One of the most memorial pictures to come out of the Titanic Disaster was of a newsboy standing in Trafalgar Square selling the newspapers that told the world of the…

Much has been written about the Christmas Truce of World War One in 1914, some say it never happened as it was not correctly reported – but let us just…

This is not intended to capture all conflicts and military operations since 1952, nor is it intended to be a history lesson on the conflicts of recent military operations.  But…

Many of you who have joined me on battlefield tours will know about my love of working dogs, the fact I own a number of working English Springer Spaniels and…

You may have seen our news article about Mike Stokes travelling to find the place where his grandfather was taken Prisoner of War in 1918 so moved by his experience he…

The motivation and drive for doing a battlefield tour can be varied and for many reasons, to visit the campaigns and battles of past family members; to pay respect to…

I remember fondly joining Bill Wicks on a tour of The Somme battlefield. Bill had travelled from New Zealand and hoped to better understand what it was that his Grandfather,…

George II was the last British monarch born outside the British Isles of Great Britain; George was born and brought up in what is now known as Northern Germany. He…

The names of Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing are world-famous for the first recorded ascent of Everest on 29 May 1953, but can you name anyone else involved in the…

I had the great pleasure of taking a battlefield tour to Normandy which was made special by our guest, Mr Richard Todd. Richard Todd, the actor, may be better known…

I had the great pleasure of receiving the following soon after returning to the battlefields of France and Belgium with Mike and Amber Stokes, Mike has visited before but this…

So often we associate wars as long-lasting and devastating, World War One over four years and World War Two almost six, but what about a war that lasted just 38…

Since the 1920s at exactly 2000 hours, or 8:00 pm, every night the sound of the bugle can be heard in the Belgium town of Ypres. Every night the local…

The relationship between war and the film industry needs little explanation. The war film has long been a favourite and was often Sunday afternoon entertainment on the telly – even…

During battlefield tours I have often spoken about the need, for the first time, for a ‘The Home Front’ during World War One, how industry was required to support the…

The Great War of 1914-18 was fought on a scale never before witnessed with casualties and damage beyond any war previous to it.  In military, social and economic terms it…

“In Flanders Fields” is one of the most famous poems from World War One and is often credited as the reason why the ‘poppy’ was chosen as the flower of…

It is with great sadness that recently the last known surviving veteran of World War One, Claude Choules, died at the age of 110. Many of us will identify with Harry…

Many of you will know about the most highly decorated soldier of World War One, William Harold Coltman VC, DCM & Bar, MM & Bar.  In turn, many have joined me…

Since 1952, The Queen has conferred many honours and awards; the first investiture of the Queen’s reign took place at Buckingham Palace on 27th February 1952, just three weeks into her…

Here in the United Kingdom almost every week we hear stories of racist comments; sadly all too often on the sports field and not always by the spectators, whilst I…

So often on a battlefield tour, people are fascinated at the World War One Memorial Plaque, often better known as The Dead Man’s Penny or sometimes The Widows Penny, that…

Over the years some people have questioned remembrance and the wearing of a poppy, saying we are Glorifying War. It is worth remembering that Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, are…

To visit the place a relative, or loved one, fought and to try to understand what they endured is one of the most popular reasons for a battlefield tour, and…

The first professional footballer soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross was “Donny” Bell.  Donald Simpson Bell was born on 3 December 1890 to Smith and Annie Bell, who resided in…

Many of you who have joined me in Normandy exploring the D-Day beaches of World War Two will have heard of Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis, who was awarded the…

With the fast transport system, from England to France and Belgium, it is now so easy to visit the battlefields of The Western Front from World War One. Nevertheless, it…

I am not sure if the so-called legacy of the London 2012 Olympics really happened, but it started me thinking about soldiers and the Olympics. Following the 1912 Summer Olympics,…

Recent research has thrown light on the last soldiers to be killed on 11 November 1918. The research clearly shows that In the closing minutes of World War One, the…

Taking people on battlefield tours is enormously rewarding; to help a modern-day generation ‘contact’ a distant relative who fought in a past conflict, is still the highlight of many a…

Mike Stokes had previously visited the location in Germany where his grandfather was interned as a Prisoner Of War. But, Mike wanted to visit the area in France where he…

In England, on 23 April, we celebrated St George’s Day, the patron saint of England. George was credited with slaying the dragon and it became a day when a traditional…

If you have not already looked at the start of this Vinter Brothers story then I strongly urge you to do so. Click Here, to fully understand why Derek needed…

Much has been written about Captain Noel Chavasse being the most decorated officer of the First World War, and many of you will have joined me as we stood by…

Many of you who have travelled to the battlefield of France and Belgium with me will know that if there is one thing I hope you take away it is…