Five minute history: the battle of Passchendaele

The third battle of Ypres or the battle of Passchendaele as it is commonly known has become a defining moment of the first world war – it is remembered for its horror, the mud and the senseless slaughter of men. But What happened and was it actually a terrible failure? Third Ypres was fought in […]

A short walk up Talana Hill: First battle of the Anglo-Boer war

The opening engagement of the Anglo-Boer war was fought in this small town in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. It was a small but important battle that showed the British army how dangerous it was to scorn their enemy. Join me for a walk up Talana hill as I get some exercise and move in […]

Video: Walking the Fugitive’s Trail at Isandlwana

After the British were defeated at the battle of Isandlwana a few hundred survivors made a dash for the Buffalo River in an attempt to escape from the victorious Zulus. Take a walk with me as we explore that story and examine the terrain of the battlefield.

Indian Mutiny: A walk around Delhi’s Kashmir Gate

The Indian mutiny: The assault at the Kashmir Gate, Delhi. In this video, I take a walk around Delhi’s Kashmir gate, scene of heavy fighting during the Indian rebellion of 1857. Two VC’s were won on this very spot.

Storming the beaches: Covering the 70th anniversary of D-Day

In 2014 I was lucky enough to be in Normandy for the 70th anniversary of D-Day. I was able to spend time with a number of veterans including Tony Colgan of the 9th Durham Light Infantry. Tony was travelling with his Grandson and it was wonderful to share this time with them. As part of […]

Video: A walk on W Beach, Gallipoli

In April 2015 I was lucky enough to attend the centenary commemorations of the Allied landings at Gallipoli. One of the sites well worth a visit is “W Beach” and the nearby Lancashire Landing cemetery. While there I made the short film below: W beach was known to the Turks as Tekke Bay. It was […]

Video: Why did Britain invade Zululand?

I am fascinated by the Anglo-Zulu war but have always been confused about the reasons for it and why Britain invaded. In this short “5 minute history” I try to give an explanation as to why the war happened.

Swift and Bold: The reenactors of the 5/60th Rifles

The 5/60th Rifles were one of the most elite regiments of the British army during the Napoleonic wars. They were skirmishers equipped with the excellent Baker rifle and dressed in green rather than the traditional red jackets. Now a group of enthusiasts in the west Midlands are bringing the unit back to life. I was […]

Video: A 5 minute history of the battle of the Somme

In this video I give an overview of the battle of the Somme – Britain’s deadliest battle. The battle raged from July to November 1916. I’m not a Somme expert but I hope this will give you a basic understanding of why and how the battle was fought.

Video: A tour of the AZW battlefields of Nyezane, Gingindlovu and Eshowe

This video looks at the battlefields of the Coastal column during the British invasion of Zululand. Nyezane, Eshowe and Gingindlovu are little known battles but fascinating and well worth a visit.