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The Old Front Line

Paul Reed
First World War
World War I
Great War
Battle Of the Somme
Ypres
Trench Warfare
British Army
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Royal Flying Corps
Western Front
Hindenburg Line
Menin Gate
Somme
Flanders
German Army
Passchendaele
American Expeditionary Force
Gallipoli
Verdun
Western Front Association

Walk the battlefields of the First World War with Military Historian, Paul Reed. In these podcasts, Paul brings together over 40 years of studying the Great War, from the stories of veterans he interviewed, to when he spent more than a decade living on the Old Front Line in the heart of the Somme battlefields.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes305Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryEducation

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Latest Episodes

For our final Bonus Episode before Season 10 begins in September, we look at a rare Roll of Honour for the Gravesend and Dartford area of Kent, and discuss the whole history of these Rolls of Honour and then look through this example seeing what it c... more

YouTube

How do you find the hidden story of the First World War landscape? In this special bonus episode of The Old Front Line, we explore the fascinating world of WW1 trench maps and discover how they can transform your understanding of the Western Front an... more

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In this episode of the Old Front Line Podcast, we answer another fascinating collection of listener questions that explore the people, places and practical realities of the First World War.

We begin by asking why visitors can walk, play and live on ... more

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In this episode of the Old Front Line Podcast, we explore one of the most successful British attacks of the Battle of the Somme: the Dawn Attack of 14 July 1916. Launched before first light, the assault captured key objectives including Bazentin-le-P... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Tom Isitt
Author, historian, photographer
Thunder in the Mountains; Riding in the Zone Rouge
Episode: Thunder in the Mountains with Tom Isitt
Donald Fraser
Private, 31st Battalion; Canadian infantryman and memoir author
Canadian Army (31st Battalion)
Episode: St Eloi Craters 1916
Harold McGill
Captain and Regimental Medical Officer, 31st Battalion
31st Battalion
Episode: St Eloi Craters 1916
Arthur Meek
New Zealand playwright and filmmaker, historian
Voices of Gallipoli Project
Episode: The Bad Luck Battalion
Mark Connelly
Professor of History, guest on the episode
[unconfirmed]
Episode: Chalk, Englishness and the Great War
Alex Sotheran
Archaeologist, historian, and war gamer
Storm of Steel YouTube channel
Episode: From The Battlefield to the Tabletop
Jon Gedling
Director of Estates for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Episode: Caring For The Silent Cities
Peter Doyle
Historian, Geologist, and Author
Episode: Battle of Loos with Peter Doyle
Josh Levine
Historian and author, frequent broadcaster
Episode: The Air War in WW1 - with Josh Levine

Host

Paul Reed
Host and military historian focusing on the Great War; long-term field researcher and interviewer with extensive work on battlefield archaeology, memory, and memorial culture.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Amazing

    This podcast really knows how to talk topics about war, go in depth, and all in a calm voice that is a relief from modern days Fast-Paced-Talking culture.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Itscoolbeatle64
    United States25 days ago
  • Superb

    Thanks Paul! Thank you for honoring the fallen and the veterans of the Great War. I have an endless fascination with the history, heritage and lessons of WWI.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bp12579
    United States5 months ago
  • High Quality WW1 Podcast

    A high-quality podcast. Highly recommended for people interested in the First World War.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fwfam3
    United States7 months ago
  • Best podcast for the Great War around

    If you are looking for a podcast on the First World War look no further, Paul is so incredibly knowledgeable and has a way of delivering stories that will always keep you interested

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    harperslj
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Fascinating Podcast

    I’ve been listening to to Paul for a good while now on this podcast. I throughly enjoy them. The knowledge I gather from the podcast on so many aspects of the Great War is fantastic. It’s my go to podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Henman312
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Deep, respectful analysis and engaging storytelling about war memories.
Thoughtful episodes with clear, well-researched insights into WWI memory.
High production quality and thoughtful exploration of memorials and landscapes.
Calm, knowledgeable host with a strong sense of veterans' stories.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#174
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#129
Ireland/History
Apple Podcasts
#151
Finland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Questions and Answers Episode 55
Q: Question number four: how did soldiers dig trenches when facing the enemy, and what does that tell us about the early trench warfare period?
Soldiers dug quickly under fire, creating shallow shell scrapes that were deepened and connected as darkness fell; this iterative, collective tunneling and fortification work under continuous threat illustrates the improvisational and adaptive nature of early trench warfare before fully stabilized fronts.
Questions and Answers Episode 55
Q: Question number three: where did the names Pip, Squeak and Wilfred come from to name the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal?
The trio's nicknames derive from a Daily Mirror cartoon strip featuring a dog, penguin, and rabbit; the terms became shorthand for the trio of medals, while the British War and Victory Medals formed a separate set for those who didn't qualify for the first star.
Questions and Answers Episode 55
Q: Question number two: how much did the 1918 flu pandemic factor into the decline of the German army's effectiveness, and what were the broader implications?
The Spanish flu spread across forces in 1918, causing substantial casualties and straining medical resources, with millions infected; while influenza was a factor, the broader decline also depended on allied victories on the Western Front and blockades, but the pandemic accelerated logistical and morale pressures.
Questions and Answers Episode 55
Q: Question number one: how were death cards for German soldiers typically issued and to whom, and what do they usually include?
Death cards were produced by families who would provide photographs and text through printers, creating a personal memorial that often listed unit details and place of death; such cards accompanied memorials to relatives and sometimes the press or priests, serving as a personal, archival glimpse into individual soldiers.
Questions and Answers Episode 54
Q: Question number four from Dean Ahern about trench foot and a relative who rode on wagons due to frostbite, and how common such injuries were.
Dean's question is answered with an explanation of trench foot causes, winter conditions on the Western Front, treatment measures like whale oil and dry socks, and the practice of using transport to move troops when feet were severely affected.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Old Front Line

What is The Old Front Line about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful history podcast focused on the First World War, especially the Western Front and memory culture. It blends battlefield geography, veterans' recollections, and memorial landscapes with expert analysis from historians, researchers, and writers. Episodes often center on ground-level storytelling—walking battlefields, visiting cemeteries, and exploring how memory, place, and artifacts shape our understanding of the war. A distinctive trait is the host's long-term immersion in the subject, including battlefield fieldwork and interviews with authors and archivists, which yields a calm, deeply informed style and a strong emphasis on memory and place rather than just battles. Potential listeners include history enthusiasts, battlefield... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Old Front Line?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Old Front Line:

1. WW1: Not So Quiet On The Western Front!
2. Footsteps of the fallen
3. WW2: Both Sides of The Wire
4. WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk
5. The WW2 Podcast

How many episodes of The Old Front Line are there?

The Old Front Line launched 6 years ago and published 305 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Old Front Line?

Recent guests on The Old Front Line include:

1. Tom Isitt
2. Donald Fraser
3. Harold McGill
4. Arthur Meek
5. Mark Connelly
6. Alex Sotheran
7. Jon Gedling
8. Peter Doyle

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