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Last time we spoke about the fall of Hong Kong. As dawn broke on December 20, 1941, Japanese battalions tightened their grip on Hong Kong Island. While the defenders fought desperately at Repulse Bay Hotel, Wongneichong Gap, and the heights around Mount Nicholson and Mount Cameron, piecemeal counter-attacks by exhausted Canadians, Royal Scots, Rajputs, and Hong Kong Volunteers were shattered by rain, darkness, and poor coordination.Resistance stiffened at Stanley Peninsula, but ammunition ran low and hope faded. On Christmas Eve, the Japanese stormed St Stephen's College hospital. They bayoneted wounded soldiers in their beds, murdered doctors, and raped nurses in an orgy of horror that became known as the St Stephen's Massacre.On Christmas morning—forever "Black Christmas"—Governor Young surrendered the colony after seventeen days of fighting. As white flags rose, Rear-Admiral Chan Chak and a small party made a daring escape by sea under fire, eventually rescued by Chinese Communist guerrillas of the East River Column who would save hundreds more lives in the months ahead.   #219 The Malayan Campaign Part 1: Bicycle Blitzkrieg   Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Now in the last episode we spoke about the battle of Hong Kong, which of course was fought on Chinese territory and did involve Chinese participation. I took some time to think about what aspects of the early Pacific War should be covered in depth here, ie: what pertains the most to the Chinese experience. We are not going to talk about the Philippines or Dutch East Indies, but the Malayan campaign and fall of Singapore I would argue need to be dived into. There was a lot of ethnic Chinese participation in this campaign. No worries after this brief series on the Malayan Campaign we will be jumping back to China. Following World War One, Britain sought to counter growing Japanese ambitions by establishing a major naval base in Singapore during the 1920s. The location offered strategic advantages, particularly its exemption from the Washington Naval Treaty's non-fortification clause, making it ideal for housing a powerful deterrent fleet. The plan was straightforward: maintain overwhelming naval superiority to discourage Japanese expansion. Yet this calculation proved dangerously optimistic. Japanese aggression accelerated throughout the 1930s, while the European war's outbreak in 1939 drained Britain's resources, leaving its Far Eastern colonies—Malaya, Burma, and Hong Kong—dangerously exposed. Churchill remained convinced that Japan would not strike in 1941, prompting him to channel reinforcements toward the Mediterranean theater. The defensive strategy hinged on buying time; should Japan attack, British forces would delay the enemy while holding Singapore as a fortress until relief arrived. This plan contained a fatal flaw: Britain lacked the capacity to actually send reinforcements to the region. Commander-in-Chief Robert Brooke-Popham led Britain's Far Eastern Command from Malaysia, acutely aware of the challenge ahead. Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival commanded ground forces comprising 31 poorly trained infantry battalions—approximately 88,600 personnel total—largely untrained for jungle warfare. These troops were distributed across three divisions. Air defense proved equally problematic. With only fourteen squadrons flying outdated aircraft, the RAF faced a critical shortfall. Squadrons were scattered across multiple airfields: Vickers Vildebeest and PBY Catalina aircraft at Seletar; Bristol Blenheims at Tengah; Brewster Buffalos at Sembawang and Kallang; further Buffalos and Blenheims at Sungei Patani; Lockheed Hudsons at Kota Bharu; and additional Blenheims at Kuantan and Alor Setar. Allied units occupied three strategic zones. The Indian 11th Infantry Division under Major General David Murray-Lyon held northern Malaya, defending airfields and the Thai frontier from positions near Kota Bharu, Jitra, and Alor Setar. These installations remained lightly garrisoned and vulnerable. The Indian 9th Infantry Division occupied central Malaya, tasked with holding delaying positions at Jitra and Gurun—positions themselves poorly constructed and uncoordinated. Australia's 8th Division under Gordon Bennett anchored the south near Mersing and Johor, forming the last line before Singapore's fortress. Singapore itself bristled with coastal defenses and commanded a substantial naval garrison, expected to repel any Japanese approach. A week before Japan's offensive erupted, Churchill sent Force Z to Singapore—the battleship Prince of Wales, battlecruiser Repulse, and four destroyers. Despite vigorous objections from admirals, particularly Captain William Davis, who warned the Prince of Wales without air cover would be "a hostage to fortune," Churchill overruled them, seeking to project confidence and maintain American goodwill. Admiral Sir Tom Phillips commanded Force Z. Known as "Tom Thumb" for his diminutive stature, Phillips sparked controversy—critics labeled him a "desk admiral"—yet Field Marshal Smuts called him "an admirable choice" and American Admiral Thomas Hart praised his administrative acumen. Phillips' record was mixed. He advocated astutely for tank deployment in Malaya and correctly questioned the Brewster Buffalo's effectiveness, urging Hurricanes instead. Yet he fatally underestimated the threat aircraft posed to capital ships, believing the Prince of Wales' anti-aircraft batteries could defend a maneuvering vessel. An unnoticed handicap compounded this: tropical humidity had disabled the Prince of Wales' fire-control computer before she ever fired. Force Z reached Singapore on December 2, 1941, amid misplaced confidence. Nineteen-year-old Richard Smith recalled: "Everyone believed the Japanese fleet was made of rice paper and string. We assumed we would crush them effortlessly." Churchill's public declaration seemed to goad Japan into action. Admiral Yamamoto responded decisively, dispatching thirty-six Mitsubishi bombers to reinforce existing aircraft and ordering intensive training for "ship-killing"—specialized torpedo and bombing attacks. Three air groups, led by Miyauchi, Nakanishi, and Shoji, trained relentlessly in low-level runs and ocean navigation. Phillips, stripped of air cover, commanded only aging destroyers alongside his capital ships. The stage was set for disaster. In November 1940, the German raider Atlantis captured the British steamer Automedon in the Indian Ocean, seizing documents destined for Air Marshal Brooke-Popham that exposed Singapore's vulnerabilities. The Germans shared this intelligence with Japan in December. By January 1941, the Japanese had also broken British Army codes, revealing the weakness of Singapore's defenses and enabling them to plan an invasion accordingly. The invasion of Malaya followed an audacious strategy devised by Colonel Tsuji Masanobu. Japanese forces would conduct amphibious landings in southern Thailand and northern Malaya, then push 400 miles through jungle terrain toward Singapore. The 25th Army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Yamashita Tomoyuki and initially comprising two divisions, led this operation, supported by Admiral Kondō Nobutake's 2nd Fleet, which provided convoy escort. Thailand's strategic position was crucial; the British could not defend it, offering Japan a favorable staging ground. Marshal Plaek Phibun, Thailand's leader, had informally agreed to allow Japanese passage but simultaneously negotiated with British and American diplomats, creating uncertainty. A second force, the 15th Army under Lieutenant-General Iida Shōjirō, was preparing to invade Burma through Thailand. If the Thai withheld passage by December 7, these forces would advance directly from Indochina. Brooke-Popham devised Operation Matador to counter the Japanese threat. This ambitious plan called for the 11th Indian Division to preemptively seize Singora and Patani—critical Thai ports essential to Japanese invasion plans. The operation's centerpiece was capturing the Ledge, a key terrain feature south of Patani. Control of the Ledge would allow British forces to block roads from Patani, securing retreat routes for the 11th Division and denying the Japanese access to rear areas. Failure would expose the British to encirclement and force withdrawal from Perak and Kedah. However, Matador faced insurmountable obstacles. Britain was uncertain whether Thailand would resist or accommodate Japan, and invading neutral Thai territory risked driving the Thai government into Japanese arms. Command hesitation, combined with poor intelligence, created fatal delays. Matador was never approved. Instead, authorities authorized Operation Krohcol, a scaled-down alternative named after the town of Kroh. This operation tasked a small British-Indian force with advancing into southern Thailand to capture the Ledge, destroy bridges and roads, and delay Japanese movements. Though far less ambitious than Matador, Krohcol represented Britain's final attempt at preemptive action. It would be activated only after Japan opened hostilities, but by then, opportunity had already slipped away.   On December 4, Japanese transport ships escorted by Admiral Kondō's fleet departed Hainan Island toward their objectives. Two days later, British reconnaissance spotted the fleet, but Brooke-Popham lacked authorization to intervene—he could only alert his forces. At 23:00 on December 7, Japan issued an ultimatum to Thailand, demanding passage and giving a two-hour response window. Unable to locate Prime Minister Phibun until late morning, Thailand was invaded hours later. From Indochina, Japanese Imperial Guards and the 55th Division landed at Phra Tabong and pushed northwest toward Aranyaprathet. The 5th Division's regiment landed at Patani while the division's main force seized Singora, quickly overwhelming Thai defenders. From Saigon, elements of the 15th Army conducted additional naval landings across Thailand but encountered unexpectedly fierce Thai resistance that stalled their progress. Just before Pearl Harbor came under attack, the Japanese 18th Division landed at Kota Bharu. The defenders—the 8th Indian Infantry Brigade under Brigadier B.W. Key, supported by artillery from the 21st Mountain Battery and the 73rd Field Battery—faced a daunting task. The 3/17th Dogra Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Preston, held a 10-mile coastal stretch fortified with mines, barbed wire, and pillboxes overlooking the narrow beaches of Badang and Sabak, separated by estuaries and surrounded by creeks, lagoons, and swamp islands. The Dogras unleashed devastating fire as Japanese landing craft approached at midnight. Colonel Masanobu Tsuji observed that enemy pillboxes "responded with such overwhelming force that our men lying on the beach, partially submerged in water, could not lift their heads." The first waves were pinned down, with casualties mounting from artillery, machine gun fire, and Allied aircraft from nearby airfields. British Hudsons bombed the invasion fleet and stranded soldiers, sinking one Japanese transport and destroying seven of their own aircraft in the process. The defenders inflicted heavy casualties, but intense hand-to-hand combat eventually breached the line's center by 03:45, threatening the nearby airfield. Simultaneously, 17 Japanese bombers attacked Singapore with minimal damage and 61 casualties, surprising the British with evidence of enemy long-range aircraft. Japanese fighters and bombers dominated the skies over Kota Bharu and northern Malaysian airfields, demonstrating clear air superiority. Amid the chaos, counterattacks by Malayan battalions failed, forcing the British to destroy northern airfields to prevent capture. The defenders retreated from the beaches to Kota Bharu itself that night. As confusion engulfed British headquarters, Operation Krohcol commenced at 15:00. This scaled-down preemptive operation aimed to delay the Japanese invasion by securing and destroying the Ledge—a six-mile road carved through steep hillside with a sheer drop into a river. Blowing this section would severely impede enemy advance. The force consisted primarily of the 3/16th Punjab Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Henry Moorhead, supplemented by engineers, traveling in Marmon-Herrington trucks provided by the Australian Motor Transport Company. Krohcol was undermanned from the start; the 5/14th Punjab Regiment and artillery battery failed to arrive on schedule, forcing the column to proceed without them. Crossing the border at Kroh, Indian troops encountered determined resistance from Thai police under Major Prayoon Rattanakit in Betong. These roadblocks delayed the Indian advance for two full days while Prayoon's officers simultaneously engaged Japanese forces at Patani. After several hours of combat, Japan and Thailand reached an armistice by midday, with Phibun granting Japan passage, though Thai forces remained neutral. Japanese forces at Patani, navigating poor roads but facing no opposition, began their advance toward the Ledge—approximately 60 miles distant—initiating a critical race against Krohcol to determine who would occupy this vital position first. Meanwhile, renewed fighting erupted at Kota Bharu as Japanese forces infiltrated around British strongpoints, causing alarm among commanders. By December 10, with the situation deteriorating, defenders received authorization to abandon Kota Bharu and withdraw south to Machang.   Just hours after the Pearl Harbor attack, Admiral Phillips ordered Force Z to intercept Japanese invasion forces in the South China Sea without air support. Phillips believed he could "finish quickly and escape to the east before the Japanese could organize a significant attack." Ten Brewster Buffaloes were assigned to support the fleet, but he departed without requesting their cover. Force Z failed to locate the Japanese fleet, which had moved northwest into the Gulf of Siam. By afternoon on December 9, Japanese submarine I-65 detected Force Z, followed by reconnaissance aircraft. When Phillips altered course toward Kuantan, crews grew complacent. Bert Wynn recalled shipboard conversation centered on sinking Japanese warships. A flag officer remarked to CBS correspondent Cecil Brown, "Oh, but they are Japanese. There's nothing to worry about." That evening, Brown questioned whether the British were overconfident given Pearl Harbor. Officers conceded theoretically but remained dismissive. One replied, "We just don't think the enemy is much good. They could not beat China for five years." At 11:00 AM on December 10, Japanese aircraft struck. Three waves of Nell and Betty bombers from Indochina, after more than five hours aloft, approached from the horizon. With no air support—Phillips had maintained radio silence—defense rested entirely on anti-aircraft batteries. Nells attacked at 12,000 feet, dropping 250 kg bombs. Repulse twisted violently, evading most, but one struck her seaplane deck, killing two dozen men instantly. At 11:30, seventeen Nells attacked at wave-top level, focusing on Prince of Wales. Nine aircraft divided their approach, flying below 100 feet from both bows. The ship's inexperienced anti-aircraft crews, hampered by inoperable radar from tropical humidity, struggled to track targets. Once torpedoes were released, the planes sped away, losing only one aircraft.   