British History 101 Podcast
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British History 101 brings you weekly selections from centuries of British History, ranging from profiles of monarchs, descriptions of battles, explanations of political acts, and some random trivia now and then.
About Podcasting:
For those of you new to podcasting, Click Here to read our "Introduction to Podcasting" Article.
LearnOutLoud.com Review:
  Snapshots of English History | The British History Podcast by Michael Anthony is dedicated to the anglophile in everyone. Designed as a basic to intermediate overview, this podcast examines the battles, monarchs, trivia and lasting cultural influences of one of the most enduring nations on the globe. Whether you wish to learn about events like the Battle of Hastings, people such as Winston Churchill or places like the Tower of London, this show will examine it all with rare enthusiasm. |
 Write a Review of British History 101 Podcast
Outstanding, October 12, 2010
Reviewer: ben.bundy
Mr Anthony provides a even tempered quality podcast that is concise and informative. Apart from minor mis-pronunciations, which are easily forgivable considering his American background, the content leaves the listener wanting to know more about the subjects he covers.
This is not an exhaustive historical account of the British Isles and is not intended to be, but more an enlighntening and thoroughly enjoyable spoken documentary on the subject.
Considering that this content is provided free, one could ask for little more in quality and consistency. If nothing else, this is entertaining and informative.
Please keep it coming Mr Anthony.
Succinct analysis., April 28, 2009
Reviewer: Kev76
Michael Anthony provides a thoroughly engaging and insightful account into many key moments in British history. The information within his podcasts is well presented, and appropriately edited. I thoroughly recommend him as a teacher upon this most engaging of subjects.
Mediocre, December 19, 2007
Reviewer: AnneTheMan
Monologue style podcast that jumps back and forth in British History. The scripts as they are read, are available through the British History 101 blog.
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Edmund Burke on the French Revolution
Author: Michael Anthony
Mon, Mar 08, 2010
A dramatic interpretation of a rare treat - a primary source from Edmund Burke
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I was in prison, and ye came unto me
Author: Michael Anthony
Tue, Feb 02, 2010
The end of a three-part series in which Michael Anthony presents a paper on American POWs during the War of Independence
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Bridging the Gap: Coryat's Travels and the Jacobean Mind
Author: Michael Anthony
Wed, Dec 16, 2009
From England to India
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Left to the Preachers
Author: Michael Anthony
Thu, Dec 10, 2009
An in-depth look at alcohol, morality, and legislation in 17th-century Massachusetts Colony
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Left to the Preachers
Author: Michael Anthony
Thu, Dec 10, 2009
An in-depth look at alcohol, morality, and legislation in 17th-century Massachusetts colony
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Zadok the Priest
Author: Michael Anthony
Thu, Nov 19, 2009
Michael discusses an iconic composition - albeit with a low-tech, in-the-trenches approach.
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A brief appeal
Author: Michael Anthony
Wed, Nov 04, 2009
On a non-historical note, Michael requests a bit of help from the wonderful listeners of British History 101
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Jerusalem - An Interpretation
Author: Michael Anthony
Thu, Oct 29, 2009
In this episode, British History 101 returns with a casual flavor - Michael comments on Blake's "Jerusalem"
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Castell Dinas Bran
Author: Michael Anthony
Tue, Feb 24, 2009
British History 101's triumphant return in 2009!
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Evelyn Waugh
Author: Michael Anthony
Mon, Jul 28, 2008
The author of Brideshead Revisited and more
Thanks to Audible.com for sponsoring this show. Head over to audiblepodcast.com/british101 for your free audiobook today!
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The Long Range Desert Group
Author: Michael Anthony
Mon, Jul 14, 2008
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook download of your choice when you sign up today at audiblepodcast.com/british101
Hello, this is Michael Anthony, and you’re listening to British History 101, brought to you by Audible.com, the Internet’s leading provider of spoken-word entertainment. Get a FREE audiobook download of your choice when you sign up today. Logon to audiblepodcast.com/british101 today for details and your FREE audiobook download.
Tonight’s episode was not inspired by any thought or research taken on my own initiative; rather, it is the result of an opportunity I was graciously offered and decided to take. We’ll get to that later. First, the history.
In the First World War, units known as Light Car Patrols were used by the Allied forces in combat in the Middle East and North Africa. The Light Car Patrols were made up of Ford Model Ts converted to carry a Lewis machine gun and intended to carry out reconnaissance and brief hit-and-run strikes against Central Power forces. This was known to a certain Ralph Bagnold, and it is with this man that our story begins.
