The Battle of the Coral Sea in World War Two – Making Military History In the Pacific
From the 4th to 8th May 1942, the Japanese and American fleets in the Pacific made history. For the first time ever, a naval battle…
These Four Humble Soldiers Helped Shaped Napoleon into a Great Leader
Napoleon Bonaparte was no ordinary Joe. His family were minor nobles from Corsica, and he was always destined to a more privileged life than 99%…
In These Battles, Fighting Spirit Overcame The Odds To Gain Victory
Battles can be lost for a hundred different reasons. Poor numbers, unwise strategy, inferior weapons, the list goes on. But just occasionally, a fighting force…
A Battle With Only One Army – Karansebes Is A Reminder That Great Stories Are Seldom Entirely True
Normally, it takes two to make a battle. Occasionally, three or more sides may fight, whether in alliance or all against all. In very few…
Laid Low By Their Illnesses – French Commanders Who Became Liabilities Because of Ill Health
Even the best of commanders are prone to poor performance when ill health strikes. Several of note have affected the French army during its history.…
Victory For The Scottish Rebels At Bannockburn – Mud, Blood, And Sabotage
Fought on 23-24 June 1314, the Battle of Bannockburn is one of the most celebrated incidents in Scottish history. Having been conquered by the English…
Great Women Who Inspired Napoleon
Despite sharing the gender biases common to his time, Napoleon Bonaparte’s admiration for great men extended to a few women. Though he once said that…
The main reasons why the allied landings at Anzio were a failure – within three days of the landing, the Allied troops were surrounded by 3 Panzer divisions
Towards the end of 1943, Allied forces were struggling to fight their way up Italy in the face of stern resistance from German Field Marshal…
When Malaria Sided With Napoleon: The Doomed British Walcheren Expedition That Cost 4,000 Lives
The British expedition sent to Walcheren in the Netherlands in 1809 was one of the boldest moves of the Napoleonic wars. Unfortunately for the soldiers…
Drunkenness, Disorder and the Plague: The Cadiz Fiasco Of The Royal Navy
The English navy has a reputation as a force to be reckoned with from the 16th century onwards. But in the early 17th century it…
An Italian Civil War in Spain: Guadalajara, 1937
Proxy wars have been an ugly feature of military history since ancient times, powerful nations turning others into battlegrounds without risking themselves in full-scale warfare.…
Toulon and the Whiff of Grapeshot: Napoleon’s First Successes
As Emperor of the French, Napoleon Bonaparte would conquer half of Europe and leave the rest trembling in terror at his approach. But the rise…