A single torpedo struck Prince of Wales near the outer propeller shaft. When restarted, water flooded engine room B. Auxiliary power failed, halting drainage and causing an 11.5-degree list to port. Her 5-inch guns became powerless; she slowed to 15 knots, severely crippled. At 12:20, twenty-six Bettys attacked in coordinated "anvil" assaults with simultaneous torpedo drops on both bows. Repulse evaded initially but two or three torpedoes found their mark. One crew member recalled, "Suddenly there was a massive explosion. I immediately knew we'd lost Repulse, for within seconds she took on a frightening list to port, so rapid no amount of counter flooding would save her." Captain's last order: "You've put up a good show, now save yourselves." At 12:23 PM, Repulse rolled over and sank stern-first, her enormous hull protruding vertically from the water. Men jumped into oil-blackened water; many drowned during hours of waiting while destroyer escorts frantically retrieved survivors. Cecil Brown described it as "a confusing, macabre game"—orange flames, white tracers, and gray aircraft "astonishingly close, like butterflies pinned on blue cardboard." With Repulse gone, bombers concentrated on the damaged Prince of Wales. At 12:44, a 500 kg bomb struck between her stacks where wounded crew sheltered, causing devastating casualties. Men ordered to abandon ship faced drowning if trapped below deck. Destroyers rushed in to save swimmers, though HMS Express nearly capsized in rescue efforts. Ten Buffaloes arrived as Prince of Wales sank—too late. One pilot recalled, "After an hour, lack of petrol forced me to leave, but during that hour I had seen many men in dire danger waving, cheering and joking, as if they were holiday-makers waving at a low-flying aircraft. It shook me, for here was something above human nature." In just over an hour, the battleship era ended: 47 British officers and 793 men perished, including Admiral Phillips. Repulse's captain later acknowledged, "The enemy's attacks were undoubtedly carried out magnificently and pressed home effectively. The high-level bombers maintained tight formation and did not veer off course." By December 10, Krohcol reached Betong, just 26 miles from the Ledge. However, a Japanese ambush caught them off-guard near the target, forcing retreat when they were only a mile away. The 5th Division's regiment reached the Ledge by midday, dealing the Indians significant casualties. By December 13, Krohcol was pushed back to Kroh, the operation failed. Meanwhile, the 5th Division advanced south from Singora toward Jitra. Major-General David Murray-Lyon commanded the 11th Indian Division's weak defensive positions at Jitra's road junction, unaware that the critical Alor Setar airfield had already been abandoned. His forces—6th Indian Brigade holding a 10-mile coastal sector, 15th Brigade covering the road, and 28th Brigade in reserve—had sent two delaying detachments on December 9. On December 11, Japanese tanks overwhelmed these covering battalions, inflicting heavy casualties. Murray-Lyon committed his reserves prematurely, leaving Alor Setar lightly defended. That night, Japanese tanks reached the main position north of Jitra, with the 5th Division following. Heavy fighting ensued between Japanese armor and demoralized Indian troops. British defenses penetrated around 06:00, forcing successive Indian units to be overrun. Murray-Lyon repeatedly requested withdrawal permission. At 19:30 on December 12, General Percival finally approved. Due to poor communication and confusion, the 11th Indian Division suffered heavy casualties but disengaged by December 13, withdrawing to Gurun. The primary British defenses in northern Malaya had been breached, the 11th Division severely weakened, and the Japanese advance down the peninsula had begun unstoppably. Percival's first significant defense occurred at Jitra on December 11th, intended to push the Japanese as far north as possible and protect remaining Allied airfields. The Japanese quickly overwhelmed the Indian defenders, and Colonel Tsuji observed the engagement firsthand: "Our tanks were ready on the road, and the twenty or so enemy armored cars ahead were literally trampled underfoot. The enemy armored cars could not escape by running away, and were sandwiched between our medium tanks. It was speed and weight of armor that decided the issue." Major General Murray-Lyon commanded the 11th Indian Division. A World War I veteran, he had served with distinction in the Highland Light Infantry, earning the Military Cross for bravery in Flanders and the Distinguished Service Order for his actions at Moeuvres. The citation stated: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the enemy attacked and penetrated the line after intense fighting and continual bombing attacks, by his courage and personal example he succeeded in driving them out and held his position against further heavy attacks with splendid coolness and determination." This was no desk officer, but a frontline commander faced with an impossible task. Murray-Lyon's division appeared formidable on paper but was severely compromised. It contained only two regular British battalions—the Leicestershire and East Surrey Regiments—with the remainder consisting of four newly raised Indian Army battalions and three inexperienced Gurkha battalions. The Gurkhas, though renowned as elite soldiers, were primarily composed of 18-year-old recruits fresh from deployment. Like all Allied forces in Malaya, the division lacked tanks while facing an enemy flush with armor. After only days of intense combat, Murray-Lyon sought permission to withdraw, convinced the Japanese forces greatly outnumbered him. Ironically, Yamashita's army was outnumbered two to one. The Japanese commander employed Blitzkrieg tactics inspired by his time as a military attaché in Berlin, coordinating air and ground forces with remarkable precision. His approach involved fast-moving tanks, bomber aircraft deployed as mobile artillery, and—most unusually—bicycle-mounted infantry. Prior to the invasion, Japanese planners decided bicycles were ideal for the tropical jungle terrain. Rather than shipping thousands, they seized bicycles from the local population. The offensive typically began with bombing raids on Allied defensive positions, followed by tanks smashing through. As defenders retreated, bicycle infantry continuously harassed and attacked, while coastal amphibious assaults flanked positions along the shore. Colonel Alfred Harrison of the 11th Indian Division reflected on the psychological toll: "Fatigue had stretched the men's mind to the limit and the moral ascendancy which the Japanese achieved in these few weeks included a psychic side. The troops were beginning to attribute almost supernatural powers to the Japanese." Yamashita had rehearsed these tactics extensively on Hainan Island, conducting exercises in amphibious landings, bridge destruction and repair, and jungle operations. The bicycle innovation proved revolutionary—troops covered greater distances more quickly with less fatigue, repeatedly outflanking British forces who found themselves pushed off roads and encircled. The rapid movements created a psychological multiplier effect; British commanders, mistaken about enemy numbers, believed they faced far larger forces than actually present. This "Bicycle Blitzkrieg," as it became known, echoed Mongol tactics—a single swift force striking multiple targets so quickly that enemies believed they faced several armies. Tanks were crucial to this success. The British had deployed no tanks to Malaya before the war, a fatal omission. Combined with bicycle infantry, Japanese armor allowed them to engage British forces before defensive positions could be established. Percival authorized withdrawal from Jitra, directing troops south to Gurun, but those defenses remained unfinished and the Japanese advance was too rapid. Percival later reflected in his memoir, War in Malaya: "This withdrawal would have been difficult under the most favorable conditions. With the troops tired, units mixed as the result of the fighting, communications broken and the night dark, it was inevitable that orders should be delayed and that in some cases they should never reach the addressees. This is what in fact occurred. The withdrawal, necessary as it may have been, was too fast and too complicated for disorganized and exhausted troops, whose disorganization and exhaustion it only increased." From the start, British forces stretched too thinly across a 14-mile front in challenging terrain—dense jungle on the right flank, monsoon-soaked rice fields and rubber plantations in the center, mangrove swamps to the left. Yamashita's concentrated attacks breached the line. Repeated retreats cost both personnel and equipment, as overrun positions offered no opportunity for evacuation and bicycle infantry prevented orderly withdrawal. The Jitra defeat exposed a fundamental strategic error: deploying under-resourced troops across Malaya's entire breadth rather than establishing a shorter, more defensible line further south, which could have shortened British supply lines while lengthening Japan's—a disadvantage the Japanese could not exploit. The Allied retreat continued southward to the Gurun area, though the chaotic withdrawal from Jitra itself inflicted more casualties than the fighting had—many frontline units never received withdrawal orders, while others became lost crossing the Bata River. Murray eventually fell back to the Muda River, establishing defensive positions along the Krian River some thirty miles south. Percival, increasingly desperate, realized his entire strategy had depended on holding the Japanese as far north as possible to minimize air threats to Singapore. The rapid Japanese advance made this impossible. Reluctantly, he ordered a general withdrawal south of the Perak River, while his field commanders pleaded for reinforcements they would never receive. Though Percival had an Australian division in Johor, he refused to commit them north, fearing a Japanese naval invasion further south could threaten Singapore itself.   As Yamashita's 25th Army advanced westward toward Penang, Japanese bombers subjected the island to daily raids. British command, recognizing the island as indefensible, evacuated European residents on December 17th—leaving the local Malay population to face the Japanese. Mrs Muriel Reilly's recollection captures the moment's bitter legacy: "it still hurts to think how the white race 'let down hundreds of similarly faithful servants who trusted in us, and looked to us for protection from the hated Japanese." The abandonment had strategic consequences. In their haste, the British left massive stockpiles of arms and supplies in Penang that fell directly into Yamashita's hands. More profoundly, local Malays turned against their former colonial rulers. Some historians now argue "the moral collapse of British rule in Southeast Asia occurred not at Singapore, but at Penang." Under subsequent Japanese occupation, Penang endured three years and eight months of hardship—food shortages, rampant hyperinflation from the "banana dollar," and systematic repression including comfort women camps and the Sook Ching massacres targeting Chinese communities the Japanese feared might become guerrillas.  The Japanese occupiers' fears about Chinese resistance were prescient. Among the Chinese communities of Malaya and Singapore, anti-Japanese sentiment had been building for over a decade. Since Japan's 1937 invasion of China, ethnic Chinese populations had viewed Tokyo with deep hostility. The Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, followed by the escalating horrors of the Second Sino-Japanese War, had created a reservoir of determination to resist Japanese expansion wherever it might emerge. As British colonial authority crumbled, this sentiment transformed from passive resentment into active organization. The Battle of Jitra exposed a fundamental miscalculation: attempting to defend all of Malaya with an undersized army. A more strategic withdrawal to Johore would have shortened British supply lines while extending Japan's. As December ended, Murray-Lyon was dismissed from command—a casualty of circumstance. He had spent weeks preparing for the cancelled Operation Matador while neglecting proper defenses at Jitra and Gurun. At fifty-one, this decorated soldier, who had earned the Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order in the Great War, became a civilian during Britain's darkest hour. He was replaced by Brigadier Archibald Paris, equally inexperienced in jungle warfare, who paradoxically proved more effective by facilitating the retreat of Murray's division while inflicting unexpected casualties on overconfident Japanese units. By December 26th, the Japanese 5th Division and 4th Guards Regiment crossed the Perak River, preparing an assault on Kampar. This position was crucial—located halfway between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, its terrain was unsuitable for tanks and difficult to outflank, offering a rare opportunity to make a stand. Paris gathered infantry battalions, many composed of Jitra and Gurun survivors: British battalions from the Leicesters and East Surreys, along with Jat and Punjabi units including Sikhs. The 12th Brigade hastily dug trenches, strung wire, and cleared fields around Kampar's ridges to improve visibility. After three weeks of continuous fighting and retreat, the defenders' morale had collapsed. Colonel Alfred Harrison observed on Christmas Day: "fatigue had stretched the men's mind to the limit and the moral ascendancy which the Japanese