History Rage

Unlock the hidden secrets of your ancestors because history didn't just happen, it happened to families.

Are you tired of dry, dusty history books that only talk about prime ministers and battlefield generals? It is time to smash the myth that genealogy is just an isolated, second-rate hobby for tracking pedigree charts. In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with professional genealogist and research specialist Jen Baldwin to blow the lid off traditional historical study.

Discover why family history is actually an essential, interdisciplinary gateway to understanding the real human consequences of our past. From the handwriting left on the 1921 Census of England and Wales to the surprising, messy tales preserved in global newspaper archives, learn how ordinary citizens were right in the thick of history's greatest upheavals. Whether you are tracing elusive agricultural laborers, criminal ancestors, or early colonial migrants, this episode will completely reframe how you look at your family's history. Don't leave your family's unique narratives trapped in the attic—tune in, get angry about forgotten history, and start digging today!

About Our Guest
Jen Baldwin has been working as a professional genealogist for over 15 years. She serves as a research specialist for FindMyPast and is a passionate advocate for connecting family archives with broader social and contextual history.

Instagram: @jenbaldwin_genealogy
Listen to the FindMyPast Podcast: Start uncovering historical deep-dives by subscribing to A Family History of… podcast, available wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Ready to dive down your own genealogical rabbit hole and start uncovering the truth about your ancestors? All new users can start their FREE FindMyPast trial today!

Claim Your Free Trial: https://www.findmypast.co.uk

Recommended Additional Episodes
If you loved this episode's deep dive into local, human-centered histories, check out these festival special episodes from the History Rage archive:

Episode 121: Phil Moss and Andrew Armstrong uncover the surprising, hidden history of Gloucester.
Episode 176: The Vice Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, Tim Alban Jones, rages that Peterborough is definitely not just some dull new town.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage
Join the Rage Train and make sure you never miss an angry historian exposing the myths of the past!

Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle of History Ragers for £5 per month to get access to monthly live streams, early ad-free episodes, and the coveted History Rage mug! Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage.
Ad-Free Early Releases: Available on both Patreon and Apple Podcasts https://www.apple.com/apple-podcasts/.
Spread the Word: If you are loving the show, please tell a friend and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
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Was the Special Air Service truly built solely by David Stirling and rogue, unmanageable mavericks?

Think you know the full origin story of the Special Air Service? The popular myth paints the WWII SAS as a rogues' gallery of unmanageable, rule-breaking mavericks who single-handedly reshaped special warfare before quietly vanishing at the end of the conflict. But this narrative ignores the quiet leadership, sharp political intellect, and crucial post-war battle that actually preserved the regiment's legacy. Without one man operating behind the scenes in the corridors of power, the modern SAS simply would not exist today.

In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with former British Army officer and author Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer OBE to debunk the romanticized myth of Special Forces and restore a crucial figure to his rightful place in history. Together, they explore the extraordinary life of Brian Franks DSO MC—hotel manager turned Special Forces commander—who not only led operations behind enemy lines during Operation Loyton but personally brought Nazi war criminals to justice and spearheaded the campaign to rebuild the SAS from post-war disbandment.

Guest Details & Book Referrals

Guest: Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer OBE
Featured Book: An Axe and Four Balloons: The Biography of Brian Franks DSO MC, The Man Who Saved the SAS by Tim Spicer. Buy your copy directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781999589172
Other Books by Tim Spicer: A Suspicion of Spies: Risk, Secrets and Shadows – The Biography of Wilfred 'Biffy' Dunderdale and A Dangerous Enterprise: Secret War at Sea

Recommended Additional Episodes

Episode 310: Damien Lewis rages against the shocking portrayals of Blair 'Paddy' Mayne.
Episode 218: Tony Rushmer rages that it is high time Reg Seekings got his moment in the sun.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage

Website: https://www.historyrage.com/
Email: historyragepod@gmail.com
X/Twitter: https://x.com/HistoryRage
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HistoryRagePodcast
Support on Patreon: Get early ad-free episodes, access to live stream recordings, and exclusive merch at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
Apple Podcasts Subscription: Subscribe directly on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/history-rage/id1583724649
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Why the "Roman Land Power" Myth is a Massive Historic Lie

There is a stubborn myth floating around popular culture and older history books that the Romans hated the sea, were terrible at sailing, and let their navy rot the second a war ended. But according to ancient historian and nautical archaeologist Dr. Stephen DeCasien, that is complete history rage material.

In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill dives deep into the ancient Mediterranean to shatter the misconception that Rome was strictly a land power. By exploring cutting-edge underwater archaeology, ancient naval rams, and the industrial scale of Roman shipbuilding, Dr. DeCasien proves that Rome was just as formidable on the waves as they were on land.

Discover how the Romans fought an ancient naval arms race against Carthage during the First Punic War, engineered devastating boarding tools like the Corvus, and deployed massive warships weighing thousands of kilograms at the legendary Battle of Actium. If you want to understand how Rome truly dominated the ancient world, you have to look at their navy.

