the fighting, why was the wood so strategically important and what was it like to fight there? Find out all in this final episode of Season 2. Recommended reading: We band of Brothers - GW Warwick Field Guns in France - Major Neil Fraser-Tytler Turning Point - HP Robinson Triple Challenge - Hugh Wansey Bayley Other ranks - W V Tilsley Support the podcast : www,buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Trench Talk - The Lone Tree of Loos with Wayne & Michelle Young 46:20

vor 4 years46:20

46:20

Send us a text On this, the 106th anniversary of the Battle of Loos, it's an absolute pleasure to be joined by Michelle and Wayne Young, two avid battlefield visitors, who, like me, share a real passion for the battlefields of Artois and 1915. Any soldier who fought at this section of line near Vermelles in France, would have recognised The Lone Tree, a solitary cherry which stood in the middle of this strip of murdered nature. The tree disappeared after WW1, but thanks to the amazing efforts of Wayne and Michelle, a lone tree now stands once again in the fields near Le Rutoire Farm. In this informal and friendly chat, we talk about the battlefields of Artois, how the project came about, and the importance of a good lump hammer when stuck on the Autoroute near Calais. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen www.buyemeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

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Caterpillar Valley 45:49

vor 4 years45:49

45:49

Send us a text Our journey begins in the small village of Bazentin, at one of the smallest war memorials on the Western Front, that to the Nine Brave Men of the Royal Engineers, before we begin our walk down the valley to the south of us. This valley, Caterpillar Valley, was one of the main arteries that supplied the front for the never-ending mincing machine of High Wood, Delville Wood and Guillemont beyond. Why was this location so important and what was it like for the men who served there? We finish our journey in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, where we look at the New Zealand Unknown Warrior, and his journey back to the Land of the Long White Cloud. Supporting video - https://youtu.be/b6u9hMnXL3U Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepspod or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The winds of change - December 1915 38:30

vor 4 years38:30

38:30

Send us a text The year 1915 had been a chastening experience for the men of the BEF. Tens of thousands of men had been killed on the Western Front in the failed battles at Neuve Chappelle, Aubers, Festubert, and Loos. The Gallipoli campaign had been an abject disaster, costing the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, his job. Against this military morass of killing, the senior command of the British Army were wrought with infighting, nepotism, backstabbing, intrigue, and gossip. Sir Douglas Haig vociferously declared that his boss, Field Marshall Sir John French was utterly unsuited to high command., French's despatch from the Battle of Loos contained many mistruths and falsehoods that ultimately cost him his job. New members of senior command were either inept or viewed with the utmost suspicion and distrust. In this episode, we look at the situation at the end of 1915, examine the issues faced by British high command, and the monumental decision made in Parliament that was to bring the Great War to almost every home in Britain and was to sow the seeds for the killing fields of the Somme and Passchendaele. Support the podcast - www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen or www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
Combles - the fortified village 38:26

vor 4 years38:26

38:26

Send us a text For a period of three months between July and September 1916, the Allies and Germans battled for control of the fortified village of Combles, on the northeast of the Somme battlefield. A coordinated Franco-British assault on the 26th of September 1916 finally took the village but at a very heavy price. In this episode, we look at the battle from a German, British and French perspective, and draw on some of the remarkable primary sources that describe the fighting. We also hear the story of a remarkable act of heroism by "Todger" Jones, a Private in the Cheshire Regiment, which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross. Follow our You Tube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIX4JH_GOGeTh6ZZT7Sdxag Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
The gardeners of Salonika 45:13

vor 4 years45:13

45:13

Send us a text The disease-ridden and inhospitable landscape of Salonika is one of the forgotten campaigns of WW1. For almost three years soldiers from all over the world fought against each other in increasingly awful conditions. More men became casualties from disease than from enemy action and the Allies had over 160,000 cases of malaria during the campaign. We hear about the Allies first impressions of Salonika, how the creative output of two of the finest minds in English art and music were shaped by their experiences on the front, and the story of "Stokey" Lewis an eccentric fishmonger from South Wales who became the youngest Welsh VC winner of the Great War. Please check out the video for this podcast on our You Tube channel: https://youtu.be/6KAYQpBaGw8 Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepspod or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Miracle on the Marne 49:40

vor 4 years49:40

49:40

Send us a text For a period of 8 days in early September 1914, the situation for the Allies was precarious. The Germans were just two days march from the French capital, and the situation looked desperate. Through a combination of poor German communication, some inspired French leadership, and the commandeering of over 600 Parisian taxi cabs, the French and British successfully stopped the Germans, saved Paris, and undoubtedly changed the overall course of the Great War. The German retreat to the Aisne saw the beginnings of trench warfare as we would recognise it. This is a story of in-fighting, insubordination, and large quantities of wine, in the battle that went down in history as the Miracle on the Marne. Support us: www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen or www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog…

