@seaspitfires.com
Author, historian & archaeologist, Lindblad Expeditions guide, National Geographic expert. Has a soft spot for WW2 Coastal Forces, landing craft, LCT 7074 & D-Day. Servant to Flynn. Writes books for Penguin. www.seaspitfires.com
I think the organisers may have got the names in the wrong order, but if you'd like to hear about the fate of the Kaiser's Navy after the First World War, come along! There's a late bar after all...
What’s the nicest seal? Depends what you mean by nicest! In 1935 the British Graham Land Expedition decided to find out. See the whole story at youtu.be/zsTu1ARxGgI?...
Following the SAS deeper into Antarctica at Stonington Island. John Tonkin – no stranger to narrow escapes – faces another in the ice, while Mike Sadler receives another honour shortly before he passed away. See the full film at: youtu.be/-siOoUDzqGI?...
I did a thing!
In my quest to become the next greatest influencer since whoever had the same ambition this morning, I have made a short video about the military history of Deception Island. You can find the 6 minute movie here:
youtu.be/ZapHyrZY7bY
In my latest Legion Magazine article - the first of two parts - I interview British historian and author Stephen Fisher (@seaspitfires.com) about the forgotten Canadians who fought not at Juno, but Sword Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
legionmagazine.com/the-canadian...
📸 Bantam Books.
MTB 17 was almost certainly rammed by her own torpedo, which in this early model MTB was dropped over the stern. However there was no explosion.
An oblique view of a flooded town
The same view as the previous photo from Google maps. The town is no longer flooded and has expanded considerably.
And another looking south over Vlissingen. On the left is the Noorderbegraafplaats cemetery. The road heading away on the left is Van Dishoeckstraat and leads to the shipbuilding yard at the docks.
📷 IWM CL 1502 & Google Maps.
An oblique view of a flooded town
The same view as the previous photo from Google maps. The town is no longer flooded and has expanded considerably.
Sort of around now in 1944, and today. Vlissingen on Walcheren flooded by the RAF raids that breached the dykes around the island. In the middle foreground is Our Lady's Church on Brouwenaarstraat.
📷 IWM CL 1506 & Google Maps.
W3 sat in the woods behind the dunes and has been removed, flooded by the dyke breach and overgrown. There's a few scattered bits of concrete in the vicinity of the memorial on the dyke. maps.app.goo.gl/TVHNpohQNvg6...
A little more checking confirms that W1 was in the grounds of Fort de Ruyter: maps.app.goo.gl/fm2rrBo5LQ6w...
W2 I’ve actually been too. They’re reasonably well preserved positions
maps.app.goo.gl/RhDK2qDFkCyG...
Left W3, right W1
Actually probably not W4
Marine Flak Abteilung 810 were positioned around Flushing, specifically at W1, W2 and W3 strongpoints and probably W4.
Me standing on polar bear watch with a gun in a mountainous setting with a glacier behind me
Finally back home after a long summer season that has taken me to four new countries, from the cold Arctic ice of Greenland’s ice cap to the sun baked hills of Gallipoli. Time for some rest and writing before I go back to Antarctica!
Have just got back from Normandy and I was delighted to discover that
History Hit have uploaded this documentary I did with @thehistoryguy.bsky.social to YouTube. You can learn all about D-Day remains on England’s south coast here:
A view off the Dutch island of Walcheren from the air
Finally back in NW Europe after 11 weeks almost constantly on the road/seas. Just two more battlefield tours to do and then, in 12 days, I can have a lie-in.
Except, a handy reminder from the plane that I have a book on #Walcheren44 to write!
After a well deserved rest, we spent the rest of the day exploring the French sector, where I got to bang on about France for a bit 🇫🇷 🇹🇷 @seaspitfires.com @istoriatravel.bsky.social @danielmcandrew.bsky.social @peterhart.bsky.social
Years ago, a #Gallipoli veteran taught @peterhart.bsky.social a song that he used to sing with his chums as they marched through here. Today he recreated it - badly… 🇹🇷 @istoriatravel.bsky.social @seaspitfires.com @peterhart.bsky.social @danielmcandrew.bsky.social
After Gully Beach it was a long trek up Gully Ravine to mirror the march to the front lines in this sector. The second image is the British front line #Gallipoli 🇹🇷 @peterhart.bsky.social @istoriatravel.bsky.social @seaspitfires.com @danielmcandrew.bsky.social
Here’s Gully Beach - not a landing spot but pivotal. The wreck is the lighter that Gen. Maude was supposed to escape the peninsula on. After it sank he did a mad dash towards W Beach to avoid getting stranded. (That’s a long way) 🇹🇷 @istoriatravel.bsky.social @seaspitfires.com @peterhart.bsky.social
Now it’s on to X Beach - which was defended by 12 Turks. Because who in their right mind would try and land troops on this tiny little strip of land… #Gallipoli 🇹🇷 #WW1 @nationalwwimuseum.bsky.social @istoriatravel.bsky.social @danielmcandrew.bsky.social @peterhart.bsky.social @seaspitfires.com
Day 3 proper and we’re back at Helles , specifically Pink Farm Cemetery to see a chap researched by @neilpuds.bsky.social #Gallipoli 🇹🇷 @istoriatravel.bsky.social @seaspitfires.com @peterhart.bsky.social @danielmcandrew.bsky.social
The steep cliffs at X beach
Gully Ravine behind X beach with steep cliffs on either side
Spectacular geology in Gully Ravine
Deep valleys crisscrossing the peninsular
Today on the @istoriatravel.bsky.social Gallipoli tour was all about terrain. Deep gulleys, imposing cliffs & plenty of inescapable high ground made moving across the peninsula punishing. It could never have been as easy as the plan demanded. With @alexchurchill.bsky.social & @peterhart.bsky.social
One thing that never changes about sharing #Gallipoli is watching the sheer folly and arrogance of the entire campaign dawning on people as they walk the ground, see the terrain and hear the “plan.”
Welcome to the Dardanelles @istoriatravel.bsky.social @seaspitfires.com 🇹🇷
Me surveying a glacier from a small hill. I’ve got a rifle slung on my back because I’m a historian.
Here’s a better photo of my time in the Arctic. I’m afraid I’m still on the road and won’t be back home for another 3 weeks, but I can check my sources then. I’ll try and look through my digital files before then, but it might be tricky on an iPad!
I haven’t I’m afraid, but I did visit Bluie West One in Greenland (as depicted in Masters of the Air). Currently sat in St John’s airport waiting to fly to Turkey.
Me bound in heavy ropes
Only yesterday I was out on trial in a Viking court for mispronouncing Newfoundland. My defence was that I speak the King’s English. It didn’t wash.
