Elly Farelly

Eileen Farrelly is a freelance writer based in Scotland. She studied philosophy and adult education at The University of Glasgow and worked in teaching and administration before becoming a full time writer. Her main areas of interest are history, education and the arts and always looks for the human interest angle of the story. She also writes poetry and has been published in anthologies and journals in the UK and USA.

@elly_farrelly

Articles by Elly Farelly:

Angels’ Glow at The Battle Of Shiloh

As night fell they saw that their wounds seemed to be glowing in the dark Glow in the dark wounds might sound like something out…

The Battle of Largs – The Last Viking Attack on Scotland

About half of the men were drowned and only a few of their ships remained. Today the small town of Largs on the southwest coast…

Bounty Jumpers: Con-Men Paid to Enlist then Desert

They say that there is always someone who will make money out of a war and the Civil War was no exception. One of the…

The Concentration Camp in Italy – Servigliano Camp 59

Although the concentration camps in Germany are well documented, the camps in Italy are not so well known. One reason for this is that although…

Amazonian Warriors of the Ancient Worlds

Women warriors of the ancient world Warfare has traditionally been a man’s world. The reasons for this varies historically and culturally but, regardless of time…

Hanbury Crater: 4000 Tons of Bombs, Million Rounds & Britain’s biggest WWII Explosion

On November 27, 1944, at 11:11 AM the quiet English countryside was rocked by one of the most deadly explosions to occur to occur during…

Medical Advances Of The American Civil War We Still Use Today

  There are many misconceptions about the medical treatment received by soldiers during the Civil War. Contemporary newspapers often carried exaggerated tales and horror stories…

Ambroise Paré – 16th Century Surgeon and Father of Military Medicine

Ambroise Paré was a French military surgeon and pioneer of many medical techniques. He was skeptical about the accepted medical wisdom of his day as…

The Battle of Berlin & the Berlin Zoo, The Soviets Wiped Out One-Third of the Animals in One Night

The Berlin Zoo or “Tiergarten” opened in 1855 and was soon a popular attraction with families and visitors who came to observe strange and exotic…

Not Widely Know – The Internment Camps of Germans in America During WW2

Internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War is widely known and well documented. However, less is known about the thousands of “ethnic Germans”…

A Fascinating Look at the Men & Machines of RAF Bomber Command

Members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) formed the majority of the Allies’ Bomber Command during the Second World War. They played an important role…

The Women Who Disguised Themselves as Men to Serve Their Country

There is an old English folk song called Polly Oliver. It tells of a young woman who dresses as a man to enlist as a…

Apocalypse Now Movie Mistakes

Made in 1979 by Francis Ford Coppola, Apocalypse Now is one of the classic war films of the 20th century. It is based on Joseph…

Coffee & War The Origins of the Americano

The Origins of the Americano Have you ever wondered why every Italian style coffee house now sells something they call an Americano? For most people,…

How Napoleon Won The Propaganda War – He Was Good At It

Napoleon was not the first military leader to make use of propaganda to promote his image. But what made Napoleon’s approach unique was the extent…

Six Top Secret Military Operations of the 20th Century

Secrecy is an important part of military operations. And while there are many missions we will never know about, here are six top secret missions…

Mystery – Romania’s Treasure, Sent to Moscow for Safekeeping, It Never Returned

One of the most intriguing mysteries of the First World War that remains unsolved to this day is what happened to the huge hoard of…

The Brave Medic Continued to Help the Wounded After Losing His Arm in Battle

When Private First Class Bryant Womack found himself to be the only trained medical person in the field on March 12, 1952, he realized that…

Battle of Mogadishu: The Devastating Engagement That Inspired ‘Black Hawk Down’

Still from 'Black Hawk Down'

When Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down came out in 2001, it had all the features of a great movie. Along with drama, tension and tragedy,…

The Life of Harriet Tubman – Civil War Nurse, Spy, Soldier and Activist

Harriet Tubman was born Araminta Ross in Dorchester County, Maryland. She was also known by the nickname “Moses” due to her success in leading slaves…

