IT’S A DISGRACE. My sis-in-law is a primary school teacher at breaking point. She gives virtual lessons & also actual lessons to kids of key workers who still come into school. Her younger staff are too ‘stressed’ & are off work. She also has 2 of her own kids at home.
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James Holland
@James1940
Historian, author & broadcaster of the Second World War. Chalke Valley History Festival. #WarGen #WeHaveWays podcast. #Normandy44 #Sicily43
James Holland’s Tweets
Blimey.
Just how good were these boys today? Not easy carrying a lead-lined oak casket with the late Queen within faultlessly but they’ve done just that. Massive hats off.
What a truly extraordinary life of unstinting service. I feel really very odd. And sad.
Ah, sad, sad news. The brillIant, wonderful Tom Neil, veteran of the Battle of Britain, Malta, D-Day and outstanding test pilot and author passed away last night. The world is a lesser place without him...
I’v got literally 1,000s of pics for my new #Normandy44 book but only 16 pages of pics allotted. Am thinking of adding a load more on my website. Would anyone be interested to see these?
I’m totally with both for his right to express his own views but more importantly on the sentiment. How can claim these plans are either legal or compassionate is totally beyond me. And sending any of them to Rwanda is absolutely despicable.
I love this. Classy from Vitesse Arnhem. twitter.com/RoyallyLad/sta
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Hope for Ukraine. Key to a defensive battle is holding the nodal points - cities, crossroads, rivers etc. France failed to do so in 1940, US forces did in the Ardennes in 1944. The longer the Ukrainians hold onto Kyiv, the more Putin’s rapid victory plan is derailed.
And just talking to my great friend and sage, : ‘Zelensky is proving as important to Ukraine as Churchill was to Britain in 1940.’ Defiant, unifying, speaking to the free world, standing up to autocractic, deranged despots. Keep going !
The Silver Spitfire returns! The is over! What an achievement - surely up there with the greatest pioneering feats of aviation! Many congrats not just Matt and Steve but the whole team - incredible effort! @BoultbeeAcademy
The inside of Salisbury Cathedral’s astonishing spire. None of this wooden scaffolding actually touches the stonework. And completed by 1330, people. Truly amazing.
I’ve an idea to write a book about the #SherwoodRangers from D-Day to the end of the war: a single tank unit, elegaic, moving, more Ernie Pyle than Amrbose, bottom up, all about the people involved, the machines, the drama & action, the tragedy, the triumph. What do you think?
I’ve retreated to an old cottage in Cornwall to get cracking with the writing of my new book. And at 6.20am this morning I began. It’s an awful wrench starting the writing process, but Sicily 43 is underway. And actually, I feel better already.
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...homes to check they’re OK. AND its now being suggested she willl have to help test pupils for Covid. says parents should report teachers who aren’t delivering. She says someone should report him for so badly letting her down. PLEASE HELP AND RT THIS THREAD
SCAMPTON - what the heck? So, there’s a brilliant plan in place that promises £300 million to the site, 1,000 jobs, safeguards Scampton’s heritage, converts the Officers’ Mess into a hotel and continues the airfield’s aviation story. Please RT. Shout loud, folks!
Gosh, Zelensky is impressive, isn’t he? A true underdog hero, showing the world that one has to stand up to bullies and villains with black and rotten hearts, no matter the consequences, no matter the odds. A shining beacon of indefatigable human spirit.
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Have been dragged to a car boot sale by my daughter and have just bought this: a portrait of a decorated Firet World War soldier. He needed rescuing. £1, somewhere, somewhere in a field in Hampshire… Blimey. How had it come to this?
A much better video! A Sherman in Chelsea! Seriously, what’s not to like??? brilliantly going to town on this one. #BrothersInArms
Just been sent this by who points out that this Indian news channel is putting up pictures of SWW Tiger tanks to illustrate the fighting in Ukraine. Bottom right has even still got its black cross on. Crikey.
V sad to report that Stan Perry passed away this morning - the last troop commander of the Sherwood Rangers. Incredible to think he was wowing us at #WarFest just a couple of weeks ago. What a remarkable & lovely man he was. Thoughts with his daughter, Kat.
