And that's it! Over the last 4 and a half years I have carried out research in 28 archives across the British Isles, written a 100k+ word thesis, defended it in a viva, and at last my corrections are approved (and the thesis finally submitted). #phdone

I offer no further comment at this time Brb just adding Dr to my name on here #vivadone #itsdoctoractually

Viva in 36 hours.... #phdlife

One week to go until registration closes for this online conference I'm participating in. There might also be some fun news to share so would be lovely to see some friendly names in the attendees list (plus there's some amazing speakers scheduled)! fortticonderoga.org/ft_events/vi...

Thrilled to have been invited back by the @napwarspod.bsky.social to finally discuss my thesis. As Zack said, I am clearly post-submission: how I see the fencibles and their place in the period has changed so much in 4 years For the better, if I do say so myself 😅 open.spotify.com/episode/0Xz2...

Although a little late, it was an absolute pleasure to have been able to present at @nationalarmymuseum.bsky.social last Friday about some elements of my thesis. My family was even able to attend; after all, a good audience (in-person and online) makes this all worthwhile! Photo by Simon Hendley.

The academic job market in a nutshell:

This week: - go to Berlin ✅️ - do some touristing ✅️ - present on some of my research in an 18thC palace ✅️ - meet some amazing people at @sochistorywar.bsky.social ✅️ - coin "frasers's triangle" ✅️👀 - get coolest souvenir ✅️ Gosh I'm tired

The Fraser Triangle (patent pending)

"Pray Excuse the length of this Letter & the great trouble I have given you of late." - Alexander Macdonell of Glengarry to Henry Dundas, 9 November 1794 - Also me to my supervisors, September 2021 - October 2025. #phdlife

In fun news - thesis submitted! Now just gotta do this whole viva thing...how hard can it be? #phdsubmitted #phdlife

All roads lead to Yorkshire #royalarmouries

And so begins my annual shelter from naval historians doing Trafalgar day Anyone else joining me in the "French Wars land warfare bunker"? We have biscuits #trafalgardayagain

So I went to get one book to plug a hole in a footnote...and ended up also getting my own copies of 4 core texts (admittedly at very good prices) This is all @kevinlinch.bsky.social's fault and I also shouldn't be allowed to shop books alone 🤣

The dust settles on the first day of seminars of the semester. Mostly good attendance, mostly good engagement so far...what could possibly go wrong? #academia

With me finally wrapping up my PhD, I can also announce that I will be speaking at @NAM_London on Friday 5 December, 12-1pm, about the fencibles, civil-military relations, and martial masculinity. I'll be there in person, but it can be watched online *and* is free! www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/fen...

And that's the first full draft of my phd thesis compiled and sent to supervisors. Where did the last 4 years go?

I know I've been rather little quiet on here of late. Rest assured I am doing just fine (even if juggling PhD, work, personal stuff, and hobbies is a lot). In a small update, however, I've officially pressed go on "my" part of the intent to submit - it's nearly over! #phdlife

A book people should get www.steiner-verlag.de/The-Hidden-J...

Life stuff (our car imploding) rather scuppered a phd-focused end to the week, but I absolutely loved going to @camhistory.bsky.social to present on this aspect of my research. Massive thanks to @1812andallthat.bsky.social at for inviting/hosting me, and to Col John Baillie for this title quote

Was very happy to have been able to witness this in person!

So happy to be able to announce that in a couple of weeks I'm going to be speaking on negotiated authority in the fencibles at @camhistory.bsky.social, hosted by @1812andallthat.bsky.social! Free attendance and all that, & would be lovely to see some friendly faces www.cfg.cam.ac.uk/events/contr...

I just want it on record that I *hate* writing literature reviews. I know they're necessary but why can't I just say "I promise I've read some stuff" #phdlife

I've just finished the argument summary for chapter 5 and, in a terrifying moment, realised that *this* is the complete sum of the last 43~ months of my life #phdlife

A special moment here: the last conference paper of my PhD! Now to rid myself of this turbulent thesis #phdlife

And now to @kevinlinch.bsky.social about the Georgian Army Officers project! Genuinely such a worthwhile piece of work, and a practical tool that I've already been able to make good use of #WellingtonCongress2025

Thoroughly enjoyed @1812andallthat.bsky.social speaking about Shadrack Byfield - lots of food for thought! #WellingtonCongress2025

