The Unconventional Soldier

S6 #112 Into The Minefields: Royal Navy Clearance Divers On Operation GRANBY

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Royal Navy diver Stu.  We discuss his early career in the navy before he volunteered to be a clearance diver and he des...

S6 #111 Defeating The Taliban Bomb Makers

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former Royal Engineer Brad Knight.  On this episode we discuss his service with the Royal Engineers and his specia...

S6 #110 Terry Powell DCM: SBS in The Falklands War (Part 5)

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis pod is the fifth in a series featuring former Royal Marine, SBS soldier and clearance diver Terry Powell. In this episode he recounts his ...

S6 #109 Terry Powell DCM: Swimmer Delivery Vehicle Ops (Part 4)

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis pod is the fourth in a series featuring former Royal Marine, SBS soldier and clearance diver Terry Powell. In this episode Terry recounts ...

S6 #108 Terry Powell DCM: Life In The SBS (Part 3)

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis pod is the third of a series featuring former Royal Marine, SBS soldier and clearance diver Terry Powell. After passing SBS selection Terr...

S6 #107 Terry Powell DCM: SBS Selection (Part 2)

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis pod is the second of a series featuring former Royal Marine, SBS soldier and clearance diver Terry Powell. In this episode Terry describes...

S6 #106 Terry Powell DCM: SBS & Clearance Diver (Part 1)

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis pod is the first of a series featuring former Royal Marine, SBS soldier and clearance diver Terry Powell. Terry joined the Corps in 1972 a...

S6 #105 Richard Westley OBE MC: Operations In Northern Ireland, Bosnia & Afghanistan

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTMy guest today is former infantry officer Richard Westley OBE MC who recounts his extensive career in the British Army, starting with his motiv...

S6 #104 The Afghanistan Veterans Community

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former soldier Jonny Ball who served in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and the Intelligence Corps deploy...

S6 #103 Achtung Pig: Life In BAOR & Northern Ireland

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former soldier and author James Lee. James was my guest on podcast 38 where we discussed his first book about his tour...

S6 #102 Helicopter Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) In The Falklands War

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis weeks guest is Mick Cook a former helicopter crewman in the Royal Navy, The conversation begins with Mick's enlistment in 1971 as a junior...

S6 #101 Euclid's Army: Challenging Conventional Wisdom on Land Warfare

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guests today are Neale Smiles a former soldier now working in the defence industry and Wilf Owen also a former soldier and author of the bo...

S6 #100 British Army Combat Logistic Patrols In Afghanistan - Op HERRICK

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former British Army officer Rob McAllister who discusses his military career with a focus on his challenging early life with...

S6 #099 Send It - Canadian Snipers In Afghanistan

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Barry Nisbet who joined the Canadian Forces in 1997. He completed RCR battle school graduating at the top of his class and w...

S6 #098 RUC - UN Policing Operations In Kosovo 1999

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Andy, a former officer of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Who deployed to Kosovo with the RUC as part of t...

S6 #097 A British Army Reservist’s War in Iraq – Op TELIC 4

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTMy guest is former Army Reserve infantry soldier Matt Okuhara, whose story highlights the often-overlooked role of Britain’s reservists in wa...

S6 #096 The Mad and The Brave: Ukraine's Foreign Legion Volunteers

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTMy guest today is Colin Freeman, a journalist of 30 years of experience. Colin began his career on local papers before becoming a chief fo...

S6 #095 The Troubles: The British Army's Hard-Won Lessons, Adaptation & Training in Northern Ireland

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn this episode Kev and I discuss the Army's training for Operation Banner, the nearly four-decade deployment of British forces to Northern Ire...

S5 #094 The Battle of Danny Boy & The Al - Sweady Inquiry

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTMy guest today is retired Brigadier Matt Maer DSO MBE, who served for 27 years in the British Army and was my guest on pod 91 where we discusse...

S5 #093 Thunder Run Meiktila 1945 - War In Burma

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTMy guest today is Jack Bowsher, author of "Thunder Run: Meiktila 1945: The Greatest Combined Arms Manoeuvre Battle of WW2. Jack argues this bat...

S5 #092 New Zealand's War In Vietnam - Fighting The VC & NVA

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is John Tulloch a former officer in the New Zealand and British Armies. Every so often I look at the download statistics f...

S5 #091 Commanding 1 PWRR Battle Group - Operation TELIC 4 (Iraq 2004)

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTMy guest today is retired Brigadier Matt Maer DSO MBE, who served for 27 years in the British Army. His distinguished career included operation...

S5 #090 SOE Jungle Warrior - Lt Col Edgar Peacock DSO MC & Bar

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guests today are Duncan Gilmour, Peacock's only grandson, who has worked with Richard Duckett, the author of a compelling new biography on ...