had achieved in these few weeks included a 'psychic' side. The troops were beginning to attribute almost supernatural powers to the Japanese." The Japanese, by contrast, had grown accustomed to victory and approached each engagement with unshakeable confidence. Yamashita employed German-inspired tactics using aircraft as mobile artillery—vital in terrain where conventional gun placement was impossible. Engagements began with bombing raids on Allied positions, followed by frontal assaults to establish a line, then flanking maneuvers through jungle to encircle defenders. When the assault came from the western coastal roads, Japanese tanks struck the 12th Brigade along a three-mile rural stretch near Gopeng. Small arms and heavy machine gun fire erupted as infantry dismounted from trucks and spread into the brush. Some tanks advanced alone onto a bridge near Dipang, where they encountered defenders with Lanchester submachine guns and Bren gun carriers equipped with anti-tank rifles. Lt Colonel Ian Stewart noted the grim reality: "the anti-tank rifle made no impression against the Jap mediums, while their 37 mm guns went through our armour like paper." The Japanese tankers, closing their hatches in the oppressive subtropical heat—what they described as a "Turkish bath"—approached cautiously, aware of potential counterattacks. British defenders fired desperately at vision slits, their bullets ricocheting uselessly. A 2-pounder anti-tank gun destroyed a single tank, prompting Japanese armor to withdraw and wait for infantry support. Meanwhile, two hundred defenders on the opposite side prepared to destroy the bridge. Fortunately, Kampar's shallow water allowed most to wade across a mile downstream. Stewart's 12th Brigade had purchased time. The British established a strong perimeter around Kampar Hill, resembling a "goose egg" on the map. Their artillery, better supplied than the Japanese equivalent, was concealed in the jungle with two hundred rounds stacked beside each gun. The 15th/6th Brigades occupied the low ground where the road and railway ran through town. Unlike earlier battles where Japanese forces kept defenders pinned with close contact, Kampar's expansive fields of fire and terrain offered space to maneuver—a rare advantage the British would finally exploit. Major General Saburo Kawamura led the attack on Kampar with his 9th Brigade. On December 31st, he probed the 28th Gurkha Brigade entrenched on the hill. Japanese howitzer fire drew return artillery that effectively repelled their advances. At midnight on New Year's Eve, Lt. Colonel Augustus Murdoch ordered a 12-gun salute fired at the Japanese—perhaps a cheeky gesture. Seven hours later, Kawamura launched his main assault on the western side targeting the trunk road. The brunt fell on a newly formed British battalion, the Leicesters and East Surreys, under Lt. Colonel Esmond Morrison. The 48-year-old, though some dismissed him as a "polo-playing playboy," proved a serious soldier despite his peacetime reputation, frequently sharing front-line dangers with his men. Japanese infantry emerged from the mist carrying mortars. Mortar fire became intense—one casualty was a company commander whose jaw was shattered by a splinter. However, observation officers from the 88th Field Regiment pinpointed Japanese advances, unleashing devastating artillery fire. Colonel Masanobu Tsuji observed "a continuous stream of casualties coming back down the hill to safety, either carried on stretchers or supported on the shoulders of comrades who were themselves wounded." Japanese artillery pieces were covertly moved through secondary jungle to hide their positions. During the fighting, one of Morrison's lieutenants encountered Japanese soldiers in a trench, fired his revolver, and retreated. A gunnery driver named Walker, noticing a nearby Bren position overrun, exited his vehicle armed with a Thompson submachine gun and launched a surprise attack, forcing the Japanese to retreat—earning him a medal. Troop Sergeant Major Hugill, commanding an outlying observation post connected by field telephone, received a distinguished conduct medal for calmly calling in protective artillery fire while cut off. When the attack subsided, he encountered isolated Japanese soldiers who had captured a Vickers-Berthier machine gun. Hugill gathered five infantrymen and led a bayonet charge to reclaim it. Emergency commissioned officer Lt. Edgar Newland commanded a platoon of 30 men in one of the most forward positions. His platoon was surrounded for much of the battle yet successfully repelled numerous assaults over two consecutive days. General Percival specifically praised Newland and his men. Newland received a Military Cross; his platoon sergeant, Euan McDonald, received a distinguished conduct medal. After two days, Japanese forces captured part of Thompson's Ridge. Morrison ordered two platoons of Sikhs and Gujars to bayonet charge under mortar fire. Tragically, 34 soldiers died, including their 21-year-old commander, Charles Lamb, killed in the initial charge. Captain John Graham lost both legs to a grenade but continued encouraging his men, throwing grenades at Japanese trenches before bleeding to death—but they had retaken the position. Courage, artillery, and terrain proved insufficient. Yamashita decided to outflank Percival with seaborne landings on the Malayan west coast. He transported 40 small craft by rail to Alor Star and ordered landings near Telok Anson, 30 miles southeast of Kampar. If successful, he would cut off Percival's 11th Indian Division defending Kampar. Yamashita devised a three-pronged attack: the Imperial Guards Division would paddle down the Perak River into town; another force would approach from the west on landing craft entering from the opposite direction; a third would move up the Bernam River and march north toward Telok Anson. Lt. General Takuro Matsui commanded the landings. While Kampar held, 1,500 of Matsui's men crowded onto landing craft. One steamer towing ten craft went too far south, attempting the Selangor River defended by a Jat battalion with artillery. The Japanese were repelled, losing one to three craft before moving north. In Perak, four landing rafts ran aground on a sandbar and required rescue. A British patrol boat spotted them but left to report—no action followed. Percival later remarked: "unfortunately neither the navy nor the air force were able to take advantage of this unique opportunity." Despite setbacks, Japanese forces landed and advanced on Telok Anson. On January 2nd, they encountered the 3rd Indian Cavalry and 1st Independent Company under Stewart, equipped with armored cars and Thompson and Bren guns. They inflicted significant casualties but with only 250 men couldn't hold. Stewart ordered delaying actions instead. Telok Anson fell, leaving Kampar defenders at risk of encirclement. Although Kawamura's forces showed no signs of breaking after four days of fighting, Paris feared his main supply route had been cut. He requested permission from Percival to withdraw to the Slim River defensive line. Paris prioritized preserving troops over territory: "With no reserves in hand, we were still in a position of being unable to accept major losses." The 12th Brigade held while Paris organized the division's withdrawal. An unusual discovery emerged during delaying actions: Brigadier Stewart found the body of a dead European cyclist in British uniform. Earlier, a Punjabi sentry had shot a man on a bridge attempting to grab his Thompson. Both were likely German deserters from Vichy Indo-China's Foreign Legion, in contact with the Nazi embassy. The British Legation in Bangkok had warned of such infiltrators offering sabotage and espionage assistance. Percival was particularly struck by the German who tried single-handedly to disarm a sentry and seize a bridge. The 12th Brigade discovered another European body—a German political refugee and former mining engineer who had disappeared weeks earlier. Exhausted after three weeks of near-constant combat, the 12th Brigade continued delaying actions. Japanese air forces wreaked havoc on vehicles; Stewart estimated half his casualties—around 90 killed and wounded from 4,000 troops—resulted from aerial attacks. Stewart expressed satisfaction: "It had been an eminently successful battle," though it was more a series of brief skirmishes than traditional battle. Kampar fell when Telok Anson was captured. Percival might have committed Australian brigades from Johore or garrison battalions from Singapore, but concentrating forces at Kampar risked prompting Yamashita to attack elsewhere. The Kampar defenders retreated 30 miles to the Slim River. Tsuji reluctantly acknowledged Yamashita's breakthrough was impressive, if risky. On the east coast, defenders faced more resistance at Kuantan. Percival clung to the airfield, determined to deny the Japanese RAF facilities and limit their ability to strike at reinforcement convoys approaching Singapore. The first convoy from Bombay, carrying the half-trained 45th Brigade under Brigadier Horatio Duncan, was 24 hours away. The 22nd Indian Brigade, led by Brigadier George Painter, defended Kuantan against the Takumi detachment of the 18th Division. One battalion, commanded by a veteran of Kota Bharu, fortified the airfield with barbed wire and trenches. When Takumi's forces approached, the Japanese encountered 4.5-inch howitzer fire inflicting significant casualties. The defenders fought fiercely, each equipped with six grenades instead of two, creating deadly chaos. Tsuji noted the airfield "was obstinately defended," particularly at night when grenades rolled into confined trenches with devastating effect. Word reached the defenders that General Barstow's entire 9th Indian Division was retreating through Kuala Lipis-Jerantut-Raub. The 22nd Brigade demolished installations and prepared to withdraw, though their rearguard risked encirclement. One night, investigating his southern flank with Captain Ian Grimwood, battalion commander Cumming spotted Japanese soldiers climbing barbed wire meters away. Armed with a .455 Webley revolver, Cumming and Grimwood faced seven Japanese soldiers charging with bayonets. They fired as they were knocked down, killing all attackers, but Cumming suffered two bayonet wounds to his stomach. Grimwood dragged him to battalion HQ for first aid. As the airfield was overrun, Cumming ordered withdrawal. A grenade or mortar round knocked him unconscious. He regained consciousness in a vehicle where Private Albel Singh reported a Japanese roadblock ahead. Spotting a fallen tree creating passage, Cumming ordered Singh to charge through. Machine gun fire rained down; Cumming was hit again with a shattered arm, possibly from an anti-personnel mine, while Singh endured a .256 armor-piercing bullet through both thighs yet maintained control, driving 30 miles per hour. The vehicle arrived at brigade HQ covered in blood from six occupants. Cumming would receive the Victoria Cross for his heroism. Painter held the airfield long enough for reinforcements to approach, though it cost much of one of the best Indian battalions. Painter, fixated on flanking fears, believed it "better to lose half a battalion than an entire brigade." The 22nd Indian Brigade lost a third of its strength but retreated by January 3rd. While this unfolded eastward, Yamashita's forces advanced south. Defenders prepared a new defensive line at Trolak, five miles north of Slim River. Reinforcements had arrived; the 45th Brigade was immediately dispatched to repel the enemy's advance on Kuala Selangor, which held another crucial airfield. Whether defenders could withstand Yamashita's onslaught remained to be seen.   While British forces retreated in disarray toward Singapore, another chapter was quietly beginning in the shadows of the collapsing colonial order. On December 25, 1941—Christmas morning, even as Governor Young raised the white flag over Hong Kong—Chinese volunteers in Singapore formalized their resistance. That day, the Singapore Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army, officially known as Dalforce, was established under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Dalley. Dalforce emerged from urgent necessity. As the Japanese invasion accelerated and British defenses crumbled, recruitment of local Chinese volunteers escalated dramatically. What had begun as an informal volunteer effort in 1939 now crystallized into organized military structure. The initial cadre of 200 volunteers swelled to 4,000 members as the invasion reached Singapore's doorstep. These were not professional soldiers—Dalforce members came from the Chinese civilian population, motivated by the knowledge that Japanese occupation would target them specifically. Many lacked military training; some were armed only with sporting firearms due to critical shortages of military weapons. Supply ships intended for Dalforce, such as the SS Empress of Asia, were sunk before their cargo could reach Singapore. Yet the volunteers pressed forward, organizing themselves despite severe handicaps: makeshift uniforms, inadequate equipment, and internal divisions between Communist and Kuomintang factions, each trained separately by British officers. Dalforce would soon earn the nickname "Dalley's Desperadoes" from British forces—a name reflecting both affection for their fierce combat effectiveness and incredulity that such a hastily assembled, poorly equipped force could fight with such determination. Unlike the demoralized British and Indian troops retreating southward, these Chinese volunteers were not defending a colonial order they had experienced as oppressive. They were fighting for their homes, their families, and their survival against an enemy they had every reason to fear and oppose. As the Malayan Campaign entered its final phase and the focus shifted to Singapore itself, Dalforce would play a role that British military historians had largely overlooked but that Chinese participants would never forget. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me.   In December 1941, Japan invaded Malaya. British commanders placed their faith in "impregnable" Singapore, but disaster struck immediately. On December 10, Japanese bombers sank Force Z—battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse—in a stunning air attack.Using tanks and bicycles in a lightning "Bicycle Blitzkrieg," Japanese troops shattered Allied lines at Kota Bharu and Jitra, sending exhausted British, Indian, and Australian forces reeling southward in chaos.  

