4th & 3rd-Century BC

Roman conquest of Italy

Ross Cowan writes on the tendency of Romans to decorate their homes with war trophies.

2nd-Century AD

An abbey with connections to the Romans and the Second World War? The Lost Fort offers a detailed history of Incholm Abbey and other sites neighboring the Firth of Forth.

16th-Century AD

Over at Marginalia there is an insightful post on Francis Stewart and his betrayal of his cousin Jame Stewart.

18th-Century AD

American Revolution

A King George’s War fort in the United States? Boston 1775 discusses the funding issues for this rare historical site.

British Soldiers, American Revolution recounts the fates of two British soldiers who served together and experienced the harsh reality of 18th-Century disease.

19th-Century AD

Mexican-American War

Blog 4 History argues that a wealth of knowledge awaits scholars who embark on a study of the Mexican-American War.

American Civil War

The 48th Pennsylvanian Infantry/Civil War Musings presents a letter from private who was eager to fight the Confederates.

Civil War Memory takes readers to the Antietam battlefield and discusses the value of blogging and confirms the existence of the Lost Cause in Sharpsburg, Maryland.

The brief and sad wartime experiences of Alfred DuBois, father of W.E.B DuBois, over at The Sable Arm.

20th-Century AD

First World War

Over at the Australian War Memorial, a series of short posts on Herbert Vincent Reynolds No. 622 First Field Ambulance, First AIF. Although the AWM series on Reynolds began back in February, March has had its fair share of posts. Throughout the series, readers are exposed to the experiences of an ANZAC soldier leading up to the infamous Gallipoli campaign. Here is the post for 14 March 1915. Be sure to read the rest.

Airminded examines the German bombing of Warrington Crescent, highlighting the effects of the attack on both property and social memory.

The CBC pays tribute to Canada’s last First World War veteran, John Babcock, who died at the ripe old age of 109.

Recently Geoff Robinson discussed the issues associated with teaching students about Australia’s participation in two world wars. Enjoy the clip from Gallipoli.

Second World War

The Daily History Blog elaborates on the pre-war activities of the Hitler Youth in Germany Great Britain.

The Aerodrome uses archival gems to discuss the issues that plagued Coalition air power.

Over at Thoughts on Military History, Ross endeavors to separate the popular media interpretations of Air Chief Marshall Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory from historical fact.

Battlefield Biker sheds some light on the plot to keep General Bernard Montgomery’s location a secret in the days leading up to D-Day.

Strange Maps pinpoints some of Germany’s schools named after infamous Nazis.

Vietnam War

Here at Thompson-Werk I offer some musings over the policies and events that contributed to America’s involvement in Vietnam.

Who does not adore American’s 37th president? Edge of the American West provides some of President Richard Nixon’s more colorful references to the Vietnam War.

It is important to note that I am not rallying against any administration, whether it be the Continental Congress or the former Bush governments. Rather, I find it fascinating that my class is starting to acknowledge American military trends that are often at the core of higher level academic debates. While my class somewhat agreed that weapons were a critical component of the war, the treatment of the soldiers was still unacceptable. What is more important, purchasing guns or grain? Should government focus be looking after the soldiers diet, or providing them with the tools to accomplish their battlefield tasks? Or, are the two one in the same. It is my opinion that they are ultimately the same issue.

I put forth the question as to what was more important, food or muskets? Considering at the time of the Revolution, America was referred to as a land overflowing with food-stuffs. In fact, Hessian mercenaries remarked how bountiful the American colonies appeared to be. Weapons on the other hand were harder to procure, and often necessitated the need of European sources like the French. Apparently Congress believed the Continentals could forage and make due with the limited deliveries of perishables, while saving money to augment the growing debt owed to the armament suppliers.

Moving on to how all of this relates to America’s current military efforts abroad, it is striking how the issue of supply remains a problem. Granted, we have an abundance of arms, many of our soldiers in Iraq were under equipped and at times forced to make due with captured/procured weapons. While serving in Iraq, my friend’s company had to use a badly maintained deuce and a half – outfitting it with left over Soviet made armor plates. While times may have changed, the fact remains the US continually encounters situations where it cannot supply all the items deemed necessary by those doing the actual fighting.