Great British Battle Commanders

BFBS

How much does leadership shape the outcome of a battle? What makes for successful command? These questions lie at the heart of this new podcast series hosted by Professor Michael Clarke, from the creators of the award-winning Sitrep. Mike discusses the leadership of the Duke of Wellington, Boudica, Admiral Lord Nelson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding and Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery with a range of guests including ‘Sharpe’ writer Bernard Cornwell and General Lord Richards. This thought-provoking series for BFBS Forces News is based on Mike’s book ‘Great British Commanders.’

Episodes

  1. 25/11/2024

    NELSON: Legend Forged in Battle, with Professor Michael Clarke and Dr Gregory Fremont-Barnes.

    BFBS Forces News presents ‘Great British Battle Commanders’ hosted by Professor Michael Clarke, Sitrep’s defence analyst, assessing the leadership and strategy of Admiral Lord Nelson with Dr Gregory Fremont-Barnes, author of several books on Nelson and his Navy, and senior lecturer in war studies at RMAS. The interview is recorded in Nelson’s cabin on HMS Victory in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Nelson Glossary Cuthbert Collingwood Admiral and Second in Command at Trafalgar. John Jervis Earl of St Vincent, Admiral and Commander at the Battle of Cape St Vincent. George Towry Captain, involved in the Battle of Cape St Vincent. Thomas Troubridge Captain, involved in the Battle of Cape St Vincent. Ralph Abercromby General, mortally wounded at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801. Pierre-Charles de Villeneuve French Admiral and overall Commander of the Combined Fleet at Trafalgar. Frederico Gravina Spanish Admiral and Second in Command at Trafalgar.

    31 min

  2. 18/11/2024

    MONTGOMERY – Unbeatable and Unbearable? With Professor Michael Clarke and General Lord Richards, former Chief of the Defence Staff.

    BFBS Forces News presents ‘Great British Battle Commanders’ hosted by Professor Michael Clarke, Sitrep’s defence analyst, assessing the leadership and strategy of Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery with the former Chief of the Army and former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Lord Richards. The interview is recorded in the D-Day Map Room at Southwick House, outside Portsmouth, which was the nerve centre for Operation Overlord. Glossary for Audio General Dwight D Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander 1944-1945 Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, Deputy Supreme Commander to Eisenhower Field Marshal Herbert Plumer, British First World war general Field Marshal Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1944 Field Marshal Lord John Gort, Commander of British forces in France, 1940 Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, British general Field Marshal Harold Alexander, British general General George S. Patton, US general General Frederick E. Morgan, British general General Omar N. Bradley, US general Field Marshal William J. Slim, British general

    40 min

  3. 11/11/2024

    BOUDICA - Warrior Queen, with Professor Michael Clarke and Philip Wise, Heritage Manager for Colchester Museums.

    BFBS Forces News presents ‘Great British Battle Commanders’ hosted by Professor Michael Clarke, Sitrep’s defence analyst, assessing the leadership and strategy of Boudica, Queen of the Iceni. The interview is recorded in Colchester Castle, Essex, which was built on the foundations of the Roman Temple that was sacked and burnt by Boudica’s forces in AD 60.

    31 min

  4. 04/11/2024

    DOWDING – The Man behind ‘The Few’, with Professor Michael Clarke and Dr Victoria Taylor

    BFBS Forces News presents ‘Great British Battle Commanders’ hosted by Professor Michael Clarke, Sitrep’s defence analyst, assessing the leadership and strategy of Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding with aviation historian, Dr Victoria Taylor. The interview is recorded in Dowding’s former office in Bentley Priory, Stanmore, which was Headquarters Fighter Command during the Second World War.

    34 min

  5. 31/10/2024

    WELLINGTON - Master of Strategy, with Professor Michael Clarke and author Bernard Cornwell

    BFBS Forces News presents ‘Great British Battle Commanders’ hosted by Professor Michael Clarke, Sitrep’s defence analyst, assessing the leadership and strategy of the Duke of Wellington with the best-selling author of the ‘Sharpe’ and ‘Last Kingdom’ novels Bernard Cornwell. The interview is recorded in Wellington’s former office in Horse Guards, now used as the office of the General Officer Commanding HQ London District.

    36 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

How much does leadership shape the outcome of a battle? What makes for successful command? These questions lie at the heart of this new podcast series hosted by Professor Michael Clarke, from the creators of the award-winning Sitrep. Mike discusses the leadership of the Duke of Wellington, Boudica, Admiral Lord Nelson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding and Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery with a range of guests including ‘Sharpe’ writer Bernard Cornwell and General Lord Richards. This thought-provoking series for BFBS Forces News is based on Mike’s book ‘Great British Commanders.’

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