Is it really fair that Leicestershire get docked points? Who are in freefall the most, Glamorgan or Essex? Who will win the shootout in Div 2 between Northants and Kent? Were Essex right to feel robbed by Sam Cook being held back by the ECB? All this and ROTAWATCH.Instagram: @talkSPORT_cricketTwitter: @cricket_ts @fulhamjon @harmy611 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkSPORTCricketEmail: cricket@talksport.co.ukHosts: Jon Norman, Steve Harmison & Nick FriendExec Producer: Jon Norman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will the County Championship be decided on goal difference? Are Surrey now safe from the drop? Are Yorkshire now bigger favourites for the drop than Leicestershire? Will the pain at Lancashire ever end, ROTA WATCH and where does George disappear off to halfway through the show?Instagram: @talkSPORT_cricketTwitter: @cricket_ts @fulhamjon @harmy611 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkSPORTCricketEmail: cricket@talksport.co.ukHosts: Jon Norman, Steve Harmison, George Dobell & Nick FriendExec Producer: Jon Norman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Davies is joined by Matt Davies-Adams and Daniel Storey to reflect on Nottingham Forest's summer transfer window and assess their Premier League squad. We also look at the wider Premier League picture when it comes to the total money spent and which clubs have done good or bad windows. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Matt Davies is joined by Sky Sports and ITV commentator Seb Hutchinson to discuss Nottingham Forest's slow start to the season after back to back defeats against Leeds United. We also discuss the incoming signing of Liam Delap and the reported £45m fee plus what other Forest need to do in the transfer window to help Oliver Glasner. #nffc #nottinghamforest

