Footsteps of the fallen

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Welcome to the latest podcast!
In today's episode, we look at the work and perils of the Balloon Corps.  Vital for observation and artillery support, balloon work was one of the most dangerous jobs in the military, with a shockingly short life expectancy.
We begin at Couin Military Cemetery, where a top hat and cane marked the grave of one of Edwardian theatre's most celebrated dandies (and also a balloon corps observer), Basil Radford, aka Gilbert the Filbert.  We hear about the role of balloons, their design, and question whether the so-called "Guardian Angel" lived up to its name.
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Welcome to the latest podcast!
In the first of a new themed series, we take a deep dive into some of the great questions of the First World War. Each episode is carefully researched, drawing on both primary and secondary sources to explore the truth — or the uncertainty — behind some of the conflict’s most important issues.
In this episode, we examine the burial of the Unknown Warrior: the story behind the selection of the body, the confusion surrounding the process, the pomp and ceremony of the interment, and why the grave in Westminster Abbey remains so significant to this day.
Support the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog
https:/www.patreon.com/footstepspod

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Welcome to the latest episode!
Today we walk the battlefield from Ypres to Poelkappelle and discover the personal stories of some of the men who lie in the cemeteries in this part of the Salient, including that of the greatest French air ace, Georges Guynemer.
Support the podcast:
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Happy New Year!
By July 1918, the German offensive was running out of steam; heavy losses, combined with overstretched supply lines, put the Germans in a perilous position.  The German Commander, Ludendorff, gambled everything on one final push, the so-called Friedenstrum, or Peace Offensive. The offensive failed and the door was opened to Allied Victory.
In this episode, we look at the events of July 1917, discover the conflict between Ludendorff and his military planners, and hear the story of two of Britain's greatest flying aces.

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Welcome to the final podcast of 2025!
In our second question-and-answer episode, we answer some listeners' questions, covering topics including Home Front recruitment, the evolution of gas masks, rum jars, and the Carlisle Programme.
Got a question you'd like answered? Please email me at [email protected].
Happy New Year! The podcast will be back in 2026!!
Support the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/footstepsblog
https:/www.patreon.com/footstepspod