A beautifully made but honest sleight of hand (& half) by Peter Johnsson and Mikael’s reaction at being taken in by it, as we all were!

Unexpected bonus at end of my stay in Visby. Chance to examine the amazing Roman-style Spatha recovered from a warrior grave in Gotland in 2021 with a masterclass in theory of metal working with swordsmithing guru Peter Johnsson. It’s a thing of beauty with elephant ivory guard.

Great day of public talks at the museum in Visby. Been a fabulous few days working with iconic sites and objects, and hanging out with lovely people.

Thanks to Maria Lindström for a great tour of Masterby 1361 battlefield in Gotland yesterday. Grateful to see another rare example of the sort of archaeology a medieval battle can leave behind. Do need to paint those figures on the diorama though!

Visited the 1361 battlefield at Masterby in Gotland today. The local church was giving off big M R James vibes.

Just heard “stripped of military rank” on news. Old enough for it to bring this to mind.

Peter Watkins gone. He was a hugely important filmmaker. Best known for The War Game but his 1964 Culloden film still influences way history TV is made today. It’s not perfect but it’s amazing and on YouTube as a good print. Watch it in his honour! youtu.be/-1TZq6DfKKA?...

For those who have the app, the podcast version of an interview Derek Alexander & l gave at Culloden during recent dig. Includes our interpretation of what we think the team of volunteers and archaeologists found over a week of hard work. Think a shorter version will go out on radio this weekend.

OTD 1854 - Charge of the Light Brigade. Here's my fave Lady Butler painting: Balaclava (1876), which drew criticism for showing reality of war. Central figure is veteran of charge William Henry Pennington who posed. Look and feel of work influenced Tony Richardson's 1968 movie.

Another busy day at Culloden. Worked some boggy terrain, which in 1746 caused Jacobite left difficulty in advance & retreat, but provided valuable insight into battle. Presenting initial thoughts on our discoveries in a talk at Visitor Centre 6pm tomorrow. shorturl.at/NIcFg

Great to be back on the field at Culloden, and a beautiful day into the bargain. On the surface all is now still, but the battle still lurks beneath our feet.

Tomorrow l give my last lecture on the Axis occupation of Crete and John Pendlebury. But there’s no way l can stop talking about it or him.

Everyone’s a critic…

Sorry to hear about the passing of Danny Thompson. Enjoyed him many a time live as the perfect partner to John Martyn’s mesmerising guitar and vocals. Hope they are playing together again somewhere. youtu.be/UQQYLV9ir5A?...

Eve of my last ever new academic year. Everything I do from now until end of May will be for last time. Tomorrow it's the intro lecture for my Islands at War in the 20th century course. I've always liked this one and sure some of content will get post-retirement outings.

Taking part in this fabulous event at Uppsala University’s Gotland Campus in Visby, Sweden on Fri 7 November. Places will be limited. @kabweprq.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social @uofgwarstudies.bsky.social @uu.se

Beginning the long journey home, but the work continues.

On our way south from Hue to Da Nang driving along the ‘Street without Joy’. Climbed the notorious switchbacks up the Hải Vân pass where many an ambush on US convoys was executed. Amazing views of Da Nang from pillboxes on summit.

Hien Nhon gate, imperial city, Hue.

One of my favourite gardens. The Emperor’s Reading Room in the Imperial City, Hue.

My Jane Fonda moment. 14.5mm anti-aircraft gun used to defend Road No.9 in Southern Laos campaign 1971. Ho Chi Minh Trail Museum, Hanoi. Next stop Hue.

Happy 80th Birthday Vietnam!

The Haulers memorial. Pays tribute to those who dragged the Vietnam People’s Army artillery, including 105mm howitzers captured from the Americans by Chinese in Korean War, through the mountains. A move which sealed fate of entrenched French Union forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

Dien Bien Phu. Sunset over Laos from Dominique 2. This position was manned by Moroccan, Algerian and T’ai troops when it fell to 209th regiment of the Vietnam People’s Army on night of 30/31 March 1954.

First stop today - famous B52 wreckage in lake. Shot down by SAM2 missile Dec 27 1972 during Op Linebacker II. Air defences downed 15 B52 bombers plus other planes. 20,000 tons bombs dropped over 12 days killing over 1600 civilians. Now monument to resilience of people of Hanoi.

Wednesday evening in downtown Hanoi. Flags out to mark national day on 2 Sept when Vietnam marks independence from French & Japanese in 1945. Nothing like rounding off arrival from 17 hour flight with a Korean barbecue with old buddy Mark Waycaster. History stuff starts for real in am.

Shields up! In coming barbs on historical inaccuracy in 3, 2, 1….

His Travels with my Aunt probably my favourite theatre experience ever. But a huge influence on my young imagination as a student frequenting the Citz. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Remember when TV showed a movie as tribute to a deceased actor? Feeling need for Terence Stamp. Audit of house DVDs: Priscilla, Limey, Madding Crowd, Conspiracy of Wolves & Valkyrie. Think I’d go for The Collector though. Would invite you round but they might not be your choice.

That handsome devil Terence Stamp has left us. So much great work but l guess always remembered as Sergeant Troy. Priscilla though was a stunning late career performance. I was once seated at the table next to his in a London restaurant & could barely eat because as so excited.

Planning itinerary for return to Dien Bien Phu. Dry-run at being a battlefield guide there this time. That's French commander de Castries surrendering to Giap's Viet Minh forces on 7 May 1954 as depicted on stunning panorama in museum where last year I met a VM artillery veteran.

OTD 1819 Peterloo Massacre. 18 killed & hundreds wounded when pro-democracy meeting of c.60,000 people charged by Cheshire yeomanry, Manchester & Salford Yeomanry & 15th Hussars with 31st & 88th Regts & artillery also deployed. 15th fought at Waterloo & a Waterloo veteran among marchers killed.

Ralph had fun being a dune dog today.

Flights booked. Looking forward to dropping into Dien Bien Phu again in August. youtu.be/lMV2-Gjvnug?...

Don't care about the controversy, the movie of The Salt Path looks worth a watch.

While working on the battlefield, took a look at the archaeology of Waterloo re-enactment before litter pickers arrived. Firing lines marked by paper cartridges & postholes show location of mock buildings, cork & foil left behind by exploding charges. Oh, and a pizza box or two.

This hasn't changed my mind about retiring, but... "I am -- from your Islands at War course. First of all, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the class - it was truly my favourite course throughout my 4 yrs at uni. I learned so much, and it really stayed with me long after the lectures ended."

Reading Mortimer Wheeler on his time in Egypt in 1942 while he was reading Gordon Childe. Meanwhile he was directing AA fire on bombers coming in over Crete on a plotting board part obscured by a game of whist. I’ve nicked part of his title for my book.

Most of the world might have been distracted by a popular beat combo called Oasis last night, but l was being wowed by my incredibly talented stepson as he danced in front of a sold out Theatre Royal in Glasgow. Stunning.

Battle re-enactments can be educational, but hosting them on the ground on which the real blood was shed never sits well with me. Change my mind.

Bonus at brother’s wedding in Yorkshire was stumbling across a couple of locations from opening credits of the original series of All Creatures Great and Small, a firm favourite during lockdown.

OTD 1815 & morning after the day before at Waterloo. What happened to the thousands of dead men & horses? Who cleaned up & where did all the stuff go? What about the wounded? What fate befell the battlefield & its dead in the years to come? Read all about it in these 3 articles:

OTD 1815 Napoleon defeated by allied army under Wellington. Today the battlefield aids veteran recovery through the work of Waterloo Uncovered in a project which has added to understanding of the battle & its aftermath. Excavation of a horse killed by a cannon ball at Mont St Jean from last year.

OTD 6 yrs ago we staged biggest 28mm tabletop wargame ever - over 24,000 figures & 120 players. Table mats formed prob biggest battle map ever printed (based on Siborne). Raised £20,000 for Waterloo Uncovered. Most insane thing l’ve ever come up with. French lost again!

Had a fun day this week filming a segment on the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge - the old bridge, not that one, that’s the new old bridge, alas the old old bridge is down.

OTD 1982 Battle of Tumbledown rages through night. Scots Guards fought Argentine troops at bayonet point along crest & flank of this dragon’s back of a mountain. In 2022 we returned with veterans for first archaeological survey. Read free Falklands War Mapping Project book: shorturl.at/s5LXw

Sir Sidney Smith RN was kick-ass. Nelson jealous & Napoleon blamed him for missing his destiny. Portrait by J. Eckstein c.1802 celebrating his role in breaking French siege of Acre in 1799. An inspiration for Jack Aubrey here but also Lee Van Cleef in Few Dollars More here IYKYK

Excited by the prospect of dropping into Dien Bien Phu again this year. youtu.be/_S2ejfZ3kjE?...

Just as well U-Boat commanders didn’t have marine traffic apps in WW2.

Half way through Patrick O'Brian's second M&C novel. I more than appreciate an escape using clothes as a disguise, but the very long walk dressed as dancing bear almost killed this for me!