Ralph Bagnold was born in 1896 and became a veteran of the First World War, fighting for three years in the trenches of France. He enrolled at Cambridge after the war was over (although we must always ask ourselves – did the First World War ever really end, or was the armistice merely a pause before 1939? But that’s for a later show). He enrolled at Cambridge after his duty in France but returned to the armed forces in 1921 and served in Cairo and India, places where he spent the majority of his free time exploring nearby deserts: for desert exploration and mapping was Bagnold’s true passion. He even took part in a 1929 expedition across the sand in a Ford Model T, the same car used by the LCPs in the “war to end all wars.” He gained a spot in history as a pioneer of desert exploration in 1932 when he made the first recorded east to west crossing of the Libyan Desert, a dangerous undertaking even today. Bagnold also pioneered practical aspects of desert travel, such as lowering tyre pressure when travelling across loose sand, driving over large sand dunes at high speed, and what would come to be known as the Bagnold sun compass – a compass which is not affected by the large deposits of iron ore found throughout the desert and the metal content of the vehicles navigated by it.
Bagnold left the army in 1935, but it was only to be a few years before he was deeply involved in service to Britannia again. By chance, Bagnold happened to be in Cairo when Italy declared war on Great Britain in 1940; with his knowledge of the African desert, past military service, and remembrance of the utility of the Light Car Patrols in the First World War, Bagnold thought the same principle could be applied to combat the Italians in North Africa. Let us not forget that Bagnold had previously travelled into the desert astride a Model T! He requested an interview with General Wavell, the commander of the North African military forces, to ask permission to form a group similar to the LCPs. Bagnold had made this suggestion in 1939 but it had been rejected; now, however, with the threat of Italian forces coming across the top of the African continent, the army was much more willing to listen, and Bagnold was given 6 weeks to put this group together. Bagnold’s new outfit was duly established on 3 July 1940, and it would become a group later known even to Erwin Rommel as a highly effective special forces unit – the Long Range Desert Group.
Bagnold founded the Group with two equally qualified men, Bill Kennedy Shaw and Pay Clayton. Captain Kennedy Shaw was a British desert explorer, botanist, and archaeologist. If anyone knew anything about the desert, it was Kennedy Shaw. Bagnold brought him aboard as the intelligence and chief navigation officer. Pat Clayton had even more localized experience – he had spent 20 years with the Egyptian Survey department.
The Long Range Desert Group was distantly inspired by the Light Car Patrols of the First World War, and would carry out mechanized reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and desert navigation and mapping. Its main purpose was recon and intelligence, but the LRDG was sometimes called upon to carry out heavy strikes against the Afrikakorps and their Italian allies in the North African desert. Interestingly, Bagnold originally requested that the unit be made up of Australians and New Zealanders, with the thought that due to their knowledge of rural and farm living they would be better suited for navigating across the desolate desert sands. The Australian government refused to let their soldiers join the LRDG, as Australians were only to fight in Australian combat groups. This was more than offset by the enthusiasm of New Zealander soldiers – 150 volunteered. Later, British and Rhodesian soldiers would also join the Group.
The Group quickly earned a well-deserved reputation as expert desert navigators, and for this reason they were often use for various transport missions. They travelled many, many miles through desert wastes to transport the SAS, the Free French in Africa, rescued prisoners of war, captured prisoners of war, downed pilots, and even irregular units like Popski’s Private Army.
Popski’s Private Army, or PPA, deserves mention here on its own. Officially the unit was designated Number One Demolition Squad, PPA, and was formed in 1942 by Major Vladimir Peniakoff. Due to the difficulty some had with the major’s name, he was often simply called Popski. The PPA was formed as part of the British 8th Army to attack Erwin Rommel’s fuel supplies involved in the Battle of El Alamein. You can gather from the PPA’s official designation what their missions were in layman’s terms – they blew stuff up, and were very good at it. Popski’s Private Army, driven around the desert in the trucks of the Long Range Desert Group, served with distinction in North Africa and went on to see action in Italy as well.
A few minutes ago I mentioned the Free French, and this mention is due to incredible work on the part of Ralph Bagnold. The LRDG was able to transport the Free French around Africa precisely because of what Bagnold did in 1940. In that year, Bagnold travelled to Chad and entered negotiations with the Free French there. Prior to his arrival, the French were not allies of the British forces in Africa. When Bagnold left, they were. With the help of these additional men, the Long Range Desert Group was able to accomplish one of its biggest combat victories, the capture of Kufra, where the LRDG established headquarters in 1941.
