Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Category: Podcast Episode
Arras: The Pals at Oppy Wood
The story of the Northern Pals battalions who marched to war in 1914 is forever linked to the Somme, but their war continued and in May 1917 they found themselves up against a ‘dark wood’ – Oppy Wood, near Arras. RECOMMENDED READING: Podcast Extras… Continue Reading “Arras: The Pals at Oppy Wood”
Walking The Somme: Albert
Located at the heart of the Somme battlefields, the town of Albert, known as ‘Bert to the troops, was the route to the front line – all roads led there in 1916. Here we look at what the town meant to those who served… Continue Reading “Walking The Somme: Albert”
WW1 at Home: War Graves Week
It’s War Graves Week! The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintain all cemeteries and memorials from both World Wars worldwide. This week sees the first War Graves Week and the focus is on the graves we see at home, in the cemeteries close to where… Continue Reading “WW1 at Home: War Graves Week”
Trench Chat: WW1 Machine Guns with Richard Fisher
In this latest Trench Chat, we are joined by Richard Fisher of the Vickers Machinegun Collection & Research Association to talk about the Machine Gun Corps, Graham Seton Hutchison (‘Hutchy’) and did they make tea from the hot water in their Vickers gun water… Continue Reading “Trench Chat: WW1 Machine Guns with Richard Fisher”
Books & Battlefields: Somme
Something slightly different this week: we look at the village of Bazentin-le-Petit on the Somme battlefields through the lens of three classic memoirs of the Great War. These include Robert Graves Goodbye To All That and Frank Richards Old Soldiers Never Die. How important… Continue Reading “Books & Battlefields: Somme”
Walking The Somme: Ancre Valley
The Ancre Valley cuts across the northern Somme battlefield like a deep scar; in 1916 attack after attack saw heavy losses here. Our walk takes us from the small village of St Pierre Divion, to a bridge over the river Ancre itself, then on… Continue Reading “Walking The Somme: Ancre Valley”
Last Digger Action: Montbrehain
In the quiet village of Montbrehain in Northern France, Australians who had fought at Gallipoli, and in some of the key battles on the Western Front, went into battle for the last time on a misty morning in October 1918. This was Australia’s final… Continue Reading “Last Digger Action: Montbrehain”
The Princess & The Christmas Box
In this Trench Chat Special, we speak to Professor Peter Doyle about his upcoming book on the story of an iconic Great War artifact, the Princess Mary’s Christmas Box. Peter explains the history behind the little brass tin, what was in it and who it… Continue Reading “The Princess & The Christmas Box”
Flanders: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Located just off a main road on the route into Flanders, and sheltered by tall trees, this is Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. It was once one of the largest British cemeteries from the Great War, with nearly 11,000 burials of men who died of wounds.… Continue Reading “Flanders: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery”
Walking Arras: Bullecourt
In this episode, we follow the Australians – the ANZACs – and men from the West Riding of Yorkshire who fought around the sleepy village of Bullecourt near Arras, in Northern France. Here more than 10,000 ANZACs became casualties in the bloody battles for… Continue Reading “Walking Arras: Bullecourt”
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