Richard van Emden @richardvanemden Twitter profile

Last Seen Profiles

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

I am so sad to say that Gertie Kingston (right) died last week aged 112. I suspect she was the last person in Britain with a strong memory of a father who fell in #ww1 She was 8 when he was killed & so one of the last #Greatwar chapters is closed. #ypres #somme Reunited at last.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

The last ever photo of Harry Patch & last of a living #ww1 soldier. Taken 13.7.2009, 12 days before he died. I slightly hesitate to publish it, but Harry was on great form, happy & engaged, if frail. It was his last ‘good’ day. #fww #ww1 #greatwar The last Fighting Tommy #ypres

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

Harry Patch at the unveiling of his memorial to the men of his battalion who crossed a makeshift rickety bridge with Harry at this very spot over the river Steenbeek on 16 August 1917 to attack Langemark in middle distance. #ww1 #fww ⁦ @jbanningww1 ⁩ ⁦ @ProfTonyPollard ⁩

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@richardvanemden

3 years

Fancy an artillery piece from the #Greatwar ? This one stood outside a junk shop in Hull for many years, the former trophy of an officer as I recall. I wonder what happened to it. Just found the pic that I forgot I had. #ww1 #Somme #Ypres

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@richardvanemden

6 years

A wall made of #ww2 burnt bricks, apparently. Mate took this pic in Romford yesterday of an increasingly rare sight. These burnt bricks were shipped out of central #London east after #Blitz to be used by locals to repair walls etc. This should be give a preservation order.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

We’ve got the flags out!! Some date back over 120 years and go back to Queen Victoria’s time and the nation’s excitement at the Relief of Mafeking!! #boerwar

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@richardvanemden

4 years

Here we go, part one of a v. v. special clip. My mate, Ben Clouting, at the site of the #Greatwar ‘s first shot talking about the events 106 yrs ago yesterday. His entire war story is in my book ‘Teenage Tommy’ as he was just 16 yrs old when he was there. #fww #Mons #worldwarone

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

In the end I just could not bring myself to throw these away. These models are 45 years old and were made by my late father while we sat together and I made a pig’s ear of my own models with glue and paint everywhere!! #ww2 #Airfix #worldwartwo They need a dust mind!!

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@richardvanemden

3 years

Mollie Walker 1909-2022,aged three in 1912. She could recall the outbreak of the #Greatwar This leaves the UK with one remaining Edwardian who is also aged 112. #ww1

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

My book ‘Boy Soldiers of the Great War’ has arrived and it looks magnificent. I am always hyper critical of any of my books but this one reads, feels and looks great. A 20 year odyssey has come to an end and I am 99.99% happy with it. #ww1 #greatwar #somme #ypres #fww

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@richardvanemden

4 years

My publishers have told me that Harry Patch continues to sell two copies of ‘The Last Fighting Tommy’ every day even though he died nearly 12 years ago. Almost 105,000 copies since 2010

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

Another last witness to #GreatWar died 22 January 2022. Mary Walker, aged ten, accompanied her dad to Western Front in 1919. Her father, a colonel in the REs was overseeing battlefield clearance & Mary attended school in France. She died 2 weeks short of her 113 birthday #ww1

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

11 months

Such a sad end for one of the oldest British #ww1 soldiers to actually serve overseas. I write a book about the boy soldiers, perhaps there is a book to be written about the oldest out there.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

I know the old saying ‘he who blows his own trumpet usually plays alone’ but please allow me this indulgence. I have just received the annual statement of library loans of my #Ww1 books & this added to my actual books sales eclipses 1,000,000 in all. A small landmark i know.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

I’ve never catalogued the #GreatWar photo albums that I have collected over the last dozen years or more. Finally decided to do it. These are the albums before I get onto the loose collection of images. Must be 8,000 images all told. It’s a big job! #ww1 #fww #somme #ypres #mons .

