Episodes
In this week’s episode, the first in a multi-part set, we’ll explore the fascinating story of life on Britain’s Home Front in the Great War with a focus on the enormous impact of the Defence of the Realm Act.Do you like our podcast? Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot! Battle Guide Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/BattleGuide One time Support: https://battleguide.co.uk/nsq E-Mail: ⁠[email protected]⁠If you want to...
Published 05/17/24
In this episode we’ll explore the famous story of the war conducted beneath the Western front, From the men who pioneered it, the methods used, and dangers for those on all sides, we’ll study the art of tunnelling and mining in trench warfare. History of the Germans Podcast: https://historyofthegermans.com/links/ Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot! Battle Guide Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/BattleGuide One time...
Published 05/10/24
In this episode we’ll look at the highly controversial and often much misunderstood story of the frontal assault on the trenches of the Western Front. We’ll consider why and how it happened, if it was as haphazard and pointless as we are commonly led to believe and address the popular belief that allied commanders repeatedly sent brave men, walking, across no-man’s-land in futile attacks against enemy machine guns. Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot! Battle Guide...
Published 05/03/24
Why did the armies keep attacking? In this episode, we’ll examine one of the enduring controversies of the First World War - why did the Allies keep attacking the Western Front when all the advantages seemed to lie with the defender? What informed these decisions, were there other options, and how did these choices play out on the battlefield? Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot! Battle Guide Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT Support the...
Published 04/26/24
This week, in a particularly geeky episode, Dan and Spencer explore the much understudied and perhaps underappreciated importance of barbed wire on the Western Front. Often overlooked as a minor inconvenience, it did in fact shape much of the story of the First World War. YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠ Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠ E-Mail: [email protected] If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of what the team at Battle Guide have been getting up to, why not sign up...
Published 04/19/24
YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠ Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠ E-Mail: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 04/12/24
This week's episode sees Spencer and Dan discussing the emergence and evolution of the vital practise of trench raiding across the Western Front. We explore it's purpose, risks and rewards for those daring enough to venture into no-man's-land. YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠E-Mail: [email protected]
Published 04/05/24
This week Dan and Spencer explore the story of the 'Tommy' of the Great War, looking at his motivations, experiences and performance on the battlefield, and comparing him with the 'Doughboy', 'Digger', 'Poilu' and German soldier on the Western Front. Stefan Westmann 1964, BBC Archive, Full Inteview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8log371ADA YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠E-Mail: [email protected] 
Published 03/29/24
In this week's episode Spencer and Dan explore the story of the 'Missing' of the Great War. We look at what caused men to be reported as missing in action, what the process of searching for a missing serviceman was like and what became of the many men to share that fate. YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠E-Mail: [email protected]
Published 03/22/24
In this weeks episode, Dan and Spencer examine the story of Zeppelin Raids in the Great War, with a focus on their initial successes, allied countermeasures and the men on both sides who took to the skies above Britain in a new and truly shocking form of warfare. Images: Heinrich Mathy: https://go.battleguide.co.uk/hubfs/Podcast/Episode-18-Henick-Mathy.png L31 crash site: https://go.battleguide.co.uk/hubfs/Podcast/Episode-18-L31-crash-site.png YT:...
Published 03/15/24
In this week's episode Spencer and Dan explore the story of Gas Warfare on the Western Front. From it's drastic impact at the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915 through it's brutal evolution to 1918 we consider it's purpose, employment and the impact on those who came into contact with it on the Western Front. YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠E-Mail: [email protected]
Published 03/08/24
This week, Dan and Spencer explore the concept of innovation on the Western Front. With millions of men fighting for four years on the frontlines, we take a take dive into how, when and why innovation played such a key role in the Great War. YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠E-Mail: [email protected] 
Published 03/01/24
Join us this week as Spencer and Dan exore the vital role played by artillery in The Great War. From it's somewhat uninspiring start, and through a steep learning curve in the mid-war years, to it's ultimate emergence as the dominant force on the battlefield, we explore the subject in depth in this week's episode. Books & Links: Artillery in the Great War, by Sanders Marble, Paul Strong, https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Artillery-in-the-Great-War-Paperback/p/4181?aid=1227 YT:...
Published 02/23/24
This week Spencer and Dan delve into the fascinating and harrowing story of the wounded of the First World War, with a focus on the 'Medical Evacuation Chain', how it evolved throughout the war and what the experience of being wounded was like for literally millions of servicemen on the Western Front. Books & Links: The Facemaker One Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I, by Lindsey Fitzharris YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support...
Published 02/16/24
This week follow us into the trenches as we discuss the myths and realities of trench warfare in the First World War. From their inception and involution from 1914-1918 and their eventual abandonment towards the end of the war, we look in detail at life on the frontlines. Books & Links: From Boer War to World War: Tactical Reform of the British Army, 1902–1914 - By Spencer Jones Secret Battle: A Tragedy of the First World War - By Herbert, A. P. The Anatomy of Courage: The...
Published 02/09/24
In this week's episode Dan and Spencer explore the fascinating story of tanks in the First World War, from their conception and development to performance on the battlefields of the Western Front YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠E-Mail: [email protected]
Published 02/02/24
In this week's episode Dan and Spencer explore the language and popularised phrases of the First World War, how it evolved on the Western Front and how much of it can still be found in everyday use today. YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠E-Mail: [email protected]
Published 01/26/24
In this episode, Spencer and Dan discuss the fascinating story of air power in the First World War. From it’s early role in scouting and reconnaissance, through the development of dedicated fighter aircraft and it’s subsequent evolution in the skies above the battlefield, we explore the enormous impact airpower had on the First World war. YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠E-Mail: [email protected]
Published 01/19/24
This week we explore the famous, and highly controversial figure of the General in the First World War, exploring whether their modern reputation as out of touch, callous and incompetent aristocrats is well deserved.
Published 01/12/24
This week, Dan and Spencer explore the final series of huge offensives of the war on the Western Front, collectively known as the 'Hundred Days'. Fought over a massive area and with ground-breaking new tactics, it has been said that the 100 days saw the birth of modern warfare as we know it today. 
Published 01/05/24
This week's episode sees Dan and Spencer continue their journey through the fascinating story of the 1918 Spring Offensive with a look at Operation Georgette, the final phases of the fighting and what it achieved. Books & Links: The Kaiser's Battle; Martin Middlebrook: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Kaisers-Battle-ePub/p/7143?aid=1227 The German 1918 Offensives: A Case Study in The Operational Level of War; David T. Zabecki
Published 12/29/23
In this Special Bonus Episode Dan and Spencer explore the story of the famous 1914 Christmas Truce, how it came about, why it is important and what actually happened up and down the British sector on perhaps the most well-known day of the entire war on the Western Front Books & Links:https://battleguide.co.uk/hubfs/Podcast/Bonus%20Episode%20Christmas%20Truce.png
Published 12/22/23
In this episode Dan and Spencer explore the build up to, and launching of the famous 1918 Spring Offensive, Germany's last gamble to split the British and the French and emerge victorious on the Western Front. YT: ⁠youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT⁠ Support us: ⁠patreon.com/BattleGuide⁠ E-Mail: [email protected]
Published 12/15/23
In this episode, Dan and Spencer explore perhaps the best known battle to take place on the Western Front in the First World War. Fought in famously atrocious conditions outside the Belgian Town of Ypres, the battle was a highly complex affair. Join is as we discuss some of the key elements and how they shaped the campaign as a whole. Books & Links Spencer Jones, The Darkest Year: The British Army on the Western Front 1917 |...
Published 12/08/23