The English Electric Canberra Bomber: the first UK Jet-Powered Bomber, broke 2 International Records and served for more than 50 years
As the jet propulsion technology was entering the aeronautical scene just after WWII, the British government was keen to produce a light bomber capable of…
The Ambitious Scotsman Who Used A Tiny, War-Scarred Brig To Capture A Huge 32-Gun Frigate
On March 28th, 1800, a Scottish aristocrat took command of the small Brig-Sloop HMS Speedy, based at Port Mahon. The Scotsman, Thomas Cochrane, was an…
This Hellish Campaign Has Been Largely Forgotten: The Aleutian Islands During World War II
WWII had some very distinct theaters of war. When people think of the war in the Pacific thoughts, go to the sprawling jungles of Guadalcanal…
This WW1 Private Used A Machine Gun To Cover His Comrades’ Retreat – He Was Awarded The Victoria Cross
The British Expeditionary force was awoken on August 23, 1914, by a massive infantry attack. The German army had amassed along the French frontier, having…
Bryan Budd Charged Into a Cornfield to Attack Enemy Insurgents – He Was Killed By Friendly Fire
The Victoria Cross is the United Kingdom’s highest military honor and one of the most esteemed recognitions for gallantry in combat. However many recipients are…
The Battle of Ramillies: One of Marlborough’s Greatest Victories
The Duke of Marlborough was one of the greatest military commanders in British history. His stunning success at the Battle of Ramillies on 23 May…
The Many Lives Of A US Civil War Revenue Cutter Which Was Present At The Start Of The Civil War
Late in the day on April 11th, 1861, the ship Nashville was sailing past Charleston harbor. The crew could see a fleet of ships at…
The War of Jenkins’ Ear – And The Defeat Of A Huge British Armada
Every year on the last Saturday of May, there is a celebration at the Wormsloe Plantation of Savannah, Georgia. In this Southern city known for…
Although Steel Ruled The Waves, Wooden Boats Still Found A Place In WWII
The Second World War saw the advent of modern warfare. Navy fleets began using steel and aluminum aircraft to strike at one another. Submarines patrolled…
The Crazy Battle of Omdurman was an overwhelming triumph for the British. Only 48 of their men were killed while the Mahdists lost nearly 11,000
All through the darkness of the night, a British infantryman waits nervously by the banks of the Nile. The Mahdists, infamously bloodthirsty savages, are just…
Three Times In History When Discretion Was The Better Part of Valor
In war, standing and fighting in an unfavorable battle is certainly the brave and honorable choice, but it isn’t always the best choice to actually…
Facts About Viscount Wolseley: A Controversial Military Reformer
Sir Garnet Joseph Wolseley was one of the most important military thinkers in the Victorian British army. Rising to a position of prominence in the…