What a brilliantly crap tank the Matilda I was

As a general note, I am really happy to help academic and other researchers and/or consult. I have over 20 years amassed a substantial archive covering the desert and Mediterranean war, not just Operation CRUSADER, covering all major participants and land, sea and air warfare. Just get in touch.

Hate to do this, but hubby and I have been hit with some incredibly crap news to start 2026 and may shortly be faced with a ton of and upheaval and unexpected expense. Please consider buying a mug or supporting my website if it's ever been any help to you. It all makes a difference. Thank you.

Let's start 2026 with an update about my next book: - It will be Vol. 2, not Vol. 1c - No, I've not made as much progress in 2025 as I wanted - Yes, I've already made significant significant progress in 2026 - Yes, I have a Table of Contents for you - Yes, it will cover all Osttruppen in Normandy

If you want to come to Ukraine to volunteer in a meaningful way, check out www.volunteeringukraine.com/en It's built to be the ultimate guide, and as far as I know there isn't a single greater resource out there. Share with your friends! Help #Ukraine.

Well no surprise to anyone who knows me (including myself) that this didn't get finished in time. Sherman II in desert pink from the Tasca kit. Still loads to do but an enjoyable process. #FestiveTankChallenge2025 #HistScaleModels

On 27 December 1 LAA Rgt RA came out of the line. It then typed up a report on its experience in defending against Axis air attacks. rommelsriposte.com/2012/06/24/t...

Weird. More redactions. Dunno why the photo didn't come out. Anyway... try again. This one for #FestiveTankChallenge2025 Plus the results of this morning's meagre efforts. Lower hull glues together and wheels being cleaned up. #HistScaleModels

Well, let's see if I can actually finish this one. #FestiveTankChallenge2025

“The United States, according to the New York Times, has a Maginot Line problem. The problem is that Monsieur Maginot’s infamous namesake fortification has little to do with what really happened in 1940.” Me in Foreign Policy (gift link) foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/18/f...

[1/2] At or about noon on 18.12.1944, the Pionierzug picked up Obergefreiter Max Zagler. The 24-year-old Austrian-born paratrooper was a member of 6. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 8, 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division but got separated from his unit. #battleofthebulge #worldwartwo

Now available for free. www.keymilitary.com/article/war-... @cedricmas.bsky.social @ima-naval-history.bsky.social @alanallport.bsky.social @jeffcrutherford.bsky.social

MAGAZINER: How many veterans have you deported? NOEM: We haven't deported veterans MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea

Everyone needs to get off X. Now. Government. Politicians. Your Aunty Judith. All of them are fueling this racist extremist billionaire

For 99 years, my church, St Martin in the Fields, has been raising money through a BBC radio appeal to help the homeless at Christmas time. We help not just people in London, but all over the UK. Dig deep, folks. smitfc.org/christmas/

Final paragraph, of the final chapter, of the final part, finalising the Hill 112 campaign. Finished by Welsh soldiers. Now onto Volume 2's home run. #WW2 #SWW #History

Anyone thinking that the US military is chock full of good people being led into doing bad things by the amoral cowards in Trump’s regime needs to I) give their head a wobble and II) read up on Nazi generals, many of whom were upstanding citizens with ethics. Before the Nazis, but then didn’t mind.

🗓️ #OTD in 1943 – D-Day planners finally agree how COPP will do beach recces of Normandy (🗺️ UKHO). > COPP 6 (already available) will operate from landing craft. They'll be joined by COPPs 2 and 4 once they finish training. > COPPs 1 and 9 will operate from X-craft mini subs. #NavalHistory 🧵

A note on a famous picture, dated (wrongly) 3 Dec 41. @curatorian.bsky.social The picture is often linked with the ambush by 28 (Maori) battalion that destroyed Vorausabteilung Knabe, on this date, and Forsyth claims a Matilda was captured. Just one problem, there were no tanks with VA Geissler.

I've been able to hold a physical copy of my new book today. It looks at the alleged disappearance of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment at Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12th August 1915. It's on sale now & I've left a link to where you can get a copy in the comments. #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli

Many people on socmed responding to the Farage racism story with ‘We all said things like that in the 70s’. If you did, you’re one of those who made my childhood miserable much of the time. And if you have no remorse, face facts: you’re (still) a racist.

