Meuse Argonne – The Lost Battalion, Pt 4: Resistance & Relief (featuring Robert J. Laplander)

With mounting hunger, wounds, and death, MAJ Whittlesey and his command continue to hold out in the Charlevaux Ravine. As Whittlesey has said, there will be no surrender. 

 

The only book you need to read on the Lost Battalion: 

 

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B06X6N13V8&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_BYXX2G0SGFR7DK0MB2X7

 

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Rate, review, and subscribe to the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

 


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A Discussion on WW1 Aviation with Mike O’Neal

Recently I was invited to a Zoom discussion with some other WW1 enthusiasts to talk about what we can do to keep the memory of WW1 alive in these post-centenary times. At that talk was Mike O’Neal, a longtime WW1 aviation enthusiast, and we quickly connected to get Mike on the podcast talking about his lifelong passion. 

 

Folks, if ever there is an example of being bold and striking out for what you want to do, here it is. In his teens, Mike wrote letters to various journals and WW1 veterans, and the results have been amazing friendships and working on some fascinating projects. He was listed as a contributor to journal articles in his teens, a WW1 aviator gave Mike his wings for good luck, he acquired his own biplane, and much more.

 

Join us for a great discussion on the beginning and development of Mike’s passion for WW1-era aviation. 

 

Relevant links mentioned in this episode:

 

“Over the Front” journal – https://www.overthefront.com/

 

American Society of Aviation Artists – http://asaa-avart.com/

 

Golden Age Air Museum in Bethel, PA – https://www.goldenageair.org/

 

The Aerodrome: Aces and Aircraft of WW1 – http://www.theaerodrome.com/index.php

 

Advisory: Nothing bad in the episode, but you may hear my family in the background talking, as well as one of the cats scratching and meowing at the door. Apologies, but our house is a lively one. There is always something going on. 🙂

 

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast. 

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com or the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes. 

 


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“A Moonlight Massacre:” an Interview with Dr. Michael LoCicero

The established narrative of the Third Battle of Ypres identifies the end of the muddy and blood-soaked struggle in Flanders with the capture of the Passchendaele village ruins in November 1917. However, there were further operations in the Salient just weeks later, and one of them occurred on the night of 2nd December, 1917. 

 

Dr. Michael LoCicero joins us for an in-depth discussion of the creation of his book, the evolution of the BEF, Dominion, and German forces in the Western Front, and the night operation in the Passchendaele Salient on December 2nd, 1917. We go deep on this one, and if you’re really into World War I like we are, you will love this talk.

 

Order “A Moonlight Massacre” through your local bookstore and wherever books are sold:

 

https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/a-moonlight-massacre-the-night-operation-on-the-passchendaele-ridge-2-december-1917-the-forgotten-last-act-of-the-third-battle-of-ypres.php?sid=63b397b8d218771ed035537456fa2b1e

 

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast. 

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com or the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes. 


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Meuse Argonne – The Lost Battalion, Pt 3: Friendly Fire (featuring Robert J. Laplander)

Surrounded, with no food or medical supplies and dwindling ammunition, the American forces trapped in the Charlevaux Ravine face a new and unforeseen enemy: friendly fire. 

 

The only book you need to read on the Lost Battalion: 

 

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B06X6N13V8&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_BYXX2G0SGFR7DK0MB2X7

 

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Rate, review, and subscribe to the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.


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Meuse Argonne – The Lost Battalion, Pt 2: The First Day (featuring Robert J. Laplander)

Having established a perimeter on a steep hillside in the Charlevaux Ravine, a force of some 700 men under US MAJ Charles Whittlesey digs in to await reinforcements and further orders. 

 

Soon realizing they are surrounded, Whittlesey puts out an order: No falling back. The position is to be held at all costs. The Germans put that order to the test on October 3rd, 1918. 

 

The only book you need to read on the Lost Battalion: 

 

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B06X6N13V8&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_BYXX2G0SGFR7DK0MB2X7

 

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Rate, review, and subscribe to the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. 