S5 #089 Invictus, PTSD & A Washing Machine

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Scotty Darroch. On this pod we discuss his challenging upbringing and decision to join the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) a...

S5 #088 John A Dailey: US Marine Corps Recon, MARSOC, & Special Operations Veteran.

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTMy guest today is John A. Dailey, retired US Marine Corps Master Sergeant and author of Tough Rugged Bastards: A Memoir of a Life in Marine Spe...

S5 #087 3 Para Battle For Mount Longdon

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTI first recorded this as a two part interview with Parachute Regiment soldier Jimmy Morham 4 years ago as part of a discussion on his military ...

S5 #086 Beyond the Battlefield: Exploring British Army Simulation Training

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former soldier Neale Smiles and on this episode we have an extensive discussion on military simulation and training, pa...

S5 #085 The Provisional IRA Campaign In Europe

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Kim Read who was previously on pods 49 and 79 when we discussed the International Long Range Recce Patrol School and th...

S5 #084 Sleeping In The Ditch With Slobodan Milosevic

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former Royal Logistic Corps soldier and author James Lee.  James was my guest on podcast 38 where we discussed his firs...

S5 #083 Reassessing The German Army In WW2

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Phil Blood a British historian and author specialising in military history, the Holocaust, and Nazi occupation policies...

S5 #082 Reflections on Military Service, Training & Operations

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former soldier Chris Binch. After serving 7 years with 2 PARA he left to work in the Private Security Industry before joinin...

S5 #081 SAS: Sea King Down

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Mark "Splash" Aston. Splash joined the Gloucester Regiment in 1964 as a teenager. He later passed selection f...

S5 #080 The Jungle Is Neutral

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn this episode I will be discussing jungle warfare with Kev and we cover; how Britain transformed its army into an effective jungle fighting f...

S5 #079 Cold War Life & The East German Army

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Kim Read who appeared on episode #49 when we talked about training at the LRRP school in the 1980s. On this p...

S5 #078 The Recovery Of Stirling Bomber BK716

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTMy guest today is Lilian van Mourik. On this episode we dicuss the recovery of Stirling bomber BK716 and its seven crew members as part of the ...

S5 #077 On The Ground With BRIXMIS

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn pod # 070 we interviewed the author Andrew Long about his book “The Story Of BRIXMIS And The Secret Cold War - Intelligence Gathering Oper...

S5 #076 Return To Operation BANNER (Northern Ireland)

28 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTAt the end of November I went on a road trip with Kev to Northern Ireland. In many respects it was more of a battlefield tour than a road ...

S5 #075 The Moral Application Of Violence In War

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is  Patrick Bury a former Royal Irish Regiment officer who joined the army in 2005 and spent five years in uniform, i...

S5 #074 Survival Course - The Rhodesian Bush War Continues

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Chris Cocks who was on pod 72 when we discussed his service in the Rhodesian Light Infantry and his book "Fire Force - One M...

S5 #073 Navigating the Transition - Army to Civvy Street

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Loz Moore a former officer in the British Army. Loz was on podcast 62 when we discussed his operational tours with the ...

S5 #072 The Rhodesian Light Infantry

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former soldier and author of "Fire Force - A Troopers War In The Rhodesian Light Infantry" Chris Cocks. Chris was born in Sa...

S5 #071 Veterans

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Ben Skipper a freelance feature writer and author with books and articles published on art, military and field sports subjec...

S5 #070 BRIXMIS & The Secret Cold War

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Andrew Long  a Cold War historian and author whose book “The story of BRIXMIS and the secret Cold War:  Intellig...

S4 #069 Andy McNab CBE DCM MM

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Andy McNab CBE DCM MM former special forces soldier, author and business man. On this episode we discuss his chaotic childh...

S4 #068 MI9 - The Secret Service For Escape And Evasion In WW2

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Dr Helen Fry. Helen has authored and edited over 25 books covering the social history of the Second World War, including Bri...

S4 #067 Citizen Soldiers - History Of The Army Reserves

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Patrick Crowley author of "Rose Castle and Crown - Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Citizen Soldiers". On this podcast we wil...

S4 #066 The Derryard Attack - Northern Ireland 1989

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe subject of this pod is the Derryard action, a sustained IRA deliberate attack in December 1989 against an Army Permanent Check Point (PVCP)...

S4 #065 The Past, Present & Future Of Drones In The British Army

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENT The guest today is Neale Smiles a former Gunner now working in the defence industry. Neale often posts his thoughts on military matt...

S4 #064 7 Minutes To Midnight - Korea The Forgotten War

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn this podcast we feature the British involvement in the Korean War which took place between 1950 - 1953. A war that is fairly unknown an...

S4 #063 Use Of AI In Targeting & Autonomous Platforms

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Chris Lincoln Jones. Chris is a retired Army Officer and worked for 17 years in the Defence Industry where he was an Intell...

S4 #062 Infantry Officer In Iraq & Afghanistan

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Laurence Moore, known as Loz, who served in the Cheshire regiment and on this episode we discuss his time at Sandhurst ...

S4 #061 7 Minutes To Midnight - NATO Cold War "Stay Behind" Operations

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today for our conversation on NATO Cold War "stay behind" operations is Tamir Sinai a political scientist and exercise professional. ...

S4 #060 Infiltrating The Provisional IRA

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is author Henry Hemming and on this podcast we will be discussing his book “4 Shots In The Night" a  true story of espio...

S4 #059 Who Dares Wins

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former Commando Gunner and member of 22 Special Air Service Mick Hawkes. On this podcast we discuss his army career includin...

S4 #058 7 Minutes To Midnight - Berlin Airlift, Berlin Wall & Cuban Missile Crisis

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis week on our Cold War series the guest is Ian Sanders who presents the award winning Cold War Conversations podcast. On this episode we di...

S4 #057 Artillery Gun Raids On Op GRANBY (Gulf War 1991)

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former soldier Kev Brain who joined the Royal Artillery in 1975 completing 22 years service with the colours. He deployed on...

S4 #056 7 Minutes To Midnight - Series Intro

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis is a mini series covering parts of the Cold War we find interesting and will run in tandem with the Unconventional Soldier podcast. So wh...

S4 #055 Catherine Leroy - Close Up On War

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is award winning author Mary Cronk Farrell. On this pod we will be discussing her book "Close Up On War" about the life of...

S4 #054 Learning From War

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is the Cognitive Marine a serving USMC officer currently stationed in Okinawa who previously appeared on podcast #039. On this...

S4 #053 Mountain & Arctic Warfare Cadre Return To Top Malo House

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is former Royal Marine and member of the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre Nige Devenish. Nige was my guest back on podcast # 0...

S4 #052 Zero Risk

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Tony Loughran a former Royal Navy Commando medic now a global risk specialist, with over 30 years international experience a...

S4 #051 Guns, Rockets & Training For War

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Neale Smiles, a former Gunner now working in the defence industry.  Neale often posts his thoughts on military matters on L...

S4 #050 From Sandhurst To Brigade Command

15 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is David Montgomery who was born and raised in East Africa.  After graduating Exeter University he joined the Army and served ...

S4 #049 The International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School In The 1980s

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThe guest today is Kim Read a former member of the "stay behind" Special OP Troop.  This unit was tasked with conducting operations against th...

S3 #048 We Were Blackwater

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is Barrie Rice, former soldier, security contractor and author.  Barrie joined the New Zealand infantry in 1985 aged 22 where ...

S3 #047 Veterans’ Army & Aid To Ukraine

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is Ryan Yates a former soldier from 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery the British Army's Long Range surveillance and patrols uni...

S3 #046 The Royal Marines Mountain & Arctic Warfare Cadre

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is Nige Devenish, a former Royal Marine and member of the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre. Nige served 22 years with the Mari...

S3 #045 Stay Behind OPs & Ukraine

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTDue to the train strikes we were unable to attend the Army v Navy rugby match at Twickenham so decided to record this episode instead.  No gue...

S3 #044 The Royal Ulster Constabulary GC

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is today is Andy who served in the British Army and the RUC as a uniformed officer then, after passing an intensive selection c...

S3 #043 Chennai Prisoner

28 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is today is Nick Dunn.  One of six former British servicemen who spent 4 years imprisoned in India for a crime they didn’t c...

S3 #042 The Band That Went To War

20 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is Brian Short a former member of the Royal Marines and author of “The Band That Went To War: The Royal Marines Band In The F...

S3 #041The Indian Army Staff College Course

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is John Holden a former British Army Officer who attended the Indian Army Staff College course over the period May 2002 to May ...

S3 #040 Tom Satterly Delta Force Operator

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is retired Command Sergeant Major Tom Satterly, a former Special Operations soldier, who served 25 years in the US Army the las...

S3 #039 The Cognitive Marine

25 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is the Cognitive Marine a serving USMC officer.  On this episode we are going to be discussing the future structure of the USM...

S3 #038 Licking The Taliban’s Flip Flop

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is James Lee who served 24 years in the Royal Logistics Corps and is the author of “Licking The Taliban’s Flip Flop” abou...

S3 #037 Royal Engineer’s Search Teams (REST)

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is a former Sapper who joined as a boy soldier and finished his service as a Late Entry officer.  The Royal Engineers help the...