This week we: Round-up the Club news Discuss the defeat at Leicestershire Preview Hampshire including getting 3 overseas into 2

Red ball cricket is back and our panel is here to report on the games they have been watching:Harry Everett and Dan Haggar on Somerset v EssexDavid Wright and Barrie Funnell on Surrey v NottsOliver Hawke on Leicestershire v GlamorganCraig Tranter on Lancashire v Northants...and Craig also tells us what he is REALLY up to in Worcester this week?!?!

Nottingham Forest were beaten 1-0 by Leeds United at the City Ground in the Premier League in their opening game. Post match reaction from Mark Sutherns, Chris Aylmer, Paul Morley, Dan Cook and Steve Battlemuch on the game and the need for signings. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Pour écouter 5000 ans d'Histoire en entier, sans pub et avec les bonus, pour 2€ par mois :https://m.audiomeans.fr/s/S-tavkjvmo 22 août 1485, Richard III meurt, les Tudors s'élèvent. 22 août 1485, à l'aube, la brume se lève sur les collines de Bosworth, au cœur du Leicestershire, près de Birmingham, au centre de l'Angleterre. Sur le champ de bataille, deux armées se font face. D'un côté, le roi Richard III, dernier souverain de la maison d'York. De l'autre, un prétendant encore peu connu, Henry Tudor, héritier lointain de la maison de Lancastre, en exil depuis son enfance. C'est l'une des dernières batailles de la guerre des deux roses, un conflit sanglant qui, depuis trente ans, divise la noblesse anglaise entre les partisans des roses blanches, les York, et des roses rouges, Lancastre. Richard III aligne environ dix mille hommes, contre à peine cinq mille pour Henry Tudor, fraîchement débarqué du pays de Galles. Mais l'issue ne dépendra pas des chiffres, mais des trahisons, comme souvent. Le combat commence dans la matinée. Richard, stratège habile, mais impopulaire, tente un coup de force. Il charge directement vers Henry, pensant décapiter l'ennemi d'un seul coup. Un pari audacieux. Mais au moment crucial, les troupes de Lord Stanley, qui observaient la bataille sans s'engager, choisissent leur camp. Elles attaquent Richard dans le dos, il est encerclé, désarçonné, tué à l'épée dans une mêlée confuse. Selon la légende, son casque serait resté enfoncé sur sa tête, le visage écrasé contre le sol. Ses derniers mots auraient été « A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse », immortalisé plus tard par Shakespeare. Avec sa mort, se termine la dynastie Plantagenêt, commencée trois siècles plus tôt. Henry Tudor devient Henry VII, il fonde la dynastie des Tudors, et épouse une princesse d'York pour sceller la réconciliation. Le 22 août 1485, l'Angleterre entre dans l'ère moderne, le pouvoir royal se renforce, la noblesse s'affaiblit et un certain équilibre s'installe. Mais Richard III, longtemps dépeint comme un monstre boiteux, inspire encore les passions. En 2012, ses ossements sont retrouvés sous un parking de Leicester, redonnant chair littéralement à une figure controversée. Ce jour-là, à Bosworth, un roi est tombé, une autre légende est née. A demain dans TIME SHOT pour une nouvelle Minute Histoire. Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Welcome to Episode 355 of The County Cricket Podcast! On today's episode, hosts Aaron and Joe sat down with fellow county cricket badger Kieran Hyde to discuss the key moments and standout performances from the Men's Metro Bank One Day Cup Group Stages and Knockouts such as Middlesex's dramatic 2 wicket victory over Durham in the Semi-Finals at Radlett, Hamza Shaikh's terrific start to life at Leicestershire and Rocky Flintoff's coming-of-age century for Lancashire against Somerset in Taunton. If you enjoyed this episode please feel free to share it with any cricket fans that you know and be sure to follow us on Twitter for daily County Cricket and Podcast updates!   Check out our personal social media channels here:  https://x.com/Thecricketconn1 https://x.com/Joe_Nuttall9 https://www.tiktok.com/@kieran.hyde316   Check out our Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/thecountycricketpodcast   Check out our Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheCountyCrick2   Check out our £1 Patreon membership here:  https://www.patreon.com/thecountycricketpodcast   This episode of The County Cricket Podcast was brought to you in association with our friends at Bear Cricket:  https://www.bearcricket.co.uk/

Matt Davies is joined by Emily Williamson, Michael Temple and Mikey Clarke for our 2026/27 predictions. We'll have predictions from the rest of the Forest Focus regulars too as we say where Nottingham Forest will finish in the Premier League. Will they win a trophy? Who will be top scorer and player of the season? What will the top four be and who is getting relegated? #nffc #nottinghamforest

This week we: Round-up the Club news including news of Chris Cooke's retirement Discuss the T20 Blast and One Day Cup campaigns Preview the Leicestershire fixture

Leicestershire and Middlesex will battle it out in the Metro Bank One Day Cup Final at Trent Bridge on the 21st of September. We hear from Oliver Hawke and David Wright, who were at Grace Road and Radlett respectively. Also at Radlett was Alex Gates who gives his thoughts, not only on Middlesex, but England's prospects under new leadership, as the series against Pakistan gets underway. And finally Craig Tranter returns with all the latest goings on at Lancashire, where life is rarely dull!

In part one of our Premier League predictions podcast, Matt Davies is joined by six of our regular fan correspondents as we cover Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton and Chelsea ahead of the 2026/27 season. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Matt Davies is joined by friend of the show Henry Winter to look ahead to the coming season for Nottingham Forest as we discuss Oliver Glasner's arrival, the future of Morgan Gibbs-White and James McAtee and more. #nffc #nottinghamforest

As the heatwave continues, so does interest in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, with some great outground cricket being played under sunny skies in front of sizeable crowds. In this episode, Dan Haggar talks about an eventful trip to Arundel Castle and a meeting with the new Essex Chair Rachel Lewis. Oliver Hawke reports on a couple of good wins for Leicestershire which saw them top the table. Harry Everett is equally cock-a-hoop about Somerset and David Wright enjoys attending some neutral games alongside his beloved Surrey.

