I recently chanced upon a mention that an old friend of mine had died in 2020. After checking an obituary article in one of our local newspapers, I found it was true. It had been some years since I lost track of this person and it came as something of a shock. The friend in […]
In 2018, social media began to discuss a pair of photographs. They purport to show the same battalion when it went to war in 1914 and they way it was in 1918. In response to thephotos, social media responded with many of the old tropes: lions led by donkeys, they were all heroes, they did […]
The photograph and caption from the “Daily Mirror” is thanks to the British Newspaper Archive. Men who had been held as prisoners of war were granted a standard period of two months of paid home leave after they had been repatriated to home territory. They were requested to indicate their preferences by completing Army Form […]
“Tracing your military ancestors“. This is a talk I gave at a Family History Show hosted by The Genealogist. You can watch my intro free of charge but there is a modest fee for seeing the talk. Tracing your military ancestors “Family History Tips from Military Records” is another from the series of Family History […]
I am pleased to have added a half-or one-day tour of Ypres, with specific focus on the Canadian forces. Enjoy at Canada at Ypres tour
Frank Speaking: from Suvla to SchweidnitzEdited by Carole HopePublished by H&K Publishing 2021Hardback ISBN 978 1 8383711 0 4316 pages plus bibliography and index.Reviewed by Chris Baker. I confess to having known the author for several years but memory tells me that I have possibly only actually met her once, although that was as a […]
Catholic General: the private wartime correspondence of Mahor-General Sir Cecil Edward Pereira, 1914-19Edited by Edward Pereira, Spencer Jones and Michael LoCiceroForward by Professor John BournePublished by Helion & Company in 2020Paperback ISBN 978 1 912866 14 4429 pages plus appendix, bibliography and indexReviewed by Chris BakerWith thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy. […]
With thanks to the Western Front Association for producing this video of my talk “Six miles from victory” at their President’s Conference held in Birmingham in 2018. “Possibly the most fascinating, informative and entertaining WFA lecture that I’ve ever heard“, said one reviewer. Links The Battles of the Lys 1918 Books
Gallipoli: the Egerton diaries and papersby David Rawpublished by Helion & Company 2020Paperback ISBN 978 1 912390 84 7143 pages plus bibliography and indexReviewed by Chris BakerI thank the publisher for sending me a copy. A short review for a short book, which is a study of the work of Major-General Granville Egerton in command […]
On 3 October 1914, newspapers ran a story describing how Sir Arthur du Cros MP had offered to the War Office to raise, equip and maintain a motor ambulance convoy. It was “probably to be commanded by Captain George du Cros and the drivers will be expert mechanics supplied by Mr. du Cros“. Sir Arthur […]