On
#DDay
6th June, as we commemorate the incredible courage and sacrifice of those who took part in Op OVERLORD, please spare a thought too for the so-called D-Day Dodgers “out in Italy”…
IT’S DONE! My Masters’ thesis is complete.
“The Invisible Campaign: Assessing the Impact of Bomber Command’s Minelaying Operations in the Second World War”.
What shall I do next? 😁
I spent 3 years at university studying a subject I hated, then 27 years working in a profession I detest. As of September I’ll be studying for my Masters in Second World War Studies at
@wlv_uni
It’s taken me 30 years to get to where I really want to be. Never give up :) 💫
Our darling Merry left us last night, on the eve of his 14th birthday, He was the sweetest, gentlest of souls, my constant companion & research assistant. A life lived full of love, joy, fun, adventure & biscuits. We’re heartbroken. Sleep tight, my beautiful old boy ❤️
New Zealand end the session with BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner still at the crease.
Watling has now gone 612 balls without being dismissed in Test cricket 👀
#NZvENG
#Narvik1940
Paid my respects to the Allied servicemen commemorated at Narvik cemetery in February. Many of those buried there are unidentified…”A sailor of the Second Word War”.
It’s a bleak spot, but they’re well cared for by
@CWGC
10th April 1940. The first naval battle of Narvik. 5 Royal Navy destroyers sank two of their German counterparts and six merchant ships, while damaging others. Two British destroyers were sunk and the flotilla commander, Bernard Warburton-Lee was killed, latter receiving the VC.
So let me get this right... President Zelenskyy attended all the D-Day commemorations but Sunak had to bugger off early because he had more important things to do?
Dissertation passed, MA completed … whooooo! So chuffed I actually shed a little tear 😂 🎉🎉🎉
Huge thanks to
@dieter_steinert
, Prof John Buckley & Dr Adam Dighton at
@wlv_uni
for their help, guidance & support throughout.
Next … write more books!
Somewhat chuffed to tell you that I've signed with
@tempest_books
, the specialist aviation publisher.
'Invisible Campaign: Bomber Command's Minelaying Operations 1940-1945' will be published later this year.
Today is the anniversary of Churchill's "The Few" speech, delivered at the height of the Battle of Britain. What many don't realise is that Churchill went on to pay tribute to "the many" of RAF Bomber Command, but that part rarely gets quoted. Full text below
@RAFBomber_Pod
🧵Friends, I have a treat for you. I’ve been loaned a set of original photos/news clippings which belonged to Eric Kirkland, an RAF Navigator on 254 Sqn Coastal Command. Eric flew on Beaufighters, attacking enemy shipping in the North Sea/Dutch/German coastal areas 1/10
Dear God. This England team are atrocious. Root is a poor Test captain. Said this for years, and there’s just not enough quality in the side. Here’s a tip ECB - if you want to win Test Matches, you need to prioritise the County Champ. Oh and play cricket in the actual summer.
As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and pay tribute to the gargantuan international effort, incredible bravery and sacrifice, please do also spare a thought for the men they labelled the D-Day Dodgers 'out in Italy'. My grandfather was one of them.
Drum roll ... Tada!!
@jamesjhistory
and I are thrilled to announce a brand new podcast dedicated solely to RAF Bomber Command, coming to your ears in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime please give us a follow / share on here and insta
@RAFBomber_Pod
.
Aaahhh the mansplaining has begun. Some chap telling me I really need to read the files in the national archives on minelaying. You don’t say pal. Would they be the same ones extensively referenced throughout my thesis?
It's been a good week! Very honoured to announce that I've won the
@RAFMUSEUM
Academic Award for my Master's Thesis on Bomber Command's Minelaying Campaign (see press release below). I'm also thrilled to confirm that I'm now represented by
@Pastpreservers
Very brave puppy. At the beach he spotted a Labrador a long way out in the sea. It was whimpering as it swam. Pip charged straight in, swam along side and tried to nudge it back towards the shore. Owner then appeared and said it makes that noise all the time. Well done Pip though
Friends, I have some sad news. Those of you who’ve read
#AboveUsTheStars
will be familiar with Bill Bradshaw, tailgunner of the Pennicott crew &
@10Association
. Bill passed away yesterday morning at the age of 98. It was such a privilege to have known him.
