A poignant reminder of the first day of The Somme - Lieutenant Gilbert Hattersley’s blood-stained map showing the planned advance. He was wounded in the leg early on, the 11/Suffolk had the heaviest 34th Division casualties and didn’t reach Contalmaison. Remembering them all today. #Somme110

The Battle of The Somme Centenary, 10 years ago, was a busy time for GWH. Lyndsay was part of the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport team organising the Westminster Abbey service and overnight vigil, which took place 10 years ago tonight, and designing these popular keepsakes! /1

Who knew an old fallen log could be such a popular hangout? Here at Brook Farm Camp, it’s become a favourite perch, pathway, and meeting place for plenty of our wildlife friends! 🦊🦡🐿️🦆🐦

We have an Officer’s Service Dress jacket in the Great War Huts Collection which belonged to Captain Francis William Yates, who was wounded by a shell fragment on 18th April 1915 at Hill 60, while serving with 2nd Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. 1/

Our Scotland trip concluded with the acquisition of a Khaki Canadian Glengarry. These generic caps were worn by Canadian Scottish units training in Canada before stocks of the proper regimental Glengarries were available, a similar situation to the issue of the Emergency… 1/

Remembering Leading Stoker John Owen who was killed 110 years ago today when the Battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary blew up after being hit by SMS Derfflinger at the Battle of Jutland. 1,266 crewmen were killed. There were only eighteen survivors. John had been looking forward… 1/

Our first GWH Study Day - ‘Now You’ve Got The Khaki On’ has been a great success. Participants from across the country travelled to Brook Farm Camp to learn about the uniforms, equipment, weapons and drills of the British Infantryman of the Great War… 1/

Our house was built 1938/39 our above ground shelter, 6 inch slab roof, is now my tool shed. Had to enlarge door and knock out a wall for the window! Hard work, 4 brick thick walls with sand filled cavities between, presume for blast protection?

A diversion into the Second World War for us this morning. We had the opportunity to save two wooden bunks that had been built into a brick Air Raid Shelter in 1938, just down the road from us in Bury St Edmunds. If householders earned more than £300 per year they had to… 1/

Our 2026 Spring GWH Volunteer Weekend has been a huge success. In fact we all agree that it has been the most successful volunteer weekend to date. Over 2 days many of the Huts have been given another coat of wood preserver, doors and windows have been painted, more of our… 1/

Huge thanks to GWH supporter Karen Dennis for sending us a collection of BBC sound effects records for the GWH Archive, including this one of a MkV Tank on manoeuvres. They belonged to Bill Fulton, who used them in his talks. He died 8 years ago today, making their arrival especially meaningful.

Oh yes, we're very fortunate to have these items in our local archive. The album holds 99 photographs (all scanned by us) Sadly there are very few captions, but there are some great images of the men in training:

We’re very fortunate to have a nominal roll for the Keighley VTC which gives name, address, age, occupation, height, weight etc and reasons for not enlisting (usually over age). The booklet is held in Keighley Library’s archive. There is also an Adjutant’s photo album of training, group photos etc.

109 years ago today, on 31st March 1917, Sergeant R.P. Stafford, the 30th man to sign up for the Halifax Volunteer Training Corps, was presented with his Volunteer Regiment Proficiency Badge and certificate. We also have his armband and Marksman’s qualification badge in the… 1/

At our first #HuttedHistories talk of the year on Wednesday we were delighted to receive this kind donation from James Hyde. It is the bronze grave marker of Old Contemptible 34900 Driver George Neaves of K Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Andrew Thornton kindly sent us his… 1/

Our 2026 #HuttedHistories season gets off to a flying start next Wednesday (25th) when @drkatevigurs.bsky.social joins us to tell extraordinary true stories of the female agents of the SOE from her gripping new book, Mission Europe! For more details & tickets: shorturl.at/CTMwO

Trying something new on the YouTube Channel. I had the pleasure of being joined by the wonderful Taff Gillingham of @greatwarhuts.bsky.social Taff joined me to discuss the up and coming myth 'The Home Guard were full of First World War Veterans'. youtu.be/_IFHgBXbKww?... #WW1 #WW2 #History

Another gem for you all from the GWH Collection: This is the scrapbook of Captain Kyrle Ffrench, Special Reserve, attached to the South Wales Borderers. Kyrle kept all sorts of paperwork and ephemera including press cuttings, postcards, pages from army notebooks… 1/

A quirky piece from the Great War Huts Collection - the original sign from Marks and Spencer in Felixstowe announcing that the store would be closed for Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral 61 years ago today, on Saturday 30th January 1965. 1/2

Winter has well and truly arrived at Brook Farm Camp! ❄️ The huts are tucked up under a blanket of snow and Hut Dog Charlie Chaplin is padding around the trenches like it’s the most magical place on earth🐾

It's Christmas Day and the finale of #HutVent2025. Thank you for all your support in 2025 and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2026! youtu.be/D8wOBsGX5W4 #HutVent

It’s Christmas Eve, and we are nearly at the end of #HutVent2025, but today Lyndsay has some tiny uniforms for you... youtu.be/mdhKNlZ7TUI #HutVent

It is the 23rd Day of #HutVent2025 and today Taff is looking at some First World War Army welfare provision and the subject of 'French Leave'... youtu.be/S070052pOtY

A nautical theme for Day 22 of #HutVent2025 as Taff tells the tale of the sinking of the Lusitania... youtu.be/Aaf_qlFuKc0

For the 21st Day of #HutVent2025, Taff tells us about Colonel Isaac Newton Lewis's invention, and how it revolutionised British Infantry tactics... youtu.be/6FkNM9Wig70

On the 20th Day of #HutVent2025 Kev tells of Mice and Oojahs... youtu.be/HX8R6rDmvyM #HutVent

On Day 19 of #HutVent2025 - our fifth year - Taff finally gets round to talking about spikey German helmets... youtu.be/TygSOweI0S4

Day 18 of #HutVent2025 means more uniform - this time a rare Jacket, explained by Taff... youtu.be/LMdC-pqIKQ4

On the 17th Day of #HutVent2025, Kieran looks at an iconic piece of military hardware - the Webley Service Revolver... youtu.be/J33wPWiflaw

Guest Presenter, Jo Hook, tells us about special Gallipoli currency on the 16th Day of #HutVent2025... youtu.be/NtyckPETvro

We have a Scottish theme on Day 15 of #HutVent2025 as Taff tells us about iconic Scottish headwear from 1915... youtu.be/4rACg4zj3t4 #HutVent

Day 14 of #HutVent2025… Lyndsay has a great gadget for you all today! youtu.be/VD4J88nVUk4

Our last event of 2025 yesterday saw the final two #TrenchesByTwilight tours pass off successfully, just like the previous six! Thank you to everyone who took part, and also to our wonderful volunteers. We look forward to welcoming you all back to Great War Huts in 2026. 🎄😊

It's Day 13, which means we are over half way through #HutVent2025. Today Kev looks at an unusual piece of First World War ordnance, and busts a myth... youtu.be/3xnvb4SWtSE #HutVent

It's Day 12 of #HutVent2025 and it's time to hear about The Derby Scheme, and its distinctive armband, all explained by Taff... youtu.be/TVML6KdOWkw

Day 11 of #HutVent2025, and it's time for our annual Zeppelin story, as told by Taff... youtu.be/LAA8RGtJiSY #HutVent

@greatwarhuts.bsky.social Bloody enjoyed Trenches by Twilight this evening. 👍 Many thanks to all those that put this on. Cheers Campo

A 1960s story with a 1915 theme for you on Day 10 of #HutVent2025 as Taff tells us about a commemorative medallion... youtu.be/v6yF8o7tlVQ

It's time for Kev to tell us about a legendary piece of British Ordnance on Day 9 of #HutVent2025... youtu.be/qz109c4tI-k

It's Day 8 of #HutVent2025 so it’s high time that Taff started talking about Christmas Presents... youtu.be/gsLHy1NyBsU

You really need to watch the film first… 🙂

On the Seventh Day of #HutVent2025, Kieran explains how fighting age men were given protection from enthusiastic white feather bearers... youtu.be/JrW96Bxpw3M

We had a lovely evening at Snape Maltings last night listening to the marvellous Grimethorpe Colliery Band perform Christmas songs. What a wonderful bunch they are. Fantastic, festive, brass music, delivered with great humour. They also have a Great War connection as they were formed in 1917. 🎄🎺

“Unusual interest was attracted by a picture frame, made out of a biscuit supplied to the soldiers in the First World War. The biscuit had not discoloured or deteriorated on any way.” August 1919. Lyndsay of the Great War Huts with all things biscuity 👇

We have a special guest for Day 6 of #HutVent2025 to help Lyndsay tell the story of a 1915 biscuity present (there were always going to be biscuits!)... shorturl.at/VwzJ4 #HutVent

An interesting look at a German publication presented by Kieran from the other side of the frontline. A Bibby’s Annual 1917 included articles & coloured plates of the First World War. They all give an insight for civilians but also can be used to feed into the war propaganda machine.

On the 5th Day of #HutVent2025 Kev tells us about Spicer Goggles and lachrymatory gas... youtu.be/BQ7siDg0csk

On Day 4 of #HutVent2025 Taff is looking at the role of Army Drummers... youtu.be/Ze_dSOyrpYM

It's Day 3 of #HutVent2025 and Kieran has a fascinating German publication to share with us! 🗞️ youtu.be/R3hvBu6_sG8

On the second day of #HutVent2025 Taff tells the story of the Military Cross and the tale of one particular recipient... youtu.be/esDh-Cw75fc