Category: World War 1

Although Humphrey Bogart is remembered as one of the greatest Hollywood actors of all time, we should also remember him for his efforts during the First and Second World Wars. With an exemplary time in the service to a mysterious scar with several accounts for how it happened, Humphrey Bogart’s amazing military career may have been overshadowed by his acting career, but never forgotten. Let’s take a closer look at the famous actors’ time spent in service of his country.

World War I and a mysterious scar

Humphrey Bogart in sailor dress while he was in the Navy, 1919. (Photo Credit: Bettmann/ Getty Images)

Humphrey Bogart was born on December 25, 1899, in New York City. After Bogart failed out of Phillips Academy in 1918, he had no viable career options and decided to join the United States Navy. Sixteen days after the Armistice was signed and the war ended, Bogart joined the troopship, USS Leviathan.

Humphrey Bogart spent most of the time in the Navy ferrying troops between the United States and Europe. By all accounts, Humphrey was a model sail0r during his time in the Navy.

The troopship USS Leviathan in a dazzle camouflage pattern, 1918. The Leviathan was formerly the SS Vaterland, a German, Hamburg America Line, ship, seized by the U.S. government in 1917. (Photo Credit: Hirz/ Getty Images)

Another account of how Bogart received this scar involves a German prisoner of war and a failed escape attempt. Supposedly, while transporting German POWs to the United States for incarceration, Bogart was struck in the mouth by the handcuffs of a prisoner trying to make a run for it.

The most likely explanation for Humphrey Bogart’s scar is from a childhood injury. Hollywood studios may have hyped up the wartime story to make Bogart seem tough.

Coast guard volunteer during the Second World War

Humphrey Bogart (middle) in the 1943 movie, Action in the North Atlantic. (Photo Credit: United Archives/ Getty Images)

During the Second World War, Humphrey Bogart once again decided to serve his country. By the Second World War, Bogart had already established himself as an extremely successful movie actor. In 1944, Bogart attempted to reenlist in the Navy but was denied because of his age.

Instead of giving up, Bogart decided to volunteer both his yacht, Santan, and himself for service with the Coast Guard Temporary Reserve. Santan was used as a patrol vessel, and Bogart reported for duty once a week at Balboa, patrolling the shore.

Armed Forces Radio Services broadcaster Jack Brown interviews Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall for broadcast to troops overseas during the Second World War. (Photo Credit: U.S. Federal Government/ Wikimedia Commons via public domain)

During his time with the Coast Guard, Humphrey Bogart often received visits from Lauren Bacall, with whom he was having an affair. She would often drive down to the coast to Balboa and meet him at the Coast Guard station during his break from his volunteer duty. The two would end up getting married in May 1945.

His military career helped his acting career

Actor Humphrey Bogart entertaining troops during the Second World War. He is standing on a wicker stage and speaks into a microphone, circa 1940. (Photo Credit: Bettmann/ Getty Images)

Without his military experience, Humphrey Bogart may not have reached the same level of success as an actor. During his acting career, he drew on his military experience in many of his films.

Because of his real-life experience at sea, many of his movie scenes felt completely authentic. For example, in Action in the North Atlantic (1943), Bogart played First Officer Joe Rossi, who brought a merchant marine ship safely through a German attack and into Murmansk. At the end of All Through the Night (1942), Bogart’s character prevented a Nazi motorboat filled with explosives from destroying an American battleship. In Across the Pacific (1942), Bogart’s character sailed to Panama on a Japanese ship.

American actor Humphrey Bogart on the set of The African Queen, 1951. (Photo Credit: Sunset Boulevard/ Getty Images)

Humphrey Bogart won only one Academy Award for his acting career for his portrayal of Charlie Allnut in The African Queen (1951). For this role, Humphrey Bogart once again was able to draw on his real-life Naval experience to make his character’s experience more accurate for the audience. One could certainly argue that Humphrey Bogart would not have been such a successful and impactful actor without his military career.

Humphrey Bogart passed away on January 14, 1957, from esophageal cancer.

Military historians have often overlooked the Battle of St Eloi Craters that occurred during the First World War. Perhaps this lack of interest is due to it being a Canadian offensive, or maybe it’s because it was an insignificant engagement in the grand scheme of things. Whatever the reason, it should be discussed, if only for the complete failure in leadership that dealt a devastating blow for the Canadian Corps.

How did St Eloi get its craters?

Aerial view of St Eloi, March 1916. (Photo Credit: National Library of Scotland / Wikimedia Commons / No Known Copyright Restrictions)

The Battle of St Eloi Craters was fought between March 27 – April 16, 1916.

By the latter half of 1915, the Allies and the Central Powers were using extensive mining as a part of their trench warfare. St Eloi was located approximately three miles south of Ypres, and both the Allies and the Germans spent the majority of the year mining and countermining the town.

By early 1916, 30 British and German mines were in the small confines of the area. On March 27, the British forces detonated six of them, signaling the start of the battle. The explosions were heard all the way to England, collapsed German trenches and wiped out any existing landmarks on the battlefield. Four of the six blew up so close to each other that an impassible lake was formed, spanning 165 feet across and reaching 45 feet in depth.

