British Rambo of the Somme: “If I’ve got to be killed, I’ll die fighting not digging.”
Thomas Alfred Jones was nicknamed “Dodger” in childhood because he was good at soccer. Unfortunately, they quickly changed that to “Todger” – which is British…
3 Key Artillery Techniques of the First World War
One of the great revelations of the First World War was the vast destructive power of artillery. Never before had so many guns of such…
A Virtual Battlefield Tour – The Somme From Above
World War One trenches have left scars in the landscape of France and Belgium and they can now be viewed via Google earth and Bing…
How Agatha Christie’s Terrible Experience As WWI Nurse Helped Inspire Hercule Poirot
Well-founded speculation abounds that famed mystery author, Agatha Christie, used her experiences as a war time nurse in plotting and detailing the killings in her…
Harlem Hellfighter Survived WWI Battle with German Soldiers Despite 21 Wounds, Received MOH Almost 100 Years Late
During his service in the U.S. Army’s first African-American regiment in WWI, Henry Johnson survived an epic battle against German enemy soldiers – a fight…
Marine Sergeant With Near Suicidal Courage, Was Awarded TWO Medals of Honor And Nominated For a Third!
On 10 June 1918, during the Battle of Belleau Wood, 44-year-old Marine Corps First Sergeant Dan Daly, armed with a pistol and hand grenades, single-handedly…
‘THE LAST POST’ Phil Hodges pays a memorable visit to Ypres
The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres goes together with the town like strawberries and cream at Wimbledon. It’s as ingrained into…
6 Great Aviators of the First World War
The First World War saw the birth of aerial combat. Initially used to provide reconnaissance for ground forces, biplanes soon started fighting each other above…
The oldest Commando of WWII – 73 year old Walter Cowan of course, oh, he was also in WWI
When fifteen-year-old Walter Henry Cowan became a Royal Navy trainee in 1884, Great Britain was the dominant naval force in the world. The boy had…
The Arizona Balloon Buster – Epic Tale of Courage, Friendship and Sacrifice
In only nine days of flying in World War I combat, just ten missions and thirty hours of time in a Spad XIII aircraft, Lieutenant…
Stubby the War Dog: Would Warn About Gas, Saved Countless Lives, Earned a Purple Heart, Was Promoted To Sergeant!
Much of America grew up on tales of Lassie and his ability to let humans know when a small child has fallen down a mine…
Canary Girls – Women Munition Workers In WWI Turned Yellow And Gave Birth To Yellow Babies
It is sadly something you might see in reimagined Wizard of Oz – girls in ruffled hats, full skirts, puffy sleeves, and Peter Pan collars…