The WW2 French Resistance Leader Who Fooled the Gestapo to Save her Husband’s Life

Early Life Born in 1912 in the small town of Châtenay-sur-Seine, Lucie Bernard was a bright child and did well at school. Her parents hoped…

Camp X – The Allies’ Secret Training School for World War II Spies and Elite Agents

On the shores of Lake Ontario between Whitby and Oshawa is an area now known as Intrepid Park. Very little of what remains today hints at…

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade – US Citizens Who Fought Against Fascism in Spain

During the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) a call went out from the Republican forces for communists and socialists around the world to come…

The Allies’ Secret Mustard Gas Cargo Made the Attack on Bari an Even Worse Disaster

On December 2, 1943, Germany launched an air attack on the Italian town of Bari on the Adriatic coast. The town was important strategically as…

Making History – The Ship’s Cook Who Grabbed A .50 Cal To Shoot Down Enemy Planes At Pearl Harbor

In 1942, when Dorie Miller stood onboard the USS Enterprise at Pearl Harbor to receive the Navy Cross he made history. Miller was the first…

Sir John Monash, One Illustrious Hero Of The Gallipoli Campaign

Sir John Monash is rightly regarded as one of the greatest generals of the First World War. In fact, he was considered by many during…

How One Sailor With A Burning Flare Nearly Cost The USA an Aircraft Carrier

On the morning of the 26th of October, 1966 the USS Oriskany was stationed 50 miles off the north coast of Vietnam. A group of Skyhawk…

A Soldier’s Noble Quest to Return a War Medal to its Rightful Owner

This is the story of how a young soldier’s passion for collecting antiques led to a quest to reunite lost war medals with their owners…

The Vietnam War: Facts, Stats, And Debunking Some Myths

The Vietnam War was also known as the Second Indochina War. In Vietnam, it was called Kháng chiến chống Mỹ which translates as the “Resistance…

Hiding Ships In Plain Sight: How Dazzle Camouflage Is Used To Confuse The Enemy

Dazzle camouflage was the brainchild of British artist Norman Wilkinson. It was put forward as a solution to the problem that ships could not be…

These Germans Stationed Near The North Pole Were The Last To Surrender, In September 1945

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Operation Zitronella took place on 8th September 1943. Though the name might conjure up images of a campaign fought across the hot Mediterranean shores, nothing could be…

Heinze And Reinhard Heydrich – A Tale Of Two Brothers Who Went Different Ways In WW2

In 1918 two teenage brothers posed for a photograph. The older brother has his arm protectively around the younger one. They are Heinze and Reinhard…

Leonardo’s War Machines – The Italian Genius May Have Deliberately Sabotaged His Own Designs

Born in the Tuscan town of Vinci on the 15th of April, 1452, Leonardo  Da Vinci is perhaps best known as the painter of the…

Bringing Home The 8 Million Boys After WWII; Operation Magic Carpet

Victory in Europe – what happens next? After victory had been declared in Europe and the Second World War had come to an end with…

Bringing Home The 8 Million After WWII; Operation Magic Carpet

Victory in Europe – what happens next? After victory had been declared in Europe and the Second World War had come to an end with…

Five “A- List” Battles of the American Civil War – The Most Decisive Battles Of The War

According to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSA), the many battles fought during the American Civil War can be categorized according to how significant…

The Versailles Peace Treaty – Ending The Great War In 1918

The treaty of Versailles was one of several peace treaties which signaled the end of the devastating years of World War I. It sealed the end…

Six Key Facts – The Terrible Conflict That Was The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was also known as the Second Indochina War. In Vietnam, it was called Kháng chiến…

A Tragic Accident Onboard The USS Oriskany Cost Many Lives – Without An Enemy Ship In Sight

On the morning of the 26th of October, 1966 the USS Oriskany was stationed 50 miles off the north coast of Vietnam. A group of Skyhawk…

How Gallipoli & The ANZAC Memorial Parade Inspired a Classic WW2 Song

In 1971 the Scottish-born folk singer Eric Bogle entered a songwriting competition in Brisbane, Australia. The prize was a valuable Ovation Guitar. The song he…