Fighting within the craters

Three privates with the Northumberland Fusiliers, 3rd Division during the Battle of St Eloi Craters, March 1916. (Photo Credit: Imperial War Museum)

British soldiers were forced to fight within the craters for the first week of the battle at St Eloi. The explosions had completely disrupted the landscape in No Man’s Land, causing the troops to become confused and allowing the Germans to reoccupy portions of the line.

For one week, the British fought in nightmarish conditions. The weather was horrific; the soldiers dealt with high winds, rain and sleet. They stood or crouched in waist-deep water, unable to sit because of how much had accumulated. On top of this, they also had to fight hand-to-hand combat against the Germans within the craters.

Enter the inexperienced Canadians

Battle of St Eloi Craters, 1916. (Photo Credit: George Metcalf Archival Collection / War Museum Canada)

The 2nd Canadian Division had been rushed to the Western Front in September 1915 to join the 1st Division. The two formed the Canadian Corps and were stationed near the Ypres sector. Under the command of Gen. Edwin Alderson, they had yet to see action and were excited to get their first taste of battle.

Since they were rushed into battle, the Canadian Corps had very little time to prepare. With no battle experience, they  only had a very vague idea of where they were, relative to the enemy.

Chaos ensues at the Battle of St Eloi Craters

Machine gun regiment of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers – “The Fighting Fifth” – following the Battle of St Eloi Craters, April 1916. (Photo Credit: Paul Thompson / FPG / Getty Images)

The horrific state of the trenches had an impact on the Canadian Corps. Pvt. Fraser said this on his experience, “When day broke, the sights that met our gaze were so horrible and ghastly that they beggar description. Heads, arms and legs were protruding from the mud at every yard and dear knows how many bodies the earth swallowed.”

Totally incompetent leaders

Battle of St Eloi Craters. (Photo Credit: Print Collector / Getty Images)

The breakdown of the Canadian Corps at St Eloi was the result of a lack of communication. This was a constant theme throughout the First World War and wasn’t just isolated to the Battle of St Eloi Craters. In the town, the constant bombardment made it hard for the Canadians to keep telephone wires from being cut, and it was nearly impossible to lay new lines. Similarly, many didn’t have any battle experience, so they were hesitant to stand above the trenches.

Agent 355

Agent 355 was a female spy who worked alongside George Washington during the American Revolution. She was a member of the Culper Spy Ring, which operated throughout New York and Long Island from 1778 to 1780. She’s considered to be one of the country’s first ever spies, and is responsible for filtering British information to the future President of the United States.

Artist’s interpretation of what Agent 355 may have looked like. (Photo Credit: Harper’s Weekly / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

Her identity remains unknown centuries later, but sleuths have been working to crack the mystery. It’s widely agreed upon that she was likely a New York City socialite who used her position within society to obtain information from Washington’s enemies. There are even some who claim to know her true identity, positing she was either spy Robert Townsend‘s common-law wife; his sister, Sarah Townsend; or even Elizabeth Burgin.

Francis Pegahmagabow

Francis “Peggy” Pegahmagabow is known for a variety of reasons: he was the Chief of the Parry Island Band and was a member of the Algonquin Regiment, with which he served in a non-permanent active militia. While he accomplished much in his life, he’s best known for being the “most effective sniper” of World War I.

Francis Pegahmagabow following the conclusion of WWI. (Photo Credit: Canadian government / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Pegahmagabow enlisted with the 23rd Regiment at the start of the war, and within weeks became one of the original members of the 1st Canadian Infantry. He landed in France in February 1915, alongside the 1st Canadian Division, serving as both a scout and a sniper. While in Europe, he fought at Ypres, the Somme, in Belgium, at Passchendaele and during the Hundred Days Offensive.

During the course of the conflict, Peggy is credited with killing 378 German soldiers and capturing another 300. He was one of the most decorated Indigenous soldiers in Canadian military history, with his honors including the Military Medal & Two Bars, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Peter Freuchen

Peter Freuchen was many things: an author, anthropologist, journalist and the owner of the Danish island of Enehoje, on Naksov Fjord. He was an explorer who participated in the Thule Expeditions of the Arctic, and during World War II fought alongside the Danish resistance, narrowly escaping execution.

Peter Freuchen, before 1915. (Photo Credit: Knud Rasmussen / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Let’s focus on his exploits during WWII. Despite losing a leg to frostbite in 1926, he joined the Danish resistance movement, following the country’s occupation by the Germans. He risked his life by hiding refugees, openly claiming to be Jewish when faced with anti-semitic behavior, and sabotaging German operations.

Lyudmila Pavlichenko

Lyudmila “Lady Death” Pavlichenko was a female sniper who served with the Soviet Red Army during WWII. Following the launch of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, Pavlichenko traveled to Odessa to enlist in the Red Army. While initially told to become a nurse, she was set on using her marksmanship skills to become an infantryman.

Lyudmila Pavlyuchenko defending Sevastopol, June 6, 1942. (Photo Credit: Vladimir Nikolayevich Ivanov / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

She was given a position in the Red Army’s 25th Rifle Division after killing two Romanian collaborators and became one of 2,000 female Soviet snipers to serve in the conflict. Only 500 survived. During her service, she fought during the sieges of Odessa and Sevastopol, and her skills became so well-known that the German Army attempted to bribe her.

By late 1942, she was a lieutenant and had secured 309 kills, making her not only one of the top military snipers of all time but the most successful female sniper ever. She later traveled to Allied countries as part of the Soviet Union’s attempts to open a second front against the Germans.

