Great British Battles – Part II
There are some events in history upon which turn the fate of nations. A point at which history can go either way. Battles have always played a part in defining what Britain is. Here we look at The Battles of Mons; Battle of Britain; & D-Day.
How did Trench Warfare begin in World War I
Nothing epitomizes the First World War more than the trench. Trench warfare prevailed on the Western Front from 16 Sept 1914 up until the Germans launched their Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918, a staggering 4 and half years in which deadly, grinding attrition became the norm. Trenches stretched from the Franco-Swiss frontier in the south to the Flanders coast in the north, a distance of over 450 miles. But how did this situation come about?
The Miracle of Mons – August 1914 : The BEF stand against the German Tidal Wave
The Battle of Mons marked the first battle between the British & German Armies in the First World War. It was a titanic struggle that threatened to completely overwhelm the small professional British Army in the hot summer of 1914.
The Domino Effect – How Europe fell into World War I
The immediate trigger that led to the start of the Great War (or First World War as it was subsequently known) was, relatively, innocuous enough – another assassination in the volatile Balkans. However what followed quickly resolved itself into a direct causal sequence of mobilisations & declarations of war by all the major European countries in turn – like a line of toppling dominoes.
A Close Run Thing – England’s Lucky Escape from the Spanish Armada
We like to think of the Royal Navy, led by the likes of Drake & Raleigh, as plucky little fighters whittling down the Spanish leviathan as it chugged up the English Channel on its inexorable path of conquest. However the truth is a little different and if it weren’t for some key items of luck, 1066 wouldn’t be the date that British schoolchildren remember as the last time England was invaded but 1588 (and we’d all probably be speaking Spanish as well).
Some D-Day Factoids
The 6th of June 1944 is one of those pivotal dates in History that will always be remembered as a turning point in human history. 2014 will be the 70th anniversary of this “day of days”. In this article we look at some D-Day Factoids.
April 28th 1943 – The Start of the most important WW2 battle you’ve probably never heard of: Atlantic convoy ONS 5
On April 28th 1943 one of the greatest Atlantic convoy battles of the Second World War tool place. It was a pivotal moment on the road to allied victory and one of the important WW2 battles that you’ve probably never heard of.
Great British Battles – Part I
There are some events in history upon which turn the fate of nations. A point at which history can go either way. Battles have always played a part in defining what Britain is. Here we look at The Battles of Hastings; Agincourt ; The Spanish Armada & Waterloo.
The Battle of Jersey
Guernsey and Jersey, along with the other Channel Islands lived, for hundreds of years right on the front line of conflict between Britain and France. Islanders had to train and be ready to fight to defend their homes at a moments notice. On 6th January 1781 this threat went from ‘potential’ to ‘actual’ when a French force landed undetected in Jersey. The ensuing conflict became known as “The Battle of Jersey”.
The Enemy Within – The Day the Guernsey Militia faced down a Mutiny
The Guernsey Militia has a long and proud history of defending the Island. But what was to be done when the English Regiment sent to help the Militia in its defense duties turns out to be the enemy itself. In 1783 the Militia had to face this very problem.
The Guernsey Militia : A Short History – Part II
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands lived for hundreds of years right on the front line of conflict between Britain and France. Islanders had to train and be ready to fight to defend their homes at a moments notice. To do this a Guernsey Militia was formed. In this article we track it’s illustrious history.
The Guernsey Militia : A Short History – Part I
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands lived for hundreds of years right on the front line of conflict between Britain and France. Islanders had to train and be ready to fight to defend their homes at a moments notice. To do this a Guernsey Militia was formed. In this article we track it’s illustrious history.
The RGLI – Royal Guernsey Light Infantry
“the war to end all wars” … that’s what it was called. No country in Europe was immune from its effects and Guernsey was no exception. In this article we look at the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry, Guernsey’s response to Britain’s call to arms.
Pontifications – answers to the fluff of everyday life
Answers to some of the amusing questions and fluff we muse on from time to time. What does the D in D-day stand for? Why are portholes round? … amongst other questions.