These Were The Last Two German U-boats To Surrender In WW2

Throughout the Second World War, U-boats played a critical role in Germany’s warfare strategy. This was especially so during the Battle of the Atlantic, which lasted…

June 1944 – Rome Falls To The Allies In The Second World War

Celebrations in the Streets of Rome On the June 5th 1944, the people of Rome flooded into the streets to welcome the arrival of the…

Heroes of America: The Red String Band Rebelled Against the Confederacy in the Civil War

It is easy to think of wars from earlier centuries in rather simplistic terms, especially as they fade further into the past. The American Civil…

The Terrible Conflict That Was The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was also known as the Second Indochina War. In Vietnam, it was called Kháng chiến…

Operation Husky – The Battle for Sicily Which Launched The Italian Campaign

Operation Husky was the unlikely codename for the invasion of Sicily by Allied forces in the summer of 1943. The operation, which got off to…

A Soldier’s Noble Quest to Return a War Medal to its Rightful Owner

This is the story of how a young soldier’s passion for collecting antiques led to a quest to reunite lost war medals with their owners…

The Allies’ Secret Mustard Gas Cargo Made the Attack on Bari an Even Worse Disaster

On December 2, 1943, Germany launched an air attack on the Italian town of Bari on the Adriatic coast. The town was important strategically as…

Heinze And Reinhard Heydrich – A Tale Of Two Brothers Who Went Different Ways In WW2

In 1918 two teenage brothers posed for a photograph. The older brother has his arm protectively around the younger one. They are Heinze and Reinhard…

Sir John Monash: Portrait of An Illustrious Military Career

Sir John Monash is rightly regarded as one of the greatest generals of the First World War. In fact, he was considered by many during…

Five Fascinating Military Inventions – From The Big Dog Robot To The Humble Email Address

Military technology has a history of experimenting with novel approaches to the development of new methods of attack and defense. Some experiments are driven by…

Making History – The Ship’s Cook Who Grabbed A .50 Cal To Shoot Down Enemy Planes At Pearl Harbor

In 1942, when Dorie Miller stood onboard the USS Enterprise at Pearl Harbor to receive the Navy Cross he made history. Miller was the first…

Hiding Ships In Plain Sight: How Dazzle Camouflage Is Used To Confuse The Enemy

Dazzle camouflage was the brainchild of British artist Norman Wilkinson. It was put forward as a solution to the problem that ships could not be…

Bringing Home The 8 Million After WWII; Operation Magic Carpet

Victory in Europe – what happens next? After victory had been declared in Europe and the Second World War had come to an end with…

Leonardo’s War Machines – The Italian Genius May Have Deliberately Sabotaged His Own Designs

Born in the Tuscan town of Vinci on the 15th of April, 1452, Leonardo  Da Vinci is perhaps best known as the painter of the…

The Vietnam War: Facts, Stats, And Debunking Some Myths

The Vietnam War was also known as the Second Indochina War. In Vietnam, it was called Kháng chiến chống Mỹ which translates as the “Resistance…

Leonardo’s War Machines – The Italian Genius May Have Deliberately Sabotaged His Own Designs

Born in the Tuscan town of Vinci on the 15th of April, 1452, Leonardo  Da Vinci is perhaps best known as the painter of the…

These Were The Last Two German U-boats To Surrender In WW2

Throughout the Second World War, U-boats played a critical role in Germany’s warfare strategy. This was especially so during the Battle of the Atlantic, which lasted…

These Germans Stationed Near The North Pole Were The Last To Surrender, In September 1945

pd

Operation Zitronella took place on 8th September 1943. Though the name might conjure up images of a campaign fought across the hot Mediterranean shores, nothing could be…

The Versailles Peace Treaty – Ending The Great War In 1918

The treaty of Versailles was one of several peace treaties which signaled the end of the devastating years of World War I. It sealed the end…

Bringing Home The 8 Million Boys After WWII; Operation Magic Carpet

Victory in Europe – what happens next? After victory had been declared in Europe and the Second World War had come to an end with…

