Military

The Victoria Cross is the most prestigious honour that can be bestowed by the British Armed Forces. A medal full of historic significance and modern meaning, it is a cornerstone of British military history! In this article, we take a look at the meaning behind this prestigious commendation, its beginnings and its relevance today. What is the Victoria Cross? The...

According to figures released in September 2019 by Ofcom, 7.1 million people in the UK listen to podcasts, equating to roughly one person in every eight. This is a year on year increase of 24%, meaning more people now than ever are tuning into podcasts. This proliferation has meant that there are more opportunities for podcasters to be heard, allowing for the creation of new shows to bring exciting content to the ears of the masses. Continue reading →

As we've spoken about in our blog countless times, we are fascinated by the military, both at home and abroad. We've recently taken a look at Joint Force 2025 and marvelled at the plans to upgrade the UK's military power. We've also looked at guns and equipment used by the military, such as how bomb suits are made and used. Continue reading →

The term ’military hero’ is perhaps not so appropriate for Sir Arthur Harris, depending on which side of the fence you stand on. His role within the First and Second World Wars undoubtedly played a part in the Allied victory, but the question is whether the ends justified the means. His tactics, ideas and opinions were certainly dividing, and to many, seemed extreme. Here, we take a look at the life and career of Sir Arthur Harris, also known as Bomber or Butcher Harris, and leave it to you to form your own opinion. Continue reading →

If you’ve paid any attention to military reports and literature over the last couple of years, you’ll have noticed a common phrase cropping up. Mentioned in the RAF Strategy in 2017, the MOD’s Annual Reports and Accounts for 2018-2019 (an interesting read in of itself) and, perhaps the first sighting of this phrase, was in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). The purpose of the 2015 SDSR was to outline the moves the UK is making to upgrade its defence capabilities. Since then, the term has been used across a slew of internal and external materials, but what does it mean? Here, we offer a brief overview of what you need to know about Joint Force 2025. Continue reading →

Yes, the title may sound like a discarded Harry Potter spin-off series, but it is, in fact, serious stuff. The story of the Millennium Challenge has flown relatively under the radar for a number of years. It was first brought into public consciousness by Malcolm Gladwell and his book ‘Blink’; A non-fiction title which looked to educate us on the idea of ‘thinking without thinking’, the decision making process and the story behind our snap decisions. The book was published in 2005 and continues to be used in classrooms and lecture halls across the country. Gladwell wrote about the Millennium Challenge in a way that made it accessible for the masses to understand, something which had not been done until that point. This accessibility was what prompted a deeper dive into the events, and General Paul Van Riper’s role within them. Continue reading →

Image Source: Steve Parker Alan Turing, born in London in 1912, was a Mathematician, Cryptographer and seen as a pioneer of computer science. His work during World War II was unprecedented and one of the most outstanding contributions from a single individual. A life of talent, success and persecution, tainted by a tragic end, his story has been told and retold since his passing with his work continuing to form the basis for technology such as artificial intelligence. Find out more about his life here! Continue reading →

Throughout this article, it’s important to bear in mind the definition of resilience, and just as importantly, what resilience ISN’T. By definition, resilience is ‘the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness’. When describing shapes, resilience is comparable to elasticity and an ability to spring back into shape. Equally important to note, resilience doesn’t necessarily mean to tolerate or endure i.e. grin and bear it. Nor does it mean to avoid trauma and be resistant to change. Continue reading →

Bomb suits, otherwise known as Explosive Ordnance Disposal suits, are the culmination of years of innovation in battlefield technology. They capitalise on using state of the art materials in their construction, along with being cleverly designed to minimise the effects of an explosion on the wearer. As seen in various films and TV shows throughout the years, most notably in 2008’s The Hurt Locker, the humble bomb suit is something that we think doesn’t get enough credit. Therefore, in this article, we’ll be looking at what goes into making one and how the technologies work together to keep the wearer as safe as possible. Continue reading →

In our third instalment of our military heroes series, we travel to Russia to explore the life of Vasily Zaitsev. Along with the UK, the US, France and China, the Soviet Union were the final nation to make up the Allied Forces during WWII. Vasily fought for the Soviet Union from 1942 until the end of the war in 1945, leaving an immeasurable impact and legacy. Continue reading →