About the Guest: Dr. Stephen DeCasien
Dr. Stephen DeCasien is an ancient historian and nautical archaeologist specializing in ancient Greek and Roman naval warfare, shipbuilding, and the bronze naval rams used on the bows of ancient warships.
Follow Stephen on Social Media: Connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @DeCasien

Binge These Additional Episodes Next!
If you loved this deep dive into ancient Rome, check out these highly recommended episodes from the History Rage archive:
Episode 255: Simon Elliott makes the case for why Septimius Severus was the greatest Roman emperor.
Episode 296: Emma Southon rages against the myth that Roman slavery was somehow better than Roman poverty.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage
Do you love historians getting angry about historical inaccuracies? Help us keep the rage train rolling!
Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage. For just £5 a month, you get access to our exclusive monthly live stream, early ad-free episodes, and the coveted History Rage mug!
Follow us on Social Media: Get updates and submit your own history rages on X @HistoryRage or Instagram @HistoryRage.
Spread the Word: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and tell a friend to get them aboard the rage train!

Until next week, thanks for listening and stay angry!
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Were 2 million unpaid British civilians really just doddery, helpless old men?

Think Private Godfrey and Corporal Jones speak for the Home Guard? Think again! Captain Mannering's platoon gets a complete reality check in this fiery episode of History Rage.

Join host Paul Bavill as he chats with author and historian Sinclair McKay to shatter the sitcom myths and restore dignity to Britain's WWII civilian army. From guerrilla warfare tactics taught by Spanish Civil War veterans at Osterley Park to the top-secret underground "auxiliaries" trained for sabotage and assassination, discover the deadly serious reality of the men—and women—who stood ready to defend their homes.

Key Takeaways & What You’ll Discover:

Beyond the Sitcom: Why the "doddery old men" stereotype started in 1940—long before the 1968 BBC series Dad's Army.
Real Combat Experience: Why the average age was actually 38, packed with First World War veterans and eager teenagers.
Lethal Tactics: How volunteers were trained in asymmetric warfare, Molotov cocktails, sniper skills, and hand-to-hand combat.
The Secret Auxiliaries: The underground, top-secret elite units prepared for covert resistance, sabotage, and target eliminations.
Women on the Front Line: The fierce push for female enlistment, from factory platoons to outshooting MPs on the range.

Catch Sinclair McKay Live!
Sinclair is speaking at the Gloucester History Festival (which runs from 12th–20th September)!

Event: Sinclair McKay on Dad's Army
Date & Time: Sunday, 20th September at 10:00 AM
Tickets: Available now at gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk

Guest Book & Referral Details

Buy the Book: Grab your copy of Dad's Army: The Glorious True Story of the Home Guard by Sinclair McKay directly from the History Rage Bookshop: uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780241772324

Recommended Additional Episodes

Episode 205: Nathan Hazlehurst on why there's more to civil defence than just putting bloody lights out.
Episode 292: Joshua Levine rages against the myths surrounding the Blitz Spirit.

Follow, Contact & Support History Rage

Support on Patreon: Get early ad-free episodes, monthly live streams, and the coveted History Rage mug at patreon.com/historyrage.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: Listen ad-free via Apple Podcasts.
Follow Us: Stay angry and join the conversation on social media @HistoryRage.
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The Abdication Crisis Demolished

In 1936, King Edward VIII gave up the British throne for the woman he loved—or so the story goes. But was the abdication of Edward VIII really the ultimate modern fairy tale, or a carefully orchestrated establishment takedown?
Journalist and author Sian Evans joins host Paul Bavill on History Rage to shatter the classic fig leaf surrounding Wallis Simpson and the crown. Evans uncovers the political maneuvers, secret service surveillance, and establishment panic behind the year of three kings, exposing Edward VIII not as a romantic hero, but as an unsuitable, petulant playboy king the government desperately needed to replace.

Key Discussion Points

The Romantic Fig Leaf: Why the "greatest love story" myth served both the royal family and the British government to hide a constitutional coup.
Playboy Prince to Reluctant King: Edward’s self-indulgence, low boredom threshold, and early threats to renounce his royal duties.
Enter Wallis Simpson: The dynamic American divorcee, the secret Ipswich divorce trial, and why the establishment saw her as a threat.
The Establishment Takedown: How Stanley Baldwin, Archbishop Cosmo Lang, and court officials leveraged the crisis to install Bertie (King George VI).
Royal Duty vs. Personal Desire: The echoes of 1936 in modern royal departures, from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to royal duty.

Recommended History Rage Episodes

Episode 175: Stop Worshipping the Bloody Mitfords with Guy Walters
Episode 227: Coco Chanel Was Not a Nazi Spy with Anne de Courcy

Guest Information & Book Link

Guest: Sian Evans
Book: 1936: The Year of Three Kings
Buy the Book: Support the guest, independent booksellers, and History Rage by purchasing from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781399722766

Follow, Support & Join History Rage

Support on Patreon: Get access to live streams and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
Apple Podcasts: Subscribe for ad-free listening directly via Apple Subscriptions
Follow on Socials: Search @HistoryRage across Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook.
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