Category: Uncategorized
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Fighting Vichy from Horseback
In 1939, incredibly, the British Army still fielded cavalry units that had yet to be mechanised, relying on horses as they prepared for war. When conflict broke out, these regiments—many of them Territorial Army Yeomanry units—were mobilised, with horses being requisitioned to meet the demand. By 1940, the 1st British Cavalry Division was deployed to…
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3609 – Australian Bravery in the Vietnam War – Part 2
‘Australia’s involvement and commitment to the Vietnam War continued until 1973 when the last remaining platoon who were acting as guards for the Australian Embassy in Saigon, were withdrawn in June 1973. As with American involvement, Australia’s contribution also escalated over time. Following the arrival of the AATTV in 1962, in August 1964 the Royal…
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The Home Intelligence Unit
During the Second World War, the Home Intelligence Unit—a branch of the Ministry of Information—was tasked with monitoring public attitudes on the home front. They compiled confidential reports on the state of popular morale, which were circulated among decision-makers in Whitehall. These reports offer a fascinating insight into how ordinary people coped with the stresses…
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Private Snafu
Today, I’m joined by Peter Zablocki, a professor at Caldwell University, host of the History Shorts podcast, and author of The Death of General Sikorski. I was introduced to Peter after I recorded the episode looking at the death of Sikorski with Chris Wroblewski. Chatting I discovered Peter had researched and written about an entirely different but…
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3608 – Australian Bravery in the Vietnam War – Part 1
‘Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War began in 1962. In July that year, the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) (or “the Team”) first arrived, consisting of thirty military advisers. These special teams were designed to train and advise local troops – ARVN units, Montagnards, territorial forces, and Mobile Strike (Mike) Forces. Although they were…
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Frederick Rutland: The Double-Agent War Who Helped Japan
In this episode, Ronald Drabkin joins me to uncover the fascinating yet complex story of Frederick Rutland, a First World War hero with a unique story. Known as “Rutland of Jutland” for his bravery as an aviator in WWI, Rutland’s career took an unexpected turn in the interwar years as he became a spy for…
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Spies in the Sky
In this episode, historian Taylor Downing joins Angus to explore the remarkable work of reconnaissance pilots and photo interpreters during the Second World War. These daring aviators flew perilous missions over Occupied Europe, risking life and limb to capture the detailed aerial photographs crucial to the Allied war effort. But capturing the images was only…
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3607 – Martin Leake VC
“Arthur Martin-Leake, serving as a lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1914 was the first man to be awarded a Bar to the Victoria Cross he received during the Second Boer War in 1902. In both circumstances Martin-Leake’s conduct was to put the lives of his injured comrades first despite being exposed to…
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WSS93 – Meeting Strange Men
In this episode, on top of all the wargaming news, we dive into a common challenge for wargamers of all experience levels: finding new people to share the tabletop battlefield with. Whether you’re new to the hobby or a seasoned wargamer looking to expand your circle, we discuss tips, tactics, and resources for finding like-minded…
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Borneo
Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, held immense strategic value during WWII and quickly became a top priority for Japanese control. With its vast reserves of oil and rubber, the island was essential for fueling the Japanese war effort. But Borneo would also become a tragic battleground, claiming the lives of countless prisoners of…