The Junkers 88 (1936) evolved into the most versatile aircraft used by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. It served on all fronts in roles including bomber, heavy fighter, reconnaissance aircraft and night fighter. Over 14,600 were produced. 📷 Roy Cross/Airfix 🧵1/10

A favourite Jimmy Cliff song frequently heard round these parts. RIP youtu.be/tpjfPOY3ujg?...

Boris Johnson didn't apologise to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, even when she told him in person the lasting impact his comments about her had on her detention in Iran, her husband tells the BBC

Please consider helping these very good folks with their worthy cause. Cheers. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/family-win...

#OnThisDay in 1914 the Royal Flying Corps officially adopted the red, white & blue roundel for all its aircraft and those of the Royal Naval Air Service. Find out more about the RFC/RAF roundel at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/articles/the... #aviation #history

Or you can support an established, trusted source of Pennsylvania policy news. We've broken down a months-long state budget impasse and how the federal government shutdown has impacted you If you read us and find our work credible, make a one-time or monthly tax deductible donation now.

No words.

Trump Solemnly Lays Wreath At Site Where He Would Have Died During Vietnam War If He Weren’t Rich https://theonion.com/trump-solemnly-lays-wreath-at-site-where-he-would-have-1832907992/

Local war memorial. Twenty eight names from WW1, pre-war (1911) population of 360. Six more names from WW2. #armistice #11novembre #remembrance #monumentauxmorts

Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Been making steady if clumsy progress with the Italeri Sunderland for the #HeaviesGB Paint looks a bit patchy but will hopefully come together. Fun to get back into 1/72 after about thirty years.... #histscalemodels

I’m sure Matt Goodwin will be along shortly to tell us all whether LNER Customer Service Host Samir Zitouni counts as British or not. news.sky.com/story/train-...

Something nice.

I'm beginning to think you can't trust random videos on the internet

Remember guys, @pcsunion.bsky.social staff at the BL are on strike for the next two weeks. Please don't cross the picket line to go to reading rooms, attend exhibitions or anything else. They've endured so much on low pay since the cyberattack in 2023 and the least we can do is have their backs now.

Let’s see if the afternoon is better for this question.

WANKPANZER KLAXON Submission by email. Fleet services on the M3. Not one, not two, not three, but four spaces, this particular specimen chose to park over. If you zoom in, you'll see the inevitable twat plate too. Cunt. #YPLAC

Really important piece by @philippeauclair.bsky.social on how, even as Premier League clubs are supposed to be disengaging from Asian-facing bookies, they're lowering their standards to get every last drop of dubious cash. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Contrast this rhetoric with the GOP stance on the Jan. 6 insurrection.

👇👇

This is a huge story but massively under the radar in the UK. A US Christian legal org called the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is working to roll back abortion rights here using the same playbook it used in the US: briefing politicians, watching, waiting. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...

Last regular tour tomorrow. Fittingly down where these chaps were doing their thing in the fight against Nazism. #ThenAndNow #WW2 #Normandy44

It cannot be made clearer. If you continue to support the Harry Potter franchise in any way, you are directly funding the removal of trans people's human rights in the UK.

Modellers - the call you have been waiting all your lives for...! Does anyone have any models of #WW2 aircraft they could drop by a school in Newbury tomorrow? A group of students wants to film a scene - presumably with them going "Pew! Pew! Nerrrrr!" Please share 🙏

Interesting read 👇 #WW2 #Normandy44

I'm lost for words.

ICE secretly kidnap autistic boy during bathroom break—never notify parents. Mother reported him missing a week ago—turns out ICE had him detained the whole time. He was helping sell fruit and asked to go to the restroom—by the time she was done helping a customer he was gone. Houston, Texas

All being well, my next book comes out on 30 Nov 25. It looks at the alleged disappearance of the 5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment & looks at all the duff history that surrounds the story of their advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12 Aug 15 during the Gallipoli Campaign #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli