The Old Front Line

Walk the battlefields of the First World War with Military Historian, Paul Reed. In these podcasts, Paul brings together over 40 years of studying the Great War, from the stories of veterans he interviewed, to when he spent more than a decade living on the Old Front Line in the heart of the Somme battlefields.

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Episodes

Walking Gallipoli: W Beach

In this episode we move to Gallipoli, a battlefield in Turkey where British and Commonwealth soldiers landed on 25th April 1915. Here we visit Lancashire Landing Cemetery, walk down to W Beach and look at the story of the 'six VCs before breakfast'. Our object this week is a WW1 photo album with private images taken at Gallipoli in 1915. Send us a text Support the show...

Apr 25, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Forgotten Battlefields: The Boar's Head 1916

This week we take our first walk across one of the 'Forgotten Battlefields' of the Great War, the Boar's Head close to the village of Richebourg in Northern France. Here we discover the story of the Southdown's Battalions, or Lowther's Lambs, and uncover what a terrible sacrifice Sussex made here on 30th June 1916. Send us a text Support the show...

Apr 19, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Walking the Somme: Hawthorn Ridge

In this episode we walk the battlefields of the Somme, taking a journey from Auchonvillers up onto the Hawthorn Ridge near Beaumont-Hamel, where the fighting raged on 1st July 1916, the First Day of the Somme. We learn about a young officer, Eric Heaton, and visit a small battlefield cemetery where comrades lay side by side: Hawthorn Ridge No 1. Send us a text Support the show...

Apr 12, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Arras Anniversary Special: Arras Veterans

In this episode, published on the 103rd Anniversary of the Battle of Arras, we talk about some of the history of the battle and remember two veterans who were there in 1917: George Butler of the Machine Gun Corps and Malcolm Vyvyan MC of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Send us a text Support the show

Apr 09, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Ypres Battlefield Archaeology & Essex Farm

In this episode we look at Battlefield Archaeology carried out by the Diggers near Ypres in 2001-2002, examine an original piece of recovered archaeology and visit the Advanced Dressing Station bunkers at Essex Farm, on the battlefields close to Ypres in Flanders. Send us a text Support the show

Apr 03, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 2

A Walk Through Pozières

In this first Episode of the Old Front Line, Military Historian Paul Reed takes you on a walk across the Somme battlefields at Pozières, the scene of heavy fighting in 1916. We visit the cemetery and memorial, and travel through the village to 'Mucky Farm'. We also introduce a regular feature looking at WW1 objects, talking about a Great War officer's whistle. Send us a text Support the show...

Mar 29, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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