Jojohook2003
Professional Battlefield Guide & Military Historian WW1/WW2 Op MG, WF - MA WW1. Presentations & podcasts. Dad designed Quality Street tins & drew maps in WW2
- The last night of my last tour was spent watching the incredible son et lumiere which, this year is played out every night from mid July to September. Even if you have only one night in Amiens this incredible light and sound show is well worth a watch
- Amiens cathedral - enjoying the son et lumiere with my small group of Australians. Personally I think for anyone spending a few nights in Amiens (or even one) this is a must. It takes place this year from 20 July through to September and is spectacular
- Village life in Norfolk bliss
- Norman Lancaster. A Yorkshireman and not very long married - I wonder if he ever saw his child. He was killed at Best 22.09.44 & is commemorated on the memorial there. @edwinpopken did a massive amount of research (freely) to add all names to memorial. Norman’s was one of them.
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- For the past two days @edwinpopken.bsky.social and I have delved into the US experience WW1. We have spent most of our time getting soaking wet but it was all worth it for the tangible evidence which abounds in the Meuse Argonne. More research needed we have only touched the surface
- It’s another beautiful day. I don’t think I can honestly remember such a continuous period of sunshine. It was lovely seeing friends last night and my fab friend @flandersbtour.bsky.social After a super 2 days in Ypres today starts with an impromptu stop at Ploegsteert Wood before heading south
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- This mornings walk and I had a bit of a Mexican stand off with this lovely deer. Off he went into the wheat to hide. Well he would never pass an escape and evasion course as his ears were still sticking out of the wheat crop.
- A super day at the Gallipoli conference. Superb speakers. I caught up with some great friends during the breaks and who could ask for a better venue than Great War Huts. An added bonus was the sun shone and cake in the afternoon was delicious
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- This small little memorial is on the building where some of the first French Resistance networks were formed. On 11 November 1940 (note date) a large body of students demonstrated against the Nazis. It is not far from Arc de Triomphe where unknown warrior for France is buried
- Thirty one years ago this little book accompanied me to Normandy. It was a Holts special anniversary edition. Back then veterans were in much better health & those I met I asked to sign my book. Silly really, but today it is a treasured possession - I did the same for Arnhem
- Research today for tour departing end of week. Tragic words from a bereaved mother in a letter to the authorities: “Oh who can tell what these things mean to a broken hearted mother”
- Home today & tidying up. Because the house mysteriously gets dirty while you are away. Dunkirk the Last Battle - this newspaper is now nearly 84 yrs old - dated 5 June 1940 it is a brilliant primary source doc covering final days of Dunkirk. As they say from the horses mouth.
- Cloud formations at Le Hamel this morning - what a vista
- Just at home from a fab tour. On board was grandson of Harry Murray, AIF’s most decorated soldier. Harry’s grandson, Don, added snippets of his grandpa’s stories as told to him all of which made a truly memorable tour. Getting Harry’s grandson to Stormy Trench was icing on cake
- An Another sunny morning on the WF. Today a walk to Blauwepoort Farm Cemetery a stunningly beautiful cemetery that I have not been to before. Said hallo to a lone cow on guard by an old British bunker before starting day heading south with 21 passengers - onwards to Bullecourt
- Another day started off with low lying mist which always gives the land that ethereal quality. 6kms covered this morning with a return via ramparts. Walls that have withstood the test of time. Today, Major Duck as forward observation officer keeping guard across the moat
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- Walking in Paris this morning another beautiful morning but sadly came across this little memorial in remembrance of Jewish schoolchildren who attended this school and from here were deported to the concentration camps - it took the sun out of my morning a bit
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- Dawn breaking and an early morning walk before heading into Paris. Spring has to be the best time of year. Just the birds and the odd deer for company
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- Thread 🧵 leaving today for London. My group a small group of young people from Queensland who have the most fantastic trip planned. They arrive at Heathrow and spend until Weds with me. We visit IWM (and yes I hope to see the Ashcroft collection
- A fitting tribute to end our tour. We raised a glass from a bottle of port that was especially made to commemorate the anniversary of Falklands. Only a few were made & so it was opened at the Oosterbeek Cemetery in commemoration of all those airborne troops who have been KIA
- This morning covering day 2 of Operation Market we started out at DZ Y and covered 10 Para and 156 Para Btns. It’s a beautiful morning to be out on the battlefields
- An eclectic group of gentlemen are my next passengers on Thursday. Walking the 1st British Airborne routes. Am taking a deep dive into each Brigade at Arnhem with none other than the Curry Club of Frinton-on-Sea. Only the weather can stop us now
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- A day working on my presentation for the first Great War Huts event “A Bridge too Far Fetched?” - hopefully putting to bed some of the myths surrounding Op MG. It’s a brilliant film but should be watched as a dramatisation with inevitable inaccuracies - Bring up the fiat!! 😊
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- Picked this up yesterday at book launch in Oosterbeek. To say it is packed with detail is an understatement. Maps, accounts & packed with information - a go to for anyone who needs a definitive account of German aspect of Op MG - after all, there is always 2 sides to a story
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- thread 🧵 Auschwitz had always been on my list of places to visit. Having a mum and dad who lived alongside a big Jewish community in London and hearing stories from a young age attracted my attention. School history covered it and my interest deepened 1/
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