I went to see my old friend Craig Charleston yesterday, who is one of – if not the – finest warbird restorers in the world. Craig has built three Spitfires and is responsible for the only two airworthy Messerschmitt 109s flying today. His third, now almost finished, will also soon be airborne. It has been […]
In Plauen, in south-east Germany, the men of Artillerie Regiment 24 heard the news of the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact on the evening of 21st August. ‘We were all startled,’ noted Leutnant Siegfried Knappe, ‘if not shocked. The government had always preached against the Soviet Union, and suddenly – overnight – the countries were friends.’ He […]
I’m currently shooting a documentary film for BBC 2 about the Siege of Malta in the Second World War, so have been returning to the subject about which I wrote my first work of history. I’ve also been doing a bit more research, which has been fascinating, and have just rediscovered an extraordinary story.
I’ve been thinking for a long time that too many historians have been unduly critical of the performance of the Allied armies in the Second World War, and perhaps the British Army in particular. They were slow, drank too much tea, lacked commitment, had rubbish kit etc etc. I just don’t buy that at all, […]
The Dams Raid is truly an incredible story. Really. An amazing weapon, and 133 men and nineteen Lancasters heading out at tree-top height, at night, over enemy territory and dropping their bouncing bombs to smash the German dams. It’s a fabulous tale of daring, ingenuity and raw courage. The idea for writing the book was […]
I’ve had a few queries recently about whether there is a new Jack Tanner in the pipeline – I suppose because for the past four years, a new one has always come out around this time. The answer is, yes, there is, and it’s underway, but will be coming out in hardback a bit later […]
Peter Dye, the DG of the RAF Museum, put me onto this amazing story. Last month a Polish team discovered a crashed P-40 Kittyhawk in the Western Desert in Egypt, near Wadi al-Jadid. Egypt is a big place, but why it was never spotted before is not clear – perhaps it was covered by sand; […]
I’ve just got my Citroen back after a small time out of action. The problems with the new engine have been resolved and more excitingly, it’s been switched form the old French 6 volt system to a much more user-friendly 12 volts. I can’t believe what a difference this has made. The engine is running […]
I’ve just posted up one of the most profoundly moving interviews I’ve ever done with a Second World War veteran. John Semken was one of only two men who went to Palestine with the the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in 1940 and was still fighting with them in the spring of 1945. The other was Stanley […]
I’m glad to say that we’ve now gone live with our new updated website for the Chalke Valley History Festival. It’s a pretty stellar line up with lots going on, so if you get a chance do have a look!
I’ve just posted up on You Tube the promo made by Sean Davison for the Boultbee Flight Academy, a brilliant enterprise and the only place in the world where you can be trained, as a civilian pilot, to fly a Spitfire. Hope you enjoy it! It’s called ‘Spitfire Academy.’
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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