Rod’s Military History Talks

Talks Background

My name is Rod MacArthur and you can read more about me here. I have been giving Military History talks since about 2006. I normally create at least one new talk per year, so I now have a portfolio of 23 talks, details of which can be seen by clicking on these links of Roman Era Talks, 18th Century Talks, Napoleonic Talks and Modern Talks, or by the Top Menu dropdowns of the same names. If you then click on each talk a brief description comes up.

Some talks have only been given a few times, one (on Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal) has been given 28 times. Most of these talks have been to Probus (Professional & Business) Clubs, Historical Associations and Military Associations (such as the Royal British Legion) in South East England. Some have been given in Spain and Portugal, since we had a second home in Spain until recently and I have given talks to groups during visits to Peninsular War battlefields.

Between 2006 and 2019, I gave nearly 60 talks. I was due to give five more in 2020, but the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic postponed these. I started giving talks again with one at the end of 2021, and five more in 2022. I gave six in 2023, thirteen in 2024, ten in 2025, two booked for 2026 and two more planned for 2026, but dates not yet confirmed..

The talks are all PowerPoint presentations and I have my own laptop, projector and screen, although some venues have built in projectors and screens, which is obviously more convenient. I give all my talks to raise funds for appropriate charities. If I need to travel any distance I would request modest travelling expenses.

If you are interested in any of my talks please contact me here.

The posts below are in reverse chronological order (ie newest first) and show recent talks given, new talks produced and other items of interest.

New Talk on Boudicca’s Revolt

January 1, 2026rodwargamingLeave a comment

I have just finished creating a talk on Boudicca’s Revolt. This will follow on nicely from my previous one on The Roman Invasions of Britain.

I expect to give it at least once during 2026.

Two more talks on Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal

January 1, 2026rodwargamingLeave a comment

In November 2025, I gave two more talks on Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal. The first on 10th November to a Care Home in Tunbridge Wells and the second on 18th November to the Bexhill Historical Society.

Both talks raised funds for the Felix Fund, a charity supporting Bomb Disposal personnel, serving and retired, plus their families, whether Army, Navy, Air Force or the Metropolitan Police. Felix is the cartoon cat with nine lives that was adopted as the badge, and radio callsign, of the Bomb Disposal teams in Northern Ireland.

Talk to Royal British Legion Tunbridge Wells

January 1, 2026rodwargamingLeave a comment

On 18th October 2025 I gave a talk on The Battle of Waterloo to the Royal British Legion Branch in Tunbridge Wells.

I have given them several talks before and this one went down equally well.

The ’45 – Part 2

January 1, 2026January 4, 2026rodwargamingLeave a comment

I haven’t kept this website up to date with my talks recently, so am now correcting that.

On 16th October our planned speaker at the Tunbridge Wells Probus Club pulled out at short notice due to an urgent hospital appointment. I had previously given the Club a talk on The ’45, but had to cut it short just before describing the battle of Culloden, when one of our members became ill. This time, I therefore stepped in and finished off this talk, fleshing it out with bits about the organisation of Clan Regiments, which were very similar whether on the Jacobite or Government side.

The talk went down well.

First Talk given on Roman Invasions of Britain

October 22, 2025October 22, 2025rodwargamingLeave a comment

On 16th September 2025. I gave my first talk on “The Roman Invasions of Britain”. This was to the Bexhill Historical Society (formerly known as the Bexhill Hanoverian Study Group).

The talk was very well received and raised some funds for Combat Stress.

Talk to Cranbrook Probus Club

June 10, 2025rodwargamingLeave a comment

On 9th June 2025, I gave my talk “The Story of a Medal” to the Cranbrook Probus Club.

I belong to the Tunbridge Wells Probus Club and we have a deal with the Cranbrook Probus Club, so that each club provides one speaker per year to the other club, thus keeping the cost down for both clubs. One of the members of the Cranbrook Probus Club gave a talk to our members earlier this year.

My talk went down very well and another of our Tunbridge Wells Probus Club members will give the Cranbrook Probus Club a talk next year, in return for a talk from them..

Another Talk given at Bexhill

March 20, 2025rodwargamingLeave a comment

On 19th March, I gave another talk to the Bexhill Hanoverian Study Group. Normally my talks to them are about the Napoleonic Wars, particularly aspects involving the King’s German Legion, which is their main interest, since the KGL Depot was based in Bexhill from 1803 to 1816. They do however sometimes have talks on other subjects, so this time I gave them my talk “The Story of a Medal”, covering my Dad’s service as a Merchant Navy Officer in World War II on Gibraltar Convoys, Atlantic Convoys, Russian Convoys and D-Day Landings.

The talk was very well received and I was given a donation to pass on to The Mission for Seafarers, which both my parents fundraised for.

Another talk on The ‘45 given

February 26, 2025February 26, 2025rodwargamingLeave a comment

On 20th February, I gave my talk on “The ‘45” again.

This time it was to the Probus Club of Royal Tunbridge Wells, which I belong to.

The talk went down well, but one of our members became ill and I had to stop a few minutes early. Fortunately my friend has now recovered.

Talk to Retirement Village

February 25, 2025rodwargamingLeave a comment

I recently moved to a Retirement Village and, shortly after moving in, gave them my talk “The Story of a Medal”.

The talk went down well and the Retirement Village Management Company have agreed to give me a donation to be passed on to the Mission to Seafarers.

Another Talk Given

January 17, 2025January 17, 2025rodwargamingLeave a comment

On 9th January 2025 I gave a talk to the Crowborough Probus Club. I am a member of that Club and have given them two talks previously. This time my talk was “The Story of a Medal”. which describes my Dad’s service as a Merchant Navy Officer in World War II on Gibraltar Convoys, Atlantic Convoys, Russian Convoys and D-Day Landings, concluding with how I researched that in order to claim his posthumous Arctic Star Medal, issued 68 Years after the last Russian Convoy took place. The talk went down very well.