Thanks Paul. Superbly informative and straight to the most important point - the real people and their experiences; and how we remember them and keep their stories alive.
Wonderful description of monte cassino extremely moving and, (as it should be) hugely respectful of the men of that battle. My father fought there but sadly I've never been, it's now on my bucket list!
Paul, I follow you avidly from Brisbane. Australia, and last night listened to your OFL podcast on 40 years of going to the Western Front. You and I are of the same age I suspect and have very similar influences. WW2 was always my thing as a kid and I went to the W Front for the first time in 2001 for three days, more out of obligation to my forebears than pure interest - tacked on to a trip to Normandy, after a memorable visit to Monte Cassino, both of which were a life’s dream. From the minute I got out from Albert up the road to Martinsart , the penny dropped , and I was hooked. I am a lawyer by trade, an historian at heart and have since 2008 been to the Western Front eight times, Normandy seven, Arnhem once and Monte Cassino once more. People have trusted me to take them to the WF and Normandy on tours of between 15 and 40 people five times now which has been a rich, rich privilege.
COVID and its aftermath has left me wondering if I will lead a tour again. I couldn’t get numbers for next April and while I am planning to be in France for Rugby World Cup in Sept 2023, and taking people around between matches, it’s like herding cats. A beacon has been your enthusiasm and drive for your subject . Gives me hope. Love to converse more and meet you at some stage. Over the years I’ve done a bit of radio work and writing, for a book on Queensland’s legal fraternity who served in the Great War, and have a book in train about the 138 men of the ITHACA War Memorial, one hundred years old this year. Ithaca is an old locality in Brisbane’s inner west taking in Red Hill, where I live. You can see some of offerings on Instagram @kgmc66 and on Facebook.
Extremely moving account
Well written enjoy your podcasts so much .You are a master story teller with veterans stories
Thanks Paul. Superbly informative and straight to the most important point - the real people and their experiences; and how we remember them and keep their stories alive.
Wonderful description of monte cassino extremely moving and, (as it should be) hugely respectful of the men of that battle. My father fought there but sadly I've never been, it's now on my bucket list!
Paul, I follow you avidly from Brisbane. Australia, and last night listened to your OFL podcast on 40 years of going to the Western Front. You and I are of the same age I suspect and have very similar influences. WW2 was always my thing as a kid and I went to the W Front for the first time in 2001 for three days, more out of obligation to my forebears than pure interest - tacked on to a trip to Normandy, after a memorable visit to Monte Cassino, both of which were a life’s dream. From the minute I got out from Albert up the road to Martinsart , the penny dropped , and I was hooked. I am a lawyer by trade, an historian at heart and have since 2008 been to the Western Front eight times, Normandy seven, Arnhem once and Monte Cassino once more. People have trusted me to take them to the WF and Normandy on tours of between 15 and 40 people five times now which has been a rich, rich privilege.
COVID and its aftermath has left me wondering if I will lead a tour again. I couldn’t get numbers for next April and while I am planning to be in France for Rugby World Cup in Sept 2023, and taking people around between matches, it’s like herding cats. A beacon has been your enthusiasm and drive for your subject . Gives me hope. Love to converse more and meet you at some stage. Over the years I’ve done a bit of radio work and writing, for a book on Queensland’s legal fraternity who served in the Great War, and have a book in train about the 138 men of the ITHACA War Memorial, one hundred years old this year. Ithaca is an old locality in Brisbane’s inner west taking in Red Hill, where I live. You can see some of offerings on Instagram @kgmc66 and on Facebook.
Thanks Paul . Keep doing what you do.
Kieran McCarthy
That was beautifully written, Paul. Poignant and heartfelt.
A moving account. It's good to see more World War 2 content on Substack