1
The corpse collectors 53:51

vor 4 years53:51

53:51

Send us a text The "Cold Meat Specialist" or Regimental Burial Officer was a vital cog in the military machine responsible for coordinating the retrieval and burial of the dead and ensuring that their grave locations were accurately marked. With over 500,000 dead littering the battlefields of the Great War, the task was nothing short of monumental. How did the Army manage casualties on a scale never before seen? How were the dead recovered, and more importantly how were they identified? What was life like for the Corpse Collectors who scavenged the battlefields in the aftermath of the war searching shell holes, dugouts, and trenches for the remains of the dead? How did they cope with this most gruesome task? Please support us: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen.com…

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Guillemont - the worst place I fought at in four years of war 51:57

vor 4 years51:57

51:57

Send us a text For a period of six weeks in the summer of 1916, the British and Germans battled for control of the small but strategically important village of Guillemont.. The capture of the village was the story of the men from the south and west of Ireland, men from Limerick, Connaught, and Munster who successfully drove the Germans out, albeit at great personal cost. Over 15,000 men died in taking this small village. The sheer number of Victoria Crosses won in the fighting is a testament to the nature of the combat. We hear about Noel Chavasse VC and Bar who won his first VC at Guillemont, the England Rugby player who recruited his own company of men, a horrific encounter with rats, and the story of a brave man who became known as the "Better late than never" VC. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
Jacka's Mob 40:46

vor 4 years40:46

40:46

Send us a text The 14th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Forces was known as "Jacka's Mob" after their officer, the profane, insubordinate, and much-loved larrikin Albert Jacka, a dairy farmer's son from Victoria. A man more inclined to use his fists than his reasoning to solve a problem, Jacka would surely have been promoted higher in the ranks than he was, were it not for his temper, his argumentative personality, and his dislike of military discipline. For an act of incredible bravery at Gallipoli, Jacka won Australia's first Victoria Cross of the Great War, and he went on displaying acts of bravery that many felt should have led to the award of at least a second VC. Complex, intelligent, and fiercely loyal to his men, Jacka was a remarkable man - this is his story. Support us: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepspod or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Wishing you goodbye - the mystery VC 43:08

vor 4 years43:08

43:08

Send us a text In the dark waters of the Atlantic, the German U-Boat fleet was taking a monstrous toll on Allied merchant shipping, to the extent that Admiral Jellicoe feared Britain would cease to exist as a fighting force unless something was done to stop the U-boat menace. Spurred on by the sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915 the Royal Navy introduced a new weapon to fight against German submarines - the decoy boat or Q Ship as they were known. In a game of cat and mouse, merchant shipping losses began to fall thanks to the ingenuity of the Q Ship fleet. We hear about so-called "panic parties" held onboard merchant ships, why sailors wore women's clothes whilst on deck, the reason why the Royal Navy commandeered a lorry full of dead parrots, and how a three-legged dead dog and a rolling pin combined to hoodwink the commander of a German submarine. We also look at one of the great controversies of WW1, the Baralong incident in 1915, and hear the story of a heroic Naval officer whose clandestine activities lead him to become known as The Mystery VC.…

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Monchy le Preux - the ten brave men 34:55

vor 4 years34:55

34:55

Send us a text On the afternoon of the 14th April 1917 men of the 1st Essex and the Newfoundland Regiment were given the unenviable task of attacking and holding Infantry Hill, just to the east of the small but strategically vital village of Monchy le Preux. By mid-morning, not a single man remained unwounded to the east of Monchy and men were being captured in their hundreds by the rapidly advancing Germans. A party of just ten men commanded by Lt Col Forbes-Robertson collected weapons and ammunition from the dead and with only a hedge for cover mounted one of the most remarkable holding actions of the entire Great War. For over 11 hours, these ten brave men held off over 300 German soldiers and prevented Monchy from falling into German hands. This is their story. Please help support my fundraising for The Soldiers Charity - https://events.soldierscharity.org/fundraisers/mattdixon15215/operation-bletchley-paris-2021 Support the podcast - www.buymeacoffe.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The Kitchener conspiracy 47:47

