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The Catastrophe of Exercise Tiger

May 10, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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In the build up to the Allied invasion in Northern France in 1944, a outstanding deal of preparation and organizing was required. Data was frequently being harvested by a community of agents whilst materials and machines were being brought to England. These would be necessary all through and just after what was and still is the largest invasion force ever assembled.

Frank Bourne Rorkes Drift Veteran

May 10, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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The Battle of Rorkes Drift is without doubt one of the most famous battles during the background within the British army. It was around this little mission station along the border of Zululand and Natal where a few thousand Zulu warriors attacked a garrison of no more than 140 British soldiers. The soldiers fought for their lives through the night and by morning, the Zulu warriors had retired back to Zululand. The top award for gallantry while in the British Army is the Victoria Cross and the action at Rorkes Drift saw twelve VCs awarded, greater than in any other single action in the past.

A Day In The Area Close to Ypres

May 9, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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Brandhoek Cemetery is the place where Captain Noel Chavasse is buried. Captain Chavasse is one of just three soldiers to have been awarded Britain’s highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. On top of that, he was also accorded the Military Cross. I am at present reading a book entitled “In Foreign Fields” by Dan Collins and it is regarding troopers who have been granted medals in Afghanistan and Iraq. The moment you recognise exactly what a soldier had to achieve in order to be granted an MC, it truly allows you to comprehend what a bold person Captain Chavasse was especially when he was a member of the Royal Medical Corps and never fired a shot in the course of the war.

The Most Deadly Day in the British Army’s History

May 9, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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1st July 1916 was the day Britain and her Allies started a big attack across a twenty five mile part of the front line. The attack happened to the north of the River Somme in rural France. Little villages are littered around the region together with the town of Albert. It was to be the battle that for various folks, characterized the horrors of the trench warfare of The First World War.

The Battle Of Fromelles Fought In The Great War

May 8, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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The Battle of Fromelles during World War I began on 19th July 1916 and concluded the next day. The assault began close to the village of Fromelles in N.France and was intended to take the emphasis from the battle that was taking place fifty miles to the south at the Battle of the Somme which had began on 1st July 1916.

The Great War – The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

May 8, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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In the course of World War I, the slaughter over the fields of Flanders was on an horrendous scale with the majority of bodies never identified or brought back. On 11th November 1920, simultaneously ceremonies were held in both London and Paris to unveil tombs of unknown soldiers.

The Battle of Britain – The Royal Air Forces Finest Hour

May 7, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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The summer months of 1940 saw World War II come to the English skies as the RAF bravely stand up to the onslaught of Hitler’s Luftwaffe. Immediately following a period of time referred to as the ‘Phoney War’, Hitler had ordered his forces to invade other European countries and there was hardly any opposition in Belgium, Netherlands or France.

The Martini Henry Rifle That Rescued The Men At Rorkes Drift

May 7, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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The Battle of Rorkes Drift is without doubt one of the more well-known actions from the history belonging to the British Army. On 22 January 1879, just hours immediately after the Zulu victory at Isandlwana, approximately 4,000 Zulus assault the mission station at Rorkes Drift just along the Buffalo River in Natal.

The Destruction of Ypres During The First World War

May 7, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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All through World War I, the historic Belgium market town of Ypres was situated at a strategically critical spot close to the British front lines and is also without doubt one of the most well known parts of the Western Front as a consequence of the terrible struggle that happened here.

Fugitives Drift Lodge For The Perfect Zulu Battlefield Encounter

May 7, 2011 by Rob Atherton · Leave a Comment
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Fugitives Drift was established by David Rattray together with his wife Nicky and built an award winning lodge for travellers to enjoy this remarkable tale. Tragically, in January 2007, David was killed by an intruder but Fugitives Drift is a fantastic legacy to something he developed with his wife Nicky and it still remains today. Rob Caskie has taken over as the primary historian. Like David, Rob speaks fluent Zulu, understands the history inside out and is perhaps the best orator I’ve ever heard.

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