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

7 years

13 #Dunkirk vets at #Dunkirkpremiere last night. Will there ever be as many in once place again? #ww2 #1940

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

Harry Patch, the Last Fighting Tommy reading about himself and two other veterans while on the boat home in about 2004. It was his first trip back to #Ypres and one of the hardest trips for him. #Armisticeday #ww1 #fww #remembranceday

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Another favourite pic from my new book on 1918. Drunk officers enjoying the fact that they have survived the war!! On the back one of them has written, ‘Don’t show anyone this...’ i think he is well beyond an army reprimand now. #ww1 #fww #1918 #GreatWar #somme #ypres #cologne

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Here is the second clip with the wonderful Ben Clouting talking about the first shot at #Mons 106 years ago yesterday. Ben was nearly 93 years old then but was just 16 when he took part & then rode with the cavalry in the epic charge at Elouges two days later #ww1 #fww #Greatwar

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@richardvanemden

5 years

Wow, can’t really believe this! Just bought 165 images (& possibly all) of the author Frederick Coleman’s original photographs used in his memoirs & most with his handwritten notes on the back. Superb images #1914 & #1915 incl famous Retreat! #fww #ww1 #greatwar #somme #Ypres

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

When I first became interested in the #greatwar back in mid 80s, I used to cut out of newspapers everything I could find about it including this, discovered during a. Clear-out! Amazing potted history of #ww1 vet, we don’t quite live at that pace today. #gallipoli #somme #ypres

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

7 years

2 days ago I tweeted pic of regulars of #1940 77 yrs after #dunkirk Here are #1914 regulars 76 yrs after #Mons All were gone by 1999. #ww1

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Though finished my book - ‘Missing: The Need For Closure after the #GreatWar ’, last Sept, I’m still watched over by portrait of beautiful Angela Mond who searched for her missing son, Francis, for 5 years. I think she’ll have to remain permanent fixture in my study. #ww1 #somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

2 years

Just happened to re-read the inside cover blurb for my book Missing. Such a truly amazing story. The most complete, best documented Ww1 story of a woman’s search for her missing son that I have ever found in 35+ years working on #ww1 #Greatwar #somme

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@richardvanemden

4 years

A poignant image from #Greatwar , Mrs Simpson visits grave of her son, Frederick, killed on eve of #Somme Battle & now buried in Carnoy Cem. And little book of negatives that told her story of loss, saved as it was on its way to a council incinerator #RemembranceDay #ArmisticeDay

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Always good when a couple of albums that you buy in auction turn out to be somewhat better rather than somewhat worse than you though they might be. These belonged to an officer in #HAC incl rare images of 1918 #somme #greatwar #ypres

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

8 years

#thiepval Last night of old world. Thinking of all those who suffered in mind & body 100yrs ago #somme #ww1

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

The obsession continues!! My next 14 yr old serving in France comes from the 16th Royal Warwickshire Regiment! Does not last very long but manages six weeks before he was sent home. That’s my 32nd lad aged 13 or 14 on the Western Front or #Gallipoli . #1915 #ww1 #fww #Greatwar

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

11 months

This from a newspaper dated 31st October 1937!!! A pension give to the spouse of a #Waterloo veteran in 1929 and still being drawn eight years later. @ProfTonyPollard

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Every now and again you get a real bargain on eBay. This arrived this morning. Album of a family’s visit to Arras, Ypres and Somme and all for the ridiculously low price of £7.50. #somme #Ypres #Arras #greatwar #ww1

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@richardvanemden

4 years

Britain’s got talent, or at least my 13 yr old lad. Top piece of off spin I thought! ⁦ @jackrussellart ⁩ ⁦ @StuartBroad8 ⁩ One for the future perhaps?