Blue skies Bill ❤️
Pippin would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. He’s looking forward to meeting Santa Claus this evening but isn’t yet sure how to respond to the inevitable question “have you been a good boy this year?” 🐶🎄😈
For the benefit of future historians and your descendants, please print out all of your family photos and write the names and dates on the back 🙄🤣
I’ve just been given a disc of 92 photos of my ancestors going back to the 1890s. Not a single name on any of them 🙈
Everything seems rather grim so here's a picture of Pippin at 4 months old to brighten your evening. He'd brought me a tiny piece of fir tree as a gift 😊
Amazing news... my brother is home! Huge thanks to all at Freeman Hospital Cardiology team for saving his life. Those people are just amazing human beings ❤️
#nhs
Such an honour to be invited to the reopening ceremony at
@air_museum
today. Back in my happy place …plus got to have a chat with my hero, the lovely Martin Withers! Huge thanks to Ian, Barry and all the amazing staff here.
I have BIG news! I’m absolutely thrilled & honoured to be working with
@flyinggoosefilm
on ‘Searching For Halifax NP711’, the story of Halifax wireless operator, American Bill Wagner & his RCAF crew. Please give the project a follow - your support is hugely appreciated! ❤️
Wanna see some concrete?
Finally got to see DORA I & II, the former German U-boat base here in Trondheim. It's MASSIVE. But in an equally gargantuan 'F*** you, Hitler', the Norwegians built a bowling alley & conference centre on top, where the county archives are also held ➡️
Well this is rather lovely … thrilled (and extremely surprised) to be the recipient of the Nigel Moughton Memorial Award for my MA in Second World War Studies at
@wlv_uni
@warstudies_wlv
Masters of the Air Ep 5... The scene that really broke me was where Rosenthal starts singing/humming a tune. My great uncle (Jack Clyde) used to sing The Blaydon Races (English folk song) whenever he was frightened. His tail gunner told me that. It became 'the crew song'.
#MOTA
Aaaand relax...
84,539 words (92,761 with endnotes & Biblio)
6 appendices
4 maps
2 diagrams
3 graphs
50+ photos
Invisible Campaign is finally finished! Publication by
@tempest_books
later this year 🎉🍾🎉
**PUBLICATION DAY**
Good morning everybody! To mark the publication of Above Us The Stars: 10 Sqn Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator’s Story, I’m delighted to share with you this photo of Jack Clyde & his crew , colorised by the amazing
@marinamaral2
I know it’s only April but I miss cricket. I miss collecting my dad (with his picnic box to feed 10 people and 3 flasks of coffee. I miss the 15 minute drive to the ground and the little thrill I get when it first comes into view 1/3
Well. I’ve been sobbing from the very beginning of
#MyGrandadsWar
. My grandad was at Cassino too. Horrific. Thank you for telling the story of the D-Day Dodgers
@GaryLineker
Been researching how the British dealt with German aerial minelaying today. The simplicity of this lovely hand drawn little diagram pleased me greatly. Effectiveness of Anti-aircraft Fire.
In the last 24 hours Pippin has:
1. Jumped on top of the new cold frame while chasing birds and smashed it
2. Crawled out of an open window onto the window box to see my dad
3. Head butted my chin leaving a nice bruise
4. Got mud all over the lounge and new sofas
ALAAAARRRMMM!! 🚨🚨🚨DIARY DATE 8TH JUNE! I’ll be giving a Virtual Lecture for
@RAFMUSEUM
on The Forgotten Campaign – Bomber Command’s Minelaying Operations in the Second World War. You can sign up / register via the link below. Pls RT/Share
RAF Bombers were conducting minelaying operations 3 months BEFORE the Battle of Britain
That's the end of today's Public Service Announcement. You're welcome.
One of my all time favourite military operations : Black Buck. Have had the pleasure of meeting Martin a couple of times and he’s just the loveliest bloke.
Writing about ‘the Channel Dash’ today. Scharnhorst, Gneisenau & Prinz Eugen had been holed up in Brest on the French Atlantic coast for months, where they were regularly attacked by the RAF. They couldn’t be sunk though as they were either in dry dock or shallow water ➡️
What’s your most prized possession ? These are mine... my great uncle’s dog tags from RAF Bomber Command. These little tags went with him to hell and back ❤️
5 years ago today I was in Norfolk, researching Roy Tann’s story for Above Us The Stars, ably assisted by my little helper, Merry. He was about 11, and still very active then. My best mate - so many adventures together ❤️ Miss him.
Round about now 83 years ago, on a cold, clear morning high in the arctic circle, the Norwegian fishing ports of Stamsund, Henningsvaer, Svolvaer & Brettesnes were raided by British Commandos, Sappers & free Norwegian troops. The British considered the raid massive success 1/2