Jack Churchill

There are many stories about military officers entering battle with strange equipment (think Digby Tatham-Warter using an umbrella to disable a German tank), and Jack “Mad Jack” Churchill is no exception. The British Army officer was known to enter the battlefield with a Scottish broadsword, a longbow – and bagpipes.

Jack Churchill. (Photo Credit: Cassowary Colorizations / Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0)

He was present at Dunkirk and later went on to volunteer for the Commandos. During Operation Archery in December 1941, he was second-in-command on No. 3 Commando, and when he was sent to Italy in July 1943 he served as the commanding officer of No. 2 Commando.

Chiune Sugihara

Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese diplomat posted in Lithuania at the outbreak of WWII. Without instructions from Japan, he began issuing 10-day travel visas to Jewish refugees. After having issued 1,800 visas, he received a response from the Foreign Ministry, which told him that the visas he’d issued had been given to people who had little money and no visas to move onto their final destinations.

He admitted to having issued the visas in haste, citing Japan as being “the only transit country available for going in the direction of the United States, and his visas were needed to leave the Soviet Union.”

Chiune Sugihara, before 1945. (Photo Credit: Unknown Author / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

By the time diplomatic consulates were ordered closed in August 1940, Sugihara had helped thousands of Jews flee Europe. Estimates state that around 100,000 people alive today are descendants of those who escaped Europe with Sugihara’s visas.

Vasili Arkhipov

The Cuban Missile Crisis began following President John F. Kennedy‘s blockade of Cuba. This led to a 13-day standoff between the US and the USSR. Vasili Arkhipov was a Soviet Navy officer at the time, serving as the second-in-command aboard the B-59 submarine and the flotilla chief of staff, which also included the B-4, B-36, and B-130.

Vasili Arkhipov, 1955. (Photo Credit: Olga Arkhipova / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

While the submarine was traveling to Cuba in October 1962, it came across depth charges laid by the US Navy. The intention had been to force the B-59 to rise to the surface and identify itself. Unbeknownst to its crew, the charges were non-lethal. Viewing it as a sign of aggression, the B-59‘s captain and senior officers discussed launching a nuclear torpedo.

Stanislav Petrov

While many might not know Stanislav Petrov’s name, those who do often credit him with preventing World War III. Petrov was serving as a lieutenant colonel in the Soviet Air Defence Forces in 1983, and during the infamous Soviet nuclear false alarm incident disobeyed orders regarding retaliatory action against a nuclear attack from the US.

Stanislav Petrov, March 2004. (Photo Credit: Scott Peterson / Getty Images)

On September 26, 1983, word came that the US had launched five nuclear missiles. Petrov was on duty and realized the reports were false, as the total amount of missiles was too small to initiate an attack. His quick thinking prevented the USSR from launching a counterattack that would have certainly resulted in nuclear war.

An investigation later found the Soviet’s satellite warning system was flawed. While many view him as a hero, he never did. Speaking in an interview for The Man Who Saved the World, he said, “All that happened didn’t matter to me – it was my job. I was simply doing my job, and I was the right person at the right time, that’s all. My late wife for 10 years knew nothing about it. ‘So what did you do?’ she asked me. ‘Nothing. I did nothing.’”

Fritz Joubert Duquesne was a man originally born in South Africa who spied for the Germans in two World Wars. In between the battles, he was a stunningly successful conman who repeatedly got himself out of multiple legal problems. This is his story.

Early Life and the Second Anglo-Boer War

Image Via Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

Fritz Joubert Duquesne was born in 1877 in a British-controlled part of South Africa. His father was a hunter who made a living by selling pelts, horns, and tusks. Fritz later followed in his footsteps and became a skilled hunter as well. Duquesne’s early life was one of conflict, and he killed his first man at 12 years of age. A year later, he was sent off to school in England.

In 1899, at the age of 22, Fritz returned to South Africa to participate in the Second Anglo-Boer War. His hunting ability served him well in the battle, and he became known as the Black Panther. In 1901, Duquense found out that the English had burned his family farm to the ground when he returned home. His sister had been raped and murdered, and his mother had been placed in a concentration camp. Fritz developed a burning hatred for the English that lasted for the rest of his life.

Escape from prison and journalism

Teddy Roosevelt stands over a dead rhino (Photo Via Getty Images)

After discovering what happened to his family, Duquense formulated a plan to kill Lord Kitchener. He recruited 20 other men to his cause, but one of the men’s wives revealed the plot. The 20 other men were executed, but Duquesne escaped that fate by promising to reveal secrets about the Boers to the British. He later claimed that he only gave them false information. Duquesne was placed in a penal colony in Bermuda but was able to escape.

Upon his escape, the South African found work as a journalist with the New York Herald. He also used many aliases and engaged in unique activities. For example, Duquesne lobbied the US Congress to import hippos into the Lousiana bayous to solve a meat shortage in the area. Duquesne also acted as a hunting guide for United States President Theodore Roosevelt.

Spying for the Germans during World War I

Image via Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

After meeting with a German industrialist in 1914, Duquesne became a spy for the Germans. During the first World War, he took the name Frederick Fredericks and posed as a scientist doing research on rubber plants. Duquesne set off to Bahia, Brazil, and took an active part in the war by bombing and sinking ships. Taking on two more aliases, George Fordam and Piet Nicaud, he is credited with sinking 22 British ships. Duquesne claimed that one of these ships carried Lord Kitchener, his enemy from the Boer War.

