Author & historian of military history, local heritage and children's fiction. Public Engagement Coordinator (South-West) @CWGC. All views are my own.
South West, England
Joined October 2018
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Had a fantastic day at St John & St Francis School in #Bridgwater, #Somerset today, working with the two Year 6 classes on the theme of Remembrance. We covered so much: the impact of #WW1 on society, the armistice, the cenotaph, war medals, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, (1/2)
Spent the evening with 1st North Petherton Scouts in #Somerset, talking about the role and aims of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. We could have gone on all night - so many excellent questions and superb listening throughout.
We will remember them.
In one of the archive rooms at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission head office. So much history here - just not enough time!
#MilitaryMonday this week is Freshwater Redoubt on the #IsleOfWight. Built in 1856 to house 2 gun batteries at the western end of Freshwater Bay, it was sold into private ownership in 1928.
Find out more in #IsleOfWightsMilitaryHeritage
(Photo courtesy of Rik Smith CC BY-SA 4.0)
#CemeterySunday this week is Cologne Southern Cemetery in #Germany, which has over 2,500 Casualties. After #WWI, it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany, should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries - this was one.
#SecondWorldWarSaturday. At #PegasusBridge in #Normandy, #France, you'll find this life-size replica of a Horsa glider - just like the ones used on D-Day. #WW2
It's that time of year again, where thoughts soon turn to Bonfire Night, and therefore, Bridgwater Carnival in #Somerset! A spectacular event, the carnival carts really are something to behold, and that's why this is my #50GemsFriday for this week!
Well done to anyone who got it...the answer to #WhereIsItWednesday is Powderham Castle in #Devon!
#MilitaryMonday is from the stunning Urquhart Castle in #Scotland, which sits on the shores of Loch Ness and has 1,000 years of history to tell!
You can find out about it in my book: #CastlesOfScotland.
#CemeterySunday this week is from France. Merville Communal Cemetery has just under 1,300 casualties from #WW1, the vast majority of which lost their lives between 1914 - 1916.
#SecondWorldWarSaturday this week is the submarine base in #Lorient, #Brittany. It was built by the German Kriegsmarine between 1941 and 1944 for U-boats operating in the Atlantic. #WW2
#50GemsFriday is Bowood House in #Wiltshire. Built in 1725, it has the distinction of being the location where Joseph Priestley became the first person to discover oxygen as a separate gas!
#50GemOfWiltshire
Well I had a fabulous day Lenthall Infant School in #Dronfield, #Derbyshire working with children from Nursery to Year 2 on the theme of Remembrance.
Fantastic that they could remember me coming up last year; and building their knowledge & understanding year upon
(1 of 2)
#MilitaryMonday.
It may not look like much now, but these are the remains of the Chiseldon Camp Parade Ground in #Wiltshire - once an important training facility and staging area in both #WW1 and #WW2.
You can find out more in my book: #WiltshiresMilitaryHeritage.
#CemeterySunday.
Chatham Naval Memorial has the names of nearly 19,000 members of the Royal Navy who have no known grave from #WW1 and #WW2. This is one of three identical memorials: with Plymouth and Portsmouth having the same.
