Podcasts about Scots

Last time we spoke about the beginning of the Battle of Hong kong. Japan's rise as a threat to British interests accelerated through the 1920s and intensified after invading China. Britain's response remained contradictory—diplomatically conciliatory yet militarily apprehensive. While Singapore and Malaya received substantial reinforcements, Hong Kong was acknowledged indefensible, yet the 1936 Defence Scheme attempted to fortify it as an island fortress. Governor Northcote urgently advocated evacuation, recognizing the futility of defense. London rejected this, fearing it would demoralize China and forfeit sovereignty claims. Reinforcement requests from commanders like Grasett fell on deaf ears until Grasett independently lobbied Canadian leaders. This persistence finally convinced Churchill to dispatch two additional battalions. On December 8, 1941, Japanese forces attacked across three fronts with overwhelming force. Within hours, the RAF was destroyed on the ground, demolitions proved ineffective, and British units rapidly retreated toward the Gin Drinkers Line, facing an enemy that outnumbered and outmaneuvered them from the opening moments.   #217 The Battle of Hong Kong Part 2: the Island Aflame 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. Around 1500 hours on 9 December, Colonel Doi of the 228th Regiment arrived at Needle Hill, just north of the Gin Drinkers Line, ahead of his main force. For two hours he studied the British defensive positions through binoculars, noting trenches and bunkers—and to his surprise, washing lines fluttering with white clothes. The sight spoke volumes about the 2 Royal Scots' lax discipline. Then fog descended, reducing visibility to barely twenty meters, and heavy rain obscured the landscape. Doi sensed a fleeting advantage but lost radio contact with his battalions. Worse still, the Shing Mun Redoubt lay outside his regimental boundary, making an unauthorized attack a serious breach of protocol. When his units finally arrived, supporting artillery remained unavailable, held up by demolished roads. Doi chose to attack anyway. Doi ordered the 2nd Battalion to scout the eastern approach while the 3rd Battalion spearheaded the main assault. Major Nishiyana commanded the 3rd, sending Lieutenant Wakabayashi and Kasugai with 150 volunteers to lead. The Shing Mun Redoubt itself comprised five concrete pillboxes and an artillery observation post, connected by underground tunnels named after London landmarks—Piccadilly, Haymarket, and others. The whole complex sat on small rises above Jubilee Dam, then the British Empire's tallest. Defending the redoubt was A Company, 2 Royal Scots, under Captain Jones—just three officers and 39 men. One platoon of 25 soldiers under 2nd Lieutenant Thompson held the forward positions. Against this stood 150 Japanese attackers, with another 1,500 troops in reserve. Battalion orders forbade using the concrete works as fighting positions; they were meant for the Vickers machine-gun team and artillery protection. No mines could spare the redoubt's perimeter. On the night of the 9th, roughly half the defenders sheltered in the observation post while the remainder manned pillboxes 401b and 402. At 2000 hours, Thompson led a nine-man patrol northward to check Needle Hill and Shing Mun Valley. Despite two and a half hours in the field, the patrol returned at 2220 hours without detecting the Japanese force massing just 500 meters away. By that time, Lieutenant Kasugai's assault group had crossed Jubilee Dam undetected, bypassed unmanned Post X, and assembled below Pillbox 401b. At 2200 hours, Japanese sappers cut through two lines of wire. At 2300—H-Hour—Lance Corporal Laird heard movement in the bushes and opened fire. The Japanese answered with grenades and rushed the pillbox lines. One team entered the tunnel system; another hurled grenades through the air vents. Corporal Campbell swung his Vickers toward Pillbox 401, catching Japanese headquarters personnel in the open. Sergeant Robb mustered a counter-attack force of thirteen men. Five fell as casualties—Laird, Basnett, Coyle, Casey, and Jardine. Casey was killed; only Jardine escaped. The alert triggered gunfire from the observation post's defenders, and Forward Observer Wilcox called down 4.5-inch and 6-inch artillery fire. Without strong reinforcement and leadership, four Royal Scots and an Indian sentry abandoned the northern positions and withdrew to the observation post. Captain Jones received orders from Brigade to counter-attack, but delegated the task to Thompson. As Thompson attempted to leave the observation post, he found the gate locked from outside. This calamity had a backstory: just before the attack, Thompson had admitted a civilian at the request of Force 163 (SOE's sabotage unit in Singapore). Private Wylie had taken the observation post key from Lance Naik Kishan Singh and, upon exit, locked the gate behind him. The three officers were now literally locked out of the battle. Second Lieutenant Mochizuki and his platoon infiltrated through open trenches and began attacking the observation post from above, attempting to breach the hatches. The defenders held for three hours before Japanese sappers forced explosives down the air vents. At 0230 hours, the blast killed two Indian signallers inside. Thompson sustained a severe eye wound from grenade shrapnel; Jones and Warrant Officer Mead were both wounded. The remaining fifteen defenders surrendered; eleven became casualties. Meanwhile, a Rajput patrol engaging Japanese forces in the river valley managed to drive them back toward the redoubt. One final pillbox endured for another eleven hours before suffering the same sapper treatment. By 0400 hours on 10 December, the entire redoubt was lost. For just two killed, the Japanese had achieved a decisive victory—the breakthrough that would shift the entire campaign's trajectory. By dawn, a Japanese flag flew triumphantly from Point 255.   Major-General Maltby's assessment was stark: "This was calamitous, for Shing Mun was the key to the whole of the left position." Yet the Japanese perspective differed sharply. Having achieved a breakthrough, Colonel Doi received astonishing orders to withdraw—his success had transgressed into the 230th Regiment's sector and violated the meticulously prepared war plan. Doi refused. After heated confrontation with Major-General Ito and Lieutenant-General Sakai, his insubordination was later censured, though a divisional staff officer, Oyadomani, bore the scapegoat's burden of rebuke for failing to restrain Doi's initiative. With Shing Mun secured, Doi methodically fed reinforcements into the position. Throughout December 10th, the Japanese remained uncertain of their advantage and adopted a cautious strategy, probing British lines to exploit the evident disorder. Brigadier Wallis ordered the Royal Scots to mount an immediate dawn counterattack supported by the Rajputs and artillery. Lieutenant-Colonel White demurred; his battalion lacked any reasonable prospect of success. The resulting counterattack proved half-hearted at best. At first light on December 11th, the Japanese pressed Golden Hill forcefully, only to be repulsed by Captain Newton's Rajputs and gunfire from HMS Cicala. White positioned D Company in shallow shell scrapes and rusted wire—inadequate defenses against Japanese assault. Captain Pinkerton led a desperate bayonet charge that morning, temporarily clearing the Japanese and enabling the evacuation of wounded. Yet B, C, and D Companies absorbed devastating losses; Captains Rose and Richardson fell commanding their positions. With the Royal Scots collapsing, X Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and armored support rushed westward to seal the widening gap along Castle Peak Road. Meanwhile, Maltby grappled with alarming reports: Japanese landings on Lantau Island southwest of Hong Kong. Heavy artillery drove them back. A second probe at Aberdeen, where Special Naval Landing Forces approached within 300 yards of the naval base, was repelled by Canadian machine-gun fire. In hindsight, these were mere feints—never intended as the primary thrust. The stratagem succeeded. Maltby retained his island reserves—the Middlesex and two Canadian battalions—precisely where they would be needed. Had Wallis executed a forceful counterattack on December 10th with the Royal Scots and brigade reserves, the Rajputs might have retaken Shing Mun while the Japanese remained disorganized. Instead, Colonel Doi faced a furious Sakai, who had flown down from 38th Division headquarters at Taipo for what amounted to a pre-court-martial examination. The moment passed. After only 48 hours of combat, Maltby concluded the mainland was indefensible. The three battalions would withdraw intact to Hong Kong Island to assume their fortress defense roles. The naval commodore objected—demolitions, supply transfers, and troop ferrying required more time. The evacuation order was deferred 24 hours until noon on December 11th. At that hour, the decision was finalized: the mainland would be abandoned under cover of darkness. Further demolitions followed—the China Light and Power Station, the cement works on Tsing Yi Island, the docks. Yet Brigadier Wallis believed this merely a precautionary measure; he anticipated holding the mainland for at least another week. The withdrawal avoided Kowloon's congested streets, where street fighting and fifth columnists might have entrapped the British—a calculation that proved prescient, as an IJA advance column of 350 men from the 3/230th infiltrated Kowloon on the morning of December 12th to cut off the retreating garrison. The Royal Scots and Canadians retired south to Shamshuipo Barracks and Jordan Road Pier in western Kowloon; the Rajputs and supporting gunners withdrew eastward to Ma Lau Tong, which anchored the fortified Devil's Peak Peninsula. Maltby intended to hold this commanding position permanently—it was easily supplied across the narrow Lyemun Strait. The evacuation proceeded largely as planned. The Canadians and Royal Scots embarked on the afternoon and evening of December 11th under Punjabi covering fire. The Punjabis faced a harder journey—a moonlit scramble along steep Kowloon hills laden with supplies but critically short of mules. One group lost its way at a crucial junction, splitting into two columns. One proceeded toward Devil's Peak as planned; Battalion Headquarters descended into Kai Tak Airport, threaded through Kowloon City, and was evacuated by Star Ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui, fighting until the final moment as the last man boarded. The Rajputs' commander, unable to reach his Punjabi counterpart, abandoned Ma Lau Tong for the closer Hai Wan line near Devil's Peak. By 0400 hours on December 12th, the Punjabis and one Rajput company, accompanied by the gunners of the 25th Medium Battery, crossed Lyemun Strait to Hong Kong Island. Morning evacuations continued with minimal Japanese interference—a surprising restraint. Naval support proved crucial. The withdrawal completed by the morning of December 13th, though 170 mules were lost to the desertion of Chinese laborers—a deprivation that would haunt the subsequent campaign. During this passage, the IJN attempted shore bombardment. The Japanese cruiser and supporting vessels found themselves outranged by the defenders' 9.2-inch guns. The damage inflicted proved sufficient to discourage future naval adventures; for the remainder of the battle, the IJN maintained a cautious distance and played only a peripheral role. The speed and execution of the withdrawal apparently caught the Japanese unprepared. Their most probable expectation had been a full-scale assault on Devil's Peak accompanied by heavy bombardment—a day earlier, an assault without artillery preparation had been driven back with severe losses. The British appeared stronger than anticipated. The defense of the mainland had lasted only five days. With the mainland secured, the Japanese pivoted toward Hong Kong Island. The first move was diplomatic rather than military. At 0900 hours on December 13th, a small boat bearing a white flag crossed the harbor. It carried Colonel Toda, Lieutenant Mizuno, Mr. Othsu Dak, and two European women—the prominent and heavily pregnant Mrs. Macdonald and Mrs. C. R. Lee, wife of the Governor's secretary, accompanied by her two dachshunds. The surrender terms were flatly rejected. Major Boxer delivered the written refusal personally. Mrs. Macdonald remained in Hong Kong to give birth; Mrs. Lee and her dogs returned to Kowloon. The Japanese commenced systematic shelling of selected targets. On December 13th, a 9.2-inch gun on Mt. Davis was silenced; Belcher's Fort sustained damage. The following day, a 3-inch mount on Mt. Davis was hit, killing Chinese gunners and triggering morale collapse; some deserted. On December 15th, the barrage shifted to the northern shoreline, deliberately targeting pillboxes. At 2100 hours that night, approximately three Japanese companies attempted crossing the harbor in rubber rafts toward Pakshawan but were driven off by machine-gun fire. Fifth columnists intensified their operations—signaling with mirrors, sniping from concealed positions, spreading propaganda to encourage Chinese desertion. Their impact might have been catastrophic had not Rear-Admiral Chan and Colonel Yee, armed with tommy guns and grenades, systematically eliminated many of these saboteurs. By December 16th, half the pillboxes between the racecourse and Lyemun Strait lay destroyed. The intended crossing site was unmistakable. On December 17th, the Japanese dispatched a second peace mission—Colonel Toda's team now accompanied by Mrs. Lee with her dachshunds and a pregnant Russian woman. Again, the overtures were rebuffed. On December 18th, the bombardment reached new intensity. Oil storage tanks ignited, sending dense black smoke cascading across the northeast corner of the island—perfect concealment for what was to come. All signs pointed to imminent assault.  I want to note something here, you sometimes hear about how race played a role in the Pacific War and indeed it did. Racist attitudes were found on both the western and Japanese side of the war. There is a fantastic book dedicated to this by the way called, War without Mercy by John Dower, highly recommend it. What is interesting is how these racial attitudes actually affected decision making during the war. Take General Sakai's night amphibious assault for example. Western soldiers such as the Canadians in Hong Kong reported they were told by their commanders that quote "Don't worry about the Japanese, they can't see at night, they all wear glasses" another Canadian soldier wrote in a diary "They don't see well, especially at night we knew this as a matter of fact." Indeed the week before the outbreak of the battle of Hong Kong, Canadian officers attending a briefing by a British officer were informed that "Japan's aircraft were mostly obsolete, its air force had little practice in night flying, and its pilots were myopic and thus unable to carry out dive-bombing attacks". You might be asking yourself, why did they think the Japanese were myopic? The scientific explanation of the day was this "That the Japanese suffered widespread inner-ear damage. What caused this? Japanese motherhood, the practice of strapping babies to their mothers backs, it was explained caused their heads to bounce about, like when they harvested rice and permanently impaired their sense of balance". I particularly love this quote, one of my professors dedicated an entire class to the bizarre racial attitudes before and after the pacific war. There was a belief the Japanese could not see well at night, many western air force commanders actually believed there were times of day like at dawn or dusk where Japanese pilots would not operate because of this hindrance. American military commentator Fletcher Pratt in 1939 analyzed Japan's military strengths and explained it had four major weaknesses. The first was scarcity of resources such as iron, and steel. The second was that the Japanese "can neither make good airplanes nor fly them well" as a result of " the Japanese as a race have defects of the tubes of the inner ear, just as they are generally myopic. This gives them a defective sense of balance, the one physical sense in which an aviator is not permitted to be deficient.". The third was that the Japanese were short-tempered and were inclined to waste men unnecessarily when operations did not go well. The fourth was that the Japanese would simply never date to provoke a war with the US. Again Mr Pratt was an American military commentator whose information came from multiple accounts given by high ranking military officials! The British military maintained that the Japanese avoided night operations on land because they were simply incapable of caring them out well, while they avoided nighttime aerial attacks, as well as dive-bombing for the same reasons Pratt said quote "their pilots were poor and their aircraft inferior.". So take this all to mind when I talk about how certain ranking officers go about making their decisions. By the evening of 14 December, evacuated mainland units had regrouped on Hong Kong Island. The defensive structure was restructured into two brigades: Brigadier Wallis commanded the East Brigade from Taitam Gap, while Brigadier Lawson headed the West Brigade from Wongneichong Gap. This reorganization placed the 5/7 Rajputs across the north-east perimeter, defending over 3,500 metres of coastline with B Company positioned on the hills behind Taikoo Docks. The Royal Rifles of Canada held the north-east corner from Stanley to points south, with reserve positions at Lyemun. Two HKVDC companies supported from Taitam Valley and Pottinger Gap, while the veteran Hughsiliers manned the North Point power station. British and Canadian artillery provided fire support across the northern approaches. The West Brigade held the north-western and south-western shores. The 2/14 Punjab stretched from Causeway Bay to Belcher's Point, protecting Government House and General Maltby's headquarters, with battalion headquarters at Mid-Level. The Winnipeg Grenadiers covered the south-west from Wanchai Gap, with one company detached to the brigade headquarters at Wongneichong Gap. The 2 Royal Scots, severely mauled at Shing Mun, were held in reserve with fresh replacements from the