In German POW camps, cigarettes, chocolate and coffee from Red Cross parcels could buy almost anything. Harry Watson later joked: “If I’d had enough cigarettes and chocolate, I could have got a Tiger tank!” #WW2 #POW

During a recent Facebook Q&A session I was asked if there was any advice I could give to someone thinking about writing their own book. #writingtips #militaryhistory #ww2 #historybooks

1/8 🇺🇸 Remember the Fourth of July scene in The Great Escape? It really happened. As shown in movie the party is short-lived and contrasted with the discovery of tunnel “Tom”. The real events lacked the drama - but were considerably more raucous. 🧵

Current status.

#PhotoFriday the current secondary sources pile for my next book. #Histbookchat

They say you could tell a 1940 POW by his lack of medals. Some men, like my great grandad didn’t even bother to apply. It was only after researching his service that I found out he was eligible and finally had them issued. What’s your WW2 family treasure?

Good news! The Undefeated is now available on Kindle. Discover the untold stories of Allied POWs in paperback or ebook. Thank you to everyone who’s supported the book. #Kindle #WW2 #WW2History #MilitaryHistory

If you missed my recent chat with WW2TV you can watch the recording of n YouTube - The Undefeated: Untold Lives of Allied Prisoners of War in Europe 1939-1945 www.youtube.com/live/KNNWR1b... via @YouTube

As the #fifaworldcup2026 continues. I thought I would share this reel. Thanks to the diverse nature of the Allies many camps were able to play regular matches and even internationals! Not quite Escape To Victory but a reminder that football endured even in the midst of war.

When writing a book you need passion, research skills and a desire to tell a story. But sometimes you also need a little bit of luck to come your way. @thealmurray @jamesholland1940 @wehavewayspod #historybooks #militaryhistory #writing

#photofridays In this short reel I present some POW portraits giving you a close-up look at the faces of The Undefeated. #ww2 #ww2history #ww2photos #secondworldwar

One regret: not being able to include colour images of the remarkable theatre programmes preserved by Lance Bombardier Bernard Cockcroft. A POW in Stalag 383, Cockcroft helped stage theatrical and musical productions, both behind the scenes and performing female roles on stage.

The genesis of The Undefeated was the realisation that there was a story waiting to be told. Not the famous escapes or Hollywood myths, but the experiences of ordinary Allied POWs whose voices had largely been overlooked It’s my attempt to let those men tell their own story.

Happy Father’s Day to all my fellow Dads! Winner of the prize draw for a signed copy of The Undefeated is Facebook follower Rod D. If Rod can get in touch with his address details I’ll get a signed copy in the post asap. Thanks to everyone who took part. #ww2 #fathersday

FATHER’S DAY GIVEAWAY Win a signed copy of The Undefeated. To enter, like this post, follow, and comment with the name of a father, grandfather, or family member whose story deserves to be remembered. Winner announced tomorrow. UK residents only.

When I started writing The Undefeated, I wasn’t sure anyone would read it. Today it’s reached readers in the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia. Thank you to everyone who has bought, reviewed, recommended or shared the book.

If you happen to be at a loose end in around 30 minutes and want to know more about prisoners of war in Europe in WW2 - click the link below. I’ll be taking questions from viewers as well as being grilled by Woody. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

Tonight at 7pm UK. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

This Wednesday I’ll be joining Paul Woodadge on WW2TV to discuss The Undefeated and the experiences of Allied POWs during WWII. Tune in via the link below and leave any questions you’d like us to cover during the show. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

FATHER’S DAY GIVEAWAY Win a signed copy of The Undefeated. To enter: • Like • Follow • Comment with the name of a father, grandfather or family member whose story deserves to be remembered UK only. Winner announced Sunday 21st June.

This Wednesday I’ll be joining Paul Woodadge on WW2TV to discuss The Undefeated and the experiences of Allied POWs during WWII. Tune in via the link below and leave any questions you’d like us to cover during the show. emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

One of my ambitions as an author is to walk into a bookshop and find The Undefeated on the shelves. If you’ve enjoyed the book and would like to help, please consider asking your local bookshop or Waterstones to stock it. ISBN: 9781917120579

FATHER’S DAY GIVEAWAY Win a signed copy of The Undefeated. To enter: • Like • Follow • Comment with the name of a father, grandfather or family member whose story deserves to be remembered UK only. Winner announced Sunday 21st June.

Every family seems to have one wartime story that gets passed down through the generations. What’s yours?

A friend recently introduced me to @WarMovietheatre.com and I’ve been burning through their episodes. The ones on Colditz and The Great Escape make exactly the points I’ve made in my book - enlisted men like my great grandfather have been mostly airbrushed out of the story!

