Talbot House was an 'everyman's club' in the Ypres sector in Belgium during the First World War. Established behind the lines in the town of Poperinghe, Talbot House was a place soldiers could come to for some respite from the horrors of the battlefield. Today it has been preserved as a museum, dedicated to telling the story of the house and its fo…

Mat is joined by regular co-host Karl James to discuss some important Second World War anniversaries. Topics include the sinking of HMAS Sydney and the opening of the Australian War Memorial in 1941, the end of the Kokoda campaign in 1942 and the Australians taking over from the Americans on Bougainville in 1944. Presenter: Mat McLachlan Guest: Kar…

It's the latest episode in our Q&A series. This week's questions include: Was General Monash the greatest general of the First World War?; Where can I lay a wreath on the Western Front battlefields?; and What evidence of Hitler's V-Weapons campaign can you find today? Send your questions to Mat on X (https://x.com/MatMcLachlan), Facebook (https://w…

Our guest this week is noted Australian historian Peter Stanley, formerly with the Australian War Memorial, the National Museum and the University of NSW. Peter's new book, Beyond the Broken Years, explores more than a century of military history publishing, via a thousand books. Topics discussed include the history of military history writing, the…

It's the latest episode in our Q&A series. This week's questions include: Was the Brisbane Line in WW2 real?; Is Anzac Day the best time to visit Gallipoli?; and Did Australian troops only fight under the Red Ensign flag in WW1? Send your questions to Mat on X (https://x.com/MatMcLachlan), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BattlefieldTours) or Ins…

Mat is joined by special co-host Karl James to discuss the significance of Remembrance Day. How did it start, what does it mean to veterans and the general public, and will it continue to be important in the future? Presenter: Mat McLachlan Guest: Karl James Producer: Jess Stebnicki Join one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the…

It's the second episode in our new Q&A series. Today's topics include WW2 sites in Singapore; visiting the medieval battlefields of Crecy and Agincourt; the role of snipers in the First World War; and the attitude of Vietnamese people to Australian Vietnam veterans. Send your questions to Mat on X (https://x.com/MatMcLachlan), Facebook (https://www…

Mat sits down with producer Jess Stebnicki to answer your questions, including: Are there ghosts on the battlefields? How much time do I need to spend on the Australian battlefields? What happened to Australians captured at Gallipoli?, and how much unexploded ammunition is still on the battlefields? Send your questions to Mat on X (https://x.com/Ma…

Mat is in Paris, sharing his memories of a very special visit to the Western Front. Topics discussed include how young people engage with the Anzac legend; a German WW2 cemetery that provokes mixed emotions; the Last Post service at the newly-renovated Menin Gate; the Sunken Lane on the Somme battlefield; and a remarkable coincidence involving two …

Damien Parer was one of Australia's greatest war photographers and cinematographers. His images and footage of Australians in the Second World War helped define the conflict, both for the people who were in it and for generations to come. His camera work on 'Kokoda Frontline' helped earn Australia its first Academy Award, and his work with American…

Mat visits the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the artefacts and large items that are rarely on public display. During this special visit he is guided by Head of Military History Dr Karl James, and speaks to historian Dr Lachlan Grant about the new Australians in Bomber Command exhibition. Topics discusse…

Join Mat to hear all about guidl, a new audio tour app that he is contributing to. guidl takes you on walking tours to the world's most historic sites, narrated by leading historians. Mat's first guidl tour is of wartime Ypres and, in this special episode, Mat shares the first chapter of his Ypres walking tour. Download the app and find out more ab…

The Somme region in northern France was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the First World War. Today, it is one of the most important and evocative battlefields for Australian visitors. In this special episode, Mat explores the Somme region and tells you where to go, where to stay and what you will see when you are there. Watch the vid…

Live from Vietnam! In this very special episode of the podcast, Mat is joined by veteran of the Battle of Long Tan, Dave Sabben, MG. Mat and Dave have just walked the entire Long Tan battlefield on the 58th anniversary of the battle, and share their thoughts about this very special experience. Presenter: Mat McLachlan Guest: Dave Sabben, MG Produce…

During the Second World War, the Allies were desperate to sink the two biggest battleships in the German fleet, Bismarck and her sister ship Tirpitz. Bismarck went to the bottom in 1941 but in 1944 Tirpitz was still threatening Allied shipping. In a series of daring raids over the icy waters of Norway, Royal Air Force bombers eventually sank the mi…

The First World War is drawing to a close, as the unstoppable forces of France, Britain and America grind the German army into the ground. But some of the toughest fighting of the war is still to come before an Armistice is finally signed. How did the men keep going through this terrible ordeal, knowing that the war could end any day, and yet death…

Mat McLachlan and Peter Hart are going to Gallipoli! In this special episode of the podcast, the two historians and chums discuss their upcoming tour in May 2025, which will discover the battlefields of Gallipoli by walking in the footsteps of the men who were there! The 10-day tour begins in Istanbul on May 21, 2025, and we'd love you to join us! …