HKVDC. The Middlesex Regiment's companies were dispersed along 72 pillboxes encircling the entire shoreline, while an improvised Z Company of clerks, musicians and cooks defended battalion headquarters at Leighton Hill. Supporting artillery included 9.2-inch and 6-inch guns on Mt Davis and 4.7-inch guns at Belcher's Point. As darkness fell on 17 December, Japanese reconnaissance swimmers reached Taikoo, confirming the crossing site despite detection. Reinforcements arrived: 18 additional heavy bombers from Guangzhou and 26 fighters from Taiwan joined the aerial assault. The crescendo of artillery fire on the 18th, combined with masses of small craft gathering across the harbour, signalled the imminent invasion. Japanese divisional headquarters shifted to Ma Tau Wei near Kai Tak Airport; the 23rd Army moved to Taipo. The invasion force disposed itself with the right flank embarking from east and west of Kai Tak, the left from Devil's Hill area. At 1800 hours, the invasion order was issued; by 1930 hours Sakai himself arrived in Kowloon to oversee the crossing. At precisely 2000 hours, the 2/228th Regiment silently paddled their collapsible craft toward Taikoo Docks and the nearby sugar factory as artillery support commenced. Colonel Doi embarked with 80 headquarters personnel aboard a large barge, leading the second wave. The conditions favoured the invaders—a moonless night, sporadic showers, and thick black smoke from burning oil tanks obscured their movement. They reached the midpoint undetected before searchlights and machine-gun fire scattered the small boats, separating commanders from their units. Despite this chaos, the assault pressed forward. At 2140 hours the artillery shifted to deeper targets; at 2145 hours the first wave of 3/230th landed at North Point, followed minutes later by 2/228th and then 2/229th. Three red flares signalled a successful landing. All six Japanese battalions were ashore by midnight, though wire fencing delayed their advance and Bren carriers added to the confusion on the beach. General Sano arrived at Taikoo one hour later. The 5/7 Rajputs bore the initial brunt of the assault. Despite days of preliminary shelling, the Rajputs mounted a stubborn defence; Japanese casualties mounted rapidly. The anti-tank company suffered so grievously that only a single gun remained operational. The Japanese plan was tactical rather than frontal—bypass isolated positions for later elimination and push rapidly toward high ground. Overwhelmed by numerical superiority and losing most of their officers, Rajput resistance gradually crumbled. Contradicting all evidence, Maltby remained convinced the main Japanese assault would strike directly at Victoria from Kowloon. He therefore withheld the counter-attack, instead dispatching a platoon of Middlesex troops, Royal Marines, naval personnel, and the Rajputs' reserve company—supported by artillery—to establish a defensive line blocking the Japanese advance toward Central District. Three HKVDC armoured cars were sent to protect East Brigade headquarters; two more reinforced the Middlesex battalion headquarters. It was manifestly inadequate against six Japanese battalions. In post-war dispatches, Maltby conceded his grave miscalculation: he believed he faced at most two battalions, not a full division. As the 3/230th broke through D Company of the 5/7 Rajputs, the 2/230th came ashore nearby and wheeled westward toward Victoria. Their advance halted abruptly at the North Point power station, held by an extraordinary force: four officers and 36 men of the HKVDC Hughsiliers Platoon—alongside 39 civilian volunteers from China Light & Power and Hong Kong Electric, including the station manager Vincent Sorby—plus eight Free French soldiers commanded by Captain Jacques Egal, a Shanghai businessman turned soldier. Without exception, these men were World War I veterans, many aged 55 or older. Some had fought in the Boer War. Major J. J. Patterson, the Hughsiliers' commander, had served with Allenby's Camel Corps and been mentioned in dispatches six times; he was chairman of Jardine Matheson and a legislative councillor. Private Sir Edward Des Voeux, 8th Baronet, a millionaire bullion trader and secretary of the Hong Kong Club, had enlisted as a private when deemed too old for mobilization. Private T. A. Pearce, 67 years old, was chairman of J. D. Hutchison & Company and secretary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Captain Bruch, the second-in-command, aged 60, chaired a major trading house. The list extended through Hong Kong's business elite, each choosing to fight rather than flee. These old men held an entire regiment at bay. When Patterson called for aid, Maltby dispatched an HKVDC armoured car with a platoon from Z Company, 1 Middlesex, but the reinforcement was ambushed before reaching the station; only nine soldiers, including 2nd Lieutenant Caruthers, broke through. Unable to dislodge the defenders by assault, the Japanese resorted to bombardment. By 0145 hours on 19 December, surrounded and ammunition exhausted, the defenders withdrew to King's Road behind a disabled bus. The Japanese deployed three machine guns, killing or mortally wounding all but Private Geoghan. A Japanese officer, believing all dead, cautiously approached—only to have Geoghan, despite his wounds, surge from cover and charge. He killed the officer and four soldiers before collapsing from wounds. Somehow Geoghan survived. Those old men—civilians and reservists, businessmen and veterans—held the entire western Japanese advance for 18 hours, buying Maltby precious time to withdraw forces and establish a new defensive line. Their stand at North Point became one of the campaign's most improbable acts of defiance. As the 2/229th Regiment advanced southward toward Mt Parker, the 3/229th landed at Aldrich Bay and turned eastward toward Lyemun, where they seized an HKVDC 6-inch gun. Major Bishop of the Royal Rifles of Canada, unaware of the landings, dispatched 15 Platoon under Lieutenant Scott to check on A Company of the Rajputs. Unexpectedly, they encountered armed men in civilian clothes at Lyemun's gate—the first indication of the Japanese presence on the island. Yet senior officers dismissed initial reports of landings and lost positions as exaggerated, a critical miscalculation that proved catastrophic. At Lyemun Fort, the 5th Anti-aircraft Battery of the HKVDC was caught completely unaware and surrendered after minimal resistance. The Japanese then committed one of many atrocities that would characterize the battle, bayoneting 29 survivors. Alerted by 15 Platoon's report, Bishop attempted a counter-attack with two platoons to retake the fort, but the defenders could not scale the six-meter wall and withdrew with nine men killed. As the 2/229th pressed southward toward Mt Parker, they overran the Salesian Mission, which had been converted into an Advance Dressing Station. No. 8 Company of the 2/229th systematized a massacre of medical personnel and the wounded—an atrocity that would later become pivotal evidence at Colonel Tanaka's war crimes trial. Yet amid the chaos, several medical staff and wounded survived to testify: Gunners Y. K. Chan and Martin H. C. Tso of the 5th Battery, Captain Osler Thomas of the HKVDC, Captain Martin Banfill of the Royal Canadian Medical Corps, and Corporal Norman Leath of the Royal Army Medical Corps. C Company of the Royal Rifles, reinforced with captured Japanese machine guns abandoned by fleeing Rajputs, inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, with one Japanese company suffering over 65 percent losses. Yet overwhelmed by superior numbers and suffering nearly two platoons worth of casualties themselves, the Canadians were forced to withdraw, leaving only a reinforcement platoon under Lieutenant Blaver on Mt Parker. When Captain Clerke arrived at dawn with 16 Platoon to reinforce the position, he found over 100 Japanese already entrenched. With no artillery support and only two platoons available, Clerke had no choice but to withdraw, abandoning Mt Parker to the enemy. By dawn on the 19th, the East Brigade faced catastrophe. Infantry strength had been halved, and losses of artillery were equally devastating. A series of misunderstandings and misinterpreted orders led coastal gun crews at Capes D'Aguilar and Collinson to destroy their own guns in confusion or lose them to the advancing Japanese. Of the entire artillery complement, only one 18-pounder and two 3.7-inch field guns remained operational. Wongneichong—literally "yellow muddy creek" in Chinese—occupies the center of Hong Kong Island, a valley separating the eastern hills (Mt Parker, Mt Butler, Jardine's Lookout) from the western massif (Mt Nicholson, Mt Cameron, Victoria Peak). This narrow gap formed the critical artery linking northern and southern Hong Kong, making Brigadier Lawson's decision to place West Brigade Headquarters there strategically sound yet tactically vulnerable. Recognizing the exposed position after the landings, Major Lyndon had located an alternative site south of Mt Nicholson, scheduled to open the following day. In response to the Japanese landings, Lawson dispatched three platoons of Winnipeg Grenadiers to block the advance. Lieutenant C. D. French took 18 Platoon to Mt Butler, Lieutenant G. A. Birkett's 17 Platoon moved to Jardine's Lookout, and Lieutenant L. B. Corrigan's platoon took the north-west approach to the Gap. As on Mt Parker, both French and Birkett were killed almost immediately, their small forces overwhelmed by battalion-strength enemy forces with artillery support. By morning on the 19th, two battalions each of the 230th and 228th Regiments were pushing for the high ground. The 2/230th rapidly occupied Jardine's Lookout while the 3/230th moved to Mt Nicholson and the 2/228th advanced toward the Gap itself. No. 3 Company of the HKVDC under Major E. Stewart held pillboxes around Jardine's Lookout, while No. 1 Company under Captain Penn defended Taitam Valley with forward positions at Quarry Gap. The pillboxes, despite heavy bombardment, held longer than anticipated—some for as long as 24 hours. Stewart maintained his company headquarters until the 22nd, four days of continuous fighting without adequate ammunition, food, or water. No. 3 Company suffered 80 percent casualties and ceased to exist as a cohesive unit. Realizing that the enemy had penetrated to Mt Butler, Brigadier Lawson decided counter-attack was essential. Major A. B. Gresham of A Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers, was ordered to retake Mt Butler and clear Jardine's Lookout. The Canadians initially succeeded, with Warrant Officer 2 J. R. Osborne leading a bayonet charge, but a strong counter-attack by three Japanese companies drove them back by 2200 hours. The Canadians held firm until 1500 hours, when Gresham attempted surrender despite waving a white flag—the Japanese shot him regardless. In the chaos that followed, a Canadian killed a Japanese officer in response, triggering a grenade barrage. Warrant Officer Osborne caught the grenades and hurled them back as fast as they came, but one landed in an impossible position. Without hesitation, Osborne threw himself on the grenade to save his comrades. This act of supreme self-sacrifice earned him a Victoria Cross—the first Canadian VC of World War II. At dawn on the 19th, Maltby dispatched A Company of the 2 Royal Scots under Captain K. J. Campbell to reinforce the Gap, but they lost all their officers with only 15 men reaching Lawson's headquarters. A group of sailors under Commander A. L. Pears came from the south, but were ambushed en route; only a few reached the Postbridge—a house just south of the Gap—which became an isolated strongpoint. The 3/230th captured the police station perched on a mound at the southern point of the Gap, then swept eastward to seize the anti-aircraft guns of 7th Battery (barely 250 meters from brigade headquarters) and continued uphill toward Taitam Hill to capture additional 6-inch and 3.7-inch guns. Maltby's response was to call down final protective fire from the HKSRA in Happy Valley, inflicting massive casualties on the 3/230th. At 1000 hours on the 19th, Lawson reported that his headquarters was surrounded and he was about to "go outside and shoot it out." Captain H. A. Bush provided covering fire as Lawson and his entire staff, including Middlesex signallers, were cut down by machine-gun fire across the Gap. Lawson's body was discovered two days later halfway up the hill behind his headquarters, dead from a gunshot wound to the thigh. Lieutenant Kerfoot of the 2/14 Punjab with his three Bren carriers arrived minutes too late to save him. IJA who saw the fight made a note stating "he died heroically". At 1330 hours on the 19th, Maltby issued "Operation Order No. 6" calling for a massive counter-attack to commence 90 minutes later. The plan was ambitious: A and D Companies of the 2/14 Punjab were to attack east from Victoria to North Point to relieve the Hughsiliers, while HQ Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the 2 Royal Scots were to attack the Gap and Jardine's Lookout. Eight field guns were promised but never materialized. There was no reconnaissance, no proper orders, and minimal coordination. The Canadians were to rendezvous with the 2 Royal Scots at Middle Gap at 1530 hours, but the Scots were late; the Canadians advanced without them. Captain Pinkerton of D Company, 2 Royal Scots, was ordered at the last minute to attack up Wongneichong Gap Road—the same route A Company had taken only seven hours earlier and been decimated—because it was reported as "lightly held." Captain A. M. S. Slater-Brown led the advance with three Bren carriers and attached engineers, followed by D Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Just as the carriers reached the burnt-out trucks of A Company, they too were ambushed. Mortars and machine-gun fire rained down from Jardine's Lookout, where the Japanese occupied captured HKVDC pillboxes. Slater-Brown and 2nd Lieutenant Bell, the battalion intelligence officer, were killed instantly. The Royal Scots waited in the roadside ditches until 0200 hours before launching an attack on the police station, reaching the steps before Pinkerton was severely wounded. Captain Ford's composite company attack at 0300 hours also failed. Simultaneously, C Company under Lieutenant F. L. Stanier attacked Jardine's Lookout—also unsuccessfully. This series of piecemeal assaults cost the Royal Scots eight officers and 68 soldiers. Growing increasingly desperate, Maltby ordered Major Hodkinson, Officer Commanding HQ Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, to attack the Gap and proceed to Mt Parker. Requesting reinforcements from A Company and the Royal Scots, Hodkinson launched his assault with covering fire from Lieutenant Corrigan on Mt Nicholson. The Grenadiers managed to reach Mt Nicholson with only five unwounded men, though Corrigan's group advanced to within 300 meters of the Gap road. Then came an unexpected stroke of fortune: while skirting Mt Nicholson, Hodkinson's group stumbled upon approximately 500 Japanese—probably from the 3/230th—eating lunch without posting sentries. The Winnipeg Grenadiers unleashed devastating fire, inflicting heavy casualties. By 1745 hours, Hodkinson's force was only 100 meters from Repulse Bay Road. With four men and a 2-inch mortar, Hodkinson worked his way to the abandoned brigade headquarters, bringing 20 walking wounded with him. He established a foothold at the Gap, receiving orders to attack the police station at 2200 hours. Two HKVDC armoured cars with Vickers machine guns came in support, but accurate enemy fire disabled both. Like Pinkerton before him, Hodkinson reached near his objective before being severely wounded. For this action of determination and courage, Hodkinson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. By the morning of the 20th, the Japanese had consolidated control of the Gap, but elements of D Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers, still held various pillboxes north of the position. Initially, 17 and 18 Platoons occupied forward positions with Company Headquarters and 16 Platoon in reserve, positioned across Wongneichong Road almost directly opposite brigade headquarters. Forward positions were rapidly overrun and cut off from the company. They fought without officers until withdrawal to battalion headquarters became necessary. With Captain A. S. Bowman killed and Captain R. W. Philips wounded, command fell to Lieutenant T. A. Blackwood. An attempt by B Company to relieve D Company on the evening of the 20th failed catastrophically, killing all officers and 29 men. With fewer than 50 men remaining—all wounded—Lieutenant Blackwood continued inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese until 22 December, when exhaustion and the complete absence of ammunition, food, and water forced surrender. D Company killed over 200 Japanese soldiers. Post-war Japanese reports refused to believe that a single company had held the Gap for so long. For their stubborn defense, Philips and Blackwood were awarded the Military Cross, and three enlisted men received the Military Medal. The battle of Wongneichong Gap was characterized by fragmented planning and poor coordination. On the night of the 19th-20th, no fewer than three separate companies attacked the police station, with another company assaulting Jardine's Lookout—all within five hours, all independently organized by local commanders. Had these disparate actions been coordinated into a single simultaneous assault, fortress headquarters' objectives might well have been achieved. By the end of the 20th, the British had lost the vital ground of Wongneichong, though Postbridge House remained as an isolated holdout. For the Japanese, Wongneichong became the single costliest engagement since the invasion began, with over 800 casualties and the regimental commander of the 3/230th seriously wounded. 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.   Japanese landings on 18-19 December overwhelmed the East Brigade. Brigadier Lawson died defending the vital Gap. Desperate, uncoordinated counter-attacks by British and Canadian troops failed to dislodge the enemy. D Company Winnipeg Grenadiers held the position for four days against overwhelming odds before surrendering. The Japanese suffered 800 casualties but secured this critical strategic ground.

