‘If it became necessary immediately to discard every line and method of communications used on the front, except one, and it were left to me to select that one method, I should unhesitatingly choose the pigeons’, wrote Major General Fowler, Chief of Signals and Communications of the British Army, after the First World War.
On today's podcast Tom and Dominic ... Show More
Oct 7
712. The Terror: The Fall of Robespierre (Part 6)
Why did the Terror reach unprecedented levels of bloodshed in 1794? Who was running France by this point? And, how was Robespierre finally destroyed, and dragged to the guillotine by his former allies…? Join Dominic and Tom as they reach the terrifying, climactic conclusion to th ... Show More
1h 36m
Sep 30
710. The Terror: Death at the Guillotine (Part 4)
How did two of the French Revolution's leading figures, Georges Danton and Maximilien Robespierre, differ in their views on how to further the cause? Which scandalous conspiracy was Danton accused of being involved in that would lead him to the guillotine? And, was it true? Or th ... Show More
1h 31m
Aug 2015
Pigeons: Homing, Passenger, Carrier and Otherwise
<p>Pigeons can get a little confusing. Passengers, messengers, carriers, homing - the list goes on. But when it comes down to it, they're all variations of the same smart bird with a knack for getting home to roost. Learn about these clever creatures in today's episode.</p><p> </ ... Show More
48m 21s
Jul 2024
10. Journalists on the Front Line
Allied journalists parachute into France and land on the beaches with the invasion force. Legendary reporter Martha Gellhorn stows away on a ship, determined to beat her estranged husband, Ernest Hemingway, to the D-Day scoop. And a homing pigeon known as Gustav brings the first ... Show More
38m 33s
Nov 2023
Bras, Paratroopers, and Pigeons
The brassiere became an essential foundation garment during the early 20th century, but its origins may be traced back more than 1,500 years...oh and birds are involved
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1h 7m
Aug 2024
American Operators on WW1's Front Line
<p>When the First World War ended at 11am on 11 November, 1918, how did army command relay the ceasefire to their troops? In fact, before radios and computer systems, in the early years of the telephone, how were messages passed along trenches at all?</p><br><p>In this episode, D ... Show More
30m 40s
<p>Once considered noble and heroic, pigeons are now viewed as an urban nuisance — one that costs cities millions of dollars a year. Zachary Crockett tosses some crumbs.</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="http://www.andrewblechman.com/">Andrew Blechman</ ... Show More