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Here (far right) is Gertrude Kingston, today aged nearly 112, whose father was killed in December 1917. I was honoured to speak about her in yesterday’s BBC prog at Westminster Abbey for #RemembranceDay2020 & #UnknownWarrior100 The #Greatwar is still a living history - just. #ww1

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Shirley Williams was a lovely lady and I was honoured to appear on the #BBC with her at the #Somme 100th anniversary of the battle. She had such genuine warmth. #ww1 #Fww #Greatwar

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

1/2 Just spoken to a man at church in his late eighties carrying his father’s #ww1 medals incl the MC won on the #Somme He told me his father had a violently short temper owing to his war service. He died in the 1960s. It took me 20 years to forgive him’ his son said. I asked…

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

A really emotional event from Whitehall and the #Cenotaph for #Armistace100 wonderful to be with such a good friend as @DavidOlusoga and wonderful to meet historian Margaret MacMillan too. Could help a tear at the end of the service. It has been an amazing journey

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

I know today belongs to our ww2 heroes, but this day also commemorates 75 years since the death of the last survivor of 1879 battle at Rorke’s Drift, the engagement made famous in the film ‘Zulu’. Frank Bourne DCM was aged 91 when he died.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

7 years

The totally gorgeous, beautiful, wonderful Alicia Wilson died this morning. If you never met her then you’ve missed a little bit of life. Last person to go on battlefield trip, 1920s. Reunited with her dear father Captain Hugh Wilson Kia September 1916 #greatwar #fww #ww1 #somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

8 years

I tried one of these last night - 102 yr old cig. Baccy absolutely fine. #ww1 #1914 #greatwar #fww #somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

Looking forward to giving a talk to the Great War Forum tomorrow on all the latest material is this final edition of Boy Soldiers of the Great War. I say all the latest material, but there is so much that I can only cover some of the main stories in 50 minutes! #Greatwar #Somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

Nice to finally see this!! Discovered the full story behind this lad a few years ago. I have not found a younger one since. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Here’s one very young officer. This is Second Lieutenant Charles Winkley, 9th Rifle Brigade, in the trenches in March 1916 aged 17. He was commissioned in October 1915 & was killed at #Cambrai in November 1917. #ww1 #Greatwar #Somme #ypres #1917 Picture from my private collection

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

7 years

May be stepping in for the great Peter Hart at the Great War Conference on Saturday. Hoping not to as I love his talks, but he is - unusually - a man with no voice at the moment.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Just found my 30th lad aged 13 or 14 serving on the Western Front or Gallipoli. This time the Middlesex Regt. What was the true figure. Must be in the hundreds. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #somme #Ypres

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

Time to go home!! Taking all the letters, photographs and medals etc belonging to Francis Mond back to the family tomorrow. It has been an honour to have had them in my house while writing my latest book ‘Missing’. #Greatwar #fww #somme #Ypres #ww1

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@richardvanemden

4 years

Wow! Was looking for under age soldiers in #ww1 & this popped up. Lad in question died 1917 but went overseas in 1914 aged 18. This is parental consent him to enlist in Feb 1914 & is signed by father John Manley, one of the defenders at Rorke’s Drift made famous in the film Zulu!

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

Lady asks for under age son’s release from army: eldest son KiA 3/5/15, another missing 9/5/15. Son wounded & in hospital. Husband dying of TB, & crippled daughter age 7. ‘So you see I need his help.’ We should remember those who have been neglected by #ww1 ‘s history books #fww

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes!!! My poor son does not know what to do with himself! Head up, smile and speak!!!

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Not a bad find in a car boot sale near York. All original documents and trench map. Came from a house clearance apparently. #ww1 #Greatwar #somme #ypres #firstworldwar

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

An update on my ongoing search for under age soldiers in #Greatwar latest finds ie those aged 13 or 14 serving in theatre of war brings number confirmed to 45 including 5 on #Gallipoli 38 on #westernfront & 2 in Mespot #fww #somme #ypres #ww1 Latest lad 5th Wilts on Gallipoli

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Just completed my top 30+ list of youngest officers in the #Greatwar all aged 17 & under. I can confirm that the youngest (known) is 2nd Lt Reginald Battersby, 11th East Lancs, aged 16 & 52 days when he arrived on the #westernfront in #1916 & wounded on 1st day of #Somme #ww1

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

People are asking how good the results are. Well, here you go! A negative emailed to my Mac and then inverted on photoshop. Pretty good I think. #ww1 #ypres #1917 #passchendaele #greatwar #somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