In December 1993, 20-year-old Samo Paull disappeared after working in Birmingham's Balsall Heath red-light district. Three weeks later, her body was discovered in a water-filled ditch beside a quiet Leicestershire lay-by, almost 40 miles from where she'd last been seen. Just three months later, 30-year-old Tracey Turner vanished after leaving Hilton Park Services on the M6. Within hours, she too had been murdered, her body abandoned just a few miles from the scene where Samo had been found. At first, detectives didn't realise the two women had been targeted by the same killer.What followed was a complex murder investigation spanning multiple police forces and several years. As investigators began comparing the cases, striking similarities started to emerge, but identifying the person responsible proved far from straightforward. It would ultimately take advances in DNA technology, a nationwide review of unsolved murders and one violent mistake for detectives to finally uncover the truth. Even then, the investigation raised disturbing questions about how many other women may have crossed paths with the same predator.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, we examine the murders of Samo Paull and Tracey Turner, and the investigation that led to the conviction of Alun Kyte. We explore the lives of both victims, the Operation Enigma investigation, the forensic breakthrough that changed the case, the trial, and the lingering suspicion that Kyte may have been responsible for far more than the two murders for which he was convicted. Above all, we remember Samo and Tracey as two vulnerable women whose lives were stolen far too soon, ensuring their stories remain at the heart of this tragic case.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher returns to the show fresh from commentating at the 2026 World Cup for Fox Sports in the USA. After discussing that we focus on Nottingham Forest, the season ahead and the transfers needed before some general Premier League thoughts. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Rev Roo MacRae returns after his holiday and continues in Mark's Gospel reaching chapter 8.If you are in Market Harborough in Leicestershire on Sunday mornings you are very welcome to join us at 10.30am, there is level access from Bowden Lane or come up the steps on the High Street.Morning Worship 2nd August 2026Preacher: Rev Roo MacRae Theme: Immediately! Meeting Jesus in Mark's Gospel   Who is Jesus? Why did he come? What does he call us to do?Turning Point: Who do you say Jesus is?Mark 8:22-38   

Today I had Georgia on the R2Kast

Matt Davies is joined by Dan Cook and Sam Collins as we take questions from Forest Focus listeners. Topics include the make-up of Nottingham Forest's midfield next season and if Ryan Yates will move on, Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson as options (podcast recorded on Monday night before John Percy's transfer report in The Telegraph emerged) and if pre-season predictions of gloom for Forest are misplaced after Four Four Two magazine said the Reds will get relegated from the Premier League. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Cameron Ponsonby and Cameron Steel bring you Oval and Out - your bitesize look at the action as Surrey Men were back in One Day Cup action at Guildford. After winning the first game of the season away to Lancashire, Surrey maintained their losing record whilst playing at Guildford,

In this episode, the Get Birding team are headed to Rutland Water and the Global Bird Fair, where birders, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts from around the world come together to share ideas and inspire action for nature.We'll hear from Global Bird Fair founder, Tim Appleton and Mya-Rose Craig is on the ground discovering the latest innovations in birding gear, and learning why the birdwatching community is more diverse and welcoming than ever. We'll also meet Tim Sexton and Tim Mackrill from Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust to learn how the pioneering Rutland Water Osprey Project helped bring breeding ospreys back to England after more than 150 years, and why their remarkable return remains one of British conservation's greatest success stories.Plus, Jon Carter from the British Trust for Ornithology reveals the extraordinary migration of "Bean", the newly named satellite-tagged cuckoo. Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.This is a Get Birding Production in collaboration with Swarovski Optic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Night woodland. Sonorous owls. Soft nocturnal breezes catching high in the broad-leafed trees. A panoramic woodland in spatial sound, collected by the Lento box alone. Always so fascinating to us is how the natural world sounds at night, when there's absolutely nobody about. It's quite difficult to record though in its true resting state because human made noise is audible even from distances of ten miles or more. But here on a calm May night in Big Wood on the Leicestershire-Rutland border the Lento box found it. A forest at rest. Owls calling across wide reverberant spaces. Undulating wind moving high in the trees. And so many aural shadows. Velvet brown, shapeless, and yet there. Listening to this collected soundscape in spatial audio makes us think, how owls don't sound like they look. Their aural presence is not stark or silvery at all. Their calls are sonorous and have a timbre more like short wooden flutes, blown and tongued with such precision. They sound more golden than silver. The kind of golden green light you sometimes see when a shaft of moonlight filters down through broad leafed trees. * The Lento box collected this soundscape in May tied to a tree in Big Wood on the Leicestershire-  Rutland border. This location is remote (as far as we can get in the UK) and the sound landscape is predominantly natural, though some distant echoes of human made noise are sometimes heard filtering through the forest. We're sharing this segment as *sleep safe* but some people may not feel it is because of the owl calls. This segment begins about an hour after sunset. Sheep and lambs are audible, and some periods of distant squeaking probably from small mammals living in a nearby tree or in a nest at the foot of the tree. ** The image for this episode is taken from the information board at the entrance to the wood. The wood is managed by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. The board describes special plants and insects found there, with lovely illustrations. 

Matt Davies is joined by Sam Collins and Will Tomlinson (WT Analysis) as we go in depth on Oliver Glasner's tactics, discussing how they really work in practice, hidden aspects the data tells us, how his style suits Nottingham Forest and which players benefit and suffer. This was recorded before Daichi Kamada signed a new Crystal Palace contract. #nffc #nottinghamforest

It's been a mad day at Nottingham Forest as Vitor Pereira is set to be sacked by Nottingham Forest to complete an ambitious move for Oliver Glasner as The Telegraph, The Athletic and Fabrizio Romano all say the former Crystal Palace manager will be Forest 's fifth boss in a year. Matt Davies is joined by Chris Aylmer and Michael Temple. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Matt Davies to joined by Dan Cook and Pete Blackburn for their final scouting report of the summer as they put together a 24 man shortlist of full backs Nottingham Forest could consider this summer. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Meghan Chard is many things at once — principal dentist, practice owner, mum of three, and quietly passionate evangelist for childhood airway health. In this episode, she sits down with Payman for a wide-ranging conversation that takes in meeting her husband Simon at dental school, buying his family's Leicestershire practice a month before their first child arrived, and the very particular chaos of juggling clinical work, business ownership, and family life. Then there's the airway thread — and once Meghan gets going, you can see why she's hooked. Sleep disordered breathing in children is, she argues, a dramatically underscreened problem, and dentists are uniquely placed to spot it.In This Episode00:00:55 — Introductions and Rothley Lodge00:02:30 — Meeting Simon at King's00:05:10 — Life as associates, then buying the practice00:06:05 — Running the practice: ops vs. direction00:08:25 — The dental family advantage00:12:45 — Learning the numbers — and how Pärla helped00:13:00 — Staff management and the art of delegation00:15:30 — Superpowers and self-awareness00:17:35 — The juggle: three kids, two clinical days, one nanny00:20:00 — Something has to give00:26:10 — Mary McAleese, Belfast, and family roots00:30:05 — Childhood airway obstruction: signs, symptoms and the dentist's role00:40:05 — Treatment: referral, palatal expansion and the habit-corrector appliance00:54:10 — Case studies and outcomes00:58:35 — Pärla: the emotional roller coaster of consumer business01:05:35 — Covid and the darkest days of practice ownership01:08:20 — Dental school, inferiority, and graduating second in the year01:16:30 — Blackbox thinking01:26:25 — Faith, spirituality, and community01:30:50 — Succession planning01:35:10 — How Meghan ended up in dentistry01:39:15 — Best lecture: Malcolm Levinkind on teeth, posture and the body01:41:50 — Favourite resources: Breath, Breathe Sleep Thrive, Saved by the Mouth01:42:45 — Sauna obsession and longevity habits01:43:55 — Fantasy dinner party01:45:40 — What she'd do differentlyAbout Meghan ChardMeghan Chard is a principal dentist and co-owner of Rothley Lodge Dental Practice in Leicestershire, which she and her husband Simon Chard took over from his family in 2018. Alongside clinical practice and running the business, she has developed a keen interest in childhood sleep disordered breathing and consults for a paediatric airway appliance brand. She is also a niece-in-law of Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland.