Very excitedto hear as @beatricedegraaf.bsky.social kicks off the #WellingtonCongress2025

Bidding adieu to @harchivestrust.bsky.social as I head towards Southampton. A brief but helpful visit, and inspires another reminder from me to go and use these resources! Local archives are just amazing

Hmmm delicious research @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy #phdlife

In possibly a bad move for most of my friends' wallets, I'd like to draw your attention to the 60% OFF SPRING SALE that Oxfam are running AND IT INCLUDES A LOT OF BOOKS Seriously go look onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/sale

I completely understand the need for banks to use 2-factor authentication on major purchases to prevent fraud. But can we safely assume that if someone's stolen my card, they're not buying a copy of @historymatt.bsky.social's "The Independent Man"?

@graemecallister.bsky.social introducing @zwhitehistory.bsky.social on the EIC army, featuring an incredibly raised eyebrow

Highlights from today's first year teaching include: - How do you demonstrate liking something? "Annoy people online with fan fiction" - "Imagine inconveniencing the archbishop of Canterbury" #academia #phdlife #teaching #history

Now finally physically (if not mentally) recovered from @societyarmy.bsky.social #sahr2025, I can begin to reflect on the weekend. I definitely chose an ambitious challenge for myself, Andrew Bamford and Matthew Hough. A 2 day parallel panel conference on #militaryhistory /1

One of the last panels in our 2025 Research Conference, now only short weeks away, considers understandings of leadership and motivations in the years before, during, and after the #FWW. After all, what makes people actually fight, and what keeps them in the fight, is essential to military life

The Napoleonic and French Rev Wars were a period of transition, with armies increasing in scale and tactics evolving. 1 panel at our 2025 conference - this month! - will consider the experiences that were defined by the global nature of the conflict, from families at home to soldiers abroad.

Conference tickets are available at ahc.leeds.ac.uk/history/even...

Samuel Dodson will start by discussing British and Allied engineering in the #7YW; Mick McTiernan will explain the friction during British peacekeeping deployments to Crete, 1897-1805; & @silenceinpolish.bsky.social will bring us the tale of the 1939 British military mission to Poland!

We won't just have khaki on offer at our 2025 Conference. One of our panels will look at British soldiers' health in the #18thC, linking military/social/medical history, and considering how health outcomes impact the success of warfare, and the quality of life for British military personnel

One of the 1st panels at our 2025 Conference concerns British and Commonwealth army training methods during the #SWW. Papers will discuss how allied HQ trained their officers and men in North Africa and the Middle East, offering a transnational perspective on the traditionally "imperial" force

The 2nd keynote at our 2025 Research Conference will be delivered by @thehistorygirl1.bsky.social, of our hosts @universityofleeds.bsky.social, and @owalpodcast.bsky.social. Her career has focused on social & cultural history of the #FWW, considering gender, medicine, & disability.

And we're going to be operating fully hybrid, so you can attend even if you're unable to get there in person!

So today was JRR Tolkien's birthday, and many fans will today raise a glass to celebrate him and his work. I am especially mindful at present of this line from the hobbit: "if more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." To the Professor.

#HappyNewYear one and all! Hopefully my last of my #phdlife 🤞 What could possibly go wrong?

People in 2024: *selfies with singers and actors* Me in 2024: *selfies with Diderot's Encyclopédie and the Cassini Map of France* Very impressed by the @sciencemuseumldn.bsky.social's Versailles #scienceandsplendour exhibition! #notlikeothertourists

I'm never sure what to put on social media as #HappyChristmas wishes. Peace on earth (obvi), and good food, and a season's rest from marking/work, for all. But Dec 25th 1795 also saw the Glengarry Fencibles volunteer to extend their service to St Marcou (island in the English Channel)! #phding

Well that's some fun news! My first journal article on #18thC history is now here: doi.org/10.1177/0968... I argue that the fencible relationship with authority was fundamentally shaped by their limited service, in how justice was administered *and* how the men engaged with their superiors. /1

Want to come and hear about the 1939 Polish Military Mission from @silenceinpolish.bsky.social? Or about desertion in the army of King James II from @markshearwood.bsky.social? Or maternity in the #21stC British army from @sjolley.bsky.social? Tickets still available, for both in-person and online

*Finally* got the body of this chapter done...only 2 weeks or so later than I'd planned. On the plus side, introductions and conclusions are like a half an hour job right?