An Interview with the Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association
Battles of the First World War Podcast
Release Date: 09/01/2018
Verdun - The Defence of Retranchement R1
Battles of the First World War Podcast
This episode was inspired by an afternoon walking tour hosted by the Mémorial de Verdun museum. For five days in the beginning of June 1916, French Army CPT Charles Delvert and his 8th Company, 101st Infantry Regiment, defended the Retranchement R1 redoubt against ceaseless German attacks. This is their story, in Delvert’s own words. Reference map for episode: Mémorial de Verdun museum: New Ypres League, where to join - New Ypres League vzw: The BFWWP is now on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast. Any...
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“Under Foreign Flags:” Tennessee Volunteers in WW1 with Historian Pat Gang
Battles of the First World War Podcast
Independent historian Pat Gang comes on the podcast to talk about Tennessee men who volunteered to fight in foreign armies before the United States entered World War I. The men discussed: Paul & Kiffin Rockwell Charles Loring Clark Zephaniah Porter Broom James Clyde Lloyd Dr. John W. Morris New Ypres League, where to join - New Ypres League vzw: Want to join Lost Battalion Tours in 2025? Email us: [email protected] The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast. Any questions,...
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We Are So Close: Help Award a Congressional Gold Medal for the WWI Hello Girls
Battles of the First World War Podcast
Following up on a podcast discussion we had last year to help the push to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the US Army’s Hello Girls of WW1, we have good news: We are so close to reaching the numbers we need! The Hello Girls of the WW1 US Army have never been officially recognized for the groundbreaking service they provided as America’s first women soldiers. In this call to action, an incredible group of people come back on to talk about why the Hello Girls should receive the Congressional Gold Medal. Joining us are: Congressman Emanuel Cleaver,...
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World War 1 - Coalition Warfare & Command Challenges
Battles of the First World War Podcast
In this stand-alone episode we are going up over the battlefields and the fronts to take a 10,000 meter (that’s 30,000ft) view of the Great War, specifically prosecuting that war through the framework of coalition warfare. We’re going to take a look at the challenges of command within a warfighting coalition. New Ypres League, where to join - New Ypres League vzw: Want to join Lost Battalion Tours in 2025? Email us: [email protected] The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website,...
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Arras & Cambrai 1918: Canadian WW1 History, a Discussion with Michel Gravel
Battles of the First World War Podcast
Historian Michel Gravel comes on the podcast to discuss his focus on First World War history: the efforts of Canadian soldiers in the battles between Arras and Cambrai, France in 1918. There may be a few awkward cuts in the flow of the conversation as our internet connection was frequently unstable. Sorry about that. Michel’s works can be found here: Michel’s GoFundMe for “La place Joseph Kaeble, VC, MM,” in Neuville-Vitasse, France: The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast. Any...
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Lost Battalion Tours 2024 Tour & France-Belgium Trip Recap
Battles of the First World War Podcast
A short recap of the recent six (6!) weeks spent in France and Belgium on the Old Front Line. Have you ever had an extraordinary and unforgettable day on a trip or vacation? This was extraordinary and unforgettable days every day for six weeks straight. Special episode features: Neighborhood dads riding at dawn to mow their lawns, and one of the cats complaining that he can’t get into my recording space. Lost Battalion Tours - Get on our mailing list! Email: FaceBook: Instagram: The BFWWP is on Patreon: . Any questions, comments or concerns please...
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Liny-devant-Dun - Thoughts on a German Cemetery
Battles of the First World War Podcast
A short episode inspired by a visit to the German Soldatenfriedhof in Liny-devant-Dun, France. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . 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 [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.
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“Agent of the Iron Cross: The Race to Capture German Saboteur-Assassin Lothar Witzke during World War I” with Author Bill Mills
Battles of the First World War Podcast
Author Bill MIlls comes on the podcast to discuss his book Agent of the Iron Cross: The Race to Capture German Saboteur-Assassin Lothar Witzke during World War I. Spies, deception, intrigue, and sabotage: these are not the stories we usually think when we think WW1. They are part of this story, though. Buy the book here: 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...
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Meuse Argonne - Assessment
Battles of the First World War Podcast
A look at the United States’ efforts in the First World War, the efforts of the American Expeditionary Force on the battlefield, and what the Doughboys showed and taught us. The BFWWP is on Patreon: . 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 [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on...
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My Great Grandfather’s War: AEF 30th Division and 119th Infantry Regiment with David Brady
Battles of the First World War Podcast
Former Tennessee Park Ranger David Brady comes on the podcast to speak further on the AEF’s 30th Division, its 119th Infantry Regiment, and his great grandfather–a Doughboy who saw action with those units. 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...
info_outlineDuring my recent trip to France, my crew and I had the most wonderful experience when we visited Mr. Andy Robertshaw and Mr. Colin Winn and their archeological dig team out at the Hawthorn Crater on the Somme. How we met the people of the Hawthorn Crater Association will be told in the interview that follows--it was just a stunningly amazing day amongst so many amazing days out there on the Somme and previously in the Argonne.
For many years the Hawthorn Crater has sat in relative obscurity on the Somme battlefield. It has been overgrown with trees and brush, and it has remained enough off the beaten path that most tourists have bypassed it altogether. The Hawthorn Crater Association is changing that. Through limited clearance of diseased trees and careful archeological digs conducted with the enthusiastic support of the people of nearby Beaumont-Hamel village, Mr. Robertshaw, Mr. Winn, and several others are bringing the story of the crater and the men who lived in it, fought in it, and died in it, back to life.
As I will say at the end of the interview, this is not just digging in the earth looking for pieces of metal from the Battle of the Somme. It is so much more than that, as you will hear. And to be clear: no archeological dig is just digging in the dirt, it’s really important and fascinating stuff!
Due to some technical difficulties, Mr. Robertshaw was unable to join us. The VOIP connection also tended to be a bit wobbly at times, but I think overall you’ll be able to understand things fairly clearly.
Please follow the Hawthorn Ridge Crater Association on Twitter to stay up to date: @HawthornRidgeCA
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. We're also on Twitter! Follow us at @WW1podcast. Not into social media? Email me directly at [email protected]. Please consider reviewing the Battles of the First World War Podcast on iTunes.