Present History Podcast

Stirling first encountered Lewes in Cairo, where Lewes had already distinguished himself as a disciplined, thoughtful officer, sceptical of Stirling’s audacious but half-formed ideas. Yet Lewes saw in Stirling’s reckless vision the seed of something that could be made workable, and together they began shaping the outline of a force that would strike deep behind enemy lines. Mayne entered the picture soon after: a formidable Irish rugby international turned soldier, notorious for his ferocity, rebelliousness, and disdain for authority. At first, Mayne was wary of Stirling’s patrician charm and untested plans, but Lewes’s quiet rigour and Stirling’s unrelenting conviction drew him into the fold. Once united, the trio embodied a peculiar alchemy: Stirling the charismatic strategist, Lewes the intellectual engineer of their methods, and Mayne the embodiment of their raw fighting spirit. Together they trained, debated, and occasionally clashed, but in the field they became inseparable—a unit bound not by hierarchy but by trust and necessity. Their partnership was uneasy at times, marked by Stirling’s chaotic leadership style, Lewes’s meticulous standards, and Mayne’s violent intensity, yet this very friction gave the fledgling SAS its character. In their camaraderie and in their conflicts, they created something larger than themselves: a brotherhood whose unity lay not in sameness, but in the tension of their differences.

When people think of the Special Air Service, names like David Stirling or Paddy Mayne often dominate the conversation. Yet behind those celebrated figures was another man, often overlooked, whose intellect, vision, and daring helped shape the very foundations of Britain’s most famous special forces unit: John Steel "Jock" Lewes. To understand the SAS’s origins fully, one must place Lewes at the centre of the story, for his mind, inventions, and training philosophy were as critical as Stirling’s organisational flair or Mayne’s fighting spirit.

When we think of elite military units today, the Special Air Service (SAS) stands at the forefront—a name synonymous with daring raids, stealth, and extraordinary courage. But the SAS had a beginning, and it began with one man: David Stirling. A tall, charismatic, and unconventional soldier, Stirling transformed modern warfare with his vision of small, highly trained units operating deep behind enemy lines. His story is one of audacity, ingenuity, and a refusal to accept the limitations of traditional military thinking.

Copyright Disclaimer:This video contains copyrighted material from the television series Peaky Blinders. All rights to Peaky Blinders, including its footage, characters, and music, are owned by Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd and Tiger Aspect Productions, and are distributed by BBC Studios.The use of this material is for educational and commentary purposes only and is used under the principles of fair use. No copyright infringement is intended.All footage remains the property of its respective owners.----When Peaky Blinders introduced Oswald Mosley in Season 5, viewers were treated to a new kind of antagonist—one not born of the underworld but of Parliament. Played with menacing charisma by Sam Claflin, Mosley brought an aura of unsettling confidence, mixing aristocratic entitlement with fascist fervour. His black-shirted presence disrupted the Shelby empire not with gangland violence, but with ideological warfare and political manoeuvring.But how close was this portrayal to the real-life Oswald Mosley? Did Peaky Blinders stay true to the historical figure, or did it take creative liberties in service of its stylish noir-drama? As with much in this brilliantly brooding series, the answer lies somewhere between history and myth.Who Was the Real Oswald Mosley?

On the morning of May 8, 1945, radios crackled with the sound of history. Across Europe and beyond, people gathered around wireless sets in kitchens, town halls, and barracks, listening to the news they had longed for through six relentless years: the war in Europe was over. Nazi Germany had surrendered. Victory in Europe Day—VE Day—had come. The joy was immediate, but it was also uncertain, the exhale of people who had held their breath for too long.

Behind the legend of St George lies a real man - an elite Roman soldier, a bold Christian martyr, and a symbol of resistance that echoed through the Crusades to modern England. In this gripping dive into history, we uncover the truth behind the dragon, the myths, and the man who became a national icon. Was there ever a real dragon? Why did a Middle Eastern martyr become England’s patron saint? The answers will surprise you.

In the gritty, lawless underworld of Victorian London, few names inspired as much fear and admiration as Hezekiah Moscow, Sugar Goodson, and Mary Carr. This episode delves into the raw, untamed world of bare-knuckle boxing, high-stakes crime, and gang warfare. It follows the legendary bout between Moscow - the cunning, fleet-footed Jamaican fighter - and Goodson, the one-eyed bruiser who ruled the East End’s underground rings. Their brutal clash was more than just a fight; it was a battle of old versus new, of strategy versus sheer will. Meanwhile, Mary Carr, the razor-wielding leader of the Forty Elephants, terrorised London’s elite with daring heists and violent retribution, proving that power in the city’s criminal underbelly wasn’t reserved for men. Through blood, sweat, and unbreakable determination, these figures carved their names into history, shaping the legend of London’s most dangerous streets.This is the real story behind Disney+'s new hit series, 'A Thousand Blows'.

From his early days as a brilliant sportsman and scholar in Northern Ireland to his rise as one of the most decorated and feared special forces leaders of the Second World War, Lieutenant Colonel Robert ‘Paddy’ Mayne embodied a rare blend of raw physicality, intellectual depth, and unbreakable spirit. His journey from rugby pitches to battlefields, from courtrooms to clandestine raids deep behind enemy lines, forged a legacy that transcends mere heroism. Mayne was more than a soldier; he was a force of nature — a man whose audacity, leadership, and sheer willpower reshaped the Special Air Service (SAS) and left an indelible mark on the history of unconventional warfare. This is the extraordinary story of Paddy Mayne: sportsman, scholar, warrior, and legend.