Living History With Mat Mclachlan

In three years of combat the Australian Imperial Force evolved from a keen but inexperienced group of new recruits who landed at Gallipoli, to one of the elite assault forces on the Western Front. No discussion of the closing days of WWI would be complete without exploring the key role played by Australian troops, and their enigmatic leader, Lieutenant General Sir John Monash. Was Australian success the result of skill, luck, good management or a combination of all three?In the thirs episode of our special series about the triumphant campaign that ended the First World War, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to tell the story of John Monash and his Australian Corps.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to receive exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.F

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 SmithProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to receive exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 their line. Can the Germans withstand such pressure or is the writing on the wall?In the second episode of our new special series about the triumphant campaign that ended the First World War, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to tell the story of four battles in four days.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to receive exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Fi

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 unprecedented successes of August 8.In the first episode of our new special series about the triumphant campaign that ended the First World War, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to tell the story of the Black Day of the German Army. Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to receive exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and eve

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 Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elzbieta Zawacka, is available now. Find out more about Clare at https://claremulley.comPresenter: Mat McLachlanGuest: Clare MulleyProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 historian Mike Bechthold to tell the story of the landing at Juno Beach.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Mike BechtholdProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! Subscribe in the Apple Podcasts app or by visiting https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://li

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 Sheffield to tell the story of the landing at Sword Beach.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Gary SheffieldProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! Subscribe in the Apple Podcasts app or by visiting https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclac

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 SheffieldProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! Subscribe in the Apple Podcasts app or by visiting https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 McManusProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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' really as bloody as countless books and movies have told us?In the first of our special series on the D-Day landings, Mat is joined by historian John McManus to tell the story of Omaha Beach.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and John McManusProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find

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 eight and final episode of our special series on the Gallipoli campaign, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to explore the evacuation of Gallipoli, perhaps the only genuine success in the entire campaign.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more abou

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 face them when they land?In the seventh episode of our special series on the Gallipoli campaign, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to explore the landing at Suvla Bay.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more a

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 the toughest at Gallipoli, and the Turkish defenders are ready and waiting. Does the August Offensive have any chance of success?In the sixth episode of our special series on the Gallipoli campaign, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to explore the August Offensive, and the accompanying attacks at Lone Pine, the Nek, Chunuk Bair and more.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https:

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 historian Peter Hart to explore the horrendous conditions endured by the soldiers during the campaign.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclach

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 succeed against a reinforced and confident Turkish garrison?In the fourth episode of our special series on the Gallipoli campaign, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to tell the story of the hellish fighting at Helles between April and July 1915.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the A

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 campaign, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to tell the story of the landings at Cape Helles.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclac

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 landings at Anzac Cove.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information.Find out more about the podcast and everything Mat is doing at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 determined to steam to Constantinople and victory. What could possibly go wrong?In the first episode of our special series on the Gallipoli campaign, Mat is joined by historian Peter Hart to tell the story of the disastrous naval battle of March 18, 1915.Hosts: Mat McLachlan and Peter HartProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon to listen to EVERY EPISODE NOW in this special series! You'll also receive exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the An

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 McLachlanGuest: Lynette SilverProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/ for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 that were used at the Battle of Trafalgar to smash enemy ships; the jacket that Lord Nelson was wearing when he was shot and killed at Trafalgar; mourning items associated with Britain's national grief when Nelson died; and Turner's famous painting depicting the battle.Presenter: Mat McLachlanGuest: Dr Robert BlythProducer: Jess StebnickiSubscribe via Patreon for exclusive bonus episodes, early access to all episodes, ad-free listening and special online events with Mat McLachlan! https://www.patreon.com/MMHistoryJoin one of our battlefield tours and walk in the footsteps of the Anzacs! Visit https://battlefields.com.au/