The Long Range Desert Group went on to contribute greatly to the war in North Africa. Through gathering intelligence on Afrikakorps and Italian troops, mapping terrain never before traversed (and often never before seen) by British military forces, and quick, decisive, and devastating strikes against the enemy, the Long Range Desert Group was a major part of Allied victory in North Africa. Could we say that Montgomery would not have defeated Rommel in Africa without the help of the LRDG? It is hard to give a definitive answer, but in my opinion the answer is yes. It is entirely possible that the Allied war effort in North Africa would have ultimately been a failure without the efforts of the Long Range Desert Group and the units it worked with to defeat Hitler’s Afrikakorps. The Group would go on to serve in the Greek islands, Italy, and Normandy, but it built itself a lasting legacy by its achievements attained in the sandy wastes of Africa. Without the knowledge held by Ralph Bagnold, Bill Kennedy Shaw, and Pat Clayton, none of it would have ever happened – proof that their lifelong dedication to the desert served a higher purpose!
Let’s take a moment to thank the sponsor of British History 101, Audible.com. Audible is the Internet’s leading provider in spoken-word entertainment, and has over 35,000 titles to choose from to be downloaded and played back anywhere – just like British History 101. Logon to audiblepodcast.com/british101 to get a FREE audiobook download of your choice when you sign up today. Again, go to audiblepodcast.com/british101 for your FREE audiobook. As a matter of fact, if you sign up with Audible, you can download the book that inspired today’s episode and see precisely why I wanted to share it and the story behind it with all of you. As fellow historians I know you’ll enjoy it, and here’s why.
Earlier I mentioned that this episode grew out of an opportunity given me. I was contacted by a book publicity firm to review a book called Killing Rommel by Steven Pressfield. I accepted the invitation and duly read Mr. Pressfield’s book; as soon as I was a few chapters into it, I knew I had to do an episode of British History 101 on the book’s subject. Killing Rommel chronicles the time spent by one man with the Long Range Desert Group on their book-titling mission – to kill Erwin Rommel, the legendary â€Desert Fox’ whose mere presence at a battle struck fear into the hearts of Allied soldiers. The book is written in the style of historical fiction; that is, the events and people in the novel all either really happened and existed or are heavily rooted in historical reality.
Steven Pressfield is an author with vast experience in war writing, and penned such works as Gates of Fire, Tides of War, and The Legend of Bagger Vance. Mr. Pressfield was kind enough to allow me to interview him for the show, and what follows is are the questions and answers exchanged by us. I think they have enormous value for anyone interested in reading Killing Rommel but there is also much to be gained from them for anyone interested in history and historiography, such as listeners of British History 101:
Why Killing Rommel? What drove you to write this novel out of all the topics you could have chosen?
I was researching the cavalry tactics used by Alexander the Great – not easy because there’s very little extant from the ancient sources. So, moving further afield, I began studying horse tactics used by Frederick the Great, Napoleon, our own Civil War generals ... sure enough, I wound up with Rommel and Heinz Guderian, the great German masters of mobile armored warfare, the tactics of which are a lot like ancient cavalry tactics. That was it. I was hooked.
Why this style? You have taken factual events, people, and places and placed a fictional character in their midst. Was there too little information on any one person to create a narrative from a real LRDG member, or did you simply prefer the freedom of using your own?
I’ve used the fictive memoir in earlier books, particularly “Tides of War.” I like it. It’s immediate, it’s intimate, it sucks the reader in and really gives him the picture. Plus, in studying various WWII memoirs, I was captivated by the style (three great ones: “The Forgotten Soldier” by Guy Sajer, “Brazen Chariots” by Maj. Robert Crisp and “Take These Men” by Cyril Joly). Real-life accounts of the desert exploits of British special forces units, the SAS and the Long Range Desert Group, were equally riveting. I decided to use the real-life WWII memoir as the template for my fictional story.
As to why I inserted a fictional character, I never thought of doing otherwise. My aim was to write a novel, not a history. It was imperative to have a character I could shape to a theme. The real-life characters are there primarily for verisimilitude, to ground the story in reality. It’s a technique used to wonderful effect by the American writer E.L. Doctorow in “Ragtime” and other books, where he tosses real historical characters like Stanford White in with characters of his own creation. It works!
The Long Range Desert Group - how did you carry out your research on this prestigious covert force?