Following the conflict, Duquesne created a new character, Captain Claude Stoughton, who he claimed was the leader of a Western Australian Light Horse Regiment. The persona resulted in a nice income and adoration from legions of fans. In November of 1917, he was arrested on charges of insurance fraud. While he was in custody it was discovered that he had worked for Germany during the war. The plan was to extradite Duquesne to Britain to face charges. To combat this he faked paralysis and ended up in the prison ward of Bellevue Hospital. After two years of the ruse, he was able to escape by posing as a woman.

The Years between the wars

Fritz Duquesne in 1917 (Image Via Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)

After his escape from Bellevue, Duquesne spent time in both Europe and Mexico. He made his way back to New York in 1926. At this point, he began to use the alias Frank de Trafford Craven. He worked at Joseph P. Kennedy’s production company Film Booking Offices of America as a member of the publicity staff. He later moved on to the Quigley Publishing Company.

World War II, Arrest and Conviction

Fritz Duquesne being interrogated by the FBI in 1941 (Photo by: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In 1934, Duquesne joined the Order of 76, an American pro-Nazi organization. The next year, he began working for the US Government’s Works Progress Administration. Duquesne began his own spying ring which eventually grew to include 33 members. He was not found out until 1939. Then FBI head J. Edgar Hoover went to Franklin D. Roosevelt to explain the situation and a two-year investigation into the spy began.

“My God! Do you mean he’s real? I thought he was somebody the Marines made up, like Paul Bunyan!”

These words were said by a young Marine replacement during World War I, after he was told Dan Daly was his first sergeant. Daly is indeed deified in the Marine world, but he is not as well known to the general public. The Marine hero is one of only 19 men to have been awarded two Medals of Honor, and he was nominated for a third.

This is his story.

Dan Daly’s upbringing

Born in 1873, Dan Daly had a hardscrabble, yet common upbringing. He was raised in a squalid tenement in New York City and cobbled together a living by selling newspapers. When he was slightly older, he began working in an overcrowded city factory. While only standing at five-foot six-inches, he was a fierce amateur boxer.

Dan Daly wearing his US Marine Corps uniform (Photo Credit: Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

With such a tough life, it’s no surprise Daly was eager to leave New York when the opportunity presented itself. In 1899, at the age of 16, he joined the US Marine Corps. At the time, the Americans were fighting the Spanish-American War. While Daly hoped to participate, he didn’t finish basic training in time.

The Boxer Rebellion

While Daly missed out on participating in the Spanish-American War, he didn’t have to wait long for his chance at combat. In 1900, he took off to China to fight for the Alliance during the Boxer Rebellion. The war was so-called because the Chinese rebels fought in a style that resembled boxers.

Qing Imperial Soldiers during the Boxer Rebellion. (Photo Credit: Unknown Author / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

It didn’t take long for Daly to prove himself a hero. He participated in the defense of the Foreign Legations, which was under siege from Chinese soldiers for 55 days. On one of these days, it was reported German soldiers had assembled outside of the American Embassy in Beijing. Several Marines left their post to assault the German position and Daly was left alone. It was on this night that a number of Chinese soldiers attacked. Using a machine gun, the Marine killed an estimated 200 enemy soldiers.

For this, he was awarded his first Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor (First Award) to Private Daniel Joseph Daly (MCSN: 73086), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Captain Newt Hall’s Marine Detachment, 1st Regiment (Marines), in action in the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, 14 August 1900, Daly distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.”

Battle of Fort Dipitie

Fifteen years later, Daly was in Haiti supporting the country’s government against rebels. The Marine and his small platoon were ambushed by around 400 of the Cacos rebels. To make matters worse, the platoon’s machine gun was temporarily dropped in the river. Daly retrieved the weapon and the platoon went on the attack, killing the rebels.

US Marines on patrol in 1915 during the occupation of Haiti. A Haitian guide is leading the party. (Photo Credit: A. R. Harrison, United States Marine Corps – Marine Corps Legacy Museum / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Daly was again awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor (Second Award) to Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Joseph Daly (MCSN: 73086), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the 15th Company of Marines (Mounted), 2d Marine Regiment, on 22 October 1915. Gunnery Sergeant Daly was one of the company to leave Fort Liberte, Haiti, for a six-day reconnaissance.

“Gunnery Sergeant Daly fought with exceptional gallantry against heavy odds throughout this action.”

World War I and his famous phrase

Despite being 44 years old at the time, Daly was active during World War I. The Marine fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the conflict and was wounded three times. While leading his men during the Battle of Belleau Wood, he shouted, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”

The words have gone down in Marine Corps lore. They had the desired effect, as the Allies won the battle.

Dan Daly receives the French Medaille Militaire following World War I. (Photo Credit: Underwood & Underwood / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Daly was again nominated for the Medal of Honor. It was decided that it would be unacceptable for one man to receive the award three times, as no one ever had. Instead, he was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross and, later, the Navy Cross.

Legacy

Many factors have hurt Dan Daly’s legacy. Many wars have been fought since his time, with new heroes. As well, he died in 1937, and during his life was known for his modesty and refusal to talk about what happened to him during his service. However, in the Marine Corps, Daly is still honored and talked about regularly.