The Battle of Krithia was one of the bloodiest ordeals at Gallipoli, and cost the Australians and New Zealanders nearly 2500 casualties. But for some reason the battle has slipped through the cracks of history, and barely rates a mention in the Anzac story of Gallipoli. Mat McLachlan's new book, Krithia: The Forgotten Anzac Battle of Gallipoli, red…

In three years of combat the Australian Imperial Force evolved from a keen but inexperienced group of new recruits who landed at Gallipoli, to one of the elite assault forces on the Western Front. No discussion of the closing days of WWI would be complete without exploring the key role played by Australian troops, and their enigmatic leader, Lieute…

In this bonus episode, which originally aired on our sister podcast, BattleWalks, Mat is joined by historian Pete Smith to tell the story of Australian Olympic gold medallist and WWI officer, Cecil Healy. Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Pete Smith Producer: Jess Stebnicki Subscribe via Patreon to receive exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening and spe…

After the successes of August 1918, the Allies are smelling blood and, in one of the most overwhelming series of attacks launched during the entire First World War, they deal the Germans a savage blow. The French and British, supported by Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Americans, launch four huge attacks in four consecutive days in Sept…

The Germans have battered themselves to the point of exhaustion in their Spring Offensives of March and April, 1918. Now it's time for the Allies to strike back! Beginning with French actions on the Marne, the great Allied offensive that would eventually lead to the total defeat of the German Army begins. And the attack is soon taken up by the Brit…

The Special Operations Executive was a secretive British organisation that engaged in espionage and supported resistance movements in occupied Europe during the Second World War. In this episode Mat is joined by historian Clare Mulley to tell the story of several women who played vital roles in SOE operations - many of whom lost their lives in the …

Juno Beach was sandwiched between Gold and Sword, and was the responsibility of Canadian forces to secure. But in scenes reminiscent of Omaha Beach to the west, the Canadians came ashore in the face of withering German fire and suffered heavy casualties. What made Juno Beach such a deadly place to land on D-Day? In the final episode of our special …

Sword Beach was the most easterly of all the D-Day landing beaches, and the one most likely to face the wrath of German counter-attacks. As the British infantry landed their flank was supported by a daring airborne operation. Would the British get ashore before German reinforcements moved against them? In the fourth of our special series on the D-D…

Our focus now shifts to the British sector of D-Day, and the landing on Gold Beach. Would the Brits get ashore in the face of treacherous weather and fierce German resistance? In the third of our special series on the D-Day landings, Mat is joined by historian Gary Sheffield to tell the story of the landing at Gold Beach. Hosts: Mat McLachlan and G…

While American troops were being cut down on Omaha Beach, their comrades to the west were coming ashore on the rolling dunes of Utah Beach. Why did this landing go so much more to plan? In the second of our special series on the D-Day landings, Mat is joined by historian John McManus to tell the story of Utah Beach. Hosts: Mat McLachlan and John Mc…

It's the 80th anniversary of D-Day and Mat is breaking down the entire day by telling the story of each of the five beaches. It's a five-episode special series that will reveal the real story of the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Today the Americans are tasked with the toughest mission of D-Day: landing in front of the imposing cliffs and to…

The end is drawing near. After failure, disappointment and outright disaster, it's time for the Allies to evacuate Gallipoli. But this is no simple task - nearly 100,000 men need to be withdrawn from the peninsula under the noses of the Turks. Will the British and Anzacs be able to pull it off? How can they slink away without losing half their forc…

As part of their cunning plan to outflank the Turks and seize the high ground in the August Offensive, the Allies play their trump card. They stage a new landing at Suvla Bay and bring thousands of reinforcements ashore. But the terrain at Suvla is not as easy as it appears on a map, and the British are dogged by indecision and poor leadership. Wil…

The Allies are getting desperate and as the heat of summer descends on the peninsula, they are determined to try a bold gamble to win the campaign once and for all. Turning their attention to the Anzac sector, they come up with an ambitious plan that involves breaking out to the north of Anzac and seizing the high ground. But the men are wracked by…

Stalemate has descended on Gallipoli and both sides now have to confront a new enemy - the appalling living conditions in the trenches. If the constant risk of death was not enough to do a man in, he also had to contend with heat, flies, corpses, disease and a nauseating diet. Could things get any worse? In the fifth episode of our special series o…

The British and French have secured the barest of toeholds at Cape Helles, and the Anzacs are hanging on by their fingernails at Anzac Cove. Now their commanders must decide what to do next. Turning away from Anzac for the time being, they decide to throw their scarce resources into the main battlefield of Helles, and finally secure the objectives …

While the Australians and New Zealanders are struggling to come ashore at Anzac Cove, the British are landing at Cape Helles, on the southern toe of the Gallipoli peninsula. But once again, the Turkish defenders put up a stiff resistance that far exceeds their small numbers. Can the British get ashore in the face of this withering fire? In the thir…

