Military History Plus

Gary interviews Spencer on one of Spencer’s favourite military history books, Paddy Griffith’s Battle Tactics of the American Civil War. Published in the 1980s, this volume reappraises the events, the weapons used, the men of the novice armies, their leaders and the strategies employed in the Civil War - which was fought with a new generation of weapons and trench systems similar to those of World War I. Spencer considers how the author argues that the conditions of combat were little changed from those of earlier times and far from being the birthplace of modern battlefield tactics, the Civil War was in reality the last Napoleonic-style war. He also talks about how the book influenced him as a military historian and his thoughts on where it has flaws.

Spencer interviews Gary about one of his favourite books, John Keegan’s Face of Battle. Published in 1976, it deals first with the structure of historical writing about battles, the strengths and weaknesses of the "battle piece," and then with the structure of warfare in three time periods—medieval Europe, the Napoleonic Era, and World War I - by analysing three battles: Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme, all of which involved English soldiers and occurred in approximately the same geographical area. Gary talks about how he came to purchase this book in the late 1970s and how he worked with Keegan in the 1990s. Finally, Gary considers some of the weaknesses of the book in the light of nearly half a decade of histography.

Gary and Spencer speak to the podcast producer and editor Dr Tom Thorpe about his research and interest into combat motivation and resilience. They discuss what is meant by combat motivation and what factors are most dominant in driving soldiers to fight and persevere on military service. A range of drivers are considered from small group cohesion, ideology and coercion. Tom is an independent scholar, tour guide, communications professional and podcaster. Tom holds a PhD from King’s College London that explored the extent, nature and impact of small group cohesion in British infantry units during the First World War. He is also a public historian and being involved in a range of local social and medical history projects such as the Ulster University’s Belfast Epidemic medical history learning resource, the Queen’s University Belfast Living Legacies programme and the Men Behind the Glass Project at Campbell College Belfast. He has been a Honorary Research Associate at both Ulster University and Queen University Belfast (QUB) and a Tutor on the QUB Open Learning programme. He is also a Trustee of the First World War history society The Western Front Association and am Secretary its Antrim and Down branch. Added to this, he is an avid podcaster, hosting and producing three history podcasts. These are the Western Front Association’s weekly Mentioned in Dispatches Podcast, the Epidemic Belfast podcast, and Combat Morale podcast.

Spencer and Gary talk about their recommendations for summer beech reading over the holiday period. Gary recommends the Flashman novels by George MacDonald Fraser, Wellington's Waterloo Allies: How Soldiers from Brunswick, Hanover, Nassau and the Netherlands Contributed to the Victory of 1815 by Andrew W. Field and The First Day on the Somme by Martin Middlebrook. Spencer on the other hand suggests Hero: The Life & Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael Korda, The Fall of Robespierre: 24 Hours in Revolutionary Paris by Colin Jones and The Armchair General: Can You Defeat the Nazis? (The Armchair General) by John Buckley.

In this episode, Gary and Spencer delve deep into the early life, career, and complex character of Winston Churchill, an influential and often controversial figure in Britain's military, political and imperial history. This episode is the first of a short series and covers Churchills early life up to the end of the Second South African War (Boer War) in 1901/2. With a keen focus on Churchill's intricate relationship with war, they offer insightful perspectives on his roles as a man, politician, and military leader in his early life. They start out by considering books on Churchill that they feel give an insight to the man and his legacy. Born in 1874 at Blenheim Palace, he was the progeny of Lord Randolph Churchill, a prominent Conservative politician, and the American heiress Jennie Jerome. Churchill's formative years were marked by familial tension, with his parents often absorbed in their political endeavours. Largely raised by a nanny, he attended various schools before graduating from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1895, following the passing of his father. In the late 1890s, Churchill embarked on a series of adventurous military and journalistic ventures. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, he actively sought engagement in conflicts, witnessing upheavals in Cuba and India. Concurrently, he pursued a path of self-education and literary exploration, laying the groundwork for his burgeoning writing career. His participation in military campaigns, coupled with his role as a journalist in the Sudan, provided invaluable insights that would shape his future political trajectory. Transitioning into the realms of politics and journalism, Churchill faced initial setbacks, notably in the 1899 Oldham by-election where he was unsuccessful as a Conservative candidate. Undeterred, he ventured to South Africa as a journalist to cover the Second Boer War. However, his journey took a dramatic turn when he was captured and briefly held as a prisoner of war before orchestrating a daring escape, capturing the attention of the public. Upon his return to Britain, he secured a seat as a Member of Parliament for Oldham in 1900. Continuing his journalistic pursuits, he penned compelling accounts of his experiences in South Africa and embarked on captivating lecture tours, solidifying his reputation as a multifaceted public figure with a profound interest in both politics and literature.