Dan Daly’s gravestone at Cypress Hills National Cemetery. (Photo Credit: K72ndst / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0)

Lt. Col. Frank E. Evans, the adjutant of the 6th Regiment in France, said of the legendary Marine, “Daly’s influence on new officers and men was remarkable. He enjoyed the respect, confidence, and admiration of every man in the regiment. For loyalty, spirit, and absolute disregard of fear, he was almost unique in the entire brigade, and his devotion to his officers and to the men of his company was demonstrated time after time.”

War movies have been popular for as long as films have existed. As a result, some of the more popular subjects have been completely exhausted. The good news is there are thousands of years of resource material out there. The following are five battles that would make for great Hollywood films.

Battle of Belleau Wood

It’s very common for films to be made about World War II. Movies about the Vietnam War were also quite common during the 1980s. There are not, however, many movies about the First World War. The Battle of Belleau Wood was fought in France in 1918, and saw the Germans take on French, American and British soldiers. It is also considered the battle where the US Marine Corps truly came into its own. As such, it would make for a great film.

American soldiers camp out during the Battle of Belleau Wood, 1918. (Photo Credit: adoc-photos / Getty Images)

All great movies have a likable hero, and Marine Dan Daly makes for a great one. Daly, a legendary member of the US military, is treated as almost a mythical figure within the Marine Corps. It was during the Battle of Belleau Wood that he uttered the famous line, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever,” while leading a charge.

As well, the Allied victory was the first major engagement the US Army fought during WWI. Despite their attempts to gain ground during the spring offensive, the tired German soldiers were no match for the Americans, who continued to eagerly showcase their skills after entering the conflict in 1917.

This one should be green-lit immediately.

The Winter War

In the late 1930s, Joseph Stalin was obsessed with increasing his territorial holdings. With a massive army and thousands of tanks, he felt Finland would make for a great target. Classic underdog stories always make for great war movies and this is a real David versus Goliath-like tale.

Russia invaded Finland during the later months of 1939, which was a mistake. While the Russians were used to the cold, given their northern location, the Finns knew the local terrain well and used this knowledge to their advantage. Ski troops navigated the rugged terrain to launch guerrilla warfare and were able to easily spot the Soviet troops against the white snow.

Finnish soldiers man a Maxim machine gun during the Winter War. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Also impressive was the Finn’s incredible air superiority. The Nordic country had a small Air Force, not because they didn’t have enough men, but because they were incredibly selective of their pilots. During the conflict, Finish pilots shot down way more Soviet aircraft than they lost of their own.

The snowy landscape of Finland during the wintertime would also make for a stunning backdrop.

Battle of Carrhae

Sometimes the best movies are the ones where the villain gets what they deserve – and Roman General Marcus Licinius Crassus is one heck of a good villain. Born into wealth in Rome in 115 BC, he eventually became the richest man in the Empire. Crassus also developed a friendship with Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar. He soon was given the governorship of Syria, which only promised to make him richer.

None of this was enough for Crassus. He decided to attempt to conquer Parthia for both riches and glory. The battle went horribly for him. During the next day’s peace meeting, he was killed by the Parthians with molten gold poured into his mouth to symbolize his greed.

His death was the inspiration for a similar scene that occurred in season one of the HBO show Game of Thrones.

Battle of Yorktown

Despite the clear importance to the history of the country, there have been very few movies made about the Revolutionary War. Thanks to the wild success of the Broadway musical Hamilton, however, now would be as good a time as any to shine a light on the time period. A great place to start would be with a movie about the Battle of Yorktown.

Cornwallis surrenders during the American Revolutionary War. (Photo Credit: John Trumbull / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

The Americans won the battle, thanks to a collaboration between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. After three weeks of fighting, the movie would certainly have a happy ending. The Battle of Yorktown ended with the surrender of the British forces, leading to the Treaty of Paris and American independence.

Battle of Longewala

The Battle of Longewala has been made into a film: the 1997 Bollywood movie, Border. It may be time, however, for the battle to be revealed to a larger audience. Not only is it a classic many versus few-type battle, but there is also an aspect of humor to it that isn’t seen in most battles.

Indian troops fire during an Indo-Pakistani War battle. (Photo Credit: AFP / Getty Images)

During the battle, 2,000 Pakistanis with 45 tanks took on 120 Indian soldiers. The only thing the Indians had going for them was a recoilless rifle that could pierce through tanks. As the Pakistanis made their approach, the tanks continuously got stuck in the mud, making them an easy target.

The USS New York (BB-34) was a US Navy battleship and the lead vessel of her class. Named after the state of New York, she was designed to be the first vessel to carry a 14-inch/45-caliber gun. She entered service in 1914 and first actively served during the US occupation of Veracruz.

Following more than three years of operations off the East Coast and in the Caribbean, she set sail across the Atlantic Ocean to join the British Grand Fleet, and served as the flagship of US battleships in the 6th Battle Squadron for the remainder of World War I.

The USS New York (BB-34) accidentally collides with a German U-boat

USS New York (BB-34), 1932. (Photo Credit: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

It was during an escort mission that the USS New York first came into contact with a German U-boat. She was leading a fleet of battleships into the Pentland Firth on October 14, 1918 when she was badly damaged in an underwater collision. Two blades broke off of one of her propellors, significantly reducing her speed, and there was damage to the starboard side.

