One of the things that always astonishes me is just how little our politicians know their history. Yet no-one can reasonably deny the critical importance of having a knowledge of our past, as it allows us to make sense of the present and prepare for the future. This was something that Churchill, for example, understood […]
Normandy, August 1944. In the six weeks since the pilots of 609 Squadron had moved to France, they had become used to the very different surroundings and living conditions in which they now found themselves. Gone were the days of large, properly built airfields, complete with hangars, repair-workshops, living quarters and, most importantly, a comfortable […]
I’m getting very excited about the living history we are laying on at this year’s Chalke Valley History Festival. As usual, we will be show-casing a wide range of different periods from Romans onwards, but we’re going especially big with the Second World War. Centrepiece is going to be a troop of Sherman tanks including […]
Just before Christmas, I finished writing a new book about a largely forgotten battle that took place in the Arakan in Burma back in February 1944. I can’t say how utterly fascinating it has been to delve in some detail into the war in the Far East and also to write about one of […]
Ever since the end of the Cold War and the brief opening of the Russian archives, the narrative of the Second World War has, quite rightly, shifted and the role played by the Soviet Union has had a far greater part in our ever-evolving understanding of that extraordinary global conflict. Historians have pointed out that […]
I originally wrote this for BBC History Magazine, but a healthy Twitter debate has prompted me to post it here as well. On 14 August, 1940, 87 Squadron had been scrambled at around 4.30pm, and rushing to their Hurricanes had quickly got airborne and started speeding towards Weymouth on the Dorset coast. ‘One hundred […]
I was very lucky to have the chance to meet Gunther Rall at his home near Bad Reichenhall in Bavaria before he passed away. Rall is the third highest scoring ace of all time with an astonishing 275 victories to his name. He was a Battle of France, Battle of Britain and Eastern Front veteran […]
Seventy-five years ago today, fierce aerial battles were taking place over London and southern England, and later that evening, after the fighting was over and there was still no sign of a German invasion, reporters on the news announced some 185 enemy planes had been shot down. To all who heard it, and a large […]
Here is the trailer for the two programmes out this week: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/battle-of-britain/videos/all/trailer
The brilliant RAF Museum is holding a special Battle of Britain 75 Weekend, with all sorts of things going on: fly pasts by the BBMF, storytelling for children, reenactments, hangar tours and even special talks – and I’m giving two of them. One was yesterday, the other at Cosford on Sunday at 11.45am after the […]
This June, the Chalke Valley History Festival is marking the seventieth anniversary of D-Day with a number of talks and displays, but also an air show spread over both days of the weekend. D-Day may have been launched on 6th June 1944, but for the Allied air forces, the preparations for the invasion began a […]
It worries me that we here in England are taking the chilling prospect of Scottish independence far too casually. Ask most people south of Berwick and they’ll shrug and make a comment about being not really bothered or worse, good riddance. In terms of press coverage, the focus has been financial, and in comment piece […]
I came across this entry after being completely horrified...27th August 2014 - 5:25 pm by alias_lass
James Holland is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. The author of the best-selling historical novels, he has also written nine works of historical fiction. He regularly appears on television and radio, and has written and presented the BAFTA-shortlisted documentaries. Co-founder and Programme Director of the Chalke Valley History Festival, he has his own collection at the Imperial War Museum, and is Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
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