Category Archives: History

War Studies: British naval supremacy ended on the 10th December 1941

Posted on April 23, 2025 by odeboyz

A 136 years of the Royal Navy’s global supremacy ended with the sinking of the battleship, Prince of Wales and battle cruiser, Repulse by the Japanese. Neither the Admiralty, or politicians, understood that British naval domination was shaky beforethis débâcle. … Continue reading →

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War Studies: Crimea, 2014: Might is right

Posted on April 2, 2025 by odeboyz

“Might makes right” has been described as the credo of totalitarian regimes.1 The doctrine was first developed by the Ancient Greeks, “justice is nothing else than the interest of the stronger”….”2 The Russian invasion of Crimea was an audacious example of ‘might is right’. … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Lucy Hughes-Hallett ~ The Scapegoat: The brilliant brief life of the duke of Buckingham (2024

Posted on March 26, 2025 by odeboyz

Lucy is a brilliant biographer. She uses her vivid writing skills to paint a picture of people and period. Her chapters range from a single page to full-scale analysis. The book includes stunning colour plates of some the 17th century’s … Continue reading →

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The Israeli-Gaza Campaign: An early assessment

Posted on February 26, 2025 by odeboyz

“Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” Don Corleone, The Godfather by Mario Puzo Israel’s strategic objectives are crystal clear. First, get the hostages back from Hamas. Second, obliterate Hamas as a military and political force. This assessment analyses … Continue reading →

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Should we care about the Unborn?

Posted on February 12, 2025 by odeboyz

Life is risky Let us consider a historical example. People living in Nagasaki on the 8th August 1945 were unaware they would be obliterated on the 9th. They had, thus far, been spared the saturation bombing the Americans were inflicting … Continue reading →

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War Studies: The Importance of the Battle of Tsushima, Japan, 27-28 May 1905

Posted on February 5, 2025 by odeboyz

Japan was humiliated by the USA in the mid-1850s.1 This introduced them to the brutal reality of global power. They vowed to modernise their military, making them equal to the western powers.2 The Royal Navy was the world’s largest and … Continue reading →

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The Execution of Archbishop Cranmer, 1556

Posted on January 15, 2025 by odeboyz

The Apostles’ Creed I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen1 The Church guides believers to Heaven.2 This satisfied everyone … Continue reading →

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War Studies: The Importance of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar, 21st October 1805

Posted on January 8, 2025 by odeboyz

The British Empire was founded on the Royal Navy and Nelson’s triumph at Trafalgar sealed British naval supremacy. The importance of Trafalgar was that it brought naval and global domination for 136 years. Naval supremacy transformed Britain into ‘The policeman … Continue reading →

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War Studies: The Annexation of Crimea, 2014

Posted on November 27, 2024 by odeboyz

The annexation of Crimea was a masterclass in strategic warfare. The transition from Ukraine to Russia was accomplished by subterfuge. Despite Ukrainian protests, the West metaphorically shrugged its shoulders. Putin had learned the lesson of 1939. Poland was partitioned by … Continue reading →

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TV Review: The Great (Channel 4 catch-up) (Elle Fanning & Nicholas Hoult) (2020)

Posted on August 28, 2024 by odeboyz

If you are ‘of a certain age’ you’ll remember the Carry-On films. The Great is a vastly superior version of them. The ascendency of Catherine (the Great) is viciously satirised and turned into a costume romp. The series is turbo-charged … Continue reading →

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