Author Archives: secondbysecond

This week in the War, 2–8 December 1940: Greeks advance into Albania

The Greece-Bulgaria front was quiet. This allowed Greek C-in-C, Alexandros Papagos, to transfer the bulk of his forces to oppose the Italian invasion coming from Albania. Despite the Greek’s lack of armour and inability to oppose the Italians in the … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 25 Nov–1 Dec 1940: ‘This is London’ — the broadcasts of Edward R. Murrow

“This is London.” Such was the signature opening of American broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, speaking on the radio from Britain’s beleaguered capital. Air raid sirens could be heard in the background. Bombs were starting to fall. His broadcasts were … Continue reading

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Guest blog by Lottie Stoddart: K.B. Stoddart, prisoner of war

It is so often the case that we only begin to ask questions about a close family member’s war when it is too late. Such was the case with my Grandfather, Kenneth Bowring Stoddart (back row, third from left in … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 18–24 November 1940: Hungary, Romania & Slovakia join the Tripartite Pact

This week in the war, three more countries joined the German-Italian-Japanese ‘Axis’ by signing the Tripartite Pact: Hungary (20 November 1940), Romania (23 November 1940), and Slovakia (24 November 1940). Stalin had also been approached and was considering signing. Of … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 11–17 November 1940: French students march down the Champs Elysees in protest against the Nazi occupation

I do not wish Remembrance week to come to an end without mentioning 11 November 1940, Armistice Day, as it was then called. In German-Occupied France, the Nazi authorities were fearful that any formal observance of Armistice Day would incite … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 11–17 November 1940: Blitz on Coventry

When I was a boy, I went on day trips to all of the large cities around the Midlands, as central England is called. Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, and of course, Coventry—the latter being of Lady Godiva fame. They were big, … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 11–17 November 1940: Fleet Air Arm attacks Taranto

This week in the war, on the night of 11–12 November 1940, Fairey Swordfish biplanes from British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious attacked Taranto Harbour, the principal naval base of the Italian fleet. For the cost of two aircraft shot down, the … Continue reading

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In the news: Remembrance Day/Veterans Day—11 November

              Sunday 11 November 2012—Remembrance Day. Once again, we gather to remember that eleventh hour of the eleventh month of the eleventh year, when the guns went silent and the Great War ended. It … Continue reading

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In the news: 237th Anniversary of the US Marine Corps—10 November 2012

The United States Marine Corps was created in Philadelphia, two hundred and thirty-seven years ago today, on 10 November 1775. The memorial shown to the left is dedicated to the men and women of the US Marine Corps who died … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 4–10 November 1940: HMS Jervis Bay goes down fighting

One of the enduring myths of the Royal Navy centres on the idea of a small British force—perhaps even a single ship—holding off a vastly superior enemy. Think Francis Drake versus the Spanish Armada. Think Nelson and any number of … Continue reading

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