There is a written recipe for Henry VIII's perfume. It's in a 1608 book called A Closet for Ladies and Gentlewomen, and it's rosewater, sugar, musk, ambergris, and civet, boiled down softly for an entire day. I had no idea that existed until I sat down with Jen Siems of Immortal Perfumes, who has spent 14 years building fragrances out of archival research. Jen is a self-taught perfumer and a former English teacher, which means she talks about rare book rooms the way most people talk about their favorite TV show. She also has Elizabeth's recipe, which includes marjoram for headaches and a truly unreasonable amount of sugar. If you know anything about Elizabeth's teeth, that tracks. We get into: Where ambergris actually comes from, and why a kid walking on an English beach can stumble onto $50,000 worth of it Whether the Tudors really stank, and how much of that reputation we've made up Miasma theory, and why smelling magnificent was a health strategy and a PR strategy at the same time Catherine de' Medici, perfumed gloves, and how French perfume as we know it started with a Florentine bride Mary Queen of Scots' golden pomanders, and the violets-and-sparkling-wine legend that got misattributed to Anne Boleyn for years What Jude Law wore on the set of Firebrand to play a dying Henry, and why Alicia Vikander couldn't stand to be near him Fair warning, Jen explains how civet gets harvested and it involves a comparison to taking your dog to the vet. I was not ready. GIVEAWAY: Jen is giving away a vintage Avon Queen Elizabeth bottle (her torso lifts off, it's wonderful) filled with the Immortal Perfumes scent of the winner's choice. Enter here: https://www.englandcast.com/immortal-perfumes-giveaway/. Closes September 14, US shipping, 18+. Find Jen: immortalperfumes.com | Immortal Perfumes on Instagram and TikTok | the Immortal Perfumes Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HEADLINES: Australia's music charts are about to get a lot harder for AI to crack. The three Scots boys at the centre of sexual assault allegation have faced court. Entertainment and AFL agent Ralph Carr has been sentenced to six years in prison The US has threatened to impose severe sanctions against any country or entity maintaining economic ties with Iran. Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is being sued by a TV writer claiming he stole her idea for the hit show. GET IN TOUCHGot a story, news tip-off, feedback or dilemma?Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au HELPFUL LINKS: Become a Mamamia subscriber and get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts and early listening, subscriber-only articles, monthly giveaways and our home workout app, MOVE. Get access to Very Peri, Mamamia's exclusive perimenopause series, for just $59. 25 world-leading experts, over 20 on-demand sessions, available now. We’ve sorted through the noise so you don't have to. Go to veryperi.com.au today. You hot? Same. CREDITSHost: Charlotte Mortlock Audio Producer: Scott Stronach Group Executive Producers: Georgie Page and Tamsin Rose Check out The Quicky Instagram here and our TikTok here Discover more Mamamia podcasts here Did you know some of our shows are now in video on the Apple Podcast app? Make sure your phone is up to date and check it out here! Mamamia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we have recorded this podcast.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chad is back from Scotland and the bros are reunited! Chad breaks down his 15-show run at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest! Getting roasted by the Scots, the difference between UK and American comedy crowds, hustling to sell tickets, and getting reviews. JT catches Chad up on everything he missed back home, including seeing Goose at the Greek, navigating dad friendships, and going with Strider to the 25th anniversary screening of The Fast and the Furious - where Strider crushed the red carpet and JT got kicked off almost immediately.The bros also get into three-legged dogs having the ultimate stoke mentality, and take some GREAT CALLS to end the pod! We are live streaming a fully unedited version of the pod on Twitch, if you want to chat with us while we're recording, follow here: https://www.twitch.tv/chadandjtgodeepGrab some dank merch here: https://appreeshapparel.com/Come see us on Tour! JT JUST ADDED HEADLINE DATES FOR THE FALL!Get your tix - https://www.chadandjt.comTEXT OR CALL the hotline with your issue or question: 323-418-2019(Start with where you're from and name for best possible advice)Check out the reddit for some dank convo: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChadGoesDeep/Thanks to our Sponsors:BLUECHEW - GET ROCK HARD TODAY WITH THE BEST WINGMAN, Bluechew. Visit https://www.bluechew.com and use code GODEEP to get a Month Free when you purchase two months worth of GOLD!PRODUCTION & EDITS BY: Jake RohretSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why can someone accused of a serious crime be released on bail — and why might the detectives investigating them sometimes be pleased when that happens?Former Scottish detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean take an inside look at bail and remand: what bail actually means, how the system has changed during their careers, and the factors courts consider when deciding whether an accused person should remain at liberty or be held in custody pending trial.They discuss the days when bail could literally mean putting up money for someone's release, the continuing use of bail bonds in the United States, and the underlying principle in Scots law that an accused person has not yet been convicted and should normally remain at liberty unless there is sufficient reason to keep them in custody.Tom and Simon examine the practical reasons bail may be opposed, including:the seriousness of the alleged offence;the risk of absconding;further offending;interference with witnesses;destruction or concealment of evidence;and obstruction of justice.Tom also reveals a less obvious reality from major investigations: detectives could sometimes be quite pleased when a person facing a serious charge was granted bail. Keeping someone in custody starts strict legal timetables and can put enormous pressure on investigators trying to assemble a complex case.The conversation also explores how Scottish bail law developed through precedent and stated cases, changes to the modern bail test, the use of remand, and the police practice of releasing accused people on undertakings to appear at court.Simon and Tom also refer to the recent Simon Levy case while discussing the risks associated with offending while on bail.Later, the conversation moves to policing and drugs, as Tom discusses news he had read about advances in hepatitis C treatment. That prompts both detectives to recall the very real dangers faced by officers searching people who used injected drugs — including uncapped needles, needle-stick injuries and the routine question: “Do you have any sharps? Do you have any spikes?”It's an aspect of criminal justice that everyone has heard of, but one that is often very different from the version portrayed on television.Real cases. Real detectives. Real talk.Suggested Chapters00:00 — Cold open: why detectives might actually want bail00:52 — What bail really means01:28 — When bail meant money03:08 — Liberty before trial and the presumption of bail04:17 — When bail can be opposed04:34 — Simon Levy and offending while on bail05:04 — Why accused people are remanded06:10 — Why bail can help a murder investigation06:54 — Common law, precedent and stated cases10:20 — Modern bail rules and reducing remand11:55 — What police put before prosecutors12:40 — Undertakings and release from custody13:55 — Lord Wheatley and the war on drugs14:54 — Hepatitis C and the risks faced by drug-squad officers18:11 — ClosingAbout Crime Time Inc.Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic.This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history.Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work.Two crime worlds. One podcast.New episodes released regularly throughout the season.Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us.Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey.http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Natalie Grueninger interviews historian Ebrahim Joseph about the surprising influence of ancient Persia, especially Cyrus the Great, on Elizabethan England. They explore classical and biblical sources, princely education, political advice, court drama (including The Wars of Cyrus), the Mary, Queen of Scots debate, and early contacts with Safavid Persia, showing how Persian models of charismatic and ruthless kingship shaped Tudor political culture. LEARN MORE ABOUT EBRAHIM JOSEPH https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/people/ebrahim-hanifehpour-0 Read ‘Honour and Deceit in The Warres of Cyrus, Classical Persia, and Elizabethan Politics' by Ebrahim Joseph https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X26101745 Learn more about today's sponsor - Simply Tudor Tours! https://simplytudortours.com/ JOIN 365 DAYS IN ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND https://www.nataliegrueninger.com/2026/05/17/365-days-in-elizabethan-england/ Learn more about your host: https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

