I've never had the pleasure of meeting Alex and Annie in person, but I hope to remedy that one day. I do know that Canada is a better place with them here. Consider lending your support for their fundraiser :)

Feeling this: "In the dark times, will there be singing? Yes, there will be singing. About the dark times" - Bertolt Brecht, 1939

Nice to see the weathered #ParksCanada plaque in #Lachine QC honouring Cdr Campbell Clouston RN replaced to mark his 125th birthday. Clouston, born in #Montreal #OTD in 1900, was pier master of the east mole at #Dunkirk in 1940. Installation and pix by the indefatigable Ray Coutu.

Just spotted, a couple of hot air balloons passing by on a summer night in #Ottawa. Another one out of sight. We don't see these as often as we did a few decades ago. Sorry the image is a bit blurry.

The party's over. We need to wake up and get serious about protecting this beautiful place. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

It is good to see our Prime Minister standing with Ukraine. Trump and Putin are trying to sell the people of Ukraine out. Canada must show solidarity against the gangsters.

This article in The Atlantic makes sense of the madness enveloping us as authors and humans. I agree with its premise. www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

Holy smoke, it's hot in #Ottawa. ~ 30 C with a Humidex of 37 now, which is a drop from earlier in the day. The planet is on fire. Just glad it's not snowing. Shovelling in this weather would be brutal.

'Reports urge CAF to clamp down on extremism.' Yeah, start by teaching lads some history about real anti-fascist fighting, not the make-believe crap they're fed now on social media. Jeez. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

@alanallport.bsky.social Maybe you can answer this. I am curious about British Army enlistment after #Dunkirk. I've a service record for someone who volunteered with the East Surrey Regiment on 8 Jun 1940. Was this part of a general wave of enlistment in the days after the BEF was rescued?

I have 14 tabs open in my browser at the moment. Is that normal? How's everyone else doing?

I support a call for His Majesty to do this: www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Posting again for my friend Dan Black, until I am able to persuade him to sign up for the social engagement, occasional enlightenment, and/or shameless self-promotion. Here’s a link to his short blog post about why he wrote his latest book 'Oceans of Fate': www.dundurn.com/blog_/t43181...

I have NEVER seen this country so united and so fucking ANGRY. Elbows up, Canada.

@charlieangus104.bsky.social People are fighting back and proclaiming we're #strongandfree Here's a musical example: www.quintenews.com/2025/02/26/3...

Canadian patriotism is off the scale right now. Here's a great example. We will survive. www.quintenews.com/2025/02/26/3...

@charlieangus104.bsky.social Do you agree?

I endorse this message.

Brilliant, just brilliant.

I'm excited for my friend Dan Black, whose latest book launched today. It's a terrific story. #histbookchat

I am at the NATO meetings in Brussels. Trump and Putin are plunging the world into dark chaos. Here is my dispatch from day one of the meetings. I decided that it was time to go over the boards for Canada. Please read and share. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Today I received several files from the US Air Force Historical Research Agency. They cover 60th Troop Carrier Group ops over Yugoslavia. I found a sortie report for the night of 14/15 May 1944 that refers to three Joes dropped over Canici in Bosnia. That must be Major Dafoe and his assistants. Yay!

I want to acknowledge the enormous help I've received recently from USAF Colonel Mark C. Vlahos (Ret'd), author of 'Leading the Way to Victory: A History of the 60th Troop Carrier Group 1940–1945.' The least I can do in return is promote his book. #histbookchat

I'm reviewing records sent to me from the US Air Force Historical Research Agency regarding 60th Troop Carrier Group sorties to Yugoslavia to see if I can find mention of a mission dropping three Joes in the area of Canici in eastern Bosnia in May 1944. What's everyone else doing for entertainment?

Met with a grandson and great grandson of Frank Oxley today via Zoom. That was really gratifying. As the end of the year approaches, I am excited about discoveries that await in 2025.

After decades of searching, I can finally say that the other #RAMC sergeant who accompanied Major Colin Dafoe on a medical mission to support the Partisans in eastern Bosnia in 1944 was Frank James Oxley, the lad on the right, b. 1920 in Merton, Surrey. I opened my Christmas gift early this year.

I was out of town overnight and on the road a lot so I don't really know what's going on here or in the world, but while I was travelling I think I found someone I've been trying to identify for more than 40 years. So that's something.

@robrandtoul.bsky.social From public records available online, I believe you might be related to Frank Oxley (see the post pinned to the top of my profile). Was he your great uncle? If so, will you please contact me via DM?

