Mentioned in Dispatches

In this episode of the Western Front Association’s Mentioned in Dispatches Podcast, Briana Gervat discusses her book There Will Come Soft Rains, which recounts her extraordinary solo walk along the Western Front from the Swiss border to the North Sea. Briana reflects on the journey, the landscapes and communities she encountered and what walking the length of the former Western Front revealed about the enduring physical and human legacy of the First World War. The episode explores the relationship between history, memory and landscape and considers how travelling through these historic places on foot can offer a distinctive perspective on the conflict and its continuing presence in Europe

In this podcast, Gerard Shannon discusses his biography of Rory O’Connor, a key figure in the Irish revolutionary period. He explores O’Connor’s journey from engineer to senior IRA leader and his involvement in the political and military struggles of the time. The interview examines the tensions that led to the Irish Civil War and O’Connor’s eventual execution. Gerard also reflects on the complexities of interpreting revolutionary figures and the continuing relevance of this period in Irish history.

In this episode, Rebecca Clarke examines the sinking of HMS India in 1915 and the extraordinary stories of the survivors who were interned in Norway. Drawing on family archives and personal letters, she reconstructs the experiences of these sailors during and after the sinking. The interview highlights lesser-known aspects of naval warfare and the long-term consequences for those involved. Rebecca also reflects on the importance of preserving personal histories in understanding the wider impact of war.

In this podcast, Patrick Taylor discusses his research into the experiences of shell-shocked servicemen returning to civilian life after the First World War. Drawing on archival sources from Britain and Australia, he examines issues of rehabilitation, family relationships and the role of charities and the state. The interview highlights the long-term impact of psychological trauma and the challenges faced by veterans and their families. Patrick also reflects on how attitudes towards mental health have evolved since the early twentieth century.

In this episode, Aimée Fox, Mike Finch and David Morgan-Owen discuss their edited volume on how the First World War was perceived and interpreted by those who experienced it. They explore how different groups, including soldiers, commanders and politicians, framed the conflict and how those perspectives influenced decision-making. The interview highlights the diversity of viewpoints and the importance of perception in shaping military and political outcomes. The authors also reflect on the value of collaborative scholarship in developing new interpretations of the war.

In this podcast, Antony Bell discusses the historical background to his novel A Penny a Shell, focusing on the 1916 Barnbow munitions factory explosion. He explores the lives of the women workers, known as the Barnbow Lasses, who laboured under dangerous and secretive conditions. The interview highlights the scale of the disaster, its impact on the local community and the broader role of women on the home front. Antony also reflects on the process of blending historical fact with fiction to bring these stories to a wider audience.