True Blue Conversations Podcast

Welcome back everyone, and thanks for joining me and my good mate, Battlefield Historian, Pete Smith, for Part 2 of our walk around the iconic Belgian town of Ypres. Known as 'Wipers' to the Allied soldiers, the town and surrounding countryside were the scene of some of the most fierce and tragic events on the Western Front during the Great War. 'Lest We Forget' all those who have made the ultimat...

Former Australian Army Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment, Electronic Warfare operator Team Leader Corporal Andy Fermo. Andy enlisted in the regular Army in 2001 as an Electronic Warfare (EW) operator in Royal Australian Signals Corps. In 2006, he was posted to 2 Commando, immediately deploying domestically with Tactical Assault Group-East in support of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Having w...

Former Australian Army Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment, Electronic Warfare operator Team Leader Corporal Andy Fermo. Andy enlisted in the regular Army in 2001 as an Electronic Warfare (EW) operator in Royal Australian Signals Corps. In 2006, he was posted to 2 Commando, immediately deploying domestically with Tactical Assault Group-East in support of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Having w...

G'day and welcome to the third season of True Blue History. Thanks to all those who have supported the podcast, and a special welcome to new listeners. What a line-up of great guests and topics we have for you this year, On today's podcast, we'll be joining my good mate, Battlefield tour guide, Pete Smith, on a walk around the iconic Belgian town of Ypres. Known as 'Wipers' to the Allied soldiers,...

The largest mass escape of prisoners-of-war in modern military history occurred on Australian soil during the Second World War. Attempting to overcome the disgrace of captivity 1,104 Japanese prisoners-of-war escaped from the prisoner-of-war camp in Cowra, New South Wales. Mat McLachlan shares insights about the Cowra Breakout and what Prime Minister John Curtin later called 'a suicidal disregard...

Former Australian Army Special Forces, 2 nd Commando Regiment, Warrant Officer Nick Hill served in Malaysia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as being deployed to other countries including Egypt and the United States of America. Over two episodes, Nick shares fascinating insights about his twenty-five-year career (1989-2014), as well as family members who include a Victoria Cross recipient...

Former Australian Army Special Forces, 2 nd Commando Regiment, Warrant Officer Nick Hill served in Malaysia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as being deployed to other countries including Egypt and the United States of America. Over two episodes, Nick shares fascinating insights about his twenty-five-year career (1989-2014), as well as family members who include a Victoria Cross recipient...

Former Australian Army Special Forces, 2 nd Commando Regiment, Warrant Officer Nick Hill served in Malaysia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as being deployed to other countries including Egypt and the United States of America. Over two episodes, Nick shares fascinating insights about his twenty-five-year career (1989-2014), as well as family members who include a Victoria Cross recipient...

Remembering respectfully those who have died in the service of their country is one of the aims of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Faced with the daunting task of locating and burying fallen veterans after the First World War, the Commission created cemeteries that were respectful of the fallen and functional for those who would visit. Pete Smith shares the history of the Commission, the r...

Fresh from high school, Rach Ranton, like all recruits in the Australian Army, was abruptly introduced to a new style of leadership upon her arrival at Kapooka in 1997. For over a decade, Rach served as an Electronic Weapons operator and was deployed to East Timor and Afghanistan. Following her military career, Rach has received acclaim as an author, TED and keynote speaker and is passionate about...

The Battles of El Alamein conjure images of legendary the Allied 'Spartan General' Field Marshal Montgomery and the Axis 'Desert Fox' Field Marshal Rommel. Pitting their armies against each other in fierce fighting in the Western Desert the loss for the Axis was profoundly significant. Australian War Memorial Senior Historian Craig Tibbitts discusses the battles and the role played by Australian t...

Authors and Australian Defence Force veterans, Jennifer Crane and Melanie Bird CSC share a passion for recording the stories of female veterans. They have collected the stories and creative works of women who have served in the ADF since 1960. The authors' goal was to capture female veterans' unique 'spirit' through the different forms in which they chose to express their service. They share their...