Matt Davies to joined by Dan Cook and Pete Blackburn for their third scouting report of the summer as they put together a 25 man shortlist of striker Nottingham Forest could consider this summer. #nffc #nottinghamforest

In this episode of The UK Flooring Podcast, Tom sits down with Dean Smith, owner of DCS Flooring Limited, for an honest conversation about growing a commercial flooring business, stepping away from the tools and finding a better balance between work and family life.Dean shares how he followed his dad into flooring after leaving college, before choosing a different route and building a business focused mainly on commercial projects.However, years of fitting demanding floors during the day, quoting at night and carrying the pressure of running a business began to take its toll. Dean found himself physically exhausted, struggling to make the numbers work and bringing the stress of the business home with him.That pressure eventually contributed to the breakdown of his relationship and forced him to reconsider what he wanted from his business and his life.Dean explains how taking on more fitters and coming off the tools helped him regain control. Although the transition was difficult, and the work initially struggled to catch up with the size of the team, it allowed him to focus on winning projects, managing the business and spending more time with his children.The conversation also explores the realities of managing employees, staying organised, using AI and automation, and why business owners can become so focused on systems that they forget the basic task of bringing new work through the door.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeHow Dean progressed from working alongside his dad to running DCS Flooring LimitedWhy he chose commercial flooring instead of following his dad into domestic retailThe physical and emotional impact of fitting floors while trying to run a businessHow business pressure affected Dean's relationship and family lifeWhy working harder did not necessarily mean making more moneyThe challenges of employing people before the workload has caught upWhy getting off the tools became a major turning pointHow Dean keeps his team happy through fairness, good pay and sensible working hoursWhy every employee is motivated by something differentHow early mornings help Dean complete his most important workWhy enjoying your job is often a choice rather than something that simply happensHow Dean uses ChatGPT, CRM systems and an AI receptionist in the businessThe risks of automating too much of the customer journeyWhy systems and processes can become a distraction from salesDean's plans to grow the company without losing the freedom he has createdMemorable Quote“We can all go to work and earn money, but ultimately you need to go to work and enjoy yourself.”Speaker InformationDean Smith is the owner of DCS Flooring Limited, a commercial flooring contractor based in Leicestershire.After spending much of his career fitting floors himself, Dean is now focused on growing his team, improving the company's systems and building a business that gives him more control, freedom and time with his family.Follow DCS Flooring Limited on Instagram:@dcsflooringltdVisit the DCS Flooring website:www.dcsflooringltd.co.ukWhere to Find The UK Flooring PodcastListen to The UK Flooring Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or watch the latest episodes through the Cockerill & Co YouTube channel.Follow The UK Flooring Podcast on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn for new episodes, clips and conversations from across the flooring industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Al and Jenny meet Justin Gill. Justin became a follower of Jesus as a young man in his native Pakistan from where he immigrated to the UK. Immersed in post-industrial English communities for twenty years, he became well acquainted with the complex realities of race, poverty, religion, and questions of belonging. This conversation explores the turbulent relationship between Christianity, Islam and secularisation in a time of cultural and political instability. Justin senses that God has brought him, as a Christian, into Muslim contexts, and to be among the indigenous English working class. His love for peoples and place is evident in his deep understanding of these different communities' reactions to deindustrialisation, and how their responses to current tensions express their distinct histories and worldviews. Tying all this together is his deep conviction of Christ as Redeemer and His presence in hard, conflicted places.Justin Gill works with the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), advising on cross-cultural mission in a network that links more than 50,000 Christians across the UK. Justin speaks here in a personal capacity. Born and raised in North Pakistan, he was an advisor on minority affairs to a political party and led relief operations following the 2005 earthquake. Moving to the UK in 2006, he gained an MSc in Development and Project Planning at Bradford University and lived in North Yorkshire. He continues to support evangelical church networks in Pakistan. He now lives in Leicestershire and attends Knighton Free Church.For Justin Gillhttps://fiec.org.uk/people/justin-gillhttps://fiec.org.uk/who-we-are/staffhttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/justin-gill-fiechttps://x.com/Justin4Gillhttps://fiec.org.uk/resources/moving-towards-intercultural-churchhttps://fiec.org.uk/resources/should-every-church-be-multi-racialFor Alan J Roxburgh:http://alanroxburgh.com/aboutFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.roxburgh.127/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecommonsnetworkBooks:Forming Communities of Hope in the Great Unravelling: Leadership in a Changing World (with Roy Searle)Joining God in the Great UnravellingLeadership, God's Agency and DisruptionsJoining God, Remaking Church, Changing the World: The New Shape of the Church in Our TimeFor Jenny Sinclair:Substack: https://t4cg.substack.com/s/from-jenny-sinclairWebsite: https://togetherforthecommongood.co.uk/from-jenny-sinclairLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-sinclair-0589783b/Twitter: https://twitter.com/T4CGFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TogetherForTheCommonGoodUKInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/t4cg_insta/ Get full access to Leaving Egypt at leavingegyptpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Today Ben is in the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire borderlands meeting Tom Hawthorne who is farm manager for Flawborough Farms, farming 3200 hectares of cereals, forage maize and whole crop silage both for the home farm and contracting for 13 other landowners. The Hawthorne family have been farming at Flawborough since 1956 when Tom's grandfather Charles inherited the farm from his godfather. With heavy land winter crops are the mainstay for the farm including Oilseed rape, Wheat, and Beans. Minimal cultivations have been used since the 1960s. Over time, the business has gradually increased its arable area through contracting. 

In episode 297 of the Kite Podcast, Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by Rob Daykin from Daykin Partnership, Shropshire farmer Tim Downes, event host and Leicestershire farmer Will Armitage and Dorset farmer Sophie Gregory, as well as podcast producer Becki Reay. They discuss the evolution of the organic dairy sector, and the upcoming organic dairy conference run by the Organic Dairy Round Table, taking place in Leicestershire next week. The Organic Dairy Roundtable has been key in bringing farmers, processors, and retailers together around a shared goal of promoting organic dairy. It creates space for open, honest discussions and constructive challenge. As chair Sophie Gregory highlights, the focus is on giving the sector a voice, direction and turning conversations into real action. The episode dives deep into the state of the organic dairy market, which has seen fluctuations over the years. Will Armitage explains how the Roundtable has helped the sector respond to market signals and make sure farmers are heard. A big theme throughout is the need for farmers to work together to tackle market challenges. No milk market update from Chris Walkland this week. Please note: The information provided during this podcast has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. The information must not be relied upon for any purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise. Any reference to other organisations, businesses or products during the podcast are not endorsements or recommendations of Dairy Consulting Ltd or its affiliated companies. The views of the presenter are personal and may not be the views of Dairy Consulting Ltd. The contents of this podcast are the copyright of Dairy Consulting Ltd.

but nothing too extreme for Gareth in Leicestershire & Kyla in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Nottingham Forest made it all the way to the Europa League semi-finals as played away to Real Betis, Sturm Graz, Braga, Utrecht, FC Porto, Midtjylland, Fenerbahce (and Aston Villa). Matt Davies is joined by Greg Mitchell and Simon Bristow (Our Glorious Banners) to discuss Simon's new photo book Take Us On A Trip which captures the fan experience of games home and away as we go through some of the images he took. We rate the cities and venues as well as discuss the home games. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Last week we took the Lento box to capture the natural soundscapes of rural Leicestershire and Rutland. Our visit coincided with the warmest May temperatures on record and as it turned out the most powerful thunderstorms we'd ever experienced. On the evening of 26 May huge storm clouds swept into the valley, centering exactly over a remote wooded area where we'd left the Lento box tied to a tree to capture the natural soundscape. An hour later the storm was still directly overhead with ear-splitting thunderclaps and fork lightning. We crossed our fingers that the mics would be alright. We collected the box the next morning. The mics survived but the box was drenched. In this episode we're sharing the hour leading up to those lightning strikes. Listening is a rare opportunity to experience the sound-feel of being within an empty rural woodland as the trees and wildlife prepare to ride out the on-coming tumult. Gain full aural immersion of this woodland soundscape with headphones or ear pods. The clarity and spatial reverberances of the spring birdsong. The 360 degree humming created by millions of tiny bees and other insects engaged in their daily foraging. Hear how a small deer picks its way over the leaf litter and pauses right beneath the tree holding the mics. Was it curious about the Lento box? Its footfalls seem to suggest it was. Pheasants can also be heard wandering the forest floor nearby, and mewing to each other in ways we haven't heard before. Baa'ings of sheep and lambs from the surrounding fields echo in the spaces between the trees. As this passage of time progresses towards the 50 minute mark the sky above the woodland has gone from a bright spring blue to the densest of heavy clouded grey. The landscape has dimmed into a premature dusk, punctuated only by intense electrical flashes. It can feel so dangerous to us even from within sturdy buildings, and yet thunderstorms and the way the wildlife respond to them with only leaves and branches for protection are all just part and parcel of life on Earth. * In the last few minutes of this 62 minute passage of time some owls can be heard hooting shortly after the first major roll of thunder cracks open the rapidly darkening sky.  ** This is Launde Park Wood Nature Reserve, an ancient woodland of 57 Hectares, managed by Leicester and Rutland Wildlife Trust.   *** Next time we'll share the next hour, but be prepared, it's one of the most tumultuous hours we've ever recorded!

