The Origins and History of The Last Post
Chances are, you have heard the notes of the Last Post. The lone notes, played by a military bugler, trumpeting the notes of the song…
The Lion of Africa: Paul von Lettow Vorbeck: Germany’s WW1 Guerilla Commander In East Africa
In March of 1919, while Germany was recovering from its defeat in the First World War, its people starving and its army in ruins, a…
A 20th-Century Siege in 1809: The Second Siege of Zaragoza
Many consider bitter house to house fighting to be a 20th-century invention, and a 21st-century norm. But in 1809 one Spanish city, Zaragoza, resisted French…
When Soldiers, Sailors, And Civilians Celebrated Victory in Europe with a Riot in Halifax
May 8th, 1945, was greeted with elation, parades, and revelry around the world. On this day, Victory in Europe was officially achieved, and the Second…
The Most Terrible, Deadliest Sieges Before the 19th Century
Sieges throughout history were awful affairs. Unlike Field Battles, Sieges involved civilians, as well as numerous ways to die over long periods of time. Starvation…
The Major-General In Command Of British Land Forces In The Falklands War Called It “A Very Close-Run Thing”
The Falklands War is looked back on by many as a foregone conclusion. Lasting only ten weeks, and it resulted in a clear British victory.…
The Ranger and the Drake: John Paul Jones Brings the American Revolution to Britain
Early in the morning of April 24, 1778 a strange ship lay at anchor just off of Carrickfergus, Ireland. HMS Drake, the nearest English ship…
1898: Spanish at Guam Thought the Attacking USS Charleston Fired Salute Shots & Asked For Gunpowder To Return the Gesture
Manning a remote island fort, seemingly without any imminent danger on the horizon, must have made for a fairly comfortable post. That was the situation on…
Napoleon Inflicts The Greatest Defeat in Prussian Military History
The twin battles of Jena-Auerstadt proved a major turning point for not only the Napoleonic wars, but also for 19th century Europe as a whole.…
The Glorious First of June Broke One Of The Rules By Which We Understand Battles
The Glorious First of June broke one of the rules by which we understand battles – that there can be only one winner. After the…
Medal of Honor: The Man War Couldn’t Kill, Jumps On Two Grenades, Falls Out of An Airplane. Survives
For many young people, the outbreak of the greatest War this planet had ever seen would come just a little too early for them to…
The Defining Features of Incan Warfare
In the early 16th century, the Incas were one of the most powerful nations in the Americas. The greatest military force for thousands of miles,…