vor 4 years47:47

47:47

Send us a text In June 1916, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum was on board HMS Hampshire, heading for Archangel in Russia for top-secret talks. About 1 mile from the Orkney Islands, HMS Hampshire exploded and sank to the bottom of the sea, killing 737 of the 749 souls on board, including Kitchener himself. For the Great War generation, this was their 9/11 or Kennedy assassination. There was a genuine fear that without Kitchener, there was no hope that the war would be won. But, no sooner had the Hampshire sunk than rumours began circulating about the events of that evening. Why did armed soldiers stop people from heading to the shore to try and rescue the survivors? Why did the Stromness lifeboat not launch? In this episode, we look at one of the great conspiracies of the Great War and try to get to the bottom of exactly what happened that night. Support us: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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From the West End to the Western Front 37:21

vor 4 years37:21

37:21

Send us a text Our latest episode begins in Couin military cemetery where a top hat and white gloves marks the final resting place of Edwardian theatre's greatest dandy, Basil Radford, or as he was more commonly known Gilbert the Filbert. Before his untimely death on the Somme, Radford was one of a huge number of entertainers and theatre stars who served in the Great War and used their talents to entertain the men when not in the lines. How did men entertain themselves when not in the trenches? The birth of the concert party was largely down to the work of one remarkable woman, who used her influence and theatrical skills to manage over 25 travelling entertainment parties who provided amusement to hundreds of troops. We hear the story of an aviation-loving actor who stole an entire Red Cross building to create a theatre behind the lines. Hear about how the King of Spain's intervention led to the release of one of France's greatest crooners from a German prison camp, Ivor Novello's unique approach to being discharged from the air force, and why you should never play cards for money when someone's fiddling with a hand grenade nearby. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Runnacles. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Thiepval - Part 2: Trench Talk with Georgia Brusby 53:03

vor 4 years53:03

53:03

Send us a text In this second episode about the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, it's an absolute pleasure to sit down and chat with Georgia Brusby, who served as an Intern for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at Thiepval through the summer and autumn of 2019. Her passion and enthusiasm for history and the Memorial come through as we talk about the importance of remembrance, some of the remarkable stories of the men who are commemorated there, the dangers of low flying wreaths, and the hidden history inscribed on the door that none of us get to see. Please vote! www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Thiepval - Part 1 56:38

vor 4 years56:38

56:38

Send us a text In this first episode of a two-part podcast, we visit the largest British war memorial in the world, Sir Edwin Lutyen's geometric masterpiece, the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing. Bearing the names of over 72,000 British and South African soldiers who died on the Somme and have no known grave, the memorial stands as a testament to the volunteer Army who responded to Lord Kitchener's famous "Your country needs you!" appeal and who were killed in their thousands on the fields of Picardy in the Somme campaign. We hear the story of a 20-year-old Irishman who won the Victoria Cross laying his life down for his friends and a 51-year-old international rugby-playing Vicar who enlisted to encourage others from his small parish in Kent. We hear about the remarkable design of the memorial the trials and tribulations of French bureaucracy to get the memorial built, and how millions of years of history lie beneath your feet when you stand next to the magnificent War Stone under the memorial. Please vote! www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepspod or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The Bone Factory of Bellicourt 36:49

vor 4 years36:49

36:49

Send us a text On the 29th of September 1918, men from the Staffordshire Brigade successfully smashed through the German lines in the most heavily defended area of the Western Front, around the canal at Ricqueval. It was a remarkable success for a Brigade so unfairly criticised for its actions at Gommecourt in 1916 and was a fine example of planning, coordination, and derring-do. The battle didn't go entirely the Allies' way. Men from the 107th American Infantry suffered more casualties that day than any other US Battalion during the entire War, and the tanks supposed to support the attack were destroyed and rendered largely useless. We hear about one of the most iconic pictures of the Great War, the actions of the man known as the Tally Ho VC, and the macabre discovery in the south entrance of the Bellicourt tunnel that propagated rumours about the existence of "the Bone Factory".…

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Who the hell is this man Livens?! 31:42

vor 4 years31:42

31:42

Send us a text In this episode, we visit the famously preserved trenches at Sanctuary Wood near Ypres. This remarkable landscape of trenches and dugouts is a must-see for any battlefield visitor. The museum attached to the cafe contains a remarkable and often chilling set of stereo-scope images that show the Great War in a level of violent detail very rarely seen. We examine the work of a Royal Engineers officer by the name of William Livens, whose hatred of the Germans drove his life's work, to design and develop weapons to kill as many Germans as he could. Dangerous to know, he turned his barracks bedroom into a bomb factory and made flame throwers in the officer's mess. He is best known for his invention of the Livens Projector, the standard British trench mortar, and he was twice decorated for bravery. We meet once again, Bernard, a stalwart of The Roundabout Appreciation Society, a man who never let the vagaries of Belgian weather get him down, and whose visit to Sanctuary Wood nearly ended in disaster thanks to a dropped umbrella and being strangled by his own anorak. Support us: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Trench Talk - Simon Verdegem 1:01:10

