We're taking a short break...

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*** Update: Blogs will continue in 2025 ***

We’re taking a short break from posting Magic at War blogs while we research and prepare the next batch. Also, to give us time to work on other magic-military history research and writing projects.

You’ll hear about these here first, so check back soon!


Since 2019, we’ve posted 90 articles. See the full index here. 

Future articles will include:
  • Rovi: The Welsh Wizard fights for his country
  • Turn to that light!: Magicians in the A.R.P.
  • The Magicians of Auschwitz
  • Cyril Branson: Heroism beneath the sea
  • WW2’s top 10 magic book
  • Al Sharpe: entertaining the troops
  • Paul Kerr: The Battle of the Bulge
  • Stars in Battledress: magic on the frontline
  • D-Day magicians
  • Kalanag: The Nazi’s magician
  • “Calling Doctor Magic!”
  • The Great Carmo: A trouper entertaining the troops
  • Carlton: Back to war
  • The Eccentric Entrepreneur: Sir Julian Chan
  • Emilie Clifton: A Tuskegee Airman
The core theme over the last year-and-a-half has been magicians who have found themselves in captivity, in prisoner-of-war camps and in internment and concentration camps. 

Our next theme is the role magicians played in entertaining soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and civilians on the Home Front and in combat zones around the world.

Our research has been supported by The Good Magic Award. Special thanks to The Good Thinking Society for providing this funding.


If you haven’t picked one up yet, we highly recommend The Colditz Conjurer, by the Magic at War team. You can buy this in hardcover and paperback from Amazon.


*** AVAILABLE NOW ***



The Colditz Conjurer tells the amazing true story of Flight Lieutenant Vincent ‘Bush’ Parker, Battle of Britain pilot and prisoner-of-war magician.

Written by the Magic at War team, The Colditz Conjurer is a remarkable tale of perseverance, courage and cunning in the face of adversity. It features over 55 original photographs and maps. 129 pages.


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