The first dozen years of the twentieth century were tumultuous for the Middle East, with the British having a complicated relationship with the Arabs and the Ottoman Turk regime. The British struggled to decide if the Turks were allies or enemies, causing frustration for their men on the ground. Two British men played key roles in helping the Arabs gain independence, with one remaining famous today and the other forgotten by history.

During the turbulent times of the Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Century in Europe, espionage thrived. From gentleman spies like Louis-Alexandre de Launay to lady spies like Mrs. Rachel Charlotte Williams Biggs, the era was filled with intrigue. Napoleon’s spies like Karl Schulmeister and L. de Longastre played vital roles, with some meeting mysterious ends. The birth of British intelligence can be traced back to Evan Nepean, who oversaw a network of spies including Richard Cadman Etches and George Parker. The strange reputation of Tarrare, a man with an insatiable appetite who served as a courier by swallowing messages, adds a bizarre twist to the world of espionage in this era.

Napoleon Bonaparte, born in Corsica to an Italian family, had a complex and colorful life. Rising from military school to become Emperor of France, he led many successful campaigns but suffered defeats as well. Exiled to St. Helena, he died in 1821. Historians still debate his true nature and legacy.

In 1808, Lord Thomas Cochrane led the defense of the fortress at Rosas against the French invaders during the Peninsula War. Despite being outnumbered, Cochrane’s strategic leadership and bravery, along with support from the British Navy, allowed the defenders to hold out for almost five months before ultimately evacuating the fortress.

The First Indochinese War, also known as the ‘Dirty War’, was a conflict that took place from 1946 to 1954 between French colonial forces and the Viet Minh, a communist-led nationalist movement in Vietnam. The war was characterised by fierce fighting, brutal tactics, and heavy casualties on both sides. The decisive Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 led to the French surrender and the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam. The war set the stage for the subsequent Vietnam War and had far-reaching consequences for the region.

Armies That Vanished looks further back in time than we normally do and this article includes Persian Kings, Romans and the disastrous First Afghan War as Elphinstone’s garrison at Kabul was massacred as it struggled to escape through the mountain passes into British India.

Behind Enemy Lines tells the remarkable story of Victor Hanks an RAF Pathfinder Navigator who was shot down over Magdeburg and his time as a POW forced to endure a Long March from East Prussia to his final liberation.