Service during the interwar period

USS New York (BB-34), 1937. (Photo Credit: Harley Flowers / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

By 1919, the USS New York had transited through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean, where she was stationed for the next decade and a half. It was during this time that she underwent some serious modernization. Between 1925-27, she received new oil-fired boilers, heavier deck armor, anti-torpedo bulges along her hull and up-to-date gunfire control mechanisms.

The USS New York (BB-34) during the Second World War

USS New York (BB-34), 1945. (Photo Credit: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

The USS New York was part of Neutrality Patrol operations in the Atlantic at the opening of World War II. As the US drew closer to conflict in 1941, she was employed to help with the Allied Occupation of Iceland and in escorting convoys. When America did become a combatant, she continued her convoy activities.

Shortly before 2:00 AM on October 31, 1920, Frederick Banting woke up from a dream that would change the lives of millions. He quickly scribbled down 25 words that became the blueprint for the discovery of insulin. While Banting’s discovery is the focal point of his legacy, he also saved lives during both World Wars!

From serving as a medic in France during World War I to conducting research on the first g-suit for fighter pilots in World War II, Banting’s military service speaks to his selfless nature.

Frederick Banting’s early life and service during World War I

Frederick Grant Banting was born on November 14, 1891 in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. In 1914, he twice attempted to enlist for service overseas, but was denied both times due to his poor eyesight. He was finally allowed to a year later, due to the increasing need for doctors on the front.

Banting’s graduation portrait from the University of Toronto School of Medicine, 1923. (Photo Credit: Topical Press Agency / Getty Images)

Banting was wounded during the Second Battle of Cambrai. Despite his injuries, he spent 16 hours tending to other wounded soldiers, until another doctor ordered him to stop. For his actions, he was presented with the Military Cross, the second highest honor awarded in the British Empire.

The discovery of insulin

Frederick Banting moved to London, Ontario, purchased his first home and opened a private medical practice. However, he struggled to make ends meet and took a job as a professor at the University of Western Ontario, teaching anthropology and orthopedics. He also lectured in pharmacology at the University of Toronto from 1921-22.

TIME Magazine cover featuring Frederick Banting, August 1923. (Photo Credit: TIME Magazine / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Banting enlisted the help of doctors John Macleod, James Collip and Charles Best to explore his hypothesis. After successfully isolating and identifying insulin, clinical trials began.

One patient of Banting’s, a four-year-old boy named Teddy Ryder, began treatment for diabetes after two years of following a strict starvation diet. After receiving insulin, he was finally able to live a normal life. He wrote to Banting, “I am a fat boy now and I feel fine. I can climb a tree.”

Ryder was just one of the countless children whose lives were forever changed by insulin.

Charles Best and Frederick Banting on the roof of the medical building at the University of Toronto with one of the first diabetic dogs to receive insulin. (Photo Credit: Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

In 1923, Banting and his team of researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work. To this day, he remains the youngest person to be awarded a Nobel Prize, at just 32 years old. In 1934, he was knighted by King George V and received the title of Sir Frederick Banting.

A medical pioneer during World War II

In the early days of the Second World War, Frederick Banting became interested in medical research that could be applied to warfare. He was promoted to the rank of major and became Canada’s Chief Medical Liason with British scientists, helping to develop new medical technologies.

Due to his research, the Canadian government barred him from serving on the frontlines.

Canadian scientist Wilbur R. Franks wearing his anti-g suit to keep fighter pilots from blacking out. (Photo Credit: Apic / Getty Images)

In 1940, the first tests of the Franks Flying Suit took place. It was named for Dr. Wilbur Franks, one of Banting’s mentees. Banting was part of the team that created the Franks anti-gravity suit, which was geared toward solving the issue of aviator “blackout” while conducting sharp turns and steep dives. This provided the basic framework for modern-day g-suits.

Banting also tested his research on himself, including a time when he deliberately burned himself with mustard gas to learn how to counteract its effects. He advocated his concerns about biological and chemical warfare to the British cabinet, which eventually led to the creation of the Microbiological Research Establishment.

In February 1941, Banting planned to fly from Newfoundland, Canada to the UK to continue his research as Chief Medical Laision. He boarded a Hudson bomber, but soon after takeoff the oil cooler failed, leading the aircraft’s radio and both engines to fail. The pilot attempted to land the plane, but it clipped some trees and “was brought down only [meters] away from a potentially safe landing place.”

Of the four onboard the bomber, two died upon impact. While the pilot and Banting survived, the doctor, wounded and “delirious,” wandered away from the wreckage and died of exposure before help could arrive. He was just 49 years old.

Frederick Banting’s enduring legacy

Frederick Banting’s legacy lives on through his research. Today, 37.3 million Americans have diabetes – about one in ten people. Without insulin, those lives would be cut short. One hundred years after its discovery, insulin remains one of the most effective treatments for diabetes.

(L) Samples of insulin from the early days of the development of insulin therapy. (R) Pur-in pen insulin injection device manufactured by CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Photo Credit: Science & Society Picture Library / Getty Images)

At the Banting House National Historic Site in London, Ontario, the Flame of Hope burns day and night. First kindled by the Queen Mother in 1989, it stands as a symbol of hope that a cure for diabetes will be found and the flame can be extinguished.