vor 4 years1:01:10

1:01:10

Send us a text In this special episode of Trench Talk, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Belgian archaeologist Simon Verdegem and talking about his career specializing in the excavation of WW1 sites. We talk about his introduction to archaeology and the poignant discovery of the remains of a New Zealand soldier in excavations in Messines. We look at the hugely successful Dig Hill 80 project at Wytschaete, and some of the incredible archaeological finds that came out of the project., including a rare signallers lamp and a harmonica. Simon talks about the problems of identifying the dead, and why, despite the small percentage of soldiers whose mortal remains are finally identified, he remains as enthusiastic today about recovering the dead as he was when he began his career. We reminisce on the top finds of his archaeology career and consider what next for the battlefields of Flanders.…

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Dilly and the Dormouse - the mysterious world of Room 40 37:54

vor 4 years37:54

37:54

Send us a text In January 1917, a German encrypted message was intercepted by a small relay station in Cornwall and passed to the secretive world of the code breakers inhabiting the dingy Room 40 in the Admiralty building in London's Whitehall. In the room were some of the finest minds in England, led by the enigmatic and charismatic Oxbridge scholar Albert "Dilly" Knox. The team, including a man known as "The Dormouse" and a cake-loving Vicar called Monty, decrypted the message, and its 166-word content was political and diplomatic dynamite, that changed the entire course of the Great War. Known to this day as The Zimmerman Telegramme, the explosive contents caused the previously neutral United States to join the war on the side of the Allies. What did the telegramme say? How did the British intercept it, and why did the contents change the course of World War One? Find out in this latest podcast, where we look at the single greatest intelligence triumph of the First World War. Support us: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsfothefallen…

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The sepoys on the seafront 44:39

vor 4 years44:39

44:39

Send us a text In this episode, we begin our journey through the footsteps of the fallen in Brighton, where one Autumn afternoon in 1915 the Constabulary were called to a disturbance on the seafront, following the appearance of a large collection of saber-wielding men. On arrival, however, they found calm, with the genteel folk of Brighton swapping cigarettes for chapatis with the Indian soldiers who were happily cooking their dinner in the seafront gardens. Who were these men, and how did they find themselves in Brighton? We look at the history of the Indian Army, their baptism of fire on the Western Front in Belgium, and hear the story of Khudadar Khan, the first Indian soldier to win a Victoria Cross during the Great War. We hear about how the theft of a German officer's sword, turned one Punjabi soldier into the scourge of the Germans, and discover all about the mysterious medicinal qualities of Indian treacle. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsblog…

1
Trones Wood 33:47

vor 4 years33:47

33:47

Send us a text In our latest episode, we walk the battlefield in one of the lesser-known killing fields of the Somme, Trones Wood. While diminutive in size, the wood was a fearsome obstacle, whose capture was essential for the wider assualts planned on the Somme front, starting on the 14th July. For a period of five days, the British and Germans fought brutally for control of the wood, and it was a remarkable attack by the men of the Northamptonshire Regiment, that finally wrested control of the wood from the Germans. Described by many veterans as the worst place they ever saw during the Great War, Trones Wood cost the British over 4000 casualties, and won the Northants their first Victoria Cross of World War One.…

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Gheluvelt - for God and for Worcester 41:00

vor 4 years41:00

41:00

Send us a text On the 31st October 1914, men of the 2nd Battalion the Worcestershire Regiment fought one of the greatest counter attack actions in British military history, in an afternoon of brutal close quarters, hand to hand combat against the Germans, in the small Belgian village of Gheluvelt. If the Germans had taken Gheluvelt, nothing stood between them and the city of Ypres, and then the Channel ports that lay beyond. Outnumbered, exhausted and subjected to German artillery fire on a scale never seen before, men of the Worcesters and South Wales Borderers, inspired by the command of "The Demon" routed the Germans and stopped Ypres falling into German hands. To this day, the city of Worcester recognises October 31st as Gheluvelt day. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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Trench Talk - Rory Forsyth 47:05

vor 4 years47:05

47:05

Send us a text In our latest episode, it's a real pleasure to sit down with the CEO and Trustee of the Western Front Way project, Rory Forsyth. The project is a charitable foundation dedicated to installing a walking and cycling path that follows the line of the Western Front, from Nieuport on the Belgian coast to Pfetterhouse on the Swiss border; the 1000km path is a joint collaboration between the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and Germany. We talk about the remarkable discovery of a letter written by a Scottish officer over 100 years ago, who envisaged a "path of peace" running the length of the Western Front. We hear about some of the challenges faced by the team in setting the project up, why the mayor of a small commune was late for a meeting (but still managed to open the champagne) and how the remarkable flower logo of the project came to be. Support the podcast: www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog or www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

1
The teaspoon of Talana 38:13

vor 4 years38:13

38:13

Send us a text On the 6th July 1915, hundreds of British soldiers left their trenches near the small Belgian village of Boesinghe in an attack against the German lines. Men from the Hampshire Regiment were tasked with the unenviable task of attacking a German strongpoint called Fortin 17. Over 600 men were killed that day, and thousands wounded. Almost 100 years later a team of amateur Belgian archaeologists unearthed a teaspoon that belonged to a man who was killed that afternoon. In this episode of the podcast, we walk the canal from Ypres to Boesinghe, before we look at the events of the 6th July 1915. A series of coincidences culminated during a shopping trip to a grim leisure centre in Leamington Spa, where a chance purchase brought a remarkable connection to a man who lost his life in this small corner of Flanders.…

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Canada's Golgotha - the crucified soldier 36:03

vor 4 years36:03

36:03

Send us a text Shortly after the first German gas attack at Ypres in April 1915, rumours began circulating among the troops that the body of a Canadian soldier had been found crucified on the door of a barn, his body pierced by eight German bayonets. The crucified soldier remains one of the great legends of the Great War. Did it really happen, who was he, did his family know? In this episode we analyse the story of the crucified soldier, study German atrocities in Belgium in 1914, hear the story of how a remarkable piece of artwork sparked a diplomatic incident between Canada and Germany, and how the undiscovered notes of a British nurse led to the probable identity of the soldier being revealed once and for all. Support the podcast: www.patreon.com/footstepsofthefallen…

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The Black Bard of Pilckem 32:10

vor 4 years32:10

32:10

Send us a text On the 31st July 1917, the third battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Passchendaele as it is more commonly known began. Near the small village of Boesinghe, men of the Welsh division went into action at 3.50 am with the objective of capturing the hamlet ofPilckem. As they ran the gauntlet of machine guns from Wood 15 and Artillery Wood, they fought up the ridge and by 9.30 am had captured Pilckem and were close to the Steenbeke stream beyond the village. While largely a successful operation, casualties were heavy, amongst them a shepherd's son from Snowdonia called Ellis Humphrey Evans, more commonly known by his Bardic name, Hedd Wyn. A prolific poet and possibly the greatest Welsh language poet ever, he was a committed pacifist, only joining the Army through conscription. By the time his poem "The Hero" published under the pseudonym Fleur de Lys won the 1917 National Eisteddfod of Wales, Evans was already dead, having been hit in the stomach by an artillery shell. We walk the battlefield of Pilckem, visit the magnificent Welsh memorial garden, and discover why Evans came to be known as "The Black Bard".…

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Woodbine Willie - the puffing Padre 52:49

vor 4 years52:49

52:49

Send us a text In this episode we hear the remarkable stories of two exceptional men, neither of whom fired a shot in anger during the Great War, but through selflessness, humility and bravery have entered into history. We meet the Reverend Geoffrey Studdart Kennedy, better known by his nickname of Woodbine Willie, a man whose sermons were so legendary he was forced to hold up to 10 services on a Sunday, so many soldiers wanted to hear him preach. As famous for his spicy language, as his burlap sacks of Bibles and cigarettes, Kennedy was also a prolific poet and author Universally popular with the men, less so with the top brass, when he died over 30,000 people attended his funeral. We also hear the story of the most highly decorated non-combatant of the War, the diminutive Reverend Theodore Hardy, whose bravery and humanity saw him awarded a Military Cross, a Distinguished Service Order, and finally a Victoria Cross for bravery. Punctuating his arrival in the trenches with a cheerful shout of "Don't shoot boys! It's only the Padre!" he became a firm favourite with the men. We look at the history of the Army Chaplains Corps from the Crusades to the Crimea and discover that if you've been shot in No Mans Land, you'd better hope that the Bishop of London doesn't come out to try and find you.…

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Trench talk - Michael Nugent and the Battle of Festubert 51:13

vor 4 years51:13

51:13

Send us a text On the evening of the 15th May 1915, men from the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers left their trenches and crawled into No Mans Land in preparation for a massive attack against the Germans, just to the east of the tiny village of Festubert. As the men lay in No Mans Land surrounded by the bodies of the dead who had been killed in a fighting a week earlier, they waited for zero hour. The great uncle of Irish historian, Michael Nugent, was killed that day at the age of 17, and it was this tragedy that prompted Michael to write his magnificent account of the Inniskilling's actions that day, entitled "It was an awful Sunday". We talk about the lead up to the battle, what happened on the day, and look in detail at what went wrong. Michael shares some of the personal stories he uncovered, as well as the mystery behind why his two Uncles travelled over 90 miles from home to enlist in a regiment when their local regiment had a recruiting office just two minutes walk from home. The remarkable discovery of a Bible on the battlefield finally led to closure for the family of one missing soldier. Festubert is one of the forgotten battles of the Great War, and this fascinating chat with Michael sheds light on what happened on that awful Sunday in May 1915.…

