The History Syndicate Podcast

On this episode, Mark welcomes Alessio Cavatore previously of Games Workshop where he designed supplement games for the brand and more recently with his own company River Horse games. As the co-designer for Warlord Games' World War Two game Bolt Action, Mark was very keen on interviewing Alessio for the pod particularly on how history influences wargame design. Replicating history in wargaming is a difficult task, which sometimes requires simplification, but also a guard against rule creep to ensure that the game remains accessible and playable. This is Alessio's drive to achieve a sophistication through simplicity, "designing a complex game is easy" and the conversation leads onto simplicity is the most difficult thing to achieve. A superb conversation related to designing history into wargaming that moved into one of Mark's favourite subjects, Waterloo, for which Alessio designed Quelle' Affaire. Alessio reveals that his influence from history actually comes from the idealistic vision of the medieval knight, so the Middle Ages are his favourite period of history. Simple wonderful.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted and edited by Mark Martin.With Alessio Cavatore.Edited and produced by Mark Martin.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.

On this episode, Mark welcomes Dr Nic Morton onto the syndicate to discuss the Teutonic Order, in particular, the Teutonic Knights who crusaded in the Middle East but also in Northern Prussia, modern day the 'Baltic States'. A complex and diverse population interacting in the 'Crusader States' during the 13th and 14th century, factionalism is rife that required peacemaking but ultimately it came down to the relationships between individuals than institutions themselves. Herman Von Selsa stands out as a individual who could manoeuvre benefactors and patrons towards a common cause for the institution, and in this case, for the Teutonic Order. They discuss the different grades of the order, Brother and Sister Knights to Brother Sergeants and their roles in the orders. A fascinating insight, more detail can be gained through Nic's book 'The Teutonic Knights 1190-1291'.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted and edited by Mark Martin.With Dr Nic Morton.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.

On this episode, Mark welcomes Frank Pleszak back to the syndicate to discuss Operation Manna that took place in Holland beginning in April 1945. Coupled with Operation Chowhound from the USA and Operation Faust, humanitarian aid was delivered by air and road into Holland to prevent starvation amongst the civilian populations. Having run events at the Avro Heritage Museum in Manchester with veterans, Frank provides the comments that were made by the veterans about this task that they were not prepared for, or trained for, at the end of the war to ensure that the people of Holland were fed.Recordings provided with the kind permission of Frank Pleszak as a volunteer of the Avro Heritage Museum and the veterans of Op MANNA that they interviewed, John Manoghan and Jeff Brown, who spoke on the recordings. All provided with permission.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted and edited by Mark Martin.With Frank Pleszak.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.

On this episode, Mark welcomes Salina B Baker to the syndicate to discuss General Nathanael Greene via her historical fiction book, 'The Line of Splendor'. A deep dive into the American Revolution and War of Independence they discuss the seminal moments in General Greene's life, including his motivations, successes and near crippling debt incurred for trying to do the right thing by his soldiers. A problem solver from an early age, Salina tells the story of how people felt during the 18th Century, rather than simply telling the story. Through her research into the historical record, mostly into General Greene's letters, Salina garners the emotions of the time to recreate the conversations and stories of his story during the American Revolution. The pod also veers into discussions on General Arnold and General Greene's involvement with the Major John Andre affair. Sensitive to criticism, he was a private with a limp in the Kentish Guard who was recognised for his potential and promoted to Brigadier General where he spent most of his adult life at war, dying at aged 43. A superb exploration of the 18th century that made for a wonderful conversation and novel, from 'The Line of Splendor' articulates General Greene's own words about being removed from field command to a staff role excellently.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted and edited by Mark Martin.With Salina B Baker.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.

On this episode, Mark welcomes Niall Devitt to discuss the shelters of the London Underground during the First and Second World Wars. Niall was proudly raised from a London Underground railway family and studied history for five years at King's London. A tour de force on the subject combining his passions and interests about all trains, history, TV and comedy, Niall depth of knowledge and research is an impressive and interesting conversation that leads from the Zepplin Airship bombardments by the German Army onto London during World War One through to the political conundrums of using the underground as shelters versus the moral imperative to protect the population and the use of TV to keep up morale. The discussions range from psychology in warfare to the exact details of events, the evolving conditions, fumigation against mosquitos and service provisions when the Underground was used as shelters. This work forms part of Niall's upcoming publications, the first of which is titled 'Underground Railway: 1801 - 1902'.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted and edited by Mark Martin.With Niall Devitt.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.

On this episode, Mark welcomes Nick Skinner from the 'Two Fat Lardies' to the syndicate to discuss historical wargaming. While trying to understand what 'the Lard' actually is, they both discuss how wargaming can be used to understand the past alongside what soldiers felt as they went through their experiences. Offering a wide range of game rules, the 'Lardies' off different ways to get after understanding military history at what ever level desired. Be it at platoon commander or at Army General level, they have sought to bring to life through wargaming many of the past campaigns that continue to fascinate.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted by Mark Martin.With Nick Skinner.Edited and produced by Mark Martin.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.

On this episode, Mark welcomes Andy Taylor to discuss the Herefordshire Light Infantry. With a heritage dated back several hundred years, established as a militia due to the threat of invasion to the British Isles, this band of rifle volunteers, marksmen and motivated individuals, formed the core of a trained unit that would find itself deployed in the Anglo-Boer war (1899-1902), The First world War (1914-18) and The Second World War (1939-45). MarK and Andy discuss their origins, the people of the force and some of their biggest actions and anecdotes, including Suvla Bay in Gallipoli (1915) out to the capture of Admiral Doenitz's Car Pennants in 1945. A great local British County Regiment, Andy and the volunteers works at the museum keeps it alive alongside attending heritage events such as the Hereford Literary and Military History Festival that is on the weekend of 26-28th September 2025. Andy on his own history podcast named "Just a Walk in the Sun" and you can find more about the museum at https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted by Mark Martin.With Andy Taylor.Edited and produced by Mark Martin.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.

On this episode, Mark welcomes Mark Green to discuss the Victoria Cross and particularly those awarded for the Battle of Arnhem (17th-26th September 1944) during the Second World War as discussed in his book 'Arnhem VCs'. They discuss the background to the Victoria Cross from it's investiture, the big picture around Arnhem, and also the five recipients of that award for valour as a result of their actions during the World War Two campaign to cross the River Rhine into Germany.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted by Mark Martin.With Mark Green.Edited and produced by Mark Martin.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.

On this episode, Mark welcomes back Jon Cresswell to the syndicate to discuss the third part of the Second World War story of Besancon in occupied France. Previously, Jon had discussed the women in blue (Ep 10) and the Liberation of Besancon (Ep 20). This story sits between those two events. It is a story of an RAF Air Raid gone wrong that leads to the bombing of Besancon and the destruction of parts of the town. The intended target was a factory manufacturing components for the FW190 about an hours drive from Besancon. Seeking to prevent air raids in the future, the boldest of SOE agents, Temp Capt Harry Ree DSO OBE, launches a number of audacious special operations raids alongside the factory workers from the factory who worked there to destroy vital components and machinery. No longer a footnote in history due to Jon's and others efforts, he tells this final part of the story in engaging detail.From the macro to the micro topics of history, The History Syndicate Podcast is the forum for all with a common interest in all things history.The views expressed are those of the author and guest. They do not necessarily represent any views of any other organisation or institution.Hosted by Mark Martin.With Jon Cresswell.Edited and produced by Mark Martin.Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.Cover Art and images created using Canva and Canva DreamLab AI.