Author: Alan Malcher

Military historian and defence commentator

Four recipients of the Victoria Cross during the Great War. IWM image dated 1917.

From left to right:

Private Michael O’Rourke VC, MM 7th (1st British Columbia) Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, awarded the VC in France on 15/17 April 1917.

Sergeant James Ockendon VC,MM of the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, awarded the VC in Belgium on 4 October 1917.

Private William Boynton Butler VC, 17th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, awarded the VC in France on 6 August 1917.

Corporal Ernest Alfred Egerton VC, 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, Awarded the VC in Belgium on 20 September 1917.

British Homefront during WW2: Bomb Disposal.

Colourised image by DB Colour but original B&W source not indicated.

Lieutenant Robert Davies GC, Royal Engineers standing on a 1,200 lb bomb after a Luftwaffe air raid on London. Photograph taken on 25 November 1941 in Dalston, London after Davies defused the bomb.

By DB Colour (original source not known)

London Rifle Brigades during the Great War, December 1914.

Colourised image by DBCoour. Original B&W source not listed)

Members of the London Rifle Brigades in Ploegstreet Wood, Armentieres Belgium. According to the London Rifles Association during the Great War 10,016 were killed during enemy action, 2,644 wounded and 303 captured. Part of the wood is now used by the Commonwealth War Greaves Commission.

Alan Malcher

Mosquito Aircraft (RAF and RAAF) attacking shipping in Norway. 5 December 1944.

Whilst looking for German shipping hiding in Norwegian fjords, Coastal Command aircraft were forced to dive steeply between precipitous, snow-capped mountains. On December 5th, 34 Mosquitoes of Coastal Command, Banff Wing, armed with cannon and rocket projectiles, attacked enemy shipping lying in the eastern end of Nordgulen Fjord Norway. The aircraft dived from a height of 5,000 ft to mast height at an angle of 45 degrees at a speed of over 300 miles an hour. They also had to run the gauntlet of flak from merchant vessels averaging 3,000 tons each and two escort vessels were attacked – all the ships were left burning. (Film includes good aerial shots of a Mosquito of No. 248 Sqn RAF and attacks on ships in fjord.)

Another clip of the same attack.

Operation Banner (Northern Ireland) and the Good Friday Agreement to cease hostilities.

Before the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) was signed on 10 April 1998 over 500 convicted terrorists were released from prison and an unknown number of terrorists who were on the run received comfort letters from the Blair Government so they could not be prosecuted for murder, bombings and other terrorist offences.

Since the signing of the GFA, Northern Ireland veterans continued to be persecuted and investigated about alleged crimes going back more than fifty years and many veterans see this as the government appeasing Sinn Féin/IRA and having nothing to do with justice. The following news reel of three terrorist murders helps illustrate the resentment of many Northern Ireland veterans towards the Blair Government who signed the agreement and successive governments which many veterans feel supported convicted terrorists at the expense of those who served and is posted here for debate.

The Clarence Pub Fulham: Supporting British Veterans.

The Clarence 148 North End Road, West Kensington London.

There are many well-known charities supporting British veterans that would not exist without the selfless acts of people who raise money for these charities whilst not seeking recognition for their patriotic devotion and support for veterans.

Tony and Sue Millard.

Tony and Sue Millard of the Clarence Pub at 148 North End Road, London W14 have spent many years supporting British veterans and continue to do so. Apart from raising money it is a pub that always welcomes veterans and the respect shown by the Millard’s is reciprocated by their regulars.

Me at the Clarence on Armistice Day 2023.

Me with Ken Lukowiak former 2 Para who fought during the Falklands War and the author of ‘A soldiers Song’ that includes his experience during the Battle of Goose Green. Both pissed and paid for by the regulars!

On behalf of all veterans I would like to thanks the Millard’s, the great bar staff and regulars at the Clarence.

Another lesser known British Campaign during the Cold War Period: Aden 1963-1967

The Aden Emergency was against communist insurgents, the National Liberation Front For the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen (FLOSY) and the National Liberation Front who were supported by the Soviet Union and the United Arab Republic.

During the campaign 92 British military personnel were killed and 510 wounded. The conflict then developed in the mountainous Radfan region where dissident local tribesmen raided roads connecting Aden with the town of Dhala near the Yemen border.
Photograph of Private Wally Fraser (centre) of B Company East Anglian Regiment who was killed clearing mines on 31 December 1964. His name appears on the Regimental Memorial.