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The Kaiser's Oak 35:16

vor 4 years35:16

35:16

Send us a text In this episode, we walk the battlefield of Gommecourt, the scene of a diversionary attack on the first day of the Somme battle which saw almost 6000 men become casualties. Untried and untested the men of the 46th and 56th Divisions found themselves attacking one of the most heavily defended strongpoints on the entire Western Front, a mass of machine guns, barbed wire, and dugouts. We hear the tragic tale of an 18-year-old 2nd Lieutenant who lost his life that day, the idiosyncrasies of a Divisional Commander and his pipe-smoking dog, the symbolic significance of a majestic oak tree, and hear the remarkable diary entries of a London Sergeant who survived the day and recalled in graphic detail the horrors of the battlefield.…

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Plugstreet - tunnels, turnips and towers - the story of a wood 40:03

vor 4 years40:03

40:03

Send us a text Just to the south of Messines, lies a patch of woodland that packs in more military history in a small space than perhaps any other location on the Western Front. Ploegsteert Wood (or Plugstreet as it was known to the British) saw action in every year of the War. It saw the creation of the most iconic cartoon characters to come out of the War and the death of one of the greatest rugby players to ever pull on the white jersey of England. The turnip field in front of the wood was the scene of an episode of the Christmas Truce in 1914, and the wood itself contains one of the saddest cemeteries anywhere on the Western Front. Our walk begins at the Island of Ireland peace park, and takes in La Petite Douve farm, the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, and the Berkshire Cemetery Extension. We visit Antons Farm and conclude our journey by walking through the wood itself.…

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They knew they were going to die 35:02

vor 4 years35:02

35:02

Send us a text Our next episode takes in one of the most iconic and poignant spots anywhere on the Western Front, Devonshire Cemetery on the Somme. Containing 161 men of the 8th and 9th Devons who died on the opening day of the Somme, the cemetery contains the graves of two men who foresaw their own deaths - Captain Duncan Martin and Lieutenant Noel Hodgson. The story of Captain Martin's plasticine model has become the stuff of legend, but were the men of the Devonshire Regiment really cut down by machine-gun fire from the Shrine at Mametz Cemetery, or was this firing from elsewhere? We look at Hodgson's enigmatic and pathos-ridden poem "Before Action" in which he foresees his own death, and recall a memorable visit to a French cemetery on All Souls Day, where the chrysanthemums explode the cemeteries into a riot of colour. Also in this episode, we consider Edwardian society's view of death, and hear the story of a quack American psychic, the unlikely named Aloysius Craddock, whose stage show "Tomorrow is the new yesterday" caused shock and scandal to the great and good of London's theatre-goers.…

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Trench talk - Lewis Moody MBE 48:26

vor 4 years48:26

48:26

Send us a text In this podcast episode, I have the absolute privilege of talking to England rugby player, 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and Great War fanatic Lewis Moody MBE. Lewis's interest in the Great War came from being given his Great Grandfather's 1914 Star as a youngster, a medal that travelled the world with him throughout his rugby career and became an integral part of his pre-match psychological preparations for playing at the highest level. As the RFU ambassador for the Great War centenary celebrations, Lewis travelled the world visiting the graves of those England internationals who died in WW1. We chat about the poignancy of being on the battlefields, some of the remarkable backstories of England internationals who died in the Great War, and the poignant ceremony that took a piece of the home of England rugby to the grave of one of its greatest stars.…

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The most dangerous place on earth 31:15

vor 4 years31:15

31:15

Send us a text In this episode, we head back to Belgium and walk the battlefield from Hellfire Corner up to the summit of Mount Sorrel on Hill 62. We look at Hellfire Corner "the most dangerous place on earth" and hear how a light-fingered Scot made off with what was considered to be the finest war souvenir ever seen. We visit Birr Cross Roads, and hear the story of Harold Ackroyd VC MC, before our walk takes us to Sanctuary Wood. We visit the preserved trenches and look at the first combat VC to be won by the Royal Flying Corps above Sanctuary Wood before our walk takes us to the Canadian Memorial on the top of Mount Sorrel. The episode reminisces about a day spent guiding two members of the Roundabout Appreciation Society, and why my skills as a battlefield guide are no match for the lure of a giant tap and some exotic Belgian road furniture.…