*Albo poll. *Scots threats. *Michael Theo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Albo poll. *Scots threats. *Michael Theo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Albo poll. *Scots threats. *Michael Theo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Was Henry III overthrown by England's first constitutional revolution? How did Simon de Montfort's rebellion change the course of history?In 1258, a revolutionary movement stripped Henry III of his authority, plunging England into a bitter crisis and a brutal civil war. As Henry fought to suppress an uprising in France, his queen Eleanor of Provence emerged as one of the most formidable political figures of the age.David Carpenter returns to Gone Medieval to speak to Matt Lewis about the extraordinary final years of one of England's longest-reigning monarchs.More:How the Plantagenets Built EnglandListen on AppleListen on SpotifyKing Edward I: Hammer of the ScotsListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Watch History Hit's documentary on Simon de Montfort in the new Rebel series with Mike Loades. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week PLUS early access, ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"At this very time, they are permitting their chief magistrate to send over not only soldiers of our common blood, but SCOTCH and foreign Mercenaries to invade and deluge us in blood." -From Jefferson's first draft of the Declaration of Independence In this episode, we survey the history and importance of Scotland and Scottish people in Revolutionary America. Topics include: -anti-Scottish sentiment in the Colonies, particularly among Southern planters, like Jefferson, who were indebted to Scottish tobacco traders -the origins of the "Pursuit of Happiness" in the Scottish Enlightenment -explanations of Scots and the Scotch-Irish -push and pull factors driving Scots and the Scotch-Irish to the Colonies -the Jacobite Uprising in 1745 in Scotland and its consequences for Scotland and the 13 Colonies -the revolutionary continuity among the various British upheavals of the 1600s and 1700s along with the American Revolution -the Scottish tobacco trade -the reception of the Declaration in Scotland -wider implications of the Declaration on Scottish politics -The connection or lack of connection between the Scottish Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 and the US Declaration Prof. Francis Cogliano's books can be found here: [Revolutionary America, 1763.1815: A Political History](https://www.routledge.com/Revolutionary-America-1763-1815-A-Political-History/Cogliano/p/book/9781032150321) [The American Revolution at 250](https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/10183/) The cover image features one of the Scottish Founders, John Witherspoon. Witherspoon was born in East Lothian, Scotland, in 1723. In 1768, he emigrated to New Jersey to become the President of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). A staunch republican and Presbyterian, he believed that resisting tyranny was the duty of Christians. He signed the Declaration of Independence on behalf of the citizens of New Jersey in 1776.