While it was still a relatively new phenomenon, Hollywood studios were cranking out film after film during the 1920s and ’30s. As a result, many of the Silver Screen’s earliest actors had served in World War I. The following is a list of the most famous, and their legacies continue to endure a century later.

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

Shirley Temple and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, 1936. (Photo Credit: Afro American Newspapers / Gado / Getty Images)

Kicking off our list of actors who served in World War I is Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Prior to the conflict, he’d served with the US Army as a rifleman in the Spanish-American War, during which he was accidentally shot by a second lieutenant cleaning his gun.

When the First World War broke out, Robinson was already a major star on the vaudeville circuit, having been one of the first performers to break the medium’s “two-colored rule,” which banned solo acts by African-Americans. Despite his fame, he volunteered to perform free of charge for the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) as part of the War Department’s Liberty Theatres at training camps. His efforts afforded him a commendation in 1918.

Randolph Scott

Randolph Scott, 1935. (Photo Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images)

Randolph Scott was born into a wealthy family on January 23, 1898. His father was the first licensed certified public accountant in North Carolina, while his mother was from a well-to-do family.

In 1917, following the US entering World War I, the future actor enlisted in the North Carolina National Guard. He trained as an artillery observer, and, in May 1918, entered active duty with the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He was subsequently deployed to France, where he fought alongside the IV Corps in Toul and Thiaucourt-Regniéville.

Following the signing of the Armistice, Scott and the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion took part in the Allied occupation of Germany, after which he enrolled in Officer Candidate School (OCS). He subseqeuntly received a commission as a second lieutenant of the Field Artillery Branch and returned to the US, where he reported to Camp Mills, New York and was honorably discharged.

Scott later credited his time in the US military with aiding in the success of his acting career – in particular, his ability to properly use mock firearms and ride on horseback. After appearing in stage productions, he broke into the film scene in the 1930s. From then on, he became one of the most bankable Western stars in Hollywood, in part because his six-foot, two-inch stature and intense features leant themselves to the strong, silent type.

Bela Lugosi

Dracula, 1931. (Photo Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images)

Bela Lugosi was born Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó on October 20, 1882 in Lugos, Hungary. Following some time spent performing in stage shows, the actor volunteered with the 43rd Royal Hungarian Infantry Regiment and served during World War I.

Serving with the Austro-Hungarian Army between 1914-16, he was stationed along the Eastern Front, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. He and his fellow servicemen frequently engaged with the Russians, and he suffered various injuries during combat. The first occurred while fighting in Rohatyn, while the second later led to him receiving the Wound Medal. He was discharged a year later for “mental collapse,” having served 16 months.

Spencer Tracy

Spencer Tracy, 1934. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images)

Spencer Tracy was born in 1900 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A hyperactive child who had difficulties in school, he found himself obsessed with films and acting – so much so that this influenced his later career path.

Unlike some other actors on this list, Tracy didn’t see action during World War I. As he was still relatively young when the conflict broke out, he wasn’t of age to be deployed. That didn’t mean, however, that he didn’t try to do his part, albeit “for a chance to go and see some excitement.”

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images)

Humphrey Bogart was born to a very wealthy family in New York City on December 25, 1899. He was a terrible student with discipline issues, so had little choice but to enlist in the US Navy in the spring of 1918. The future actor spent the latter years of World War I as a coxswain. He’s said to have been a model sailor, who spent time after the conflict ferrying troops back to the US. He subsequently left the service in June 1919 as a boatswain’s mate third class.

When the Second World War broke out, Bogart attempted to re-enlist, but was denied due to his age (he was in his early 40s at the time). Still determined to do his part, he volunteered with the US Coast Guard Temporary Reserve and patroled the California coastline in his yacht, the Santana.

Buster Keaton

The Navigator, 1924. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images)

Buster Keaton was born into a vaudeville family in Piqua, Kansas on October 4, 1895. By the time he was three years old, he was already performing alongside them, an experience which later afforded him the reputation for being the silent film era’s brightest.

Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it has seen recent use, most notably during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here’s its history and some of its most notable uses, including during World War II and in Vietnam.

Ancient use of scorched earth tactics

Before one can discuss the use of scorched earth policies, it must be understood what such tactics entail. In general, a scorched earth policy is a strategy which aims to destroy anything that may be of use to the enemy, whether that be natural resources, military equipment – even local citizens. While the latter was banned under the 1977 Geneva Convention, the destruction of resources remains a key strategy for some warring nations.

Smoke palls over oil wells set ablaze by the Russians when the Germans occupied Maikop, September 1942. The Germans were promised a rich prize in the Caucasus, but got nothing. (Photo Credit: Keystone / Getty Images)

The Scythians were the first to use the scorched earth tactic. Nomadic herders from what is now Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, they did battle against the Persians and Darius the Great. To gain the upper hand, they moved in secret, destroying the Persians’ food and poisoning their wells. Before their opponents could figure out what happened, they would retreat back into the forest.

Use of scorched earth tactics up until the 19th century

As society entered the medieval period, scorched earth tactics continued to grow in popularity. Viking chieftan Hastein used the policy during the Great Viking Invasion of England in 893, and its use continued with the Harrying of the North in 1069. During this, William the Conquerer quelled a rebellion in Northern England in the most brutal way imaginable. His men burnt down the majority of the villages, killed livestock and destroyed food stores.