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From playing field to battle field - sportsmen go to War 32:36

vor 4 years32:36

32:36

Send us a text In this episode we look at the sportsmen who laid down their lives for their countries during the Great War. Prompted by such eminent voices as Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, men from all sports rushed to enlist, with the campaign being so successful one battalion, the 17th Middlesex was known as the Footballers Battalion. We start with how cycling was used to restore public morale once the fighting was over, and how the Paris-Roubaix race earned its moniker of "The Hell of the North". We hear about Bells Redoubt, the scene of a remarkable act of bravery by the first professional footballer to enlist, and how a violent assault on a competitor in a 400m race at the 1908 Olympics lead to a gold medal for one of Britain's runners. We look at Phillip Neame VC, the only man to win both an Olympic gold medal and the Victoria Cross, and discover how a Warwickshire cricketer was the inspiration for literature's most ingenious and famous man-servant.…

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The Corpsefield - part 2 33:17

vor 4 years33:17

33:17

Send us a text Our second visit to the battlefield looks at the events of the 25/26 September 1915, where 75,000 men of the BEF advanced behind a curtain of poison gas in an attempt to break the German line once and for all. In the town of Loos itself, men of the Scottish division made incredible progress and found themselves on the top of Hill 70 overlooking the open plains towards Lens. Sadly the lack of reserves in this sector didn't allow this to be exploited. The rest of the battlefield was an ebb and flow of success and failure, with areas of great advances being made, tempered by the annihilation of thousands of soldiers by well sighted German machine guns. Despite the initial success, the Germans called the fields around Loos "Das Liechenfeld von Loos" or The Corpsefield of Loos, and when the offensive finally ended, over 60,000 men were killed, wounded or missing.…

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The Corpsefield - part 1 31:17

vor 4 years31:17

31:17

Send us a text In September 1915, the British launched their largest offensive of the war to date and their fourth offensive against the Germans in Artois. The location was the grim mining town of Loos, a pancake-flat barren landscape of fortified villages, mine workings, chimneys, and slag heaps. To make up for a critical lack of artillery shells, the British would use poison gas for the first time, but unsettlingly this was an offensive, that they didn't really want. Under pressure politically and in desperate need to maintain the entente cordiale, Sir John French's hand was forced by the Minister of War, Lord Kitchener. This first of a two-part podcast sets the scene; it looks at the build-up to the battle, the geography which had such a massive impact on the offensive, the lack of ammunition, the animosity between French and Sir Douglas Haig, and the critical handling of the reserves which ultimately made the difference between success and failure.…

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Plum duff and snowballs - a Great War Christmas 39:11

vor 4 years39:11

39:11

Send us a text It became very apparent that the war wouldn't be over by Christmas 1914 as many had hoped for, and in this special episode, we look at how soldiers in the front celebrated Christmas, and how many charitable organizations ensured that home comforts were supplied to the men at war. From container ships of Christmas puddings to brass tins of spices, we examine what Christmas was like for men serving in and behind the lines. We also look at Christmas on the home front, and how the sad reality of four years of War dampened Christmas cheer for those left behind. We examine how overindulgence in alcohol caused no end of problems for London's magistrates in 1915, and settle once and for all who won the great Royal Fusiliers vs Hampshire Regiment snowball fight of Christmas 1917. There's also no mention of football!…

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The worst day in our nation's history 30:42

vor 4 years30:42

30:42

Send us a text On the edge of a small field near Fromelles, in northern France stands one of the most poignant and emblematic monuments anywhere on the Western Front. Called "Cobbers" the statue depicts an Australian soldier carrying a wounded comrade on his back, and stands on the top of what was a German blockhouse. How did this memorial come about, and why does the village of Fromelles hold such significance to Australian military history? We look at the events of the 19th July 1916, where the Australian army lost more men than on any other day in the Great War. While the battle has been largely forgotten, a remarkable archaeological discovery in 2002 led to the creation of the first war cemetery to be built in France for a generation and provided a remarkable insight into the fate of some of the men who lost their lives on that tragic day in 1916.…

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Their name liveth for evermore 36:43

vor 4 years36:43

36:43

Send us a text In this episode, our journey through the footsteps of the fallen examines the remarkable vision and perseverance of a 45-year-old Red Cross Ambulance driver by the name of Fabien Ware, whose dismay at the state of war graves, led him to become the founding father of what is now known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. We examine the creation of the organization, the challenges faced, and why the cemeteries of the Great War look the way they do, as well as reflecting on 30 years of visiting these "silent cities."…