This week, it's yet another failed Saoirse Ronan Oscar contender: the long in development Mary Queen of Scots, a movie that is somehow both incredibly old fashioned and painfully of its moment. Topics include: post-Trump girlboss feminism, SAG/Oscar splits, white boys of the month Joe Alwyn and Jack Lowden, and Margot Robbie as Saoirse's tethered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 ‘THE DUNECHT LOON'S CAIRN.' Fowk fae aa roon the North East an further,  gaithered  tae witness the unveilin o a memorial cairn to the legendary broadcaster,  Robbie Shepherd.  Frieda Morrison hid the honour of bein in that company to celebrate the unveilin of ‘The Dunecht Loon Cairn' – an spoke tae Robbie's close freen Robert […]

A new book is being published tae mark the centenary o Hugh MacDiarmid's iconic poem ‘A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle'.  The new anthology will bring thegither a wide range o poets, scholars and writers tae reassess een o the defining wirks o modern Scottish literature. First published in 1926, MacDiarmid's poem challenged ideas […]

Forty grown men, standing in the dark below a ruined tower in Staffordshire, looked up and saw a woman in a pure white Elizabethan gown staring straight back down at them... and every one of them knew instantly it couldn't be a member of staff. This is the story of Tutbury Castle, one of Britain's most haunted locations, and the strange, decades-spanning case for what's still walking its grounds.Tutbury held Mary, Queen of Scots prisoner across four separate stays, and she's said to haunt it still, seen sprinting across open grass at impossible speed by an off-duty Royal Marine in 1984, spotted by archaeologists mid-dig, and glimpsed by the castle's own most sceptical staff. Then there's Ellie, a child spirit in the King's Bedroom who tugs at visitors' fingers one by one, and the Keeper, an armoured figure at John of Gaunt's Gateway still telling people to "get thee hence."Over 250 sightings have been logged since 2000. Now, with the castle closed and its long-serving curator retired, there's nobody left walking those grounds after dark to report back on what's still there.Hear the full case for yourself in this episode of Dark Matters.Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave us a rating, and drop a review. It really helps the show reach more listeners. Here's where to find more:Support the show: Patreon (patreon.com/hauntedukpodcast) | Ko-fi (ko-fi.com/hauntedukpodcast)Follow us: Instagram @hauntedukpodcast | TikTok @hauntedukpodcast | X @hauntedukpodWebsite: https://hauntedukpodcast.com/Produced by Pink Flamingo Sound Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who really ruled Elizabethan England?For almost four decades, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, guided Queen Elizabeth I through religious turmoil, assassination plots, the threat of the Spanish Armada, the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the unresolved question of succession.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Jon Culverhouse to explore the life and legacy of the meticulous, fiercely Protestant statesman who became the indispensable power behind the Tudor throne.MoreRoyal Favourites: Hatton, Elizabeth I's FavouriteListen on AppleListen on SpotifyElizabeth I's Spymaster, WalsinghamListen on AppleListen on SpotifyPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Theme music from All3Media. Other music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This summer, we've been celebrating the best of Scottish books and authors. In the final instalment, we're turning our attention to the nation's rich world of non-fiction. This episode, first released in 2024, looks at the fascinating legacy of Scotland's most recognised queen. -- Arguably the most famous monarch in Scottish history, Mary, Queen of Scots remains a figure of global intrigue more than 400 years after her death. One question, then: why? In a previous episode of Love Scotland, Jackie explored the life and times of Mary. Today, she's on a mission to find out why Mary's story and legacy have been pored over in such detail for centuries. Joining Jackie in the studio is Professor Steven Reid of the University of Glasgow, who is also the author of The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots. Together, they unpick the posthumous interest in Mary, the many different perceptions of her legacy, and how Mary's death has been used throughout history to further different groups' objectives. For more information on Falkland Palace, click here. 

They released another sneak peak at the upcoming DLC for Scots and Vikings! Aksallad and Socerton dive in and discuss it with live reactions. They also talk about Ren Fairs, Slay the Spire II, and the language tree. 

THE BEST O THE BEST Fitiver the wither the Heilan Show gings on tae be een o the best shop windaes for the fairmin industry.  In this the Aiberdeenshire Presidential year, Frieda Morrison jines the fowk at the livestock rings an and enjoys the company o fowk that mak this show a winner. Willie Johnston […]

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 1, 2026 is: spindrift • SPIN-drift • noun Spindrift refers to spray blown from waves during a gale or to fine wind-borne snow or sand. // Our whale-watching cruise was a whirlwind of flukes, fins, and clinging to the handrails amid the waves and salty blasts of spindrift. See the entry > Examples: “White-capped waves crash far below the cliffs and sweep out to the horizon, spindrift tosses up mini-rainbows and creamy plumes of sea froth float up and over.” — Amanda Thomson, The Guardian (London), 5 Sept. 2024 Did you know? Spindrift first set sail in English in the early 19th century, under Scottish command. The Scots had by that point been using speendrift for well over a century; their verb speen means “to rush forcefully along with a strong wind,” so speendrift referred to a drift of salty sea spray during such sailing. In the 1820s, English speakers recruited the word, but signed it up as spindrift. At that time, its sole duty was to refer to the driving sprays at sea. By the mid-20th century, English speakers realized that spindrift had potential to serve on land as well, and the word was sent ashore to be used for wind-borne snow and sand. Today, spindrift still serves the language commendably by land and by sea.

...in which we ramble up remote Liddesdale in the extreme north-east of Cumbria to uncover the remarkable history of a unique independent territory transformed into a bloody borderland. In the company of author and academic Graham Robb we set out from Kershopefoot along the trackbed of the historic Waverley Line, taking in the landscape of the once-unique enclave between England and Scotland; an uninhabited ‘batable' grazing land bounded by the rivers Liddel, Esk and Sark that formed a buffer zone between often warring nations. Stepping into the Scottish Borders, we discuss the popular perception of the ‘reiving' families who lived around this anomalous territory – the Elliots, Armstrongs and Grahams – and the raids that saw cattle rustled and fortified peel towers set ablaze. Surveying moorland and scattered woods to rising Tinnis Hill, Graham outlines a parallel history; one of stability, in which a raid was not thuggery, but a coming-of-age ritual/form of trade in an advanced pastoral society with strict Border laws that kept the peace for 1,500 years. Passing meadows with folds and dips that made ideal hiding places for rogues and raiders, we move into the mid-1500s, when the English and Scots crowns orchestrated a plan to carve up the Debatable Land by making lawlessness legal, preparing the ground for characters like ballad outlaw Kinmont Willie and the sadistic Duke of Buccleuch to conduct reigns of terror. Closing in on Liddel Water, we learn about the end of the Debatable Land, and the “astonishingly beautiful and accurate map” (below) that recorded the establishment of what Graham argues is “the oldest detectable territorial division in Great Britain”. Reflecting on the violent excesses that wiped the one-time grazing lands from the map, Graham discusses the long shadow cast by imperial colonialism, the persistent discomfort over cross-border marriage and the independent spirit that lingers in border folk. We close with our quickfire questions, where Graham recalls a relationship-testing ascent of Swirral Edge, waxes lyrical about the definitive descriptions of Cumbrian rain in Rogue Herries and notes the advice he was given before moving into the borderlands – to “leave the pub by 9.30 at the latest”. The Debatable Land: The Lost World Between Scotland and England is published by Picador.

A woman is found at the bottom of a staircase in 1560. And the one person who benefits most from it is the Queen of England. This week I'm digging into one of the wildest what-ifs in Tudor history. Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley, dies suddenly at Cumnor Place, right when the rumors were already swirling that Dudley meant to get rid of her so he could marry Elizabeth I. The obstacle is gone. The queen could have married the man she loved. And she said no anyway. I wanted to know what would have happened if she'd said yes. Turns out it touches everything, her entire approach to foreign policy, the Mary Queen of Scots plots, even whether she'd ever have had to sign that execution warrant. There's no clean answer here, and that's what makes it such a good one. Also, quick note, I've built an app called Tudor Scroll. Daily Tudor puzzle, all your favorite Tudor creators in one feed, and more. Android testers are in now (thank you all so much) and iPhone is about to go into final App Store testing. Want in early? Email heather@englandcast.com. Related episodes: Jill McCracken on her murder mystery podcast https://youtu.be/yplUI7pbEWY Janet Wertman on the woman who had Robert Dudley's baby: https://youtu.be/2UEyw4q_dto Tudor Times' Melita Thomas on Robert Dudley: https://youtu.be/Bot35V6CPCo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can rent a bedroom where a little girl in a yellow dress still hums lullabies, a miner's casita in a Texas ghost town, or a schoolhouse tucked inside a working cemetery — and every one of these haunted Airbnbs is bookable tonight.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/AirBNBREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3s9xb4btFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Spending the night in a haunted house is always unnerving, but would you pay for the experience? If you're looking for a spooky escape, maybe you could try a haunted AirBNB! You might not rest in peace in these haunted homes, but you're bound to have a memorable night preparing for paranormal activity, seeking the supernatural, and greeting ghosts. (Book A Stay At a Haunted AirBNB) *** Sawney Bean, said to be the leader of a 45-member clan in Scotland, is infamously accused of murdering and cannibalizing over 1,000 people in the early 16th century. His story inspired the horror film, ‘The Hills Have Eyes.' But did Sawney Bean ever truly exist? (The Man Who Inspired ‘The Hills Have Eyes') *** Nestled in the Kentish Weald, the quaint village of Stalisfield boasts a thousand-year-old church and timeless tranquility. But beneath its serene surface, whispers of ancient pagan rites and dark ceremonies linger. Could the chilling past of sacrificial rituals still echo through the village today? (The Stalisfield Blade) *** As dusk fell, a pickup truck pulled up to a motel outside Tarzana. Inside, Brother Elzibah and his monks prepared for a perilous mission, recording martyr statements and arming themselves with explosives. Their target on December 10, 1958: Krishna Venta, a self-styled prophet in Box Canyon. This night promised a dramatic showdown that would mark a violent chapter in the history of American spiritual communes, and the country's cults. (The Bizarre Story Behind The Suicide Bombing Of A Southern California Cult)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:41.053 = Show Open00:04:08.300 = Book A Stay At a Haunted AirBNB00:27:56.736 = The Man Who Inspired ‘The Hills Have Eyes' ***00:32:42.960 = The Stalisfield Blade00:40:06.667 = The Bizarre Story Behind the Suicide Bombing of a Southern California Cult ***00:51:40.417 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Stalisfield Blade” by Ken DaSilva-Hill (used with permission)“The Bizarre Story Behind The Suicide Bombing Of A SoCal Cult” by Mattew Duersten, LAist, December 10, 2018: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4s27xpf7“The Man Who Inspired ‘The Hills Have Eyes'” source: Leah Silverman at AllThatsInteresting.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8zy3ec“Book A Stay At a Haunted AirBNB” sources: Lauren Mack at TimeOut.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4h75fc6c; Daily Barringer and Caitlin Morton at Thrillest.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8eubbj; Jersey Griggs at TheDiscoverer.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yttxryn6; Marissa Laliberte at Reader's Digest:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p86y2em; Julie Pennell at Today.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2kwzmdfs; Alexa Erickson at FamilyHandyman.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8w39nh(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: April 29, 2024This episode of Weird Darkness roams from haunted rental homes you can book for the night to a Scottish cannibal legend, a Kentish village's whispered sacrifice rites, and the dynamite that ended a Southern California cult.It opens with a tour of haunted Airbnbs scattered across the United States and beyond, from Hobo Hill House in Jefferson City, Missouri — a 1910 American Foursquare where sightings of a man in a top hat drove the Clark family out and onto "The Dead Files" — to the Parks-Bowman Mansion in New Orleans, where guests booking the dead girl's bedroom report a young spirit in a yellow dress who hums lullabies and paces with a limp. The Kahn Hotel in Jefferson, Texas has logged over 300 paranormal investigations and one recording of a woman's scream followed by a gunshot; Farnam Manor in Richfield, Ohio traces its haunting to the owner's daughter drowning in a well in 1834; and a converted 1900 schoolhouse sits inside Cedar Park Cemetery in Hudson, New York, complete with an 18th-century opium wedding bed. The Creole Mansion in New Orleans, built in 1855 for Louise Vitry, and the Terlingua ghost-town casita overlooking Big Bend round out a list that stretches from Salem, Massachusetts to York, England.From there the episode turns to Sawney Bean, the legendary patriarch of a 45-member clan said to have lived in Bennane Cave along the Scottish coast, robbing, murdering, and cannibalizing more than 1,000 travelers across roughly 25 years before King James VI led a manhunt that ended in the men being executed and the women burned at the stake. Historical records first mention Bean in 1755, a century after he supposedly lived, and Scottish historian Dr. Louise Yeoman argues the tale may have started as English propaganda, with the name "Sawney" serving as a period slur against Scots. Wes Craven credited the Bean legend as the direct inspiration for his film The Hills Have Eyes.Next comes Stalisfield, a tiny hamlet in the Kentish Weald with a thousand-year-old church and The Plough Inn, where old villagers speak of pagan harvest rites tied to a flint sacrifice knife hewn from Kentish stone. The stories describe animals slaughtered on a sarsen stone and, in the darkest tellings, a golden-haired virgin tied to a stake, dismembered with the flint blade, her blood collected in a golden vessel and her ashes mixed with seed and scattered into the corners of the fields — corners locals still avoid after dark, marked by their overgrowth.The episode closes with Krishna Venta, born Francis Herman Pencovic in San Francisco in 1911, a barefoot self-styled prophet who claimed to have been born half a million years earlier on a planet called Neophrates and founded the WKFL Foundation on a 23-acre glen in Box Canyon. Two disaffected monks, Ralph Muller and Peter Kamenoff — who had taken the names Elzibah and Jeroham and accused Venta of sleeping with their wives — recorded martyr statements at a Tarzana motel and drove to the commune on December 10, 1958 with twenty sticks of dynamite in a musette bag. The blast lifted the top off the stone monastery, was heard more than 20 miles away, and killed ten people, including Venta, Cardinal Gene, and two children from the dormitories, seven-year-old Keela Baker and eleven-year-old Elwyn; survivors later scattered into other movements, among them members who died in Jonestown alongside Jim Jones' Peoples Temple in 1978.

Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary England, 1603–1689. This segment details the rise of the New Model Army, a professionalized force led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and the committed Puritan Oliver Cromwell. Following the decisive Battle of Naseby in 1645, the King's forces were routed. Internal debates emerged over the future of the nation, notably the Putney Debates, where radical Levelers argued for manhood suffrage against Henry Ireton, who favored property-based voting. After Charles made a secret treaty with the Scots, leading to a second civil war, Ireton and other radicals concluded that the King must be tried for treason to ensure public safety. (5)1650

Fairytale expert, Kate Forsyth travels back in time to the stories of her youth, to a dark, fantastical and eerie world where cruelty and mischief abound.As a young girl, Kate was sent to stay with her great aunts in Newcastle and there was introduced to the darkness, magic and mystery of Scottish folklore.These stories lit Kate's imagination on fire, and let to a lifetime of study into these powerful stories and the messages behind them.One true story from this period that stayed with Kate was the treacherous and dramatic life story of Mary, Queen of Scots, who, in the telling, was only a few years older than the teenaged Kate.Intertwined with the true Scottish history were dark, fantastical and eerie accounts about cruel and mischievous fairies who would leave their young in place of human babies, as ‘changelings'. This world abounded with magic - hazelnuts that give the power of invisibility and curses that cause boys to dance to their death.These legends also feature brave and ingenious girls who figure out how to rescue the sick and cursed through their own wits and knowledge of the natural world.Further informationThe Changeling is published by Penguin Random House.This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer of Conversations is Nicola Harrison.You can listen to Kate's previous Conversations interviews on the tangled roots of fairytales, the dark and violent origins of beloved fairytales, the Russian tale of Vasilisa the Wise and her nemesis, the witch Baba Yaga, the story of a blood red rose, The intrepid and curious Charlotte Waring Atkinson, Psyche, the curious and brave goddess of the soul.This episode touches on witch trials, burning of witches, neolithic stones, storytelling, violence against women, cunning folk, ken, kenning, runes, being in touch with the seasons, old women, prayers, spells, rowan tree, faeries, fairies, fairy queen, changeling, autism, neurodivergent, neurodiverse, dauphin, King James, King James Bible, To binge even more great episodes of the 'Conversations podcast' with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Sir Pengwin joins Socerton and Askallad once again, this time to talk about the history of the Vikings and the Scots and how we think that will impact the way they are implemented into Age of Empires IV!

While referees and commentators stumble over the interpretation of the laws and player roles, our panel of three gives more daylight on the latest rugby than Paul de Villiers in a Bok turnover. From the Baby Boks to the B-team, it was an action packed weekend of international rugby. This was a bumper episode - make sure to use the full shot clock to get it all in. We unpack South Africa's victory over Scotland and Rassie's post-match suggestion that the Scots could now be the third-best side in the world. Is there really a changing of the guard happening at the top of international rugby? Or are people suffering from remarkably short memories after the Springboks comfortably dispatched both France and New Zealand the last time they met? Elsewhere, Ireland's trip to "Japan" sparks one of the biggest off-field talking points of the tournament. Why were Japan forced to give up a home fixture? Should teams be allowed to dictate where they play? And after yet another compromise in the competition's opening year, the panel jokingly arrives at one obvious solution: kick Ireland out of rugby. Australia once again show flashes before fading against a stacked French side, prompting discussion around Joe Schmidt's tenure, whether Dave Rennie deserved more time, and just how frightening France's depth has become. With Jalibert, Ntamack, Dupont and a seemingly endless conveyor belt of talent, are Les Bleus now the only nation capable of matching the Springboks for squad depth? And why does Ant love the Wallabies so much? Plus the All Blacks' "pump and dump" approach to player selection, foreign-born internationals popping up in unexpected places, and why having too many good players isn't always the worst problem to have. Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

An experimental Scots translation of ‘Catullus 63' tells the story of a young athlete driven mad by the Mother Goddess, driven to become an orgiastic priestess in the wild mountain woods, in a cacophonous reimagining of the Latin classic as a trans hymn to the Caledonian Forest. By Harry Josephine Giles and Callie Rose Petal … Continue reading "Attis in Caledon"

How do you interview a mime on an audio podcast? In this episode of The Comedian's Paradise, we welcome viral mime star Silent Rocco! Known to millions on Instagram and TikTok for his mind-bending street performances and physical comedy, Rocco breaks his silence (metaphorically) to share his journey. Here is an overview of what we discussed:[[01:25]] Handling drunk Scots, connecting with audiences, and why I became a mime [[16:22]][[05:00]] Channeling stage fright: Why I will stop as soon as I am not nervous [[05:30]][[16:22]] The good and the bad of social media algorithms for creators [[17:39]][[17:39]] Self-taught vs. mime school: How both independent study and formal training helped me [[21:36]][[21:36]] Why what works for one person won't work for another, the problem with middlemen, and the issues with modern films [[27:53]][[28:00]] Suffering from a disease called people-pleasing, connecting with your tribe, and deciding what affects you [[30:22]][[34:20]] Why we let people decide what affects us, and why what we think isn't that important [[36:53]][[36:53]] Working in terrible venues, how to stop getting offended, and taking accountability [[41:52]][[41:52]] A comedian's take on mental health: Why you don't need therapy [[44:00]][[45:00]] The problem with performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival [[53:50]][[53:50]] Word of mouth and grassroots marketing: The best form of advertising [[58:24]]If you would like to know more on Rocco, you can go on his website at https://silentrocco.com/ , or you can purchase tickets for his latest show if you are in London here:https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/untold-stories/.You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #silentrocco #comediansparadise #mime #physicalcomedy #standupcomedy #mimeartist

In the final episode, we'll find out what happened with the Kings of Scotland inherited the throne of England. And learn what the Scots thought of the English chopping off one King's head, exiled another, and finally invited a German to take the throne. James VI of Scotland & I of England Charles I Charles II James VII of Scotland & II of England Mary II & William II Anne Music: "Angevin - Thatched Villagers" by Kevin MacLeod Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a week of breaking press conferences and transatlantic sporting drama. This week, Lesley and Fraser try to find their feet amidst a fast-moving political news cycle, broadcasting through recycling collection interruptions and unexpected announcements. From Donald Trump's latest ego-driven phone call to FIFA to Nigel Farage's high-stakes scramble over undeclared cash and property portfolios, we unpack the creeping Americanisation and deep-seated corruption sweeping modern politics. Meanwhile, we look South at Andy (the North) Burnham's patronising stance on Scottish devolution and question how the grassroots independence movement can move forward cleanly with its campaign funds. In this episode, we discuss:Trump, FIFA, and Waffles: We chew over Donald Trump's ridiculous phone call to FIFA to get a player's red card ban delayed—a move that spectacularly backfired as Belgium thumped the US team 4-1 anyway. We dive into the corporate corruption of FIFA rolling into town tax-free, leaving host nations like South Africa lumbered with multi-billion-pound bills.  Farage's Clacton Crisis: Recorded right before his 2 PM showdown, we analyse breaking news regarding Nigel Farage's future in public life. Under intense scrutiny over undeclared security cash, luxury stays, and a mortgage-free £4 million property portfolio, the donations he has received from crypto-billionaires and convicted fraudsters, we ask: is he about to jump before he's pushed by a Standards Commission recall petition?  The King of the North vs. Scottish Self-Determination: We dissect Andy Burnham's predictable words to the Scots, offering regional devolution crumbs while denying Scotland the right to choose its own constitutional future. We contrast this with the media's sudden interest in an Irish border poll, noting how Scotland's constitutional fight is being woundingly ignored by the wider news cycle.  Cleaning Up the Indy Dosh: With questions lingering over old Yes Scotland accounts and the potential return of Peter Murrell's misappropriated SNP money, Fraser and Lesley look at how to build trust. We debate the necessity of setting up an independent fun managed by a well-respected, neutral board to confidently kickstart a fresh independence campaign for 2027. Linkshttps://donation.dec.org.uk/venezuela-earthquake-appeal ★ Support this podcast ★

What has been your favorite moment of the FIFA World Cup coming to North America? Is the Scots taking over pubs in Boston, the Oranje Fanwalk of the Netherland fans, or the reactions of many foreigners experiencing a bit of Americana? Amy and Tim delve into this among other topics including Amy scoring on a penalty — which somehow has escaped her recollection! Thank you for supporting our podcast! It's been great seeing the steady growth of our audience. Please follow us on Spotify (it's free to set up an account!) or wherever you listen. Please share, comment and like as well. For any questions, or topic ideas you can email us at thatsnotwhatmomsaid@gmail.com

Mary, Queen of Scots was executed on February 8th, 1587, on the strength of a decoded letter and a forged postscript that Elizabeth's spymaster slipped into her own secret code. But what if that letter never got decoded at all? In this episode I pull that one thread and follow it all the way out. No execution means no closure for Elizabeth, a murkier justification for the Spanish Armada, and a genuinely messier road to the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the moment that eventually gives us the United Kingdom as we know it. One coded letter in a beer barrel, and everything after it tips sideways.This is part of my ongoing What If series, where I take real Tudor history and nudge it just slightly off its actual path to see what breaks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit smokeempodcast.substack.comAre you proud of America? It can be a complicated question. Sarah and Nancy tackle the topic of patriotism and whether American is an unfinished experiment or a beautiful place unlike any other country. (But wait: Why can't it be both?) We talk about a Tom Hanks-produced Netflix series on the nation's founding, The American Experiment, which shows how much in-fighting and compromise were part of the country's creation. The series also introduces us to a peg-legged lady killer who wrote much of the Constitution (Gouverneur Morris) and confirms that Alexander Hamilton was, indeed, a hottie. Nancy just moved into her new pad, so you'll have to excuse a) the slight echo and b) the three (?) different times she had to leave to attend to a mover. Also discussed:* True or False: Sarah is a flower girl at Taylor Swift's wedding* True or False: Semiquincentennial is a real word* Happy graduation, Megan!* The downward mobility of college grads* That time Sarah doubled-down on becoming un-hireable* American Dream: Beautiful or unfinished? Let's debate!* “They tried to take away football”* JD Vance, Ben Rhodes, Zohran Mamdani, Al Gore* “What's a buggy whip?”* The Scots love Boston* Croats > Brits* James Madison isn't black???* George Washington: Amazing man, maybe not the most fun at the kegger* Writers who get our love: Emily Yoffe, Pamela Colloff, William Finnegan* How to make Nancy swoon? Tell her you know her bylinePlus, Avocado toast and doomsday, Sarah at the World Cup, Nancy only does the “F” in Marry, Fuck, Kill, and much more!REMINDER: First Sunday Zoom, July 5, 8pm ET/5pm PT.Also two questions: Are you in college? And do you cover your heart during the National Anthem? Let know in the comments or — even better — tell us yourself on Sunday.Do you hate America, or are you willing to become a paid subscriber?

