Andrew Knighton

Andrew Knighton is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by Andrew Knighton:

The Disastrous Attack Which Led To George Armstrong Custer’s Last Stand

George Armstrong Custer is one of the most infamous figures in American military history. A cavalry commander whose style was based on instinct and showmanship…

8 Facts About The Greatest Raid of All: The St Nazaire Raid

On 28 March 1942, British forces launched one of the most daring operations of the Second World War. Now known as “The Greatest Raid of…

Fighting For Favor, Fighting For Fame – Recruiting Armies In The Unforgiving World Of Medieval England

Recruiting an army could be a difficult business in the Middle Ages. Most people’s lives consisted of farming small patches of land. When people didn’t…

The Blockade Camp: How and Why the Romans Penned Their Enemies In

One of the most important tools of the Roman army, the blockade camp, was classic Roman engineering under fire. What Was a Blockade Camp? On…

“The End of Man’s Valor”: The History of Artillery From Ancient Rome To World War Two

Around 379 BC, King Archidamus of Sparta summed up the impact of artillery on infantry. When shown a huge bow capable of flinging giant arrows…

8 Changes That Brought Victory for the New Model Army

The early years of the English Civil Wars did not always go well for the Parliamentary army. Royalist victories saw the forces of King Charles…

7 Facts About The Grand Old Duke of York: A British Military Reformer

The grand old Duke of York He had ten thousand men He marched them up to the top of the hill And he marched them…

FUSAG: Patton’s D-Day Army That Didn’t Exist

An army can help win a war without even existing. Strange as that may seem, this is exactly what happened in the case of the First United…

How The Spear Transformed Warfare – From Ancient Times To The Age Of Gunpowder

Spears have featured in warfare throughout history. Even after the arrival of firearms, spears continued to play a dominant role, from the pike blocks of…

The Rise and Fall of the Chariot – It Changed History, But Eventually Was A Victim Of Its Own Success

The ability to move at speed around the battlefield can create huge advantages. Before the internal combustion engine, this was usually undertaken by horses. At…

9 Ways The Victorian British Army Made Life Better for its Soldiers

Soldiers were seldom treated with great respect by the Victorian British establishment. Despite the prestige given to great acts of heroism and important leaders, the…

D-Day – The Mind Blowing Numbers

Here are the numbers that tell you everything you need to know about D-Day. 2 Mulberry Harbours: A raid on Dieppe had taught the British…