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Dear God give us some cover - the battle of Aubers Ridge 31:39

vor 5 years31:39

31:39

Send us a text Our 10th episode takes us back to Northern France, where we visit the battlefield of the British offensive against the Aubers Ridge. What was supposed to be a gentle stroll across the Artois countryside, turned into an offensive that was abandoned after only 15 hours. By the time night fell, over 11,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing, and the German lines remained staunchly in German hands. The tiny Sussex village of Wadhurst paid a heavy price that day, and their memory of the dead has seen the creation of a magnificent English country garden in the village of Aubers itself.…

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Mons - a story of firsts and lasts 29:28

vor 5 years29:28

29:28

Send us a text This special episode to coincide with Remembrance Day takes us to Mons in Belgium, where the first actions of the Great War between the British and Germans took place. We visit the first and last shot memorials, and the grave of the first VC winner of the Great War. We hear about the first and last British soldiers to die, and the death of the last Commonwealth soldier to die, shot dead by a German sniper just two minutes before the Armistice. We end with the poignant story of a Surrey mother whose Armistice day celebrations were torn apart by the postman's knock.…

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Delville Wood - the slaughter of the Springboks 31:07

vor 5 years31:07

31:07

Send us a text In this episode, we walk the battlefield of Delville Wood, the scene of the first engagement of the South African Infantry on the Western Front. In a period of six days, they suffered almost 100% casualties and were subjected to German artillery bombardments of a ferocity unprecedented even by Great War standards. We hear of the heroic struggle to hold the wood and the story of how a bag of 400-year-old Huguenot acorns was used to replant the wood in the aftermath of the War.…

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The day the world turned green 37:22

vor 5 years37:22

37:22

Send us a text In this episode, we walk the battlefield of the first German gas attack in April 1915. We begin by surveying the battlefield from a German observation post at the Totemuhle or "Death Mill" and then visiting Vancouver Corner, the site of the magnificent Brooding Soldier Memorial. We hear the story of two women caught up in the gas attack and how a gardening chemist discovered that a common garden pest was, in fact, nature's greatest anti-gas device. Our visit to the vast cemetery at Langemarck concludes with the story of a British airman who lost his life to one of the German airforce's greatest aces.…

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The King of No Mans Land 33:01

vor 5 years33:01

33:01

Send us a text In this episode, we look at the lives of two soldiers from New Zealand, whose exceptional acts of bravery on the Somme saw them awarded the Victoria Cross. The exploits of one of these men, Dick Travis, in No Mans Land made him a legend amongst the officers and men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and earned him the sobriquet "The King of No Mans Land".…

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Essex Farm: poetry, poison and poverty - a journey through a cemetery 31:22

vor 5 years31:22

31:22

Send us a text In our 5th episode, we have come back to Belgium and walk through Essex Farm cemetery near Ypres. It's a cemetery full of stories, including the division that withstood the first use of a terrifying new weapon of war; a Black Country man who joined the Army to escape poverty and single-handedly saved the lives of his entire company, winning a VC in the process. We hear about a disastrous excursion into No Mans Land; one of, if not the youngest soldier to die in combat, and how the death of a friend prompted a Canadian doctor to write the most famous poem of the entire Great War.…

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The man with the donkey 30:09

vor 5 years30:09

30:09

Send us a text In this episode, we take our first trip to the Gallipoli peninsula where we hear about an unlikely hero whose exploits have entered into Australian folklore. The immigrant son of a Tyneside seaman, John Simpson Kirkpatrick was an immensely popular figure amongst the Australian troops, and his courage and bravery under fire became the stuff of legend. In just 24 days, the man with the donkey entered into the annals of Australian history, where he remains revered to this day.…

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75 acres of hell - High Wood 35:07

vor 5 years35:07

35:07

Send us a text For a period of two months between July and September 1916, the British and Germans fought bitterly for control of High Wood, which dominated the Bazentin ridge on the Somme. Described as being 75 acres of hell by an officer who served there, the wood claimed thousands of lives, and the career of one Corps Commander sacked for wanton waste of life.…

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An absolute waste of life - the battle of Neuve Chapelle 31:40

vor 5 years31:40

31:40

Send us a text In this second episode, we head into France and look at the first British offensive of the Great War, the battle of Neuve Chapelle. A story of initial success, tempered by a lack of artillery ammunition and poor communications, the three-day offensive cost 12,000 lives for little material gain.…

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Oxford Road: tanks and cricket - a journey through a cemetery 25:39

vor 5 years25:39

25:39

Send us a text In this first episode, we visit Oxford Road cemetery near Ypres and hear about Clement Robinson, the first man from the tank corps to be awarded the VC and a man whose passing was described as being the greatest loss to English cricket since the death of WG Grace.

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