There are a number of memoirs and books written by former LRDG officers and men, and other really good accounts on the subject written by historians and enthusiasts since then. I read and studied them – and everything else I could find about the era. I also went to the Imperial War Museum in London and the National Archives…and photocopied great rafts of actual Long Range Desert Group documents – Operations Orders and Combat Reports, that sort of thing. Those were invaluable, not to mention absolutely fascinating. One of the best byproducts of this research was that I was able to send to the son of one of the LRDG heroes (Rev. Warner Wilder in New Zealand) a copy of the actual combat report made out by his Dad, Captain Nick Wilder of the Long Range Desert Group, in which Nick Wilder made a reconnaissance discovery that helped turn the tide of the whole North African war. That was fun.
Killing Rommel is obviously an exhaustively researched book that doubtlessly took many, many months (if not years) of work to bring together. It is clear to the reader that you think it is important to remember the Long Range Desert Group; why is it important?
My aim was not specifically to do anything about the LRDG. What fascinated me was two aspects of the war in the Western desert – first, the chivalry demonstrated by both sides in this krieg ohne hass, as Rommel called it, “War without hate,” and second, the aspect, evinced particularly by the British and Commonwealth troopers in these early Special Forces units, of being “regular blokes,” not professional lifelong soldiers, who nonetheless rose spectacularly to the occasion when necessity demanded this. I wanted to showcase this quality that distinguishes British and empire forces so frequently (and Americans as well, even though there are none in this story.)
In this contemporary era of suicide bombers and waterboarding, when chivalry and voluntary self-restraint in war seem so remote as to be virtually impossible to imagine, I think it might serve a purpose to remind ourselves that there really was a campaign, not too long ago, that though it was contested fiercely and to the death by armies locked in a mortal struggle of global scale and consequence, was yet fought with honor and respect for the enemy, seeing him a fellow human being. That’s why “Killing Rommel” ends the way it does, in a highly affirmative way.
Again, I’m not trying to write history, I’m writing a novel and a novel has a theme – which hopefully is pertinent in this contemporary time, even if the actual story takes place in the past. The war in the desert was, from everything I’ve read, indeed a “war without hate.” That’s why I “went there” – to tell a version of that story and bring it back to this modern day.
Many thanks to Mr. Pressfield for sharing his thoughts with both me and the listeners of British History 101. Killing Rommel is available through most booksellers and the usual Internet outlets such as Amazon.com; I highly recommend it to everyone, and especially through Audible.com. Listening to a book being read is really an enjoyable experience! For more information on the background of the book, head over to www.killingrommel.com, where you can find a wealth of information and three videos there made by Mr. Pressfield in the desert with re-enactor vehicles and WWII war footage – there’s a ten minute video, a three minute video, and a thirty-second clip that you might find very interesting on this subject. You can find out more about Mr. Pressfield at www.stevenpressfield.com. You can find my review of Killing Rommel immediately under the transcript for this episode at BritishHistory101.com. Again, many thanks are due to the author. I extend my warmest gratitude for giving us a great episode!
One of the concepts you will find discussed in Killing Rommel is the apparent chivalry displayed by the belligerents in the North African campaigns, and I don’t think I’m giving away too much of the book to talk about it a bit here. Medics were almost always allowed to retrieve wounded men, and it was not uncommon for troops from both sides of the conflict to be treated shoulder to shoulder by the same doctor. Men obviously incapacitated were not targeted, and much of the cruelty seen throughout the rest of the Second World War was often absent. This is interesting when viewed in light of warfare before and after the War; we must compare the War in Africa with the fields of Agincourt, Bosworth Field, Austerlitz, the Somme, Fallujah, Afghanistan, Normandy, and countless other battles throughout history. How did chivalry in combat play out in history? Was it a noble but unrealistic idea or discernable code of behavior? Why was it that the soldiers fighting in North Africa felt it their responsibility to treat the enemy with humanity and decency? This stands in stark contrast to the horror in war we read about every day in newspapers and on websites. Where has the chivalry gone? Why wasn’t it present on some battlefields before the Second World War and farther back in history? I suspect the answers to these questions extend far beyond the bounds of this podcast, but they are food for thought nonetheless.
You can find another video sent to me by Mr. Pressfield at British History 101’s newest Internet location. The blog at BritishHistory101.com will still be, by far, the main site I use to share ideas and news with listeners; however, those of you involved in the social network Facebook will now be able to find British History 101 there, as well! Simply search for British History 101 and you’ll find my page there, complete with videos, photos, events, discussion topics, contact information, and the ability to become an official, tried-and-true fan of the show! With this new Facebook page comes a bit of a confession, however, and two years into the show I feel it’s time to fess up. You’ve known me from the beginning as Michael Anthony, and this name is completely accurate. However, it’s not my full name. Michael is indeed my first name, and Anthony comes right after it, although it’s not my last name. My last name is Skaggs, S-K-A-G-G-S. When I began the show, I had the feeling that Skaggs wouldn’t roll off the tongue quite as well or be as audibly acceptable as Anthony, so I stuck to just the first and middle names. I’ll continue to use just those two, since that’s how it’s always been, but I didn’t want those of you who visited the Facebook page to be confused by the fact that the page is administered by Michael Anthony Skaggs and not just Michael Anthony! The same goes for why my Twitter name is maskaggs. As I said before the show will still officially be owned and produced by Michael Anthony, and that is how I’ll address all correspondence, but the truth is out now. So that’s where we stand. I do hope you will forgive my name truncation and enjoy the show all the same!