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Meuse Argonne – The Lost Battalion, Pt 1: Into the Charlevaux (featuring Robert J. Laplander)

On October 1st, 1918, fresh from being relieved from encirclement in the Small Pocket on l’Homme Mort, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 308th Infantry Regiment are ordered to attack into the Argonne yet again. 

 

Led by MAJ Charles Whittlesey, the two battalions plunge into the Ravin d’Argonne, and on October 2nd, the Americans break through the German lines and into Charlevaux Ravine. The story of the Lost Battalion has begun.

 

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes. 


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A WW1 Battle on American Soil? A Discussion on the “Creek Draft Rebellion” of 1918

Listener discretion advised: This episode contains some language, as well as racial terms and themes that are considered offensive. These terms and themes are being used here in the context of the First World War era. 

 

Ok, so the episode title is a lackluster attempt at clickbait. But if I have gotten you to click on to this episode, do please stay. What follows is an interesting discussion on a now little-known incident that occurred In Henryetta, Oklahoma during June of 1918. Labeled the  “Creek Draft Rebellion” by sensationalist journalists, a dispute between Creek Nation Native Americans and a local merchant was soon morphed into an anti-government and anti-conscription uprising. 

 

Historian and Oklahoma native James Gregory joins me in a discussion of the context of the events surrounding the so-called rebellion, the event itself, the aftermath, and whether the rebellion really happened at all. 

 

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes. Spread the word! Tell your friends to subscribe to the podcast. 


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CEMA in Action: “In Soldier’s Clothes” Photos by James Valls

Photos by James Valls of the cast and crew of “In Soldier’s Clothes” already putting CEMA trenches through their paces.

A film inspired by the true story of Dorothy Lawrence, a woman who posed as a British soldier during the Great War in order to report from the front.
Dorothy Lawrence, as played by Lucinda Turner, making her way through the line.
Follow “In Soldier’s Clothes” at the following accounts:
Instagram – @insoldiersclothesfilm
Facebook – @insoldiersclothesfilm

Follow “In Soldier’s Clothes” at the following accounts:
Instagram – @insoldiersclothesfilm
Facebook – @insoldiersclothesfilm

Breaking Ground at CEMA: Photos by Tommy Pengilley

Ground breaks at the Centre for Military Archeology in Kent, England! Photos by Tommy Pengilley.

Reworking some old paintball trenches. 🙂
Scrapes in the earth will soon become replica trenches of the Railway Wood trench system that could be found in the Ypres Salient.
Duckboards
Duckboards and trench supports.
Construction of a firestep.

The Centre for Experimental Military Archaeology (CEMA): The New Project by Andy Robertshaw and Ross Barnwell

Come join the conversation on the new Centre for Experimental Military Archaeology (CEMA) being developed by Mr. Andy Robertshaw and Mr. Ross Barnwell. This is a new project that promises to bring history not only alive, but interconnected with today’s global world. 

 

Mr. Robertshaw is a former teacher turned historian and historical consultant for such films as Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old and Sam Mendes’ recent hit 1917. And he also played a role in Steven Spielberg’s film Warhorse, which I did not know about until now!

 

Ross Barnwell is the creative force behind 8000ft Media, which produced the short film Beaumont-Hamel, named after the infamous village on the 1916 Somme battlefield. The film focused on wartime cinematographer Geoffrey Malins’ experiences as he took 8,000ft of frontline footage on the Somme, the most famous of which is the explosion of the Hawthorn Ridge mine on the morning of the 1st of July, 1916. 

 

To learn more about CEMA, check out the following link:

 

https://www.cema.education/

 

Follow Andy, Ross, and their team breaking ground through their Instagram account: 

https://www.instagram.com/cemahistory/

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter at @WW1podcast, the Battles of the First World War Podcast page on FaceBook, and on Instagram at @WW1battlecast. Not into social media? Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes. 

 


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