It once looked like this but now looks like this! A sudden change of mind to use this more interesting image from my collection! Anyway, the new book is out now! Listen to my very very recent podcast with @sommecourt @OldFrontLinePod and buy the book here

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

Here is Harry Patch’s last ever signature. You can see why he never gave another. #ww1 #somme #greatwar #firstworldwar #ypres

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

V. special set of medals. Some 40 men of 4DGs were present at first shot of #Greatwar , & this man, Thomas Cumber, was one. 2 days later my mate, 16 yr old Ben Clouting, rescued him, shot from his horse during cavalry charge at Elouges. Wounded & taken #Pow . #ww1 #fww #mons #somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

Nice double page spread in the Daily Express this morning about my new book on Angela Mond’s relentless search for her missing son after #ww1 #fww # #Greatwar #somme book out now.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Found this pic I took looking through the Menin Gate in 2008 when we took Harry Patch to #Ypres for the last time. All very portentous!! #WW1 #Greatwar #fww

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

My brother in law makes (beautiful) bespoke kitchens & gets wood from all over world incl. Ukraine. Only issue is #ww2 & bullets & bits of shrapnel buried in trees which, when being prepared for a your dove-tailed draw, can suddenly reveal nasties like this! #Russian or #German ?

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Remembering Archie & Mabel Simmonds. Archie died of wounds this day 100 yrs ago. I hoped to show pic on BBC prog from #Cenotaph on Sunday but we ran out of time. Tragedies did not end on 11/11/1918 & wife & children were left to pick up pieces. #ww1 #Greatwar #fww #Armistace100

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

At Francis’ grave at Doullens. 100 years on and 95 years to the day when his parents came. #ww1centenary #ww1 #fww #greatwar #somme #RIP

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

In July 2009 Harry Patch aged 111 signed my copy of ‘The Last Fighting Tommy’. It was last autograph he ever gave & so last autograph of a living Ww1 vet. I’d like to do something positive, sell it & give all money to good cause, but how much would someone pay? #ww1 #fww #somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

This is a super book that really tells a new story - a genuinely new story written by an excellent researcher @LS1law definite ‘buy’. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #firstworldwar #1918

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Second Lieutenant Frank Collings killed in action aged 17 in December 1917. Born 6 February 1900, he was Commissioned on 18 December 1914 aged 14!!!! Youngest commissioned officer in the British Army? Perhaps. #ww1 #Greatwar #somme #Ypres #fww

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Was the youngest soldier Killed on #WesternFront aged 14. I am talking of a boy who served underage under a false name or age not recorded on CWGC? I have now found 4 x 14yr olds in a week on Ancestry & with detailed records who were serving in the trenches. #ww1 #fww #greatwar

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

On FINAL trawl for youngest soldiers of #ww1 ie aged under 15. If I find 1 in a day I’m doing well but yesterday I found FOUR serving on the #westernfront aged 14, all verifiable. Takes total to over 60!! Logic says there must have been hundreds Greatwar #somme #ypres #gallipoli

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

There are 29 Edwardians alive in the UK ie all were born before Edward Vll’s death.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

FYI, and because when I am working I get so easily distracted. I have just discovered that there are exactly 100 people alive in the UK who were alive when the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912.

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

5 years

Nice display in a local bookshop of my new book ‘Missing’. Great to be welcomed last night to talk to the Suffolk Western Front Association and very good turnout. Thanks to my old mate ⁦ @Taff_Gillingham ⁩ for excellent organisation too. #ww1 #somme #greatwar #fww

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@richardvanemden

2 years

Got the old cassette recorder out after many years to listen to one of my great #ww1 vets, Vic Cole, 7th Royal West Kents, talking about joining Kitchener’s Army in September 1914. I haven’t listened to his #greatwar stories in years & it is such a pleasure!! #Somme #Ypres #fww

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@richardvanemden

5 years

I really think this lad should have given a false name on attestation. He had already lied about his age so..... #ww1 #greatwar #fww

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@richardvanemden

6 years

At the Mond memorial near Le Hamel. 100 years to the moment that Francis Mond died. Next to the picture of Francis is part of his aircraft that his mother picked up around 1921. #ww1 #fww #somme #greatwar #ww1centenary #RIP

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

#TheyShallNeverGrowOld watched & thought doc fantastic. Nice to hear the voices of 6 men whom I was lucky to meet. Horace Calvert was one enlisted aged 15. Lost his son in ww2, shot down, & spent years researching German who killed him, carrying a picture of him. #greatwar #ww1

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

2/2 ….what brought about the reconciliation. ‘No, that peace I found with him was twenty years after his death,’ he said. The war years had overshadowed not just his father’s life but his son’s too. We should never forget….

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@richardvanemden

1 year

Fate or coincidence? I don’t mind which. I’ve just sent this pic to an archivist in Scotland. It features David Halliburton Brand (left) on the Somme. Sadly, he was later killed in March 1918. It turns out the archivist’s son lives in the pre-war home of this very officer! #ww1

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@richardvanemden

7 years

Harry Patch went over the top 100yrs ago this morning at #Ypres #passchendaele100 #ww1 #greatwar #fww taking G.-held village of #Langemarck

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Always interested in extremes of claimed age and real age when it came to boy soldier under age enlistment in #ww1 just found a lad named Broudy. Claimed 19 and 2 months in 1915 when he was in fact 13 and 2 months. Lasted four months in army before discharged. #Greatwar #fww

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@richardvanemden

5 years

Just bought on eBay this evening the medals and paperwork of the fourth youngest lad that I have so far discovered fighting on the #Westernfront Serving with the KRRC he reached France aged 14 and 71 days. #somme #ww1 #greatwar #fww I could not resist!!

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Another favourite pic from my latest book ‘1918: The Decisive Year in Soldiers’ own Words and Photographs.’ This is a beautifully observed image taken precisely where I know not but 1918, France. Some of the soldiers had a keen eye for a poignant pic. #fww #greatwar #ww1 #somme

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Having great fun finally transferring 75 ww1 negs that I have never properly looked at into positives! Each reveal is amazing! All pics taken in #1917 by artillery officer. Ypres #greatwar #ww1 #somme

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@richardvanemden

3 years

And this is that baby’s autograph. She notes she was born in 1889. Written in 1997 when aged 108. Also a pic of her in uniform, nurse Cullen, in #ww1 & of her during our interview. She was as lovely as her pic suggests. #Greatwar The past is another country, but is is also close

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

Just been checking the futures of these officers photographed around April 1915. Of the 56 shown here, at least 19 were dead by the end of the year. Not the war…. the year!! There is a future VC MC winner in there too. #ww1 #Greatwar #somme #loos #Ypres #fww

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

Amazing & unknown (to me) #ww1 artist Paul Sarrut. Astonishing drawings of #Indian soldiers which he had published at the end of the war in a limited edition of 250 copies. His pic in France & letters are in album owned by 1914 Indian Army officer Bowes Butler Stoney. #Greatwar

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

7 years

While you are tucking into the #Christmas pudding remember these guys 104 years ago today. Another pic from the new #westernfront album. #ypres #somme #1914 #greatwar #fww #ww1 #worldwarone #xmas

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

Now am I seeing what I want to see or is this officer of the 1st Batt Scots Guards (photographed on the #westernfront holding a VPK (a Vest Pocket Kodak)? It is the right size and shape #ww1 #1916 #Somme #Greatwar Clearly being photographed by someone who has one!!

