Stories of the Great War

In this episode, Chris Mowery delves into the tactical chaos and profound strategic impact of the largest naval gun battle in history: the Battle of Jutland. We explore the harrowing events of May 31, 1916, when Britain's Grand Fleet and Germany's High Seas Fleet collided in the cold North Sea, resulting in devastating losses, vaporized battlecruisers, and legendary acts of sacrifice by men like M...

Join host Chris Mowery as he explores the tragic and defining morning of July 1, 1916. In this episode, we follow the heartbreaking story of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, a group of young volunteers from what was then an autonomous British dominion. Sent across the Atlantic to fight in the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, the regiment lost the better part of a generation in just thirty m...

In 1917, America didn’t have a massive standing army ready for France—so Ohio sent its communities. Steelworkers, farmers, clerks, and teachers mobilized together as the 37th Division, a National Guard force that would become known as the “Buckeye Division.” In this deep-dive episode, we follow their transformation from state armories to federal soldiers, shaped by the AEF’s massive “square divisi...

In the summer of 1914, a job at the St. James's Gate Brewery was more than just employment; it was a "golden ticket" in a city grappling with poverty and disease. Known for its "womb to tomb" care, the Guinness Brewery provided a level of corporate paternalism unheard of at the time, fostering an intense loyalty among its workforce. But when the call to arms rang out across the British Empire, tha...

During the Great War, a new kind of injury emerged from the trenches—one that left no visible mark but shattered the minds of soldiers. It was called "shell shock." This podcast explores the story of this invisible wound, from its first appearance as a baffling medical mystery to its dismissal by military command as mere cowardice.   Journey back to the front lines to understand the initial theori...

In the spring of 1918, with German forces only miles from Paris, the Allied cause was on the brink of collapse. Into this desperate fight were thrown the untested U.S. Marines. This episode of "Stories of the Great War" explores the brutal, 26-day battle for Belleau Wood, the bloody crucible that forged the modern identity of the United States Marine Corps. Discover the savage, close-quarters figh...

In the autumn of 1914, with the dream of a swift German victory shattered on the banks of the Marne, Kaiser Wilhelm II turned to a new commander to salvage the war: General Erich von Falkenhayn. This episode delves into the life and controversial career of one of World War I's most pivotal figures. We explore Falkenhayn's rise to power, his stark realization that the war could not be won by tradit...

Join host Chris Mowery for a journey through the remarkable—and heartbreakingly brief—life of Lieutenant William Noel Hodgson. Nicknamed “Smiler” at school and praised for both athletic prowess and poetic talent, Hodgson left Oxford’s cloisters in 1914 to fight with the 9th Devonshire Regiment. From his baptism of fire at Loos to months of trench‑side writing beneath Mansell Copse, the episode tra...

In this sweeping biographical episode of Stories of the Great War, Chris Mowery traces the extraordinary journey of General John J. Pershing—from a Missouri mule team to the battlefields of Europe. With rich narration and vivid storytelling, we follow Pershing through dusty frontier posts, the fire-swept hills of Cuba, the mountains of the Philippines, and into the heart of the Great War. Learn ho...

In this episode of Stories of the Great War, we journey to the rain-soaked fields of northeastern France in September 1918, where the American Expeditionary Forces launched their first independent offensive of the First World War. Led by General John J. Pershing, the St. Mihiel Offensive marked a turning point—not only in the war, but in the emergence of the U.S. as a major military power. Discove...

In this episode, we delve into one of World War I's most harrowing and iconic battles—the Battle of Passchendaele. Through vivid storytelling and poignant eyewitness accounts, we explore the strategic decisions, harsh battlefield conditions, and immense human cost endured by soldiers on both sides. Join us as we examine the courage, sacrifice, and tragedy of Passchendaele, providing a detailed nar...

The Lost Battalion: Courage in the Argonne tells the gripping true story of more than 500 American soldiers who were cut off, surrounded, and left to fend for themselves in the dense Argonne Forest during the final weeks of World War I. Led by Major Charles Whittlesey, these men of the 77th Division held their position under constant German attack, with no food, no water, and little ammunition — a...

Shot at Dawn: Executions in the Great War explores one of the most haunting and controversial aspects of World War I — the execution of over 300 British and Commonwealth soldiers by their own armies, often for desertion, cowardice, or falling asleep at their post. In this sobering episode, we examine: The brutal conditions that drove men to the breaking point The court-martial process and the lack...

In this emotional and gripping episode of Stories of the Great War, we follow the incredible true story of Alvin York—a humble farmer from Tennessee whose deep religious convictions initially led him to oppose fighting in the war. But when faced with battle in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, York displayed extraordinary bravery, capturing over a hundred enemy soldiers almost single-handedly. Through...

In this powerful episode, we uncover the tragic story of the Accrington Pals — a battalion of friends, neighbors, and co-workers who volunteered together to serve King and Country in World War I. As part of the British Army’s unique "Pals Battalions" initiative, the men of Accrington marched off to war side by side — and on July 1, 1916, many of them died side by side on the first day of the Battl...