Living History with Mat McLachlan

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 special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://ww...

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 September, smashing the Germans in multiple parts of t...

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 British, Australians and Canadians, culminating in the...

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 effort. Clare Mulley's latest book, Agent Zo: 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 series on the D-Day landings, Mat is joined by his...

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-Day landings, Mat is joined by historian Gary Sheff...

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 Gary Sheffield Producer: Jess Stebnicki Subscribe t...

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 McManus Producer: Jess Stebnicki Subscribe to listen...

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 tough defences of Omaha Beach. Was 'Bloody Omaha' re...

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 force? In the eighth and final episode of our special...

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. Will the men get ashore, and what new horrors will fa...

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 disease, the terrain they must cross is some of t...

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 on the Gallipoli campaign, Mat is joined by histori...

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 of Krithia village and Achi Baba hill. Can they su...

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 third episode of our special series on the Gallipoli c...

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 historian Peter Hart to tell the story of the landi...

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 formidable Turkish defences, the navy was determin...

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 episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free lis...

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 time of Trafalgar; a range of cannon projectiles tha...

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 Scottish island; and more! Presenter: Mat McLachlan...

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 Stebnicki Subscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus e...

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-part special series on Gallipoli; and more! Subscribe...

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, ad-free listening and special online events...

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 exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all epis...

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 coastwatcher who played a vital role in saving Kennedy...