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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>First From the Front</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/first-from-the-front--6841341</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/6841341/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>History</category><copyright>Copyright Plays and Dramas</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg</url><title>First From the Front</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/first-from-the-front--6841341</link></image><lastBuildDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:45:06 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Public Domain</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker18@adfreesounds.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="History"/><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Science"><itunes:category text="Social Sciences"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>serial</itunes:type><item><title>001 - Chpts 1 2 Looking For Trouble Running The Gauntlet</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/001-chpts-1-2-looking-for-trouble-running-the-gauntlet--69319744</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319744</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:22:03 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319744/001_chpts_1_2_looking_for_trouble_running_the_gauntlet.mp3" length="12350535" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1543</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>002 - Chpts 3 4 The Mine-Sweepers The Handy Man At Home</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/002-chpts-3-4-the-mine-sweepers-the-handy-man-at-home--69319747</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319747</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:22:14 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319747/002_chpts_3_4_the_mine_sweepers_the_handy_man_at_home.mp3" length="12438393" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1554</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>003 - Chpts 5 6 To Paris An Army Marching To War</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/003-chpts-5-6-to-paris-an-army-marching-to-war--69319749</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319749</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:22:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319749/003_chpts_5_6_to_paris_an_army_marching_to_war.mp3" length="12318304" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/159247a6-0f0b-4200-bc32-c5c1ebfcf6ff/159247a6-0f0b-4200-bc32-c5c1ebfcf6ff.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/159247a6-0f0b-4200-bc32-c5c1ebfcf6ff/159247a6-0f0b-4200-bc32-c5c1ebfcf6ff.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/159247a6-0f0b-4200-bc32-c5c1ebfcf6ff/159247a6-0f0b-4200-bc32-c5c1ebfcf6ff.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1539</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>004 - Chpts 7 8 The Piteous Pilgrimage Beauvais The Bold</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/004-chpts-7-8-the-piteous-pilgrimage-beauvais-the-bold--69319752</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319752</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:22:34 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319752/004_chpts_7_8_the_piteous_pilgrimage_beauvais_the_bold.mp3" length="11629671" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/07c76bea-0d4b-4b72-862c-3e1b57895577/07c76bea-0d4b-4b72-862c-3e1b57895577.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/07c76bea-0d4b-4b72-862c-3e1b57895577/07c76bea-0d4b-4b72-862c-3e1b57895577.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/07c76bea-0d4b-4b72-862c-3e1b57895577/07c76bea-0d4b-4b72-862c-3e1b57895577.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1453</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>005 - Chpts 9 10 Retreat Of The Epicures Corporal Of The Foreign Legion</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/005-chpts-9-10-retreat-of-the-epicures-corporal-of-the-foreign-legion--69319755</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319755</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:22:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319755/005_chpts_9_10_retreat_of_the_epicures_corporal_of_the_foreign_legion.mp3" length="10660716" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/96bc3f38-b084-4eb3-b036-ae08c74f2b79/96bc3f38-b084-4eb3-b036-ae08c74f2b79.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/96bc3f38-b084-4eb3-b036-ae08c74f2b79/96bc3f38-b084-4eb3-b036-ae08c74f2b79.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/96bc3f38-b084-4eb3-b036-ae08c74f2b79/96bc3f38-b084-4eb3-b036-ae08c74f2b79.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1332</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>006 - Chpts 1112 The Fettered City The Red General At War</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/006-chpts-1112-the-fettered-city-the-red-general-at-war--69319757</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319757</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:22:52 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319757/006_chpts_1112_the_fettered_city_the_red_general_at_war.mp3" length="12038011" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/77e65acd-4b85-47a1-906b-0a5f3cf16461/77e65acd-4b85-47a1-906b-0a5f3cf16461.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/77e65acd-4b85-47a1-906b-0a5f3cf16461/77e65acd-4b85-47a1-906b-0a5f3cf16461.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/77e65acd-4b85-47a1-906b-0a5f3cf16461/77e65acd-4b85-47a1-906b-0a5f3cf16461.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1504</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>007 - Chpts 1314 The Beckoning Hand A Human Document</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/007-chpts-1314-the-beckoning-hand-a-human-document--69319760</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319760</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:23:02 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319760/007_chpts_1314_the_beckoning_hand_a_human_document.mp3" length="11277384" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/55c475e1-c9be-4bcc-b3c0-99561619044a/55c475e1-c9be-4bcc-b3c0-99561619044a.