Hiding Ships In Plain Sight: How Dazzle Camouflage Is Used To Confuse The Enemy

Dazzle camouflage was the brainchild of British artist Norman Wilkinson. It was put forward as a solution to the problem that ships could not be…

How One Sailor With A Burning Flare Nearly Cost The USA an Aircraft Carrier

On the morning of the 26th of October, 1966 the USS Oriskany was stationed 50 miles off the north coast of Vietnam. A group of Skyhawk…

How Gallipoli And The ANZAC Memorial Parade Inspired A Classic WW2 Song

In 1971 the Scottish-born folk singer Eric Bogle entered a songwriting competition in Brisbane, Australia. The prize was a valuable Ovation Guitar. The song he…

Operation Husky – The Battle for Sicily Which Launched The Italian Campaign

Operation Husky was the unlikely codename for the invasion of Sicily by Allied forces in the summer of 1943. The operation, which got off to…

Making History – The Ship’s Cook Who Grabbed A .50 Cal To Shoot Down Enemy Planes At Pearl Harbor

In 1942, when Dorie Miller stood onboard the USS Enterprise at Pearl Harbor to receive the Navy Cross he made history. Miller was the first…

The Terrible Conflict That Was The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was also known as the Second Indochina War. In Vietnam, it was called Kháng chiến…

The Allies’ Secret Mustard Gas Cargo Made the Attack on Bari an Even Worse Disaster

On December 2, 1943, Germany launched an air attack on the Italian town of Bari on the Adriatic coast. The town was important strategically as…

A Soldier’s Noble Quest to Return a War Medal to its Rightful Owner

This is the story of how a young soldier’s passion for collecting antiques led to a quest to reunite lost war medals with their owners…

Heinze And Reinhard Heydrich – A Tale Of Two Brothers Who Went Different Ways In WW2

In 1918 two teenage brothers posed for a photograph. The older brother has his arm protectively around the younger one. They are Heinze and Reinhard…

Sir John Monash, One Illustrious Hero Of The Gallipoli Campaign

Sir John Monash is rightly regarded as one of the greatest generals of the First World War. In fact, he was considered by many during…

Five Fascinating Military Inventions – From The Big Dog Robot To The Humble Email Address

Military technology has a history of experimenting with novel approaches to the development of new methods of attack and defense. Some experiments are driven by…

How Gallipoli And The ANZAC Memorial Parade Inspired A Classic WW2 Song

In 1971 the Scottish-born folk singer Eric Bogle entered a songwriting competition in Brisbane, Australia. The prize was a valuable Ovation Guitar. The song he…

Leonardo’s War Machines – The Italian Genius May Have Deliberately Sabotaged His Own Designs

Born in the Tuscan town of Vinci on the 15th of April, 1452, Leonardo  Da Vinci is perhaps best known as the painter of the…

Heroes of America: The Red String Band Rebelled Against the Confederacy in the Civil War

It is easy to think of wars from earlier centuries in rather simplistic terms, especially as they fade further into the past. The American Civil…

These Were The Last Two German U-boats To Surrender In WW2

Throughout the Second World War, U-boats played a critical role in Germany’s warfare strategy. This was especially so during the Battle of the Atlantic, which lasted…

A Tragic Accident Onboard The USS Oriskany Cost Many Lives – Without An Enemy Ship In Sight

On the morning of the 26th of October, 1966 the USS Oriskany was stationed 50 miles off the north coast of Vietnam. A group of Skyhawk…

These Were The Last Two German U-boats To Surrender In WW2

Throughout the Second World War, U-boats played a critical role in Germany’s warfare strategy. This was especially so during the Battle of the Atlantic, which lasted…

Five “A- List” Battles of the American Civil War – The Most Decisive Battles Of The War

According to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission (CWSA), the many battles fought during the American Civil War can be categorized according to how significant…

The Day of the Rangers – The True Story That Inspired The Movie Black Hawk Down

When Ridley Scott’s “Black Hawk Down” came out in 2001 it had all the features that make a great movie. As well as drama, tension…

