The Old Front Line

Paul Reed
  • 4.9 (458)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Old Front Line

Walk the battlefields of the First World War with Military Historian, Paul Reed. In these podcasts, Paul brings together over 40 years of studying the Great War, from the stories of veterans he interviewed, to when he spent more than a decade living on the Old Front Line in the heart of the Somme battlefields. 

  1. Questions and Answers Episode 21

    3 DAYS AGO

    Questions and Answers Episode 21

    In our first Questions and Answers Episode of Season 8 we look at 'quiet' sectors of the Western Front, whether civilians got near the battlefields, discuss the 'best' photos of WW1 and ask if Stretcher Bearers were easy prey on the front line doing their vital work.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us a textSupport the show

    36 min
  2. Walking the Somme: Mailly-Maillet

    11 JAN

    Walking the Somme: Mailly-Maillet

    We begin Season 8 back on the Somme Battlefields of 1916 and walk the ground around the village of Mailly-Maillet, located just behind the British trenches in front of Beaumont-Hamel and Serre and later much closer to the fighting in 1918. We visit cemeteries, see original graffiti and end our walk close to the final approach to the battlefield.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us a textSupport ...

    1h 5m
  3. Questions and Answers Special: WW1 Ancestors

    28/12/2024

    Questions and Answers Special: WW1 Ancestors

    In this special edition we look at how trace to service men and women who fought and died in the Great War. We cover a number of questions covering different aspects of how to trace your WW1 Ancestors from many different nations, but in particular from Britain and the Commonwealth. USEFUL LINKS:Western Front Association Pension Files websiteGrand Memorial - Tracing French WW1 RecordsFrench War Diaries - WW1Long, Long Trail website - Chris BakerLondon Gazette - WW1 NoticesThe British News...

    48 min
  4. Five Iconic Objects of Trench Warfare

    21/12/2024

    Five Iconic Objects of Trench Warfare

    In this episode, we examine five iconic objects from the First World War which came to define the experience of Trench Warfare. These objects include barbed wire, helmets, duckboards, and trench periscopes. There is also a surprise artefact that millions of men carried onto the battlefield.If you are interested in Trench Warfare also check out The Western Front: WW1 Trench Warfare, Why Was there Trench Warfare in WW1? and Five Weapons of Trench Warfare.Got a question about this episode or any...

    1h 24m
  5. Questions and Answers Episode 19

    14/12/2024

    Questions and Answers Episode 19

    Based on this weeks questions we look at the difference between Ordnance Survey and Trench maps, recommend some WW1 Channels and videos to look at on YouTube, look at how to study a particular regiment and examine souvenirs brought home by veterans. Old Front Line Recommends on YouTube: click here to watch the playlist.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us a textSupport the show

    39 min
  6. Walking Arras: Point du Jour

    07/12/2024

    Walking Arras: Point du Jour

    We return to the Arras Battlefields of April 1917 and walk from Athies to the high ground at Point du Jour, seeing where men of the 9th (Scottish) Division, including troops from the South African Brigade fought. We visit cemeteries along the way and see the memorial Cairn overlooking the fields where so much sacrifice took place in the Great War.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us a textSuppor...

    58 min
  7. Questions and Answers Episode 18

    30/11/2024

    Questions and Answers Episode 18

    This week we look at the subject of Army Pay - how were men paid, who paid them and in what currency when On Active Service? We ask why men changed their names when joining up, answer a question about the Ypres Buglers and IWGC Gardeners in WW2, and why were the Germans seemingly allowed to have all the high ground in 1914?Caitlin DeAngelis' podcast War Graves Gardeners is available on all podcast platforms.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front...

    35 min
  8. Somme Winter Walk

    23/11/2024

    Somme Winter Walk

    As the seasons change along The Old Front Line we take a winter walk across one part of the Somme battlefields, walking along the tracks from near Courcelette to Thiepval and the Ancre Valley.The WW1 Cemeteries website mentioned can be found here: www.ww1cemeteries.com.Got a question about this episode or any others? Drop your question into the Old Front Line Discord Server or email the podcast.Send us a textSupport the show

    54 min
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4.9
out of 5
458 Ratings

About

Walk the battlefields of the First World War with Military Historian, Paul Reed. In these podcasts, Paul brings together over 40 years of studying the Great War, from the stories of veterans he interviewed, to when he spent more than a decade living on the Old Front Line in the heart of the Somme battlefields. 

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Reed
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    223
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Old Front Line
  • Show Website
    The Old Front Line

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