With that, we’ll conclude this episode of British History 101. Thanks are due to so many people – author Steven Pressfield, master musicians John Hawksley and Simon Mulligan, and Audible.com, but most importantly they are due to each and every one of you. Listeners have been tuning in to British History 101 for over two years now, and every episode is my distinct privilege to produce and share with you. Thank you so much for learning with me and being my faithful companions along my own journey into history. You’ve often heard me describe learning history as a journey, and I think this is the most accurate description we can give it. Let us hope we never reach a destination – the travel itself is our goal.
A transcript of this and past episodes of British History 101 is available at BritishHistory101.com. Send questions, comments, rants, and raves to BritishHistory101@gmail.com. I can also be reached via Skype at BritishHistory101 and through Twitter on the name maskaggs. If you’d like to contact me by regular mail, my address is:
Michael Anthony
British History 101
PO Box 1177
Bloomington, Indiana 47408
United States of America
If you’d like to support British History 101, post a review on iTunes, any podcast directory, or the Facebook page. You can also check out the British History 101 wishlist at Amazon.com.
I feel every episode is even more fun to produce than the last. It is in such hope that I bid you good evening until we meet again to sit round the campfire of history and learn more about our cherished Britain!
Links for this show:
Killing Rommel
Steven Pressfield
John Hawksley's MP3 archive
Simon Mulligan
British History 101's Amazon wishlist
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The Blitz
Author: Michael Anthony
Tue, May 13, 2008
One of the most important defining events in modern British history.
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com. Download a free audiobook of your choice today at audiblepodcast.com/british101!
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Edward I
Author: Michael Anthony
Tue, Apr 22, 2008
Scottorum Malleus?
Thanks to Audible.com for sponsoring our show!
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Richard II
Author: Michael Anthony
Mon, Apr 07, 2008
Villeins ye be, and villeins ye shall remain!
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George III
Author: Michael Anthony
Sat, Dec 08, 2007
Feeling patriotic after Thanksgiving, Michael Anthony discusses the king on the throne during the War for Independence.
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The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Author: Michael Anthony
Wed, Nov 21, 2007
To chivalry!
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J.R.R Tolkien Part II
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Nov 09, 2007
The conclusion of our journey through Middle Earth!
Note: Please excuse my error at around the 13:00 mark. I should have said 1973, not 1943. Sorry!
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Episode 23: We're back!
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Nov 02, 2007
With this episode, British History 101 returns in full force!
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BH101 Update
Author: Michael Anthony
Mon, Oct 22, 2007
British History 101 - certainly not gone but perhaps forgotten? An update from Michael Anthony!
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Acts of Union 1707
Author: Michael Anthony
Thu, Jul 19, 2007
What makes the United Kingdom so united? Find out here!
Thanks to Audible.com for sponsoring British History 101!
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The Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Jul 06, 2007
Tonight we wrap up the three-part series on the three highest chivalric orders!
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The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
Author: Michael Anthony
Wed, Jun 27, 2007
Hello, this is Michael Anthony, and you’re listening to British History 101.
Tonight, we’re going to continue with what has become a three-part series. I originally had no intention of making the previous episode, this episode, and the next episode the individual parts of a series, but once I began research for this installment I realized it was a logical way to go, and I’ll explain why.
Most British chivalric orders cover the entire kingdom; however, there are three that each pertain to a different constituent country only. Last time, we talked about the The Most Noble Order of the Garter, which covers England; tonight, we will be discussing The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s premier order of chivalry, which is second only to the Order of the Garter. Next time, we’ll talk about…well, you’ll have to wait for that one. Best we get on with tonight’s topic.