The villagers who survived the initial attack resorted to cannibalism.

William the Conquerer, as shown on the Bayeux Tapestry. (Photo Credit: Lucien Musset / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

During the Hundred Years’ War, both the French and English made use of scorched earth tactics, as did Mircea the Elder against the Ottoman Empire in 1395. Prince Stephen III of Moldavia did the same during the Ottoman advance in 1475-76.

As society progressed into the early modern era, armies continued their use of the scorched earth strategy. The most famous use of it during this time was in Ireland during the Desmond Rebellions in the mid-to-late 1500s, when the majority of the province of Munster was destroyed.

This conflict was followed by others across Europe, including the Wallachian-Ottoman Wars and the Nine Years’ War.

Siege of Mons during the Nine Years’ War, 1691. (Photo Credit: Raymond Palmer / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Scorched earth tactics were also used outside of Europe. In India, the Chandellas used the strategy while under attack by Mahmud of Ghazni between 1019-22. Fast forward to the 17th century, when Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire, also used the strategy. He did, however, have some ground rules. His forces were expected to burn down cities, but were ordered to not rape or injure civilians, nor disrespect any religious institutes.

Mararaj’s son, Sambhaji, continued these practices, making him widely despised among the enemy Mughals. In 1689, Sambhaji was captured by Muqarrab Khan, the leader of the Mughal Army. He and his soldiers were particularly angry with the three-day assault following the Battle of Burhanpur. Sambhaji was charged with casual torture, arson, looting and massacre and subsequently put to death.

The Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War

The two most notable instances of scorched earth tactics being used in the 19th century occurred during the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War. Throughout the course of the Napoleonic Wars, those countries that were invaded often resorted to a scorched earth strategy, destroying food supplies to hinder the movement and success of the invading forces.

Battle of Somosierra in Spain, 1808. It was one of the many battles to occur during the Napoleonic Wars from 1803-15. (Photo Credit: January Suchodolski / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

One of the most famous examples of the scorched earth policy occurred during the American Civil War. Close to victory toward the end of 1864, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman used such tactics to break the Confederacy’s will. Beginning in Atlanta on November 15, he and his soldiers spent a month burning down everything in sight, during an event known as the March to the Sea.

The only towns spared were Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

Union forces destroying a railroad during Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea, 1864. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Sherman estimated his campaign cost the South $100 million. He also made refugees of those living in the areas his men decimated. These individuals were given plots of land to replace their damaged properties. Sherman has long been reviled in the South, but his actions helped to break the Confederacy and win the war for the Union forces.

Scorched earth tactics during the World Wars

The use of scorched earth tactics primarily occurred on the Eastern Front during World War I, but they were also used on the Western Front. In the east, the Imperial Russian Army used them to create a destruction zone during their retreat from the Imperial German Army in 1915, destroying homes, railways and crops. To the west, the Germans made use of the strategy to shorten the line between the Somme and the Hindenburg Line.

Polish village being burned by the Russians during World War I, as part of their scorched earth strategy. (Photo Credit: Print Collector / Getty Images)

While used in the Greco-Turkish and Second Sino-Japanese wars during the interwar period, the next major use of the scorched earth policy was in the Second World War. It first saw use during the Winter War, with Finnish soldiers using it to destroy the shelters and food being used by the Soviet forces. However, the tables turned in 1944 during the German retreat from Finland, with the Germans destroying large swaths of land in the northern part of the country.

The Germans also made use of scorched earth tactics in Norway in 1944.

Vietnam and the Persian Gulf

Scorched earth tactics during the Vietnam War are typically attributed to the use of Agent Orange by the American forces. The chemical, known for being a particularly powerful herbicide, was used as part of Operation Ranch Hand to destroy crops and the jungle foliage the Viet Cong used to hide.

It was paired with Agent Blue, which was also used to destroy crops used by the Viet Cong – in particular, rice fields.

US Air Force aircraft flying over burning oil wells in Kuwait, 1991. (Photo Credit: US Air Force / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

The Persian Gulf War also saw one of the most notable uses of the scorched earth strategy, with the Kuwaiti oil fires. During their retreat from Kuwait in 1991, the Iraqi forces set fire to between 605 and 732 oil wells in the country, to hinder the US-led coalition forces. The last of the fires was put out in November 1991, but not before the Kuwaiti economy lost $157.5 billion USD in oil and many soldiers suffered respiratory issues due to the poor air quality.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Scorched earth tactics have become much rarer in the 21st century, but examples of their use were seen in Darfur, Libya and Sri Lanka. Most recently, Russia has been accused of using them during its invasion of Ukraine, with White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan saying in early April 2022:

“I think it’s actually just consistent with the way that Russia has conducted this war from the beginning. We’ve seen scorched earth warfare already, we’ve seen atrocities and war crimes and mass killings and horrifying and shocking images from towns like Bucha, and the rocket attack on Kramatorsk.”

A volunteer pulls a trolley of food hanging on a rope over a destroyed bridge near the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, on March 13, 2022. (Photo Credit: DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP / Getty Images)

In particular, people have pointed toward the destruction of Ukrainian bridges by Russian forces, as a way to halt the transport of resources, supplies and troops. There has been widespread outrage and condemnation of Putin’s actions, with many countries levying sanctions against Russia and its oligarchs. Time will tell what the final result of the invasion will be.