On September 12, 2001, the day after the fall of the Twin Towers, WABC-AM in New York City recruited John Batchelor to go on the air until Osama bin Laden was either killed or captured. John has been on ever since, offering insightful commentary on such issues as the war on terrorism, the presidency, the national and global economies, and defending our civilization. On March 12, 2003, one week before the attack on Iraq, ABC Radio Networks invited John to bring his expertise to syndication. Since then John has reached out nationwide, focusing his concerns on a world at war.
The John Batchelor Show is an essential tool for understanding the new order in the 21st Century. The world is now facing a dangerous and fanatical enemy determined to destroy Western civilization on both political and military fronts. In this, the first great ideological battle of the new millennium, it is imperative to know the major players and the theaters in which they operate.
The John Batchelor Show features a multitude of distinctive elements. John's themes cover every detail - from military battles, presidential campaigns, planetary exploration, and Hollywood politicos to his own international travel. John has broadcast from many corners of the world and in his program he calls out to all points, including New York, Jerusalem, Des Moines, Kazakhstan, Orlando, Manchester, Morocco, Boston, Taipei, Washington, and Baghdad.
John is a veteran novelist, author of seven political romances as well as a short history of the Republican Party. Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1948, John attended Lower Merion High School and Princeton University. In 1976 he was graduated from Union Theological Seminary. John is married and has two children.
3. Guest Author: Eric J. Dolin. Charles Barnard rescues the *Isabella* castaways, but British Lieutenant D'Aranda betrays him, seizing the *Nanina* as a prize of war. D'Aranda abandons Barnard's hunting party, who survive 534 days in wretched conditions. Their survival is largely credited to Barnard’s heroic dog, Scent, who hunted wild hogs. (3)
1890 FALKLANDS
2. Guest Author: Eric J. Dolin. This segment explores the harsh Falkland Islands environment and the varieties of seals hunted for skins and oil. It also details the shipwreck of the *Isabella*, a vessel carrying British convicts and Marines. Captain George Higton’s negligence led the ship to crash, leaving fifty-four people stranded. (2)
1849 FALKLANDS
Left for Dead: Shipwreck and Treachery in 1812
5 sources
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11 April, 2026
These sources detail a harrowing historical account from Eric J. Dolan’s book, Left for Dead, which recounts a true story of shipwreck and betrayal in the Falkland Islands during the War of 1812. The narrative centers on Charles Barnard, an American sealing captain who attempted to rescue the survivors of the wrecked British ship Isabella, only to be betrayed by the Britishdue to the maritime prize system. Despite Barnard's humanitarian efforts, a British officer named Lieutenant D’Aranda seized Barnard’s ship as a prize of war, subsequently marooning a small hunting party on the desolate islands for over 500 days. The texts highlight the extreme survival tactics employed by the abandoned men and emphasize the critical role played by Barnard’s dog, Scent, in their hunt for food. Following their eventual rescue, the story concludes with a lengthy legal battle over the captured vessel and the publication of Barnard’s personal memoirs. Overall, the sources examine the collision of international conflict and personal greed against the backdrop of an unforgiving wilderness.
1. Guest Author: Eric J. Dolin. Dolin discusses his book *Left for Dead*, detailing the lucrative 19th-century sealing industry and the *Nanina's* high-risk 1812 voyage. Captain Charles Barnard and his veteran father, Valentine, led a crew from New York to the Falkland Islands, gambling on high demand for skins despite the looming war. (1)
1839 Falklands
8. Lloyd examines the "twinned" battles of Verdun and the Somme in 1916. He contrasts Falkenhayn’s ruthless attritional goals with Haig’s optimistic breakthrough attempts. The source concludes with the failure of Nivelle’s 1917 offensive, which pushed the French army toward mutiny before Americanintervention changed the war's momentum. (8)
1945 BERLIN
7. In this summary of the 1915 Second Battle of Champagne, Lloyd explores the realization that breaking through entrenched lines was nearly impossible. He provides humanizing portraits of generals like Castelnau, emphasizing the personal grief and professional difficulties they faced while navigating the evolving, lethal landscape of attrition. (7)
1945 RHINE
6. Focusing on the 1914 Battle of the Marne, Lloyd explains how Joffre’s nerve and strategic troop movements halted the Germanadvance. He details the breakdown of German command between Moltke and Kluck, which forced an "inward wheel" and prevented the encirclement of Paris, leading to the trench stalemate. (6)
1944 MONTGOMERY
5. This file examines Frenchleadership, specifically Joffre’s steadiness during the 1914 invasion and the subsequent rise of commanders like Nivelle and Pétain. Lloyd describes Ferdinand Foch as a "Supreme Allied Commander" whose charisma and understanding of modern warfare successfully coordinated multinational forces for victory in 1918. (5)
1944 SWORD BEACH
4. Lloyd analyzes the Germanhigh command, specifically Moltke’s failure to execute the Schlieffen Plan due to personal insecurity and logistical breakdowns. He also explores Kaiser Wilhelm II’s shifting influence and Falkenhayn’s attritional strategy at Verdun, which prioritized killing Frenchsoldiers over achieving traditional territorial breakthroughs. (4)
1943 ROMMEL
3. Nick Lloyd details his scholarly goal of providing a comprehensive narrative of the Western Front from 1914 to 1918. By focusing on senior commanders' operational perspectives, he seeks to challenge "donkeys" and "butchers" myths, offering a more nuanced assessment of the immense pressures these individuals faced. (3)
1943 SICILY