Send us Fan Mail"Jonny Whitmore MBE — known to many as Shed — was born in Hinckley, Leicestershire and joined the Royal Corps of Signals, completing P Company early in his career. He deployed to Afghanistan with 22 Signal Regiment and 2 Signal Regiment, before returning to the UK to serve as aSection Commander at ATC Pirbright, training and leading recruits.He later completed the Special Communications Course and joined 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), providing global support to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Over a 21‑year career, he finished his service as Squadron Sergeant Major of the Queen's last squadron — the final group of service personnel to swear allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.Jonny was appointed a Member of the British Empire for services to British foreign policy while seconded as a diplomat to the FCDO, working at the intersection of defence, intelligence, and diplomacy.Medically discharged with CPTSD, he moved into trauma‑informed veteran advocacy. Jonny now serves as Veterans Ambassador for Emerald Clinic, championing safe, stigma‑free access to prescribed medicinal cannabis and pushing for more humane, evidence‑based support for veterans.He is also the founder of The Campfire Collective, a veteran‑led woodland initiative built around community, honesty, and reconnection after service. Jonny speaks openly about trauma, identity, and rebuilding a life with purpose — with a focus on truth, service, and helping veterans find their way home."Jonny's links:The UK's Best Value Medical Cannabis Clinic | Emerald MedicinalsFacebook (Campfire Collective)InstagramGuest links are shared as a courtesy to help listeners find the people, businesses, products, or services discussed in each episode. The podcast and host are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by these third parties unless explicitly stated.If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, please email us at info@vsompodcast.com, or follow us on social media: @veteranstateofmindSupport the show

Matt Davies is joined by Emily Williamson and Steve Battlemuch as we give out of end of season Nottingham Forest awards including player of the season, most improved player, goal and game of the season, best memory, lowest moment of the season and disappointment of the season. We also look back on everyone's pre-season predictions and see how close we got. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Matt Davies is joined by Daniel Storey and Matt Davies-Adams as we answer your questions on all things Nottingham Forest. Well the questions are mostly about next season in fact when it comes to what is a realistic target for the team and who are realistic targets to sign. We discuss Elliot Anderson, Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White and James McAtee among current players, while names on the agenda as possible signings range from Hayden Hackney to Djed Spence, Kieran Trippier and Brennan Johnson. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Matt Davies is joined by Dan Cook and Sky Sports commentator Seb Hutchinson as we reflect on a chaotic season for Nottingham Forest as they ultimately stayed in the Premier League with two games to spare. We look ahead to the summer and how the team will look next season when it comes to Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, Elliot Anderson, Neco Williams and manager Vitor Pereira. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Nottingham Forest take a 1-0 lead to Villa Park as they host Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-final second leg. It's a slender advantage but Forest go into the game on the back of a 10 match unbeaten run and five wins in a row. Villa are fifth in the Premier League and have lost three games in a row but can Forest make it to the final in Istanbul? Their cause would certainly be helped if Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, Ibrahim Sangare and Dan Ndoye are passed fit. #nffc #nottinghamforest Matt Davies is joined by Dan Cook and Steve Battlemuch to preview the game in full.

Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals at the City Ground thanks to Chris Wood's emphatic penalty. It was a huge occasion for both clubs and we'll discuss the game in full at 10.05pm as Lucas Digne's handball proved pivotal while Villa fans felt Elliot Anderson should have been sent off for a first half foul on Ollie Watkins. Matt Davies is joined by Chris Aylmer and Adam Walker, who was a recent guest discussing his swimming career but is back for his ain podcast debut. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Colin Pitchfork is a British child murderer and rapist born on March 23, 1960, who became infamous as the first person in the world convicted of rape and murder using DNA profiling. A baker from Leicestershire, England, he raped and strangled two 15-year-old girls—Lynda Mann in Narborough in November 1983 and Dawn Ashworth in Enderby … Continue reading Episode 505: Child Killer Colin Pitchfork – First Killer Caught with DNA

Matt Davies is joined by Greg Mitchell and Mark Sutherns to preview Nottingham Forest's Premier League game at Sunderland. A win for Forest takes them eight points clear of the relegation zone but defeat to a team who have excelled after promotion would be a real blow in the survival race ahead of Tottenham playing Wolves and West Ham hosting Everton. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Matt Davies is joined by Mikey Clarke and Steve Battlemuch for our latest listener Q&A on all things Nottingham Forest. We tackle questions on transfers, Europe, Vitor Pereira and the City Ground redevelopment. We'll all discuss Leeds United's win over Manchester United and if that heightens relegations worries for the Reds. #nffc #nottinghamforest

Season 20, Episode 3: We find the Australian Test opener at The Oval, where he's set to play for Leicestershire against Surrey in the county championship – a gig he only found out he had a couple of weeks ago. It's emblematic of the 31-year-old's fascinating and unconventional career so far, which has taken the left-hander far and wide from his Northern Territory home, all in pursuit of his Test dream. Now realised, the Ashes-winning opener has been backed in with a national contract, endorsed as the man to walk out with Travis Head across a 12 month period as exciting and demanding as they come for the Australians, starting back where Jake grew up in the Top End in August. He's quickly become one of the most popular figures in the team for his willingness to share so much of himself with the public, and he's another top guest.   Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and win a case of Stomping Ground: browse their range at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stompingground.beer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop snoring with 10% off a Zeus device: use code TFW2026 at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠zeussleeps.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We welcome Duncan Fearnley to the fold! duncanfearnley.com.au CBUS Super - Build your something. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cbussuper.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to sort your superannuation. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn about Lacuna Sports - bespoke female cricket wear, created by women for women:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lacunasports.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your big NordVPN discount: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nordvpn.com/tfw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or 10% off Glenn Maxwell's sunnies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠t20vision.com/FINALWORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or 15% off Step One clothes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.stepone.life/discount/TFW148⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or 10% off BIG Boots UK boots and socks at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bigboots.co.uk/?ref=thefinalword⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find previous episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠finalwordcricket.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Title track by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Urthboy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for another one of our not massively popular Nottingham Forest quizzes as fans wait for the Reds to return to action after the international break and FA Cup weekend. Pete Blackburn and Dan Cook pose the questions as Matt Davies and Steve Battlemuch take on Paul Morley and Elliott Talbot. #nffc #nottinghamforest

We welcome Nottingham Forest fan and comedian Matt Forde as we discuss the final stretch of this season when it comes to the Europa League and the Premier League. We also discuss Vitor Pereira and the reaction to his last appearance on the podcast when he backed Sean Dyche to be manager next season. We also talk about comedy, curries and answer question Matt Davies was asked by primary school last week on a visit to talk about the podcast. #nffc #nottinghamforest

In the summer of 1976, one of the hottest on record, a young man's body was found in a ditch on a lonely Leicestershire road. At first, it looked like a hit-and-run. It wasn't. 25-year-old plumber Gary Toms had been in a relationship with a married woman named Marlene Evans. Her estranged husband, Harold Evans, had spent months watching the relationship develop, attending court for breach of the peace, attempting suicide, and quietly acquiring a pistol. Was this a man pushed beyond breaking point, or a calculated, premeditated murder dressed up as provocation?…*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED *** This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane.Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions.Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna Fitton. Narration, additional audio editing and mixing, and script editing by Benjamin Fitton.To get early ad-free access, including Season 1, sign up for They Walk Among PLUS, available from Patreon or Apple Podcasts.More information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIA: https://linktr.ee/TheyWalkAmongUsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the turn of the twentieth century, a pattern of unusual deaths began to surface, when three unrelated women were found drowned in their bathtubs, following a fit or a feinting. The cases seemed unconnected, scattered across towns and surnames, until the similarities grew too precise to ignore. At the center of the widening suspicion was a man named George Joseph Smith, though very few actually knew him by that name until reports of his crimes began to filter into the newspapers, and purely by chance, people around the country began connecting the dots. SOURCES Robins, Jane (2010) The Magnificent Spilsbury & The Case of the Brides in the Bath. F. A. Thorpe, Leicestershire, UK. Kentish Express (1912) Drowned In A Bath. Kentish Express, Sat 20 July 1912, p5. Kent, UK. Weekly Dispatch (1914) Bride's Death In Bath. Weekly Dispatch, Sun 27 Dec 1914, p13. London, UK. Coleraine Chronicle (1915) The Execution of Smith. Coleraine Chronicle, Sat 21 Aug 1915, p4. Londonderry, UK. ------ For almost anything, head over to the podcasts hub at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠darkhistories.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the show by visiting our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Dark Histories books are available to buy here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://author.to/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dark Histories merch is available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3GChjk9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://twitter.com/darkhistories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or you can contact us directly via email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@darkhistories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or join our Discord community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/cmGcBFf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017 Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices