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The Unconventional Soldier
S4 #067 Citizen Soldiers - History Of The Army Reserves
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CONTENT
The guest today is Patrick Crowley author of "Rose Castle and Crown - Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Citizen Soldiers". On this podcast we will cover the history of the British Army's citizen soldiers going back to the raising of militias in the 16th century up to the Army Reserves of the present day. We discuss the challenge and sacrifice that all military volunteers, throughout history, have had to make balancing the needs of service with family demands and their main civilian employment. It also demonstrates that reservists continue to significantly contribute to the United Kingdom’s military capabilities.
Patrick is currently the chief executive of the South East Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association, which involves promoting reserves and cadets, tri-service, in the nine counties of the South East of England, as well as helping to connect Defence with society. He has been in this appointment since retiring from the British Army in 2014. Commissioned into 1st Battalion the Queen's Regiment in 1980, he was a Major when the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (PWRR) was founded in 1992. He served as a rifle platoon commander, mortar officer, adjutant, company commander, second-in- command and commanding officer within the regiment, commanding the regiment's 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion. Service included many tours of Northern Ireland, a period in Baghdad and numerous staff appointments, mainly related to infantry and staff training, as well as the Territorial Army and Army Reserves. Overseas roles included postings to Gibraltar and Zimbabwe. In addition, he has run many battlefield tours, is a committee member of the Military Historical Society and a trustee on a number of military-related charities. A deputy colonel of the PWRR since 2008, Patrick lives in Hampshire.
Patrick's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is anything by the historian Richard Holmes. My choice is Patrick's book "Rose Castle and Crown - Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Citizen Soldiers". Profits from the sale of Patricks book will go to the Connaught Trust which has commissioned the book. The trust is a charity that aims to promote the military efficiency of all ranks in Hampshire and the Isle Of Wight seving in the Reserves of the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and their associated cadet units.
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Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.
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Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com.
This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.
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S4 #069 Andy McNab CBE DCM MM
01:10:57|CONTENTThe guest today is Andy McNab CBE DCM MM former special forces soldier, author and business man. On this episode we discuss his chaotic childhood, army service, functioning psychopaths, book writing, shooting Hollywood films and his latest project with WeServed a service for Veterans by Veterans - for more information visit www.we-served.com.Andy's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is "Our Mutual Friend" by Charles Dickens.WHERE TO GET OUR DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales. "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.S4 #068 MI9 - The Secret Service For Escape And Evasion In WW2
01:09:39|CONTENTThe guest today is Dr Helen Fry. Helen has authored and edited over 25 books covering the social history of the Second World War, including British Intelligence and the secret war, espionage and spies, and MI9 escape and evasion. She is the foremost authority on the 'secret listeners' who worked at special eavesdropping sites operated by British Intelligence during WWII. Her groundbreaking research and extensive media coverage have shed light on one of the greatest intelligence deceptions of the war: the bugging of Hitler’s generals at Trent Park in North London, and thousands of prisoners of war at Latimer House and Wilton Park in Buckinghamshire.On this podcast we discuss her book "MI9 - A History of the Secret Service for Escpe and Evasion in World War Two". When Allied fighters were trapped behind enemy lines, one branch of military intelligence helped them escape: MI9. The organisation set up clandestine routes that zig-zagged across Nazi-occupied Europe, enabling soldiers and airmen to make their way home. Secret agents and resistance fighters risked their lives and those of their families to hide the men. Drawing on declassified files and eye-witness testimonies from across Europe and the United States, Helen Fry provides a significant reassessment of MI9's wartime role.Thanks to her expertise, Helen has appeared in a number of documentaries, including David Jason’s Secret Service (Channel 5), Spying on Hitler's Army (Channel 4), and Secrets of the Spies (Britbox). She has provided advisory services for TV and drama, something that she particularly enjoys. Helen has covered the major D-Day commemorations in live BBC broadcasts from Normandy, and she regularly appears in media interviews and podcasts.WHERE TO GET OUR DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales. "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.S4 #066 The Derryard Attack - Northern Ireland 1989
36:21|CONTENTThe subject of this pod is the Derryard action, a sustained IRA deliberate attack in December 1989 against an Army Permanent Check Point (PVCP) close to the border with the Republic Of Ireland a few miles north of Rosslea, County Fermanagh. The checkpoint was manned by members of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers who fought off an Active Service Unit that considerably overmatched them with weapons. On this pod we discuss the motivation of IRA volunteers, how the IRA was financed and obtained its weapons, the attack on Derryard and its aftermath. My book choice on this podcast is "The IRA" by Tim Pat Coogan.WHERE TO GET OUR DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales. "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.S4 #065 The Past, Present & Future Of Drones In The British Army
01:30:18|CONTENT The guest today is Neale Smiles a former Gunner now working in the defence industry. Neale often posts his thoughts on military matters on LinkedIn and was a guest on pod 51 where we discussed “Guns, Rockets & Training For War”. So if you have an interest in all things artillery it is worth a listen. Even if you don't check it out as Ukraine is proving, Gunners are still one of the biggest killers on the contemporary battlespace. On this episode we discuss the Past, Present And Future Of Drones In The British Army. We cover:The development of Artillery air OPs in WW2 .The pioneering work using drones post war by the Royal Artillery.Hermes 450 and Watchkeeper drones.The Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance process known as ISTAR which is the activity of "equipping forces' with information and intelligence to assist in combat roles and other operational duties. This often derives from linked information networks which improve upon situational awareness".where drones currently operate in this space and more importantly where they perhaps could operate.Should the Royal Artillery operate Watchkeeper.Drones in Ukraine.The future of drones in the British army. No Desert Island Dits on this episode as Neale has been on before however we do discuss his current read "First To Fight - The Polish War 1939" by Roger Moorhouse. WHERE TO GET OUR DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICES Most of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales. "BUY ME A COFFEE" If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here. SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.
S4 #064 7 Minutes To Midnight - Korea The Forgotten War
48:08|CONTENTOn this podcast we feature the British involvement in the Korean War which took place between 1950 - 1953. A war that is fairly unknown and overshadowed by WW2 and later the Vietnam war. It is considered forgotten but was as gruelling as any of the WW2 theatres of operations. We discuss the prelude to war, the opening engagements, the ferocious battle for Imjin against a determined and fanatical enemy alongside the bravery and fighting spirit not only of the Gloucester Regiment but the rest of 29 Brigade consisting of 1st Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles supported by the 25 pounder guns of 45 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, 4.2 inch mortars of 170 Independent Mortar Battery RA and the tanks of C Squadron 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars and by 55 Squadron Royal Engineers. We also talk about the retreat from the Chosin reservoir, a gruelling fight undertaken by 41 (Independent) Commando Royal Marines deployed alongside the United States Marines. We finish off with General Douglas Macarthur's nuclear strategy that would've reduced a large swathe of Korea to nuclear waste and was one of the reasons he was relieved of his command.WHERE TO GET OUR DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales. "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.S4 #063 Use Of AI In Targeting & Autonomous Platforms
56:12|CONTENTThe guest today is Chris Lincoln Jones. Chris is a retired Army Officer and worked for 17 years in the Defence Industry where he was an Intelligence Surveillance and Target Acquisition Specialist with a particular knowledge of Uncrewed Air Systems. He has been a visiting lecturer at the University of South Wales on an MSc course in Global Governance and has contributed to the Birmingham University Advisory Group at the Institute for Conflict Cooperation and Security on their project: ‘Towards a global restraining consensus on the use of armed drones’.In 2017 he collaborated on the Ares Report for the ICRC: A Technical Analysis of the Employment, Accuracy and Effects of Indirect Artillery Weapons. His section dealt with the lawful use of lethal force and targeting procedures. Chris has also advised on two films, Eye in the Sky and Official Secrets and has just published a book, Doctor Moore's Automaton, that looks at what could be achieved with current technology and AI if given enough money and will.On this pod we discuss his book, the military application of AI in targeting and on autonomous platforms, the morality of AI in warfare and use of drones in Ukraine.Chris's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is "The Alignment Problem - Machine Learning & Human Values" by Brian Christian. My choice is Chris's Book "Dr Moore's Automaton".WHERE TO GET OUR DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales. "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.S4 #062 Infantry Officer In Iraq & Afghanistan
01:36:03|CONTENTThe guest today is Laurence Moore, known as Loz, who served in the Cheshire regiment and on this episode we discuss his time at Sandhurst and what it was like to deploy on operations as a young officer in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. Loz also discusses the effect combat had on him personally and why he helped set up Cockleshell 22 with a group of serving and former service people from across the Royal Marines, Royal Air Force and British Army to provide funded expeditions based on historical military raids and ground-breaking mentoring programme to the military community in order to improve overall health of its beneficiaries. Loz's book choice on Desert Islands Dits is "Dien Bien Phu " by Howard R Simpson. My choice is "Killing Thatcher" by Rory Carroll.You can contact Loz by email: cockleshell22@gmail.com. Cockleshell 22 website is at: https://cockleshell22.com and Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Cockleshell22/WHERE TO GET OUR DESERT ISLAND DITS BOOK CHOICESMost of our book recommendations can be bought via the Unconventional Soldier Bookshop. 10% of each purchase supports the pod and helps independent book stores on line sales. "BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.
S4 #061 7 Minutes To Midnight - NATO Cold War "Stay Behind" Operations
01:12:32|CONTENTThe guest today for our conversation on NATO Cold War "stay behind" operations is Tamir Sinai a political scientist and exercise professional. Tamir teaches Security Policy and develops Simulation Exercises for International Organisations, Governments, Private Industry and Universities with a focus on Security and Crisis Management. His customers have included US DoD, German MoD, Swedish MoD, Frontex, NATO, EU and the OSCE.Tamir's paper "Eyes On Target: 'Stay Behind' Forces During the Cold War" can be found here here - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0968344520914345"BUY ME A COFFEE"If you want to support the podcast you can buy me a coffee here.SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram @the_unconventional_soldier_pod.Facebook @lateo82. Twitter @TheUCS473.Download these and other platforms via Link Tree.Email us: unconventionalsoldier@gmail.com. This episode brought to you in association with ISARR a veteran owned company.