How One Sailor With A Burning Flare Nearly Cost The USA an Aircraft Carrier

On the morning of the 26th of October, 1966 the USS Oriskany was stationed 50 miles off the north coast of Vietnam. A group of Skyhawk…

Making History – The Ship’s Cook Who Grabbed A .50 Cal To Shoot Down Enemy Planes At Pearl Harbor

In 1942, when Dorie Miller stood onboard the USS Enterprise at Pearl Harbor to receive the Navy Cross he made history. Miller was the first…

The Versailles Peace Treaty – Ending The Great War In 1918

The treaty of Versailles was one of several peace treaties which signaled the end of the devastating years of World War I. It sealed the end…

Heinze And Reinhard Heydrich – A Tale Of Two Brothers Who Went Different Ways In WW2

In 1918 two teenage brothers posed for a photograph. The older brother has his arm protectively around the younger one. They are Heinze and Reinhard…

The WW2 French Resistance Leader Who Fooled the Gestapo to Save her Husband’s Life

Early Life Born in 1912 in the small town of Châtenay-sur-Seine, Lucie Bernard was a bright child and did well at school. Her parents hoped…

Hiding Ships In Plain Sight: How Dazzle Camouflage Is Used To Confuse The Enemy

Dazzle camouflage was the brainchild of British artist Norman Wilkinson. It was put forward as a solution to the problem that ships could not be…

Heroes of America: The Red String Band Rebelled Against the Confederacy in the Civil War

It is easy to think of wars from earlier centuries in rather simplistic terms, especially as they fade further into the past. The American Civil…

Leonardo’s War Machines – We Ask If The Italian Genius Deliberately Sabotaged His Own Designs

Born in the Tuscan town of Vinci on the 15th of April, 1452, Leonardo  Da Vinci is perhaps best known as the painter of the…

June 1944 – Rome Falls To The Allies In The Second World War

Celebrations in the Streets of Rome On the June 5th 1944, the people of Rome flooded into the streets to welcome the arrival of the…

Heroes of America: The Red String Band who rebelled against the Confederacy in the Southern States

It is easy to think of wars from earlier centuries in rather simplistic terms, especially as they fade further into the past. The American Civil…

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade – US Citizens Who Fought Against Fascism in Spain

During the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) a call went out from the Republican forces for communists and socialists around the world to come…

We Examine The Key Facts About The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was also known as the Second Indochina War. In Vietnam, it was called Kháng chiến…

The Day of the Rangers – The True Story That Inspired The Movie Black Hawk Down

When Ridley Scott’s “Black Hawk Down” came out in 2001 it had all the features that make a great movie. As well as drama, tension…

Camp X – The Allies’ Secret Training School for World War II Spies and Elite Agents

On the shores of Lake Ontario between Whitby and Oshawa is an area now known as Intrepid Park. Very little of what remains today hints at…

From the First World War to the 21st century – A Hundred Years of Fighter Planes

The First Fighter Planes  When the First World War began, the airplane was still a new invention. Its potential as a military vehicle had not…

These Germans Stationed Near The North Pole Were The Last To Surrender, In September 1945

pd

Operation Zitronella took place on 8th September 1943. Though the name might conjure up images of a campaign fought across the hot Mediterranean shores, nothing could be…

The Surrender of the Last Two German U-boats in WW2

Throughout the Second World War, U-boats played a critical role in Germany’s warfare strategy. This was especially so during the Battle of the Atlantic, which lasted…

We Examine Six Key Facts About The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was also known as the Second Indochina War. In Vietnam, it was called Kháng chiến…

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade – US Citizens Who Fought Against Fascism in Spain

During the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) a call went out from the Republican forces for communists and socialists around the world to come…

Heroes of America: The Red String Band who rebelled against the Confederacy in the Southern States

It is easy to think of wars from earlier centuries in rather simplistic terms, especially as they fade further into the past. The American Civil…

June 1944 – Rome Falls To The Allies In The Second World War

Celebrations in the Streets of Rome On the June 5th 1944, the people of Rome flooded into the streets to welcome the arrival of the…