March 1945: POWs at Oflag XIII thought freedom had arrived when American tanks reached Hammelburg. Instead, the rescue force was destroyed, and hundreds faced captivity again. #WW2 #MilitaryHistory

It all started with my great-grandfather, John Conway. His capture in 1940 and years as a POW sparked a journey that eventually led to The Undefeated. Sometimes history becomes personal.

Very interesting interview with @bill1940.bsky.social on his book 'The Undefeated': www.tracesofwar.com/news/13757/C... Great insights on the story of Allied POWs in Europa. Can't wait to read the book! #histbookchat

Nu op onze site: een interview met @bill1940.bsky.social over zijn boek 'The Undefeated', een geschiedenis van geallieerde krijgsgevangenen in Europa. Een onderbelicht maar zeker interessant verhaal! www.tracesofwar.nl/news/13760/G...

6 June is best known as D-Day. But four years earlier, my great-grandfather John Conway was fighting at Franleu in Normandy with the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. His capture and POW experiences inspired The Undefeated. Sometimes history becomes personal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A real page turner.” “The Undefeated delivered a vivid reality check.” “This book is a triumph.” Thank you for the incredible support and reviews. #WW2 #MilitaryHistory

They were captured, but never defeated. The Undefeated tells the untold stories of Allied POWs in Europe, 1939–45. If you’d rather buy from a bookshop than Amazon, ask your local bookseller for ISBN 9781917120579. #WW2History

What’s the biggest WW2 myth you believed until you learned otherwise? For many people, the reality of Allied POW life is very different from what films and popular culture often suggest. Interested to hear your answers.

One of the most thought-provoking POW reflections I’ve come across.

Captured in North Africa, Robert Garioch marched into captivity. Men discarded blankets, packs and possessions in the desert—but ‘never a water-bottle, not even an empty one.’ Years later: ‘We became so accustomed to barbed wire that we hardly noticed it.’ From The Undefeated. Au

Why did I write The Undefeated? Because the story of Allied POWs is about far more than tunnels, escape attempts and Hollywood myths. I wanted to tell the fuller story - through the voices of the men who lived it. Their experiences deserve to be remembered. #WW2 #SecondWorldWar #MilitaryHistory

‘The Undefeated delivered a vivid reality check.’ ‘A fantastic read. A real page turner!’ ‘This book is a triumph!’ Thank you for the incredible reviews and support for The Undefeated.

In 1944, wounded RAF airman Flight Sergeant Cuthbert Collingwood lay in a German hospital in Frankfurt as 800 RAF bombers attacked the city. 1/2

Why did I write The Undefeated? Because the story of Allied POWs is too often reduced to Hollywood myths. I wanted to tell the fuller story - through the voices of the men who lived it.

I’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by the response to The Undefeated. These reviews tell me the book is doing what I hoped: challenging old myths and bringing the real POW experience to light. Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, and shared it.

During the Second World War, one ship became a lifeline for thousands of Allied POWs: the Swedish liner Gripsholm. Neutral, protected, and marked with the Red Cross, she crossed war zones to bring wounded and sick prisoners home from captivity.

A few people have asked about Amazon reviews for The Undefeated - just to clarify, you do not need to have bought the book from Amazon to leave one. If you’ve read and enjoyed it, a short review would mean a great deal and really helps others discover the book. Thank you.

Just received The Undefeated by @bill1940.bsky.social after seeing it mentioned in #historybookchat I love how the table of contents reads like an album tracklist. This should be a good one 😁

RAF mechanic Richard Cherry was shot defending Maleme airfield in Crete in 1941. Wounded and left where he fell, he later endured overcrowded hospitals, brutal captivity, and nights where sewer rats ran over prisoners’ beds.

Hollywood gave us one image of Allied POWs. The archives tell another story - of endurance, deprivation, fear, and resilience. The Undefeated explores the reality behind the myths.

Still surreal seeing The Undefeated on readers’ bookshelves. Thank you to everyone who’s shared photos and support - it means a great deal. If you’ve got a copy, do tag me in your photos. #NonFictionBooks #HistoryAuthor #IndieAuthor

They were starved, beaten, marched across continents - yet never broken. The Undefeated reveals the real stories of Allied POWs in WWII, told in their own words. Not myth. Not film. Reality. The photographs show their faces. This book tells their story. 📖 Discover The Undefeated

If you’d like to know note about The Undefeated you can hear me talking about it in this video. youtu.be/N19Db3747Jg?...

What readers are saying about The Undefeated. Available now from @barnthorn.bsky.social