Images of History

(by Keith Rocco.)

Obchody Święta Niepodległości w Katowicach (1938).

‘The Great Chevauchée’ by David Nicolle. Illustrated by Peter Dennis, Donato Spedaliere and Mariusz Kozik. An English reconnaissance unit of 50 men-at-arms and 20 mounted archers commanded by Gautier Hewit, one of the most experienced English veterans, made camp outside Oulchy-le-Chateau on 8 September. However, Hewit was unaware that the garrison of Oulchy was being substantially strengthened and at dawn the following morning the English camp was surprised by a larger French force. Its 120 men-at-arms were led by Jean de Vienne, Jean de Bueil and Robert de Bethune. Hewit himself did not have time to put on his plate armour before rushing into the fight, though he did carry his shield and lance. The English commander was then attacked by a French knight, Jehan del Mans, who struck Hewit a mortal thrusting blow with his sword. The English lost ten knights and 23 squires captured, only a few of the reconnaissance unit escaping.

by Bernard Finnigan Gribble

British and French soldiers go on the attack - Quistreham, France, June 1944

Cavalry skirmish by Pieter Meulener

A British Sherman Firefly patrolling the Meuse at Namur, Belgium,1944. The Sherman belongs to the 1st Bn Coldstream Guards Armoured Brigade of the Guards Armoured Division, and taken on Christmas Day 1944.

Edward III Crossing the Somme by Benjamin West

by @Al_Stoyanov

by @LegendesCarto

by diversetravel_

The Namur (1756), Admiral Boscawen, preparing to sail from Spithead, by Mark Myers (1945-)

Ul. Piekarska w Warszawie (lata 30).

None of the countries that border Poland before 1990 exist today.

A Royal Navy 38-gun frigate of the Blue Squadron, by Nicholas Matthew Condy (1818- 1851)

Rajd samochodowy pod Ojcowem (1939).

Indian soldiers make their last stand in the ruins of the Mezze House in Damascus (the former Syrian headquarters of the British Iraqi Petroleum Company), as Vichy forces close in. After thirty hours of desperate fighting, during which the Indian defenders destroyed several Vichy light tanks with Molatov cocktails, the attacking Vichy French forces brought in 75mm guns and, as their position was smashed around them, and ammunition and supplies ran out, the last surviving Indian soldiers were forced to surrender on 20th June. Art by Graham Turner.