Dr Rory M. Butcher

Well that's some fun news! My 1st article on #18thC history is now live: doi.org/10.1177/096834452413…. I argue that the fencibles' relationship with authority was fundamentally shaped by their limited service: in how justice was done and how men engaged with their officers /1

Day 2 in the "goes to early modern forts on a romantic couple trip" series features the remnants of this 16thC battery to guard the harbour of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Turns out it's easier to stop raiders if you have cannon...if only the monks knew in 793 #academiclife – at Belford, England

So today's skillset includes managing to turn a romantic weekend away into another edition of "let's go walk around this ruined early modern fort". This week: Eyemouth and the mid-16thC – at Belford, England

Very excited to have booked my ticket for @SocHistoryWar Conference at @UL next month! Can't wait to talk about fencible enlistment demographics and historical statistics, and maybe make a few new friends along the way #academiclife

So some fun news: 1) I'm starting my @LeedsAHRI Visiting Research Fellowship, as I broaden my research into pre-enlistment migration 2) I've began my new role as the Research Promotion Officer at the @Royal_Armouries, co-ordinating academic outreach for the next year Busy me!

Sadly my recent role with the Realities of War team at the @Royal_Armouries is ending, but I've been delighted to still get to be part of some days working with Armed Forces veterans' charities. It's been wonderful to develop ways to engage with a new audience 📷 Royal Armouries

Hello @UkNatArchives my old friend, I've come to research here again – at Hammersmith, London

A wonderful day to celebrate graduating from my #phdlife, with incredible incredible thanks to my supervisor @historykevin and my internal examiner Stephen Alford! – at Leeds, England

What hollywood says the late 14th century looked like versus what research says the late 14th century looked like I was so excited for this film announcement BUT WHY IS IT ALL SO GREY

#academicnetworking is often better in 33 degree heat in a field in France, right @RobbieMacNiven?

My fiancée has wonderfully volunteered to help me do some transcribing in @RecordOffice, but has intermittently asked/demanded of me why people in the 18thC don't form any letters properly. EG Neglect has become foregleet 😅 Does anyone have any (incorrect) answers for her?

So turns out that copying over 220 GB of your PhD and early academic career takes....a long while and much of a laptop processing power. Who knew?

Slightly surreally, I've had a student email me to, amongst other practical things, personally thank me for my teaching this year, saying that I am a "great orator and always provided interesting and challenging perspectives". I'm not quite sure how flattered I should be!

A bittersweet moment to have finished teaching my last classes of the semester (and if things don't go well, possibly my academic career)... Oh well, just got marking to look forward to! – at Rothwell, England