Worth reading in full

Have come across a curious case this morning. A man who died of wounds on 11 July 1916 while at a base hospital at Boulogne, yet has no known grave and is listed at the Thiepval Memorial. Not much more documentation to rely on. Yet another thing to do today.

Delighted to launch, in conjunction with the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, their database of men who died at Number 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. See ww1data.co.uk #histiory #ww1 #milhist #CEF #Canada

Remembering 33 fans who were crushed to death and 400 injured at Bolton Wanderers’ Burnden Park stadium when a barrier and a wall collapsed during an FA Cup game against Stoke City on this day 1946. Worst British football stadium disaster until Ibrox in 1971.

Isn't it time the American people moved beyond the witty placard stage?

If this war goes on too much longer it may cost me more than Liz Truss did.

Gallipoli, anyone?

From UKMTO Update:

I’m searching for the original and/or rights owner of this fabulous picture of Birmingham in the early 1970s. It popped up on my Instagram feed, but I’ve been unable to track it down. Any leads? I’m really hoping to use it in a book. (And would much appreciate a RT please)

Boris Johnson says Keir Starmer has made us an irrelevance on the world stage...

Not good enough. He should be doing time. BBC News - Tory peer quits after Lords probe into PPE deals www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Happy today to help the WDYTYA researchers not go too deep into a rabbit hole caused by a ridiculous error on a medal index card. #genealogy

For anyone who would like the clip (including George).

This IPSO adjudication against the Telegraph is quite something Confirms their story titled: ‘We earn £345k, but soaring private school fees mean we can’t go on five holidays’ was completely fabricated, with the family involved non-existent and stock pictures used www.ipso.co.uk/rulings/0210...

I see the "Daily Mail" wants to send our sons and daughters to die for Trump.

Got it. We can move the tax-dodgers from Dubai to Rwanda. Oven ready deal. Accommodation all ready.

there is literally no group of people in society I am less interested in hearing from right now, than 'British influencers living in Dubai':

Just watched a bit of the brilliant series "Mandy" again, and am reminded of this. www.longlongtrail.co.uk/albert-dugda...

Most realistic take on the vote that I have seen today.

The right are furious that a white, English tradesperson got elected.

Question for #EarlyModern #Skystorians please! 🗃️ What are your favourite online places to search for public domain images? (free to use, out of copyright, cleared by copyright owner for public use etc)? Example: Public Domain Image Archive pdimagearchive.org

Not sure that ad is going to do much for your brand.

I hereby volunteer to do jury service.

Delighted to say that The Long, Long Trail will soon be hosting a database of men passing through No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, on behalf of the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa. Watch this space! #ww1 #genealogy #cef #canada #BIFHSGO

For #blackandwhitewednesday we’ve found this lovely snap from #WW1. It’s from a collection of photographs belonging to Sgt. Harry Coates, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, and was taken in France in 1916. We love that the soldier in the centre has his accordion with him! #music #firstworldwar #archive

Fragments of First World War lives Trade union journals often carried photos & reports of comrades in arms - the serving, the rewarded, the missing, wounded & dead The hope for news shines through in the profiles of the missing Browse the Postmen's Gazette & more at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

I have just got to look more deeply into this man. South Staffords' 10602 Sergeant-Cook William Smith. Joined 1st Bn May 1915. July 1916 given a permanent role as cook at XV Corps canteen, and by the time he was demobilised in 1919 he had earned a MM, MSM and was mentioned in despatches

Surely any winner of the FIFA Peace Prize could sort this out in no time. BBC News - 'Difficult' Russia-Ukraine peace talks end without breakthrough www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Drop an album that was important to you when you were nineteen.

My daughter is persuading me to publish a secret journal I wrote during the pandemic. I re-read it for first time yesterday and think it might work. Not sure, though. Would anyone actually read it?

It simply amazes me that Starmer needed a VETTING PROCESS before he appointed Mandelson. Did he really need advice, process, etc.? We all knew what Mandelson was. All of us.

Oh look, Mr "Immigrants cost the taxpayer too much" received a nice little £125m taxpayer handout for his business a few weeks ago. So I guess it's okay to leave the country to avoid paying tax here, as long as your business still gets massive state handouts...?

Just coming up to 30,000 views. You could be that 30,000th. There are no prizes, though. Just the glory. #ww1 #genealogy youtu.be/xAzsLQ8rqms?...

My fantasy since I was about ten.

Great news. MPs should also pay attention to our campaigns: ● Remove the 26 bishops Religious office should not grant automatic voting rights in a parliamentary democracy. ● Scrap parliamentary prayers Attending prayers should not to provide speaking advantages🧵 observer.co.uk/news/politic...

"The prime minister's communications director Tim Allan has quit." I am astonished to find that he had one at all. Like the other pillock who went at the weekend, off you pop.

Just answering an enquiry and it reminded me that it could be answered by a talk I gave a few years ago. You might like to see/hear it. #ww1 #genealogy #ireland youtu.be/qtLaR8_6V8Q?...

The House of Lords needs to go. I have signed @electoralreform.bsky.social‬'s call to demand change and encourage others to do so. action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/186062/...

uk.bookshop.org/shop/longlon... testing

#Flanders #vlaanderen #nieuwpoort #diksmuide #wo1 #ww1 see uk.bookshop.org/a/7193/97815...

If you have recently woken from a 14-year coma, I can understand you thinking Starmer is the worst PM you have ever encountered.

@sommephantom.bsky.social @simonjones.bsky.social War diary of 183rd Tunnelling Coy says Bulgar Point mine did not explode on 1 July 1916. OH says it did, and of course this has been replicated by many authors since. Question, then: did it blow, and if not, where did story originate?

Jeff Bezos’s wealth has increased an average of $70 million every day of 2026, meaning that he could have offset The Post’s losses with what he’s made since Monday.

it’s genuinely reassuring to me that this is the most miserable and paranoid person in the entire world

NEWS! "I'm the real victim in all this," insists man forced to live in slightly less opulent surroundings newsthump.com/2026/02/04/i...

A little discovery today. I am researching an officer of the South Staffordshire Regiment. Turns out that in 1930s he became postmaster and lived at a premises on Kew Green in London. I have driven past it a million times on my way to National Archives. History is never far away. #ww1 #genealogy

Huge thanks to West Midlands Ambulance Service and to Warwick Hospital for dealing so brilliantly with my wife's medical emergency today. Absolutely exemplary. #nhs

Reform is basically a suburban petrol station's DVD bin of Tory politicians.

There is not a great deal to watch on TV that suits us, we do not enjoy modern comedy.