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@richardvanemden

2 years

Well that was a first, for me anyway! Just been to do a book signing for Boy Soldiers of the Great War at Heywood Hill book store in Curzon Street and who should buy a copy there and then buy the grandson of David Lloyd George who happened to be in the shop! #ww1 #Greatwar

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@richardvanemden

3 years

Now & again you get lucky. Bought a collection of photos of a #ww1 #coldstreamguards officer which came with his letters including, it turned out, letters from Rowland ‘War Letters to a Wife’ Feilding & Andrew Buxton whose brilliant #Greatwar missives were published posthumously

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

In 1990s I borrowed this pic from Will Smallcombe (standing with cup) & took it to show Harold Hayward of same 12th Glosters (Bristol’s Own) Harold looked at it & said ‘there’s me’. Amazing that 80 years after pic was taken 2 men were with us from same image!! #ww1 #Greatwar

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@richardvanemden

3 years

I know, I know, I said I was finished looking for #ww1 under age soldiers but I could not help myself. Found a lad enlisted aged 13 & 11m who claimed 19 & 11m which took some serious cooperation from the recruitment sgt. France aged 14, so another to the list! #Greatwar #somme

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@richardvanemden

6 years

Some families! My nxt book is on a Ww1 pilot. His school housemaster was, briefly, Rupert Brooke. His family introduced the paid holiday to Brit industry & bought in the 8-hour working day, then helped found Imperial War Museum & signed off on Cenotaph. Phew! #greatwar #ww1 #fww

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Pictures from the BBC studio today in the eves of Westminster Abbey, just before the service. The readings and the music were beautiful and a fitting tribute to the #unknownwarrior100 What an honour it was to be there. #bbc #ww1 #ArmisticeDay #RemembranceDay2020 #Greatwar

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

Sobering thought concerning the huge casualties of 1918: 29,393 18 year olds were killed or wounded in 1918. This excludes any who died at home of wounds. #ww1 #Greatwar #somme #ypres Figures probably on the low side!

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

I have found 52 officers aged 17 or under serving in a Theatre of War in #ww1 All but three or four were killed, which suggests I have found 52 of probably a few hundred who were serving at such a young age. #greatwar #somme #ypres

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

6 years

Thank you to all @GMB for such a great interview. Tv is never easy but @benshephard & @susannareid100 make it feel easy. Some great questions and gave my new book ‘1918’ a wonderful plug too. Much appreciated. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #somme #Armistice100 #Armistice #Ypres

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

Amazing!! This morning I was walking Thames Path when my wife saw her 1st ever work boss. Started chatting & it turned out he was survivor of Nazi concentration camp of Theresienstadt. Father was in Dutch resistance & killed & English mother sent to T.Stadt with children. #ww2

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

1 year

What do you you do when you have (nearly) finished your book and you have loads of images you haven’t used? You do a little montage of some in the prelims to get your moneys worth!! My latest book ‘Volunteers’ will be out very shortly - fingers crossed. #ww1 #Greatwar

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

The newspaper cutting that alerted me to the existence of Ben Clouting. Aged 16 in Aug 1914 & witness to the first shot of the #Greatwar near #Mons , he was last survivor of #Reading ‘s Old Contemptibles. Sweat broke out on my forehead when I discover he was still alive in 1989

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

I’ve Frederic Coleman’s original #ww1 photos. I’m missing 11 of 83 pics used in his 2 memoirs ‘From Mons to Ypres’ & the 1915 one. The other 72 are annotated often with more info than in the books’ captions. I also have 60 unpublished pics which I’ll use in future #greatwar books

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

7 years

Looking at my records I see that on 1/1/2000 there were 12 British prisoners of #greatwar still alive of 190,000 taken captive. Of those 12 last died on 23/12/2005. All but 2 were taken #pow in #1918 . Don’t know if that’s of any interest but I put it out there anyway!! #ww1 #fww

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Pte George Sutton, West Yorkshire Regiment, killed 3 May 1917 and his image superimposed on a family grouping with his grieving mother taken around the time of #ArmisticeDay did she ever get the chance to visit his grave? #RemembranceSunday #RemembranceDay #ww1 #Greatwar

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

3 years

This weekend is #HistoryWritersDay an initiative put together by @Books2Cover This is a chance to buy books direct from authors! I would be delighted to sign and send my latest book ‘Boy Soldiers of the Great War’ for £20 (£5 off) to those who follow and DM me. @penswordbooks

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Richard van Emden

@richardvanemden

4 years

Phew, that seems to have gone well!! I loved talking of Gertrude. There are so few who now recall anything of that war.

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