The colossal German battleship Tirpitz was a major threat to British sea routes in early-1942. If deployed in the Atlantic it would take refuge in the port of St Nazaire, where the Normandie Dock – the largest of its kind in the world – was big enough to accommodate it for repairs. If the dryContinue reading “Assault on the dry dock, St Nazaire, 28th March 1942”
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Plaju refinery, Palembang, 14th February 1942
Japan’s conquest of the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) depended heavily on securing the vast natural resources of the archipelago. Near Palembang, capital of South Sumatra, was an Allied airfield (‘P1′) as well as two oil refineries – Plaju and Sungei Gerong – which processed a third of the Indies’ oil production. If the refineriesContinue reading “Plaju refinery, Palembang, 14th February 1942”
Road ambush at Bakri, 18th January 1942
By mid-January 1942, the relentless Japanese advance across Malaya had forced British and Commonwealth forces to withdraw to Johore in the south of the country. It was here that one of the few local victories against the Japanese came on 18th January. At dawn, the Imperial Guards Division advanced down the road towards the townContinue reading “Road ambush at Bakri, 18th January 1942”
Air attack on Repulse, 10th December 1941
In early-December 1941, Force Z arrived in Singapore to reinforce the British position in the Far East and deter Japanese aggression. Commanded by Admiral Tom Phillips, it consisted of two capital ships (HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse) and four destroyers. Small and unbalanced, Force Z failed to deter the invasion of British Malaya onContinue reading “Air attack on Repulse, 10th December 1941”
Machine gun dog cart, Belgium, 1914
Before mass motorisation, dogs were widely used as cheap and efficient pack animals in the Low Countries. In 1913 the Belgian army accepted a small carriage, designed by Lieutenants Blancgarin and Van de Putte, that could mount a Maxim machine gun and ammunition. It would be pulled by sturdy dog breeds such as the BelgianContinue reading “Machine gun dog cart, Belgium, 1914”
The Prussian Guard at Ypres, 11th November 1914
On the morning of 11th Nov 1914, German forces launched a final attempt to capture Ypres and the Channel ports. After a two hour artillery bombardment, thousands of troops came out of the mist and attacked a thin Allied line stretching from Polygon Wood to Messines. During the attack, four regiments from the elite PrussianContinue reading “The Prussian Guard at Ypres, 11th November 1914”
129th Baluchis at Hollebeke, 31st October 1914
In October 1914, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was bolstered by reinforcements from the Indian Corps. These included the 129th Duke of Connaught’s Own Baluchis – part of the Ferozepore Brigade of the Lahore Division – which was quickly deployed around Ypres in western Flanders. The town became the centre of a major German attemptContinue reading “129th Baluchis at Hollebeke, 31st October 1914”
Ambush at Mtsensk, 6th October 1941
Four days into the main phase of Operation Typhoon – the German offensive to capture Moscow – Kampfgruppe Eberbach moved up the Orel-Tula highway. With the Lisiza River bridge quickly captured, Eberbach sent across five tank companies and a battalion of motorcycle infantry to secure a nearby ridge. The crossing site would be held byContinue reading “Ambush at Mtsensk, 6th October 1941”
Arrival at Marathon, September 490 BC
After suppressing the Ionian Revolt in Anatolia, the Persian King Darius sent an invasion force to punish the Greek states of Athens and Eretria for supporting the rebels and for burning down the administrative capital at Sardis. In early-September 490 BC, the Persian fleet of 600 ships arrived in the Bay of Marathon near Athens,Continue reading “Arrival at Marathon, September 490 BC”
Casteau, 22nd August 1914
Soon after the arrival of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in Belgium, C Squadron 4th Dragoon Guards was tasked with scouting north of Mons in order to make contact with the advancing Germans. At around 06.00 hrs on 22nd August, the squadron moved northeast along the Mons-Brussels road. While watering their horses, the dragoons spottedContinue reading “Casteau, 22nd August 1914”
Empire of History 