The Allies are going ashore at Gallipoli! In the frosty dawn of April 25, 1915, 16,000 Australian and New Zealand troops prepare to land on a hostile shore. The Turks know a landing is coming, but will their defences be enough to drive the Anzacs into the sea? In the second episode of our special series on the Gallipoli campaign, Mat is joined by h…

It's March, 1915. Turkey has entered the war on Germany's side and promptly closed the Dardanelles strait, closing off a vital sea route for our Russian allies. Britain and France decide to take decisive action - they will send a fleet to Gallipoli and storm the Dardanelles! Armed with a half-baked plan, 16 obsolete warships and little idea of the …

The Sandakan Death March was one of the darkest chapter of Australia's WW2 story. In this confronting episode, Mat is joined by historian Lynette Silver to tell the story of the forced march of Australian POWs by the Japanese in 1945. Presenter: Mat McLachlan Guest: Lynette Silver Producer: Jess Stebnicki Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus e…

Mat visits the National Maritime Museum in London to explore six fascinating relics from the Battle of Trafalgar. Guiding him around the collection is senior curator, Rob Blyth. Topics discussed: A painting that shows Lord Nelson bleeding after his arm was amputated; a beautiful porcelain figurine that depicts 'Jack Tar', a typical sailor at the ti…

Mat is joined by historian Michael Molkentin to discuss all things WW1 and WW2! Topics discussed: Final thoughts on the TV series Masters of the Air; the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape and the plight of POWs; the Naval Battle of Gallipoli; the German Spring Offensive of 1918; the mysterious discovery of a WW2 bomber propeller on an isolated S…

Mat speaks to historian Paul Reed about the German Spring Offensive, the huge series of attacks that fell on the Allies in March and April 1918. Listen to Paul Reed's outstanding podcast, The Old Front Line: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1T7u7meUQVm1CTYqKX3EcD?si=ceFpx8stQw-yigWZQCz8qw Presenter: Mat McLachlan Guest: Paul Reed Producer: Jess Ste…

Mat reveals exciting news in the world of battlefield history! Topics discussed: The launch of 'Easy Target', a new book by friend of the show Adam Blum; supporting Talbot House, the Everyman's Club in the Belgian town of Poperinghe that provided respite for thousands of soldiers during WWI; Mat's new Signature Tour to Gallipoli; our upcoming 8-par…

Join Mat on the battlefields as he explores Yorkshire Trench, a preserved British trench and dugout system that was discovered in an industrial estate near the Flanders town of Ypres in the 1990s. Presenter: Mat McLachlan Guest: Wouter Sinaeve Producer: Jess Stebnicki Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes,…

Join Mat for this special live presentation as he discusses the Second Battle of Krithia, a murderous ordeal at Gallipoli that most Australians and New Zealanders have never heard of! Watch the video version of this podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-b5G9x9dFg Presenter: Mat McLachlan Producer: Jess Stebnicki Subscribe via Patreon for …

Long before he became president, John F. Kennedy was a young naval officer in command of a patrol boat in the Solomon Islands. After a disastrous encounter with a Japanese ship, Kennedy saved his crew and became a war hero. In this episode, Mat is joined by author Brett Mason to explore the story of Kennedy's dramatic rescue and the Australian coas…

It's our 200th episode, and to celebrate Mat looks back at some of his favourite moments from the last five years. From convict graveyards to WW2 veterans and the death of Ned Kelly, this episode has it all! Want to know more? Subscribe to listen to a special BONUS EPISODE - the full interview with Tobruk veteran Bert Le Merton - by clicking here: …

What would have happened if the Nazis had won the Battle of Britain. In this fascinating 'what if?' revisit, Mat speaks to Professor Gary Sheffield about Operation Sea Lion, the German plans to invade the British Isles. Did it have any chance of success? How would Britain have responded? How would world history have been affected? Here more from Ga…

Mat joins guide Steve Hunnisett to walk the streets of London, seeking evidence of damage from two World Wars. From ghostly air raid shelter signs to bombed-out churches, the secrets of London's wartime history are never far away. Want to know more? Subscribe to listen to a special BONUS EPISODE about walking London's war history, by clicking here:…

Mat visits the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park to discuss the Australian Light Horse with historian Brad Manera. Presenter: Mat McLachlan Guest: Brad Manera Producer: Jess Stebnicki Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MM…

Mat hosts a YouTube live event about the Battle of Passchendaele, one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. See the video of the live event here: https://youtube.com/live/pfWdbJGaBZ0 Become a subscriber to receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access, ad-free listening, special events and more! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistory Join us…

Join Mat McLachlan on YouTube Live on Feb 15, 2024 at 6pm Sydney (7am London) time to discuss the Battle of Passchendaele! Click here to join: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfWdbJGaBZ0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.