There are several legends that claim to explain the origins of the Order of the Thistle. I’ll make it clear when we begin discussing distinctly English or British monarchs. One story claims that Achaius, King of the Scots, instituted the order in 787 after winning a battle with the Saxon King Aethelstan of East Anglia. Apparently, Achaius saw the cross of St. Andrew (which, as we know from an earlier episode, is a white cross in the shape of an X on a blue background) in the sky during the battle, and so afterwards dedicated the Order of the Thistle to the saint after the battle. However, this story is a bit hard to believe, as Achaius was long dead by the time Aethelstan was king. The official explanation given by the British government is as follows, and can be found at royalinsight.gov.uk:
“The date of the foundation of the Order is not known, although legend has it that it was founded in 809 when King Achaius made an alliance with the Emperor Charlemagne.” This has a bit more credibility, as traditionally Charlemagne did employ some Scottish bodyguards. The government goes on to say that
“It is possible that the Order may have been founded by James III (1488-1513), who was responsible for changes in Royal symbolism in Scotland, including the adoption of the thistle as the Royal plant badge.” I should also add that James minted coins depicting the thistle, so this lends a bit more credibility to his part of the story.
James V conferred membership to “the Order of the Burr or Thissil” to Francis I of France, allegedly because he was embarrassed that he had no honor to bestow on foreign monarchs. Thus, the legend says that he instituted the Order as we know it today.
The story with the most evidence giving it credibility is that the Order was revived by James VII of Scotland, who was also James II of England. Although he is the key player in this version of the Order’s history, the letters patent that he issued in 1687 point to the Order being founded earlier, as his letters state the intent of “reviving and restoring the Order of the Thistle to its full glory, luster, and magnificency.” Thus, one can’t help but think the Order had already been around for a while when James issued his proclamation. James conferred membership in the Order to Scottish peers who supported his political and religious objectives. One of the rules of the Order established by James said that the Order was “to continue to consist of the Sovereign and twelve Knights-Brethren in allusion to the Blessed Saviour and His Twelve Apostles.” However, James appointed only 8 Knights of the Thistle.
James was deposed in 1688 as part of the Glorious Revolution, and his successors William and Mary appointed no further members of the Order. However, the Order was again revived in 1703 by Queen Anne. Its maximum number of members was increased to 16 in 1827 by King George IV; however, women (aside from reigning queens) were still barred from admission. A special order by George VI in 1937 allowed his wife, Elizabeth, to become a Lady of the Thistle. Women were officially allowed to be admitted to the Order by a 1987 statute of Elizabeth II (on a side note, it was this statute that also allowed women to become Ladies of the Garter). It is possible for there to be more than 16 members of the Order; these are admitted as Extra Knights and are created by special statutes. Members of the royal family and foreign monarchs are admitted in this manner; Prince Albert was the first Extra Knight. King Olav V of Norway was the first foreigner admitted to the Order in over 200 years in 1962. Since 1946, the Order of the Thistle has been the personal gift of the reigning monarch, the same as the Order of the Garter; for quite a long time before that, the sovereign chose members on the advice of the government. It is possible for members of the Order of the Thistle to be given membership in the Order of the Garter; historically, many of those bestowed with this honor have resigned from their knighthood in the Order of the Thistle and remained only in the higher order. While it is possible for Knights and Ladies to have their membership revoked, this has happened only once, to John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, who participated in the Jacobite rising and was removed in 1715.
It is quite fascinating to see a Knight or Lady of the Thistle in full regalia. A green mantle lined with white taffeta and tied with green and gold tassels is worn over suits or uniforms, with the star of the Order on the left shoulder of the mantle. A black velvet hat plumed with white feathers is also worn, along with a collar made of gold and showing thistles and sprigs of rue over the mantle. A piece known as the St. Andrew is suspended from the collar, and it is a gold-enameled image of St. Andrew holding an X-shaped cross with golden rays emanating from his head. Usually, however, members of the Order wear simpler regalia consisting of a dark green riband, or sash, running from the left shoulder to the right hip. On the sash and over the left breast is pinned the star of the order, consisting of a silver St. Andrew’s saltire, or X-shaped cross as we have previously spoken of, with clusters of rays between the arms. In the middle is a green circle bearing the motto of the Order, “Nemo me impune lacessit”, or “No one harms me with impunity”. Within the circle itself is a thistle on a gold field. As I said before, this elaborate and beautiful star is worn over the left breast, and worn above the stars of any other order the Knight or Lady may belong to (except, of course, the Order of the Garter, as it ranks higher), with a maximum of four stars being worn on the riband at once. The badge of the Order is worn on the riband at the right hip. Upon the death of Knight or Lady of the Thistle, the regalia is returned to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, and the badge and star are returned personally to the Sovereign by the closest relative of the deceased.