S3 #036 Chinook At War

11 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is  Liz McConaghy who spent 17 years flying as a crewman with the RAF Chinook fleet.  She was the youngest aircrew member to ...

S3 #035 US Army 75 Ranger Regiment

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is Zach Allred a former US Army Ranger who served with the 75th Ranger Regiment.  This Regiment is a lethal, agile and flexibl...

S3 #034 Royal Navy Clearance Divers

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is Jim a former Royal Navy Clearance diver.  On this episode we will cover the unit’s history from inception in WW2, its cur...

S3 #033 Post Conflict Reconstruction & Dealing With The Aftermath

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest today is Matt Harding a former officer who served in the Royal Artillery.  We talk with Matt about his Army career, his deployment t...

S2 #032 22 SAS Operation CORPORATE (Falklands 82)

28 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn this podcast we discuss operations conducted by 22 SAS on Operation CORPORATE in 1982.   Our guest is Nick who was in 1PARA when he applie...

S2 #031 From Terror To Triumph

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn this podcast we discuss the book “Terror To Triumph” with the author Chris who served as a sniper in Ramadi and Fallujah in Iraq in 2005...

S2 #030 Naval Gunfire On Operation CORPORATE (Falklands 82)

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn this episode we discuss 148 (Meiktila) Commando Forward Observation Battery Royal Artillery during Operation CORPORATE better known as the F...

S2 #029 Brum Richards Commando Gunner

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn this episode we discuss 148 (Meiktila) Commando Forward Observation Battery Royal Artillery between the early 1960s and the Falklands War in...

S2 #028 The Battle Of Hondeghem 27 May 1940

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOn this podcast we discuss one of the lesser known rear guard actions on the retreat to Dunkirk that allowed so many troops to get to the beach...

S2 #027 1 Royal Irish Operation HERRICK (Afghanistan) 2010 Part 2

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis is the second part of our podcast with Adam Lyle - Stirling who served as an infantryman in the British Army from 2001 to 2012 first in 2 ...

S2 #026 1 Royal Irish Operation HERRICK (Afghanistan) 2010 Part 1

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest on this podcast is Adam Lyle - Stirling who served as an infantryman in the British Army from 2001 to 2012 first in 2 Princess of Wal...

S2 #025 The Borneo Graveyard 1941 - 45

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTOur guest on this podcast is John Tulloch who served in Vietnam with the New Zealand Army and later transferred to the British Army. John advis...

S2 #024 An ANZAC FOO In Vietnam Part 2

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CONTENTThis is the second part of our podcast with Vietnam veteran John Tulloch.  If you have listened to the first part of this podcast (#023) you w...

S2 #023 An ANZAC FOO In Vietnam Part 1

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on this podcast is Vietnam veteran John Tulloch.  John's military career began in 1965 and he was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand A...

S2 #022 Fuelling The 21st Century Soldier

30 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on this podcast is Ali Macdonald Co-founder & CEO - Resilient Nutrition who served in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the HAC and the Londo...

S2 #021 Soldiers On Film

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest is Army veteran Simon Vincent.  On this episode we discuss the war films we rated back in the day when everything was on VHS.  Some golden...

S2 #020 Non Military PTSD

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest is Chris Harvey who served as a reserve STA patrols soldier in the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC).  On this episode we discuss non-mili...

S2 #019 Andy Kirkpatrick Mountaineer Part 2

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is the second part of our podcast with mountaineer Andy Kirkpatrick.  If you haven't already download "S2 #019 Andy Kirkpatrick Mountaineer Part...

S2 #018 Andy Kirkpatrick Mountaineer Part 1

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our first civilian guest on the podcast is Andy Kirkpatrick.  Described by John Humphreys as the Ranulph Fiennes of British climbing.  He’s a prof...

S2 #017 The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC)

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on this pod is Steve Kiely who served 20 years as a reserve soldier in the HAC rising in the ranks from Trooper to Captain.  The HAC is th...

#016 The Role Of STA Patrols Now & In The Future

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on Pod #016 is Scott the serving Officer Commanding 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery.On this episode we talk about his unique journey to hea...

#015 Operation HERRICK (Afghanistan)

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on Pod #015 is Jon Deninson a former Troop Commander and Battery Commander of 4/73 Bty when they deployed on multiple Operation HERRICK tour...

#014 Operation TELIC (Iraq)

27 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on Pod #014 is John Holden.  John was a Troop Commander and then OC of 4/73 Bty when they deployed on Operation TELIC in Iraq.  On this ep...

#013 A Few Good Men

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on Pod #013 is Danny Kay.  On this episode we talk with Danny about the contemporary STA patrols selection course and how it changed in the...