I had the pleasure of watching Eivør in concert in Sydney tonight with my son. I last saw Eivør a couple of years ago as support for Heilung. Both are fantastic shows!

I was locked out of Bluesky all day yesterday and now I’m waiting on a bus to take me away for the weekend. Not ideal for #photofriday so just a quick offering this week: ‘The Singapore Chinese Massacre’ which I finished the other day and ‘Staff Wallah’ which is my current read. #histbookchat

This #photofriday finds me with Peter Brune and his ‘Descent Into Hell’. Today we meet the 2/30th Australian Infantry Battalion (Galleghan’s Greyhounds) at their ambush at Gemencheh Bridge near Gemas where 800 troops of the Japanese 5th Division were killed, wounded or went missing. #histbookchat /2

The rain has set in down the coast. Raising new divisions and making do.👌📚 #histbookchat

This #photofriday finds me packed up and ready for a long weekend down the coast and with my current read ‘Descent Into Hell: The Fall of Singapore - Pudu and Changi - the Thai-Burma Railway’ by Peter Brune. A brick at 800 or so pages but absolutely worth the pack weight. #histbookchat /2

This #photofriday finds me with my feet up at home, having finished my holiday read, ‘The Coast Watchers’ by Patrick Lindsay, and getting stuck into the book I left behind, ‘Wewak Mission’ by Lionel Veale, which I’m about halfway through. #histbookchat /2

This #photofriday offering is a new purchase ‘Milne Bay 1942: The Story of ’Milne-Force’ and Japan’s First Military Defeat on Land’ by Clive Baker and Greg Knight. I’m very excited about this one and will probably percolate it to the top of the TBR after the Coastwatchers. #histbookchat /2

This week I am reading ‘Wewak Mission’ by Lionel Veale but it’s too precious to chuck in my backpack for a trip away next week so I’ll probably have to run two books on the go for a bit. In the meantime, please accept this shelfie as my humble #photofriday #histbookchat offering. 📚 🇦🇺

My #photofriday offering this week is ‘Crimea: The Great Crimean War 1854-1856’ by Trevor Royle. I very much enjoyed reading two of his concise regimental histories last year and now this very handsome and substantial volume on Crimea is a welcome addition to the TBR. #histbookchat

This #photofriday finds me with, Commander Eric Feldt, R.A.N, the Allied Intelligence Bureau and the network of courageous and dedicated Coastwatchers. An upcoming book in this series is ‘Wewak Mission: Coastwatchers at War in New Guinea’ by Lionel Veale. #histbookchat /2

By the outbreak of WWII the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) had recruited hundreds of coastwatchers in Australia and the South Pacific. Responsibility for the network fell to Lieutenant Commander Eric Feldt, an intelligence staff officer at Port Moresby. My #photofriday and next #histbookchat read:

RIP Rob Hirst. </3

Geez, great stuff @andrewfaulkner9.bsky.social ! Can’t wait for this! 💕

This #photofriday finds me still with the 2nd Ind. Coy (2/2 Commando Squadron) but now in New Guinea where they face their final battles before returning to Australia and on to New Britain. And it’s there, too, for my next read: ’We Were The First’ by Alexander ‘Sandy’ McNab. #histbookchat /2

You've probably not heard of Sandakan. Of the almost 2500 British and Australian POWs held by the Japanese only 6 survived. I've listened to their harrowing interviews and it's something special to me to find a book signed by 3 of them. #histbookchat

This #photofriday finds me putting together my Top 5 reads for 2025. I completed 40 books, which is about average for me, and although I disliked a couple of them none were abandoned. I like to plan out my reading and group together books in mini series of 4-6 where possible. #histbookchat /2

Thanks to all who have bought my new book. Still some copies at Dillons Norwood Bookshop. Otherwise DM me and we can meet/arrange a delivery. #RadioStars

I’m down the coast this #photofriday and have brought the 2nd Independent Company history along for the trip. This copy is signed by the author so I need to look after it! The ’Doomed Battalion’ 2/40th history was excellent and this one on the Double Reds is also a great read. #histbookchat /2

Wishing the #histbookchat community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. A houseplant might double as our Christmas tree but it still has pride of place for the third year running! 😍

I’m currently locked out of my DMs due to the new age verification requirements. Apologies if you have sent me a DM and I can’t read/reply.

I’m still with the doomed 2/40 Bn in Timor this #photofriday and as @alparky.bsky.social said, it’s a superbly researched book.👌Staying in Timor, next I will be reading my very special copy of ‘A History Of The 2nd Independent Company and 2/2 Commando Squadron‘ by Colin Doig. ♦️♦️ #histbookchat /2

This #photoFriday finds me with Sparrow Force in Dutch Timor and ‘Doomed Battalion: The Australian 2/40 Battalion 1940-45, Mateship & Leadership In War & Captivity’ by Peter Henning. Mainly Tasmanians, the 2/40th Battalion was sent to Timor in December 1941 to garrison an airfield. #histbookchat /2

My #photofriday offering is my current read ‘Ambon: The truth about one of the most brutal POW camps in World War II and the triumph of the Aussie spirit’ by Roger Maynard. Sent on a doomed mission to defend the island of Ambon, only 300 men out of a force of 1150 survived the war. #histbookchat /2

Currently reading: ‘Gull Force: Survival and Leadership in Captivity 1941-1945’ by Joan Beaumont.

In Melbourne this week and very happy to find a copy of ‘It Happened To Us - Mark II’ by Gunner Finkemeyer. If it’s half as good as the first one I am in for a great read. #histbookchat

@lwestwoodauthor.bsky.social This has been an insane day, Laurence. Sixteen wickets! 🤣

This #photofriday finds me still in Rabaul and thinking about my next read ‘Line of Fire’ by Ian Townsend which looks at five Australians, including an eleven year old boy and his mother, who were executed for spying by a Japanese firing squad at Rabaul. #histbookchat /2

For my #photofriday #histbookchat post I just want to say how much I appreciated the Mawson bookshop. My son and I loved visiting and chatting with David who was always kind and generous with his knowledge and most importantly we bought heaps of great books! All the best to you both, Kristen. 🍰📚

Final proof. Exciting and terrifying in equal measure. #amwriting

Soon I’ll be picking up where Fortress Rabaul leaves off with ‘Target: Rabaul - The Allied Siege of Japan’s Most Infamous Stronghold, March 1943-August 1945’ by Bruce Gamble. It is also my humble #photofriday #histbookchat offering this week.

My ruptured achilles and smashed knees have been healing nicely so I started on longer walks a few weeks ago. I’m up to 17km and absolutely loving it. #walking #rehab

This #photofriday I am reading ‘Fortress Rabaul: The Battle for the Southwest Pacific, January 1942-April 1943’ by Bruce Gamble. This is the 2nd book in Gamble’s trilogy and focuses on the opening phase of the conflict when Rabaul served as a springboard for new Japanese offensives. #histbookchat /2

This #photofriday I am reading ‘Darkest Hour: The True Story of Lark Force at Rabaul’ by Bruce Gamble. This is a re-read for me and kicks off a new series looking at Lark, Sparrow and Gull Forces, inc. infantry battalions and other units in New Britain, New Ireland, Timor and Ambon. #histbookchat /2

This is where I leave the Broken Eighth and this series which was a fascinating, rewarding and memorable look at the Australian Armoured Corps history, the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment, the 2/3rd and 2/4th Machine Gun Battalions and the 2/15th and 2/14th Field Regiments. Lest we forget. #histbookchat

This week for #photoFriday I am currently reading ‘The Broken Eighth: A history of the 2/14th Australian Field Regiment- Darwin - New Guinea - New Britain’ by Ron Jackson, who joined the regiment in Darwin in 1942. The title of the book refers to the Regimental Colour Patch. #histbookchat /2

This week I am still reading ‘From Snow To Jungle‘. In the book Ray Parkin and his ‘Into The Smother’ was mentioned and I thought I would have no chance of ever finding it. To my delight I came across it last Friday and it is my humble #photofriday #histbookchat offering. /2

This #photofriday I am currently reading ‘From Snow To Jungle: A history of the 2/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion’ by John Bellair. Formed in South Australia in June 1940 and sent overseas in April 1941 to join the 7th Australian Division in the Syrian campaign … #histbookchat /2

This #photofriday finds me with the 2/4th Machine Gun Bn, the Ghosts in Khaki, who are now in captivity. My book was previously owned by a member of the 2/4th who was sent to the railway with D Force and perhaps it was his copy of the Serenity Prayer which I found marking this page. 🙏🏻 #histbookchat

This week finds me on Singapore Island with the 2/15 Field Regiment. Fighting alongside them are three Australian infantry battalions and the 2/4 MG Bn. My humble offering this #photofriday is ‘Ghosts In Khaki: The History of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion’ by Les Cody. #histbookchat /2

This #photofriday finds me reading ‘Gunners In The Jungle: A story of the 2/15 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 8 Division’ by Cliff Whitelocke which covers the Malaya Campaign, Nov 1940 to Feb 1942. “In battle courageous, in captivity its spirit remained unbroken” #histbookchat /2

Fin. The stories were so incredibly moving and well told. In Dick Mountford’s story he recounts the time in Changi hospital when he helped the orderlies look after Rod Wells and his sig. mate who had so far endured 18 months of inhumane solitary confinement in Outram Road Gaol. </3 #histbookchat

This week I’m on a trip up the NSW coast and hoping for a rainy day tomorrow so I can curl up with my current read ‘It Happened To Us’ by Gunner Finkemeyer. It’s a collection of stories, in their own words, by members of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment. I absolutely love it. #histbookchat /2

This week my #photofriday offering is the book I am currently reading: ‘Tid-Apa: The History of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment’ by N C Smith. It’s impossible to read about the Malaya campaign without wanting to know more about these courageous fellas. Tid-Apa. It’ll be OK. 🫡 #histbookchat

Nothing new from me this #photofriday but I’m home tonight and only pages away from the arrival of the Australian Centurions in Vietnam. This has been an absolute gem of a book. 👌📚 #histbookchat

Travelling soon and faced with the usual dilemma of what book to take. It can’t be too big, too heavy, too fragile, too precious … you know the drill. But the only book I want to take fails all of that! It is ‘Australian Armour’ by R Hopkins and it is also my #photofriday #histbookchat offering.

This #photofriday my offering is ‘Battle On 42nd Street: War in Crete and the Anzacs’ bloody last stand’ by Peter Monteath. I took this photo three years ago in Streaky Bay while on a road trip across Australia and it is the book that led me to ‘The Story of the Maori Battalion’. 🔥📚 #histbookchat

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Here we go … #histbookchat

This #photofriday finds me enthralled with the ‘Imperial Warriors’ but also thinking ahead to the last book in my current series of memorable battalions and regiments. Last, but by no means least, my offering is ‘Te Mura o te Ahi: The Story of the Maori Battalion’ by Wira Gardiner. #histbookchat /2