James II originally planned for the Chapel of the Order to be at the Palace of Holyroodhouse; however, the chapel was destroyed by a rioting mob while James was in the process of being booted from the throne. The Order did not have an official chapel until 1911, when one was created for it at St. Giles Cathedral (or High Kirk) in Edinburgh. Each Knight or Lady is given a stall in the Chapel.
Knights of the Order of the Thistle affix Sir before their names and Ladies of the Order affix Lady before theirs. Like the Order of the Garter, wives of Knights may attach Lady to their names, but husbands of Ladies of the Order are given no prefix. They may attach KT or LT to the end of their names in a list of official titles, and these letters appear before all other titles except for baronet (Bt) or baronetess (Btss), Victoria Cross (VC), George Cross (GC), or Knight or Lady of the Garter (KG or LG).
There are currently 15 members of the Order of the Thistle, leaving one vacancy. Aside from these 15 members, there is of course Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, and Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.
That wraps up our look at The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. We’ve got one more order yet to cover, and we’ll look at that next week.
I’d like to mention an upcoming event in the life of British History 101 so it doesn’t catch anyone off-guard. Sometime in the next few weeks, I will be trying an out an ad campaign for this podcast to see if a longer campaign would be a possibility for the show. I assure you that aside from the presence of the ads themselves (and they are few), the show will not change at all. Nothing will be taken away from British History 101 and I promise it will be just as entertaining, informative, and enjoyable as always.
I hope you’ve enjoyed tonight’s show as much as I have. Thanks to Mr. John Hawksley for providing the wonderful theme music for our show. I encourage you to check out more of his work at www.hawksley.net/mp3, H-A-W-K-S-L-E-Y, where you can find a wealth of great music performed by a great artist. I’d also like to thank Magnatune this evening. As you know from previous episodes, Magnatune is an independent online record label that allows its artists to retain full rights to their works. However, I’d like to add from personal experience and correspondence that Magnatune is a really interesting company and they’re wonderful people. They’ve been an enormous help to me and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with them. Please visit Magnatune.com for a great selection of artists that would love to have your business.
As always, a transcript of this and past episodes of this podcast is available at BritishHistory101.com. Send questions, comments, rants, and raves to BritishHistory101@gmail.com. Our music tonight is “My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose” by O Fickle Fortune, available at Magnatune. As always, thanks for listening, and tune in next week for the conclusion of our three-part series on the orders of chivalry.
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The Most Noble Order of the Garter
Author: Michael Anthony
Tue, Jun 26, 2007
Hello, this is Michael Anthony, and you’re listening to British History 101.
In this episode, we’ll cover something that I personally find to be, above many other topics, quintessentially British – the oldest European order of knighthood in existence, The Most Noble Order of the Garter. Let’s get right to it.
Edward III, By the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland, reigned for 50 years between 1327 and 1377, and was undoubtedly one of the most successful monarchs of the Middle Ages. Edward’s idol was the legendary King Arthur, and he had ambitions to institute something of his own court of the Round Table so famous in Arthurian lore. He ordered the construction of a round stone feasting hall in the Upper Ward of Windsor Castle, where the knights of a new “Round Table in the same manner and conditions as the Lord Arthur, formerly King of England, appointed it.” Those knights would be bound together by a badge of “unit and concord,” the garter. Edward’s version of Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table was thus created in The Most Noble Order of the Garter, commonly thought to have been established in 1348 (although records indicate that it’s possible it was in existence in 1346). The first knight given the honor of the Garter was Edward’s eldest son, Edward the Black Prince. The most famous legend, which recent research suggests may actually be true, gave rise to the Order’s motto. It is said that King Edward was dancing at a ball with Joan, Countess of Salisbury, when Joan’s garter fell off. The king bent over to pick it up, and several of the men around him began to tease Edward. Although Edward is thought to be the first king after the Norman Conquest to be able to speak English, he snapped at the men in French (which was his everyday language) “Honi soit qui mal y pense,” or “Shame on him who thinks ill of it.” Thus, the Order of the Garter gained a motto.
The Order of the Garter is still very much alive today. It is bestowed solely by the reigning monarch, known as the Sovereign of the Garter, as a personal gift of that monarch. It is limited to the reigning sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and 25 Knights or Ladies Companion. Not counting towards the limit of 25, however, are supernumerary Knights and Ladies, which would include members of the royal family and foreign monarchs, who are also referred to as Stranger Knights and Ladies Companion. Knights or Ladies may have they membership revoked by the sovereign in case of the commitment of severe crimes, and this was seen especially when Stranger Knights Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria had their memberships annulled during World War I. Emperor Hirohito of Japan had the unique honor of being appointed a Stranger Knight by two different sovereigns, as his membership was annulled due to World War II and he was later reinstated by Elizabeth II.
Traditionally, the monarch announces the names of those chosen to be new members of the Order on St. George’s Day, April 23. On Monday of Royal Ascot week each June, members of the Order meet in the state apartments of the Upper Ward of Windsor Castle, wearing their full regalia. They then process on foot through the Castle, led by the Military Knights of Windsor, to St. George’s Chapel for the Garter service, where new knights (if any) are installed by the Queen. Afterwards, the knights both old and new return to the Upper Ward by carriage.
Knights Companion of the Order attach “Sir” before their first name, and Ladies Companion attach the word “Lady,” not “Dame,” the word seen in other chivalric orders. The Wives of male members may use the word Lady before their names, but there is no such provision for the husbands of Ladies Companion. Members may use the letters “KG” or “LG” after their names. They may also surround their families’ personal arms with the garter, although this is not seen on the arms of Stranger Knights, as foreign sovereigns would not decorate their arms with English symbols.
The Most Noble Order of the Garter represents a fascination with an earlier time – a time of chivalry, of knights rescuing ladies in distress, of honor, of duty, and romance. It is a beloved tradition of England, and truly a modern day glimpse into a past of legend.
That’s all for this episode of British History 101. A transcript of this and previous episodes of this podcast can be found at BritishHistory101.com. If you find time to visit the website, be sure to add yourself to the Platial map on the right hand side of the screen. Send suggestions, questions, comments, rants, and raves to BritishHistory101@gmail.com. I can also be reached via Skype, under the name British History 101. Our music tonight is “Joy After Sorrow,” performed by Shira Kammen and available on Magnatune.com. Magnatune is an independent online record label that equally shares all revenue from album sales with their hand-selected artists while allowing them to retain full rights to their works. Visit magnatune.com for great music at low prices and support the many wonderful artists hosted there. Thanks very much for listening, and have a wonderful day!
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St. George's Day
Author: Michael Anthony
Sun, Apr 22, 2007
Celebrating England's National Day!
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Sir Winston Churchill
Author: Michael Anthony
Thu, Apr 19, 2007
British History 101 now has theme music! In this episode, we take a look at one of history's greatest statesmen, Sir Winston Spencer Churchill.
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The Queen's Yeoman
Author: Michael Anthony
Wed, Mar 21, 2007
A fun look at The Yeomen of the Guard and the Yeomen Warders!
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The Tower of London
Author: Michael Anthony
Sat, Mar 03, 2007
An episode treating one of the most recognizable castles in the world!
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British History 101 - Ramblings from the Host
Author: Michael Anthony
Mon, Jan 08, 2007
Michael Anthony needs you!
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Henry VIII: Part I
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Dec 08, 2006
I'm Henry VIII, I Am...
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St. Bede the Venerable
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Nov 17, 2006
This week's episode features the life and writings of Bede, according to Dante the only Englishman in Paradise!
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St. Thomas Becket
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Nov 10, 2006
St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury killed 29 December 1170
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Correction
Author: Michael Anthony
Wed, Nov 08, 2006
A Correction to the Guy Fawkes special
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Guy Fawkes' Day
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Nov 03, 2006
Remember, remember, the Fifth of November!
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Lady Godiva
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Oct 27, 2006
In this week's episode, we take a look at the fair Lady who gave rise to the name of one of the world's most delicious candies!
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Oct 06, 2006
This week, we take a look at the United Kingdom's current monarch.
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Abdication of Edward VIII
Author: Michael Anthony
Thu, Sep 21, 2006
Queen Elizabeth II's uncle - and a shameful one at that!
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British History 101 #8
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Sep 08, 2006
Magna Carta
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British History 101 #7
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Sep 01, 2006
Hadrian's Wall
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British History 101 Update
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Aug 25, 2006
A speed bump in the course of history!
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British History 101 #6
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Aug 18, 2006
The Battle of Dunkirk
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British History 101 #5
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Aug 11, 2006
Boudicca's Revolt
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British History 101 #4
Author: Michael Anthony
Sun, Aug 06, 2006
The Battle of Trafalgar
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British History 101 #3
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Jul 28, 2006
The Battle of Hastings, part 3 of 3.
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British History 101 #2
Author: Michael Anthony
Thu, Jul 20, 2006
The Battle of Hastings, part 2 of 3.
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The Battle of Hastings 1
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Jul 14, 2006
The Battle of Hastings, part 1 of 3.
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British History 101 Pilot
Author: Michael Anthony
Fri, Jul 07, 2006
This is the pilot episode of British History 101.
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