Meet Wilmer McLean – One of the Civil War’s First and Last Victims

“The war exacted a heavy toll on McLean’s business.” WILMER MCLEAN WAS was too old to fight in the American Civil War. But that didn’t stop the 47-year-old Virginia farmer and merchant from finding himself…

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Before Gatling – Who Was The First To Invent A Rapid-Fire Gun?

“While the Gatling gun may be the best-known early-machine gun, the mechanical marvel was by no means the first attempt to fire lethal projectiles in volleys or in rapid succession.” ONE OF THE GREAT ironies of…

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The Battle of Nauru – Nazi Germany’s Forgotten Foray into the Pacific

“German warships would carry to the fight against the Allies to the very shores of Nauru. The ensuing battle would represent the only Nazi military action of World War Two to take place in the…

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The Great War Makes the News – Catching Up With The Press’ Recent WW1 Coverage

The media sure loves an anniversary story – and the approaching centennial of the outbreak of World War One is no exception. For weeks now, newspapers have been capitalizing on the public’s mounting interest in the…

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Bombed Twice – The Man Who Lived Through Two Atomic Attacks

FEELING A LITTLE blue this morning? If so, you’re not alone. According to experts, the third Monday of January, known as “Blue Monday”, is supposedly the most depressing day of the year. Psychologists believe that wintery…

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Stickin’ It To ‘Em – The Last of the Great Bayonet Charges

“There have been handful of occasions during the Second World War and in the decades that followed in which leaders in various situations would call out the words: ‘Fix bayonets!’” IT WAS D-DAY plus five (June 11, 1944) when Robert…

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