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about Scottish Soccer fans and their drinking habits in Boston. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Join me on a historic tour of Scotland, May 15th-21st, 2024: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/united-kingdom/united-kingdom-with-lindsay-holiday-may-2024 You can see the whole series now at: https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday In this episode we'll met more Stuarts monarchs, one who inspired the Red wedding Scene in Game of Thrones, another who's vendetta against his uncle, Henry VIII cost him his life, and Mary Queen of Scots, who plotted to assassinate her cousin, Elizabeth I and lost her head for it. James II James III James IV James V Mary, Queen of Scots Music: "Angevin - Thatched Villagers" by Kevin MacLeod Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us Fan MailWhy is whiskey sometimes spelled without the "e"? Who makes the better whiskey—the Scots or the Irish? Did explorers really uncover three lost cases of Ernest Shackleton's Scotch whisky at his Antarctic base camp more than a century later—and then painstakingly recreate the original spirit?From ancient origins to the digital age, this episode is packed with remarkable stories, history, and the people who shaped the world's favorite spirit.Check out the website: www.drinkingonthejob.com for great past episodes. Everyone from Iron Chefs, winemakers, journalist and more. 

Send us Fan MailI tell you my favorite part of my Scotland Trip and tie it to a great story about Mary Queen of Scots and a severed head! The Tom Sandoval and Victoria Lee Robinson fire pit video just dropped and I have exclusive details that are NOT being reported anywhere else. I'm breaking down exactly what was really happening in that room before the cameras caught it, why Tom Sandoval pushed Victoria Lee Robinson's father Will Robinson into the lit fire pit, and the real reason this all exploded on June 3rd. I also walk you through Vanderpump Rules Alumni, Tom Sandoval's entire toxic relationship history with Kristen Doute, Ariana Madix, Rachel Leviss, and now Victoria Lee Robinson because once you see the pattern across every single relationship, you will never look at this Vanderpump Rules star the same way again. Was Tom Sandoval the victim here or is this the same playbook he always runs? I'm giving you the timeline, the receipts, and the tea that changes everything. I also got EXCLUSIVE TEA that no one else has about this story and most of that is in the Dishing Drama Dana Patreon! I'm dropping the bombshell detail about something Tom Sandoval allegedly forced Victoria Lee Robinson to do that caused her tremendous pain, the proof that could blow up his entire case, the real reason Ladies of London: The New Reign got cancelled and who I think is behind the rumor going around, a Caroline Manzo family member taking shots at Jacqueline Laurita, and Part 2 of my mind-blowing conversation with UAP filmmaker Darcy Weir exposing every single Cosmic Disclosure grifter on Gaia TV one by one — and trust me, you have never heard anything like it.

Oh, Scotland… Steve Clarke and his men have been doomed to a painful wait in third-place purgatory. Today, Marcus, Luke and Jim review where it all went wrong for Scotland against Brazil.Elsewhere, we share our thanks to the Ghanaian witch doctor, aka Nick Hewer, for lifting the curse he placed on Harry Kane. Plus, Mexico beat Czech Republic and Switzerland beat Canada. However, the lads explain why it isn't all bad for Jesse Marsch and America's hat.Get your Ramble World Cup Watch Party tickets HERE!Get your Football Ramble x Admiral kit here.Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A very fancy lad, Chris Wittyngham joins the show to react to the Giannis trade to the Miami Heat. Chris breaks down the World Cup and why watching Messi and the Scots has been the best part so far. What is the ceiling for the USMNT in this World Cup?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Shattuck of the Maine Wire is filling in for Howie today, and he discusses the Scots and other foreigners enjoying America during the World Cup. Then, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says "black deaths have been accepted in this country for so long" while the number of weekend shootings remains high under his watch.  Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

In hour two, Crowder and Gelb have to break some tough news to Solana. The Scots are taking over Miami. NHL on TNT analyst Eddy Olczyk reacts to the Panthers' massive trade to pair Matthew Tkachuk with his brother Brady Tkachuk.

Scott and A celebrate what fans are calling “The Great Soccer Sleepover”—millions of visitors sharing songs, stories, and unforgettable adventures across the continent.  Social media is overflowing with visitors marveling at Waffle House at 2 a.m., Buc-ee's the size of a small nation, free drink refills, and the sheer wonder of American tailgating. There are tales of Scots descending on Boston in legendary fashion, and whispers that an unexpected condiment may soon conquer Europe. It's a beautiful, once-in-a-generation celebration: strangers becoming friends, cities becoming hosts, and the world's game turning North America into one giant neighborhood. — Slices is created by Scott Sigler and A B Kovacs — Produced by Steve Riekeberg — Production Assistance by Allie Press — Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment  Get out on that ranch (dressing), cowboy! Dip your site in savings by using the GoDaddy Promo Codes CJCFOSSIG3 to save 99% on the cost of a new domain registration, including dot-coms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tommy and Ben are back with a week of bad deals, high-stakes elections, and World Cup joy.The US and Iran have agreed to a deal to end the war, but the Trump administration has refused to release the text to anyone — so the guys parse through what we think we know. The short version: it's a pretty good deal for Iran that meets almost none of the goals Trump set out before the war started, and the nuclear issue hasn't even been touched yet. Then the guys question if Netanyahu will do something to torpedo the whole thing with his continued war against Lebanon. In England, a special election could reshape British politics and set up a direct challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Meanwhile, a spate of developments across England, Italy, France, and Switzerland signal increasing growth for far-right movements in Europe. In Trump world, there's both good and very bad news: Trump backed down on installing Bill Pulte as Director of National Intelligence after bipartisan pushback, and the dismantling of USAID continues to have devastating real-world consequences. And finally, with the World Cup in full swing, Tommy and Ben take a moment to enjoy the fans, from Scots drinking their way across, to Mexican and Korean fans bonding over tequila, and Nigerian fans flying all the way to Mexico just to root against South Africa. At the end of the show, Tommy speaks to CNN's Senior International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen, about what he saw and heard on his latest reporting trip on the ground in Iran.Buy Ben's book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches  and subscribe to his Substack here.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Grace starts the show by discussing VP Vance's media tour, where he is trying to sell the memo of understanding. Then, with the World Cup ongoing, people from all around the world are flocking to America, and the Scottish are drinking Boston businesses dry.  Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

Last night's UFC Freedom 250 wasn't just a historic night of fights, it was a massive, pro-America spectacle that captured the entire country's attention. From Justin Gaethje's unforgettable, flag-draped walkout to the stunning pre-fight visuals from the Oval Office, the energy was through the roof. But the real drama exploded outside the cage when Sean Strickland was dramatically escorted out of an invite-only fan event by the Secret Service after leading the crowd in impromptu chants and sparking an intense conversation about free speech in America. We break down the wild optics, and what this means for the sport and the culture.Plus, we are shifting focus to a massive shakeup on the global stage. With the Pakistani Prime Minister announcing a historic Iran-U.S. peace deal set to be signed in Switzerland this week, we tackle the big question: is this a genuine step toward peace, or are we on shaky ground? Especially as Israeli National Security Minister Ben-Gvir fires back, declaring Israel is not subject to the United States. Then, Daily Carry Podcast host Micah Richardson joins the show to give us his expert take on navigating these rapidly changing times.To wrap things up, we are serving up a healthy dose of American pride. With the 2026 World Cup officially underway, international tourists—including an army of invading Scots—are falling head over heels for the simple joys of American culture, cheap fuel, and our "conquer the day" mentality. We react to the viral clips of Europeans reminding us how great we actually have it, look at a wild meltdown from an American woman who couldn't stand patriotism, and finish with a cautionary look at a fiery city council meeting out of Hamtramck, Michigan. You don't want to miss this one—hit play and let's dive in!

Stevey Clarke's Scots are up and running at the World Cup! John McGinn with the goal that clinched the win. Definitely worth the 90 minutes of sleep, eh Jim?Pete, Jim & Vish (with the assistance of a few cans of Carabao) pulled all-nighters and were richly rewarded by some cracking football. Plus, Guy Mowbray unzips Brazil & Pete re-ignites a very confusing feud with Tim Cahill.Get your Ramble World Cup watch party tickets hereFind us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FC crew continues the reaction from the USMNT's convincing win vs. Paraguay last night. How big of a win was this in the entire history of the USMNT? Next, they preview the epic matchup between Brazil and Morocco. Then, the panel (Stevie included) looks ahead to Scotland's opener against Haiti. Haiti is an unknown on the global stage. Should the Scots be worried? Finally, there is a quick look back to the Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match before the crew give their predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices