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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
Flanders
German Army
Somme
Passchendaele
American Expeditionary Force
Gallipoli
Western Front Association
Verdun

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes296Founded6 years ago
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Latest Episodes

In this latest Questions & Answers episode of the Old Front Line podcast, we tackle another fascinating collection of listener questions that uncover some of the lesser-known aspects of the First World War.

We begin by exploring the German tradition... more

In the first of a three-part series marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, we explore the fighting in the northern sector of the battlefield on 1 July 1916.

This episode examines the attacks at Serre, Beaumont-Hamel and Thiepval, ... more

YouTube

For this episode of the Old Front Line podcast, we open the virtual mailbag once again for another Questions & Answers special covering some fascinating and lesser-known aspects of the First World War. From observation balloons hanging silently over ... more

YouTube

In this special edition of the podcast we explore a lesser-known theatre of conflict from the First World War in Northern Italy with historian Tom Isitt. Tom's new book - Thunder in the Mountains - follows a journey he made across those battlefields ... 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 focused on the Western Front and battlefield memory.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • 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 States2 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 States4 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 Kingdom4 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 Kingdom5 months ago
  • Excellent

    This is a great podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GEFtheMongoose
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High praise for depth and accessibility from listeners who value site-based history.
Engaging history with vivid site storytelling, great for battlefield enthusiasts.
A must-listen for memory and battlefield landscape discussions, with thoughtful guests.
Knowledgeable host who makes complex history accessible and inviting.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#242
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#84
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#185
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#189
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#100
Ireland/History
Apple Podcasts
#202
Norway/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Questions and Answers Episode 54
Q: Question number three from Steve McQuade about anti-personnel mines and booby traps in No Man's Land, including examples from the ground and trench modifications.
Steve's question is addressed by outlining types of improvised German anti-personnel devices used in trenches, such as spike boards and pressure-triggered duckboard mines, and clarifying that British forces did not widely employ similar devices.
Questions and Answers Episode 54
Q: Question number two from Will regarding the white feather campaign and how widespread the practice was, plus the Derby-era armband system.
Will's question is answered with a discussion of organized recruitment pressure, the public shaming tactics, the emergence of armbands in the Derby scheme, and how such social pressures affected volunteers and their families.
Questions and Answers Episode 54
Q: Question number one from James about observation balloons and Balloonatics, including who manned them and what a day in the life was like for those crews.
James's query is addressed by detailing the composition of kite balloon sections, the responsibilities of gunners and observers, and how these units operated along the Western Front, including the limitations and risks they faced in a static siege environment.
Questions and Answers Episode 53
Q: Question number four comes from Stephen Hunt. What was the worst day for the French and German armies?
The host reviews casualty records, noting that while the British Somme's first day is famous for 57,000 casualties, the French suffered a peak on September 25, 1915, in Artois and Champagne with around 21-23 thousand dead, and the German worst day remains debated due to record loss; the American figure is similarly debated and requires further research.

Audience Metrics

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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 field-recorded history podcast exploring the First World War through on-site storytelling, archival insights, and expert guests. Host Paul Reed blends decades of battlefield experience with interviews, battlefield tourism tips, and memory-work to illuminate places, people, and events from the Western Front and beyond. Episodes frequently cover terrain, cemeteries, memorial culture, and the human dimension of warfare, often featuring historians, archaeologists, veterans, and writers who provide deep context and practical access to battlefields for curious listeners and potential visitors. A standout trait is the hands-on approach—walking tours, site-focused analysis, and memory conversations—that makes history tangible rather than purely t... 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. Tales from the Battlefields

How many episodes of The Old Front Line are there?

The Old Front Line launched 6 years ago and published 296 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

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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