While continuing my search for one of two #RAMC sergeants who accompanied the Canadian surgeon Major Colin S Dafoe on a #SOE medical mission to Tito's Partisans in 1944, I remain astounded by how many people in the world were named Frank Oxley (pictured on the right). Sure makes my work difficult.

101-year old WW2 RCAF veteran gets to fly a Harvard trainer again - the same type he trained in to become a Spitfire pilot. "It was like riding a bicycle for him. " www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Is there a #starterpack for #SOE Writers and Historians? If so, I'd like to join the list, given my biography of a Canadian surgeon who joined the SOE and led a British medical mission to Tito's Partisans in 1944.

The Roaring Lion is set to return to its rightful place in #Ottawa. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

The banner I sponsored in #Madoc Ontario for its annual remembrance program honouring local veterans — a highly commendable initiative — is up again this year. Mine remembers Dr Colin Scott Dafoe (1909-1969), with the #RAMC motto "In Arduis Fidelis" — “Faithful in Adversity.”

I've read we might see auroras tonight, but I won't be looking because I know how it plays out.

'Mistakes Were Made' is another great story by a friend on his Substack. open.substack.com/pub/bryandem...

I was just reminded that #OTD in 2017 a story about Campbell Clouston was front-page news on Canada's national newspaper. I was interviewed for the article and many others that appeared during an international media storm about the 'real pier master' at #Dunkirk in 1940.

An interesting discussion in the Musk space today about posthumous awards — specifically, VCs — many years later. The problem with that, of course, is it also opens conversations about whether honours given were deserved and if they might be revoked. Let's leave the system the way it is.

@otdmilhistory.bsky.social Re your X post about Cpl Weitzel and why he received only a MiD…the same happened to Cdr Campbell Clouston, who was recommended for a DSO in recognition of his part as pier master of the east mole at #Dunkirk but that changed when authorities realised he was deceased.

Looking for work is depressing. Most opportunities are about feeding or fixing AI copy or writing/editing for SEO, usually in "a fast-paced environment" with shockingly low pay. And the posted qualifications are often absurd. Here's one I found today: "You write perfect english and emoji." WTAF?

#OTD 2 June 1940, Commander Campbell Clouston, pier master of the east mole at #Dunkirk, died tragically in the English Channel while returning to the French coast. (1/11)

Why was Commander Clouston appointed pier master of the east mole at #Dunkirk in 1940? I will argue it was perhaps because he had something to say in the decision to use the mole rather than the harbour, which was bombed and under continuing air attacks. (1/9)

In this thread, I want to examine the conventional narrative regarding the east mole at #Dunkirk, from which the largest number of troops were rescued in 1940. In my view, that narrative is deeply flawed. (1/10)

My attempt to post a thread didn't go as smoothly as I hoped. Apologies if it's a bit jumbled and with one duplicate post. 😒

#OTD 27 May 1940, Captain William Tennant and a party of 12 officers and 160 ratings, plus signals staff, left Dover in HMS Wolfhound to take charge of the evacuation of Allied troops from the embattled coast of France at #Dunkirk. Or was it eight officers and fewer men? 1/18

#OTD I honour my great uncle, Pte Perry Archibald Massey, 116th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, KIA 25 May 1917 near Vimy, at age 21. Son of Elsie Massey of Hamilton, ON, and John Massey of Halifax, NS. Now resting at Petit-Vimy British Cemetery.

#OTD (12 May 1944), Major Colin Scott Dafoe, a Canadian surgeon in the #RAMC, parachuted into eastern Bosnia with two young British sergeants to lead a #SOE medical mission supporting Tito's Partisans. Dafoe's extraordinary story is told in my book 'The Parachute Ward.' #histbookchat

@bowerswrites.bsky.social Re your post on X about Veterans for Healing, if you want to research the subject generally I can tell you about a storied property near Sainte-Adèle, a small community in the Laurentian Mountains roughly 90 kilometres northwest of Montreal. It was for French #FWW vets.

@lucybetteridgedyson.com Embarrassed to say I watched 'Ice Cold in Alex' for the first time this afternoon. I don't know how your aunt remained so radiant throughout while the men were so sweaty and exhausted. Anyway, now that I've finally seen it, 'Worth waiting for' is the obvious review.

@cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social In response to your question in that other place, I'm still hoping you will share with your readers and followers something about the extraordinary life and mysterious death of Colin Scott Dafoe.

@normagraham.bsky.social You were brilliant and delightful in your debut appearance today on @ww2tv.bsky.social. And I loved how you rocked the CWH Dakota tee. For those who missed it live, you can find Norma's talk about RCAF 435 Squadron in Burma at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjy...