The Forgotten Jihad – What Sparked a Tribal Revolt Against the British in India’s North-West Frontier?
“Few today remember that conflict, which would become known as the Pathan Rising.” By Mark Simner FOR OVER A decade the word jihad has appeared frequently in print throughout Europe and North America. The reason,…
The Fighting Messmates — The Curious Role of Food in Turkey’s Legendary Janissary Corps
“The corps’ military vocabulary and symbolism drew heavily on that of the kitchen.” By Richard Anderton THOUGH IT WAS Napoleon Bonaparte (or possibly Frederick the Great) who first coined the phrase “an army marches on…
“Mind Shattering” – WW2 Vet Recalls Terrifying Din of Battle (LISTEN)
“That shrill sound is something I’ve never heard duplicated. It’s just mind-shattering.” BATTLEFIELDS are loud places – deafeningly loud. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, hearing damage is by far the most common…
The Reinvention of Valentine Baker – How a Disgraced British Army Officer Salvaged His Career on a Foreign Battlefield
“Baker intended to overcome this shame and humiliation by his achievements on the battlefield.” By Frank Jastrzembski COLONEL VALENTINE BAKER had few options after his release from prison in August 1876. Dishonourably discharged and banished…
Warfare After Alexander – The Armies of the Early Hellenistic Era
“By the time of the Diadokhoi, Hellenistic warfare had become a multi-national, multi-disciplined, complex affair.” By David Grant ANY APPRECIATION OF warfare in the Hellenistic Era requires an understanding of the military prowess of Alexander…
A Study in Suffering — How One Army Surgeon Captured the Painful Aftermath of Waterloo
“At a time when most European artists saw fit to immortalize the glory and heroism of battle, Charles Bell’s work called attention to the distressing aftermath of 19th century warfare.” DOCTOR CHARLES BELL, a Scottish born…