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/55c475e1-c9be-4bcc-b3c0-99561619044a/55c475e1-c9be-4bcc-b3c0-99561619044a.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/55c475e1-c9be-4bcc-b3c0-99561619044a/55c475e1-c9be-4bcc-b3c0-99561619044a.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1409</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>008 - Chpts 1516 The Battle Of The Walking Wood The Sack Of Senlis</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/008-chpts-1516-the-battle-of-the-walking-wood-the-sack-of-senlis--69319761</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319761</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:23:13 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319761/008_chpts_1516_the_battle_of_the_walking_wood_the_sack_of_senlis.mp3" length="12254317" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/37a85e42-f64b-4c67-899c-5dd6263aab22/37a85e42-f64b-4c67-899c-5dd6263aab22.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/37a85e42-f64b-4c67-899c-5dd6263aab22/37a85e42-f64b-4c67-899c-5dd6263aab22.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/37a85e42-f64b-4c67-899c-5dd6263aab22/37a85e42-f64b-4c67-899c-5dd6263aab22.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1531</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>009 - Chpts 1718 The Luncheon Hour How We Brought The Glad News</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/009-chpts-1718-the-luncheon-hour-how-we-brought-the-glad-news--69319762</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319762</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:23:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319762/009_chpts_1718_the_luncheon_hour_how_we_brought_the_glad_news.mp3" length="13135208" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/1b28d092-f0f8-417f-b207-8c4e9053d8be/1b28d092-f0f8-417f-b207-8c4e9053d8be.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/1b28d092-f0f8-417f-b207-8c4e9053d8be/1b28d092-f0f8-417f-b207-8c4e9053d8be.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/1b28d092-f0f8-417f-b207-8c4e9053d8be/1b28d092-f0f8-417f-b207-8c4e9053d8be.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1641</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>010 - Chpts 1920 An Army Corps Of Sextons The Whirlwind</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/010-chpts-1920-an-army-corps-of-sextons-the-whirlwind--69319763</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319763</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:23:34 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319763/010_chpts_1920_an_army_corps_of_sextons_the_whirlwind.mp3" length="12486498" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d75b4ba8-bb18-44a4-88e7-7f6a1bc497b0/d75b4ba8-bb18-44a4-88e7-7f6a1bc497b0.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d75b4ba8-bb18-44a4-88e7-7f6a1bc497b0/d75b4ba8-bb18-44a4-88e7-7f6a1bc497b0.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/d75b4ba8-bb18-44a4-88e7-7f6a1bc497b0/d75b4ba8-bb18-44a4-88e7-7f6a1bc497b0.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1560</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>011 - Chapter 21 Around Lassigny</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/011-chapter-21-around-lassigny--69319766</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319766</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:23:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319766/011_chapter_21_around_lassigny.mp3" length="9291329" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/9b33b2a5-880e-4c85-bca7-633809c9c27d/9b33b2a5-880e-4c85-bca7-633809c9c27d.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/9b33b2a5-880e-4c85-bca7-633809c9c27d/9b33b2a5-880e-4c85-bca7-633809c9c27d.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/9b33b2a5-880e-4c85-bca7-633809c9c27d/9b33b2a5-880e-4c85-bca7-633809c9c27d.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1161</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>012 - Chapter 22 A Prisoner Of War L'Envoi</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/012-chapter-22-a-prisoner-of-war-l-envoi--69319768</link><description><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69319768</guid><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:23:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69319768/012_chapter_22_a_prisoner_of_war_l_envoi.mp3" length="11269428" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/0884d9c8-0257-44b1-998b-de4c81ce8c72/0884d9c8-0257-44b1-998b-de4c81ce8c72.srt" type="application/x-subrip" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/0884d9c8-0257-44b1-998b-de4c81ce8c72/0884d9c8-0257-44b1-998b-de4c81ce8c72.txt" type="text/plain" language="en"/><podcast:transcript url="https://transcription.spreaker.com/starship/0884d9c8-0257-44b1-998b-de4c81ce8c72/0884d9c8-0257-44b1-998b-de4c81ce8c72.vtt" type="text/vtt" language="en"/><itunes:author>Harold Ashton</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating memoir, Harold Ashton lifts a small corner of the wars curtain to share his remarkable experiences—a week navigating the North Sea and a whirlwind of days in Northern France. He artfully weaves together the threads of both tragedy and comedy as they unfolded around him. The tragedy is stark and unvarnished, while the comedy offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkest times. With each ring of his little bell, he invites us to smile even when the music may seem out of tune. At the onset of the First World War, Ashton took on the role of War Correspondent for The Daily News, embarking on an adventure with a Danish sea captain transporting essential supplies to English ports. Following this maritime journey, he ventured into Northern France, accompanying British and French military units as they moved into the war zone. His insightful reporting highlights the human stories behind the events, offering readers a unique perspective on the early stages of what would come to be known as The Great War.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1408</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>adventure,comedy,conflict,history,humanity,insight,journalism,memoir,tragedy,war</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/80d597fde404f2ff98419c18dedb6ab2.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