It was Cameron Stewart Baird's 40 th birthday on 7 June 2021. He wasn't there. Corporal Baird was killed in action on 22 June 2013 in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. Cameron was posthumously honoured with Australia's highest honour award the Victoria Cross for his bravery. Families of the men and women who serve, know the price of their loved one's service. Doug Baird, OAM, reflects about his son's...

Conscripted into National Service in 1968, Gary McKay neither knew where Vietnam was or cared. In 1971, Gary's brave leadership led to the successful withdrawl of his section and platoon and he was awarded the Military Cross. After Vietnam, Gary served in the Australian Army. Gary is Australia's most prolific author about the Vietnam War and shares his insights regarding one of Australia's most un...

Following the Battle of Fromelles in 1916, 250 Australian soldiers were buried in a mass grave behind the German lines and lay unnoticed for nearly nine decades. Determined to find them, amateur historian Lambis Englezos, AM, led the efforts to discover where the missing soldiers were. Lambis shares the amazing story of the discovery and recovery of this group of Australia's war dead.    Presenter...

The Korean War does not have the same extent of public recognition in Australia as World War 1, World War 2 and the Vietnam War. For many people, their only knowledge of the war has been gained from watching the popular American television series M*A*S*H. ANZAC Memorial historian Brad Manera discusses Australia's involvement in the war and questions related to the nature of its operation to help p...

Respite from the horrors of the battlefield was an integral part of life for the Australian Imperial Force. Life behind the lines was essential for the sanity and morale of the troops however, it did not guarantee the troops safety. While some used their time for sightseeing and entertainment, others sought quiet solace. Battlefield historian and host of the Battle Walks podcast, Pete Smith shares...

British author and television documentary producer, Richard van Emden, interviewed over 270 Great War veterans over a period of twenty years. Richard's book, Britain's Last Tommies , records the men's stories and memories about what they endured. Richard shares the challenges of undertaking an oral history project of this nature and his memories of the men who shared with him the ordeal of fightin...

Matt Williams' career as an Australian Army soldier was abruptly altered when he was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 22. Instead of allowing this diagnosis to define him, Matt has inspired others through his attitude and passion to raise awareness and funds for this disease. Awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2020 for his efforts, Matt shares his story and passion for life.    Prese...

While assisting historian Dr Will Davies for The Forgotten: Chinese Labour Corps and the Chinese Anzacs in the Great War , Albert became 'obsessed' about researching the story of the Chinese Labour Corps. In the second of two episodes about The Forgotten , Albert shares his insights about the service of men of Chinese heritage in the AIF and the Chinese Labour Corps.    Presenter: Adam Blum  Guest...

The service of Australian soldiers of Chinese heritage has been largely overlooked. Historian Dr Will Davies', The Forgotten: Chinese Labour Corps and the Chinese Anzacs in the Great War , seeks to correct that oversight. In the first of two episodes, Dr Davies talks about Australia's Chinese Anzacs and the Chinese Labour Corps in which approximately 150,000 to 200,000 Chinese nationals supported...

Unlike World War 1 which was fought on distant shores, for the first time, World War 2 brought global conflict to Australian shores. Fearing a potential invasion by the Japanese Imperial Army, the Australian home front rallied in a variety of ways to meet this challenge. Historians Dr Karl James and Dr Aaron Pegram from the Australian War Memorial, discuss how the Australian home front responded d...

Casey Nixon enlisted in the Australian Army at the age of eighteen and served in 1 Combat Signals Regiment in Darwin. Following her military career, Casey is passionate about using her talents and experience to encourage and promote the work of veterans' support groups. Casey is an Honorary Ambassador for the charitable organisation, Wounded Heroes. Casey is dedicated to raising public awareness o...

Group (Ret.) Captain Wendy Horder began her career in the Royal Australian Air Force as an air traffic controller in 1979. During her military career, she has been deployed to East Timor, Bougainville, and the Solomon Islands and represented Australia in a variety of multi-agency teams in Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Pacific. More recently, GC Horder was involved with the 60th annive...

The Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor is an exciting project sponsored by the Australian War Memorial. The project commenced in 2016 with funding from the Australian government. Dr. Rhys Crawley is one of the project's team of seven esteemed historians. Dr. Crawley discusses the project, the challenges associated with writing an official history, and the...