From my sickbed have just rewatched The Cruel Sea. What a film! Stunning performances, real ships, everything just right & plenty of drama, action and heart-wrench. And how good is Jack Hawkins? Can convey emotion without words like no man...
I can’t understand why anyone is feeling outraged about this. It’s a sensitive & sensible way of dealing with a dog’s name that is deeply offensive to many, has no bearing on historical events, & which detrimentally distracted from the achievements & heroism of Guy Gibson VC.
John Hamilton: 101, Dunkirk veteran, AA gunner & shot down 3 Stukas. ‘The film was rubbish,’ he says. Oh, and he goes to the gym five days a week and does 400 sit-ups each morning. And saw Hedley Verity bowling & first went to Lord’s in 1932. #AmazingHistory
It’s incredible to think there is just one Battle of Britain pilot left - John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway. I can’t help think of all those I was lucky enough to have known best: Geoff Wellum, Tom Neil, Bob Doe, Pete Brothers, Bee Beamont, Jimmy Corbin, Bam Bamberger. All gone. It’s sad.
It’s the biggest question: how did Hitler the Nazis mobilise so much hate for the Jews that the Holocaust could take place? This is the 1st part with & profoundly thought-provoking stuff. I look at this photo & always wonder how they could have done it.
An Open Letter to - signed by 40 historians and interested persons. SAVE SCAMPTON! Pls RT, people!
Kristallnacht took place 80 years ago today - a timely reminder of the evils of intolerance, overt nationalism and how such things can very quickly get out of hand. Utterly appalling that today anti-Semitism is on the rise again.
To all interested parties in the fraternity and beyond, I don’t have much news on PCA except that he’s OK and stable and op went well.
It’s too sad. Last week Tom Neil, now the wonderful, brilliant Geoff Wellum, author of First Light, one of greatest memoirs ever written and someone who was simply just great fun to be around. This is a truly sad day. I salute them both. They will be dearly missed.
This DDay 75 Garden by John Everiss at Arromanches really is beautiful and incredibly moving. Here, the veteran looks across at the fading memory of his younger self. Profound, thought-provoking and rather sad too. #DDay75
I’ve heard it said we shouldn’t take to account now because of rising costs & war. Tosh! Asquith kicked out in 1916, Churchill in July 45. Ths PM broke the law. What about honesty & principles? And we’re not at war.
What an extraordinary, life-affirming day yesterday, talking to the 96 year-old last surviving officer of the Sherwood Rangers. Working class start, briefly SAS, whirlwind romance (74 year marriage), twice wounded (2nd time near fatally) & incredible memories, wisdom & humour.
The Silver Spitfire begins it’s journey. Quite amazing! Good luck, boys! #LongestFlight #SilverSpitfire
I have to say, this is a LOT of Spitfires. What a sight! Pretty amazing effort and on a slightly soggy afternoon too.
The Germans signed an unconditional surrender at 2.41am on Monday 7 May 1945. The war in Europe was over, 76 years ago today. A long time ago in one way, but a pinprick in another.
Never forget the New Zealanders. Punched massively above their weight in the Second Wolrd War.
A captivated - and silent - pub in central London watching King Charles’ address. Really very moving. ‘God save the King’ people say at its end.
Just how brilliant is Ghosts? Funny, touching, moving, & superbly observed. Utterly charming and enchanting - my favourite sitcom. Feeling a bit wistful to have finished Series 3.
Incredible footage and underlines Gibson’s extreme youth. Just 24 for goodness sake!
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Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944). He was the first Commanding Officer of 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid in 1943, resulting in the breaching of two large dams in the Ruhr area of Germany. #WW2 #HISTORY
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Have just been to a service for the Queen at St Bart’s with which ended with the national anthem - now God save the King. It’s going to take a little getting used to.
A bit stunning!
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This morning OC BBMF flew out in Spitfire AB910 to greet the @Airbus Messerschmitt Foundation Me262 replica ahead of its arrival to RIAT. The Me262 and our spitfire took part in an air to air photography shoot to mark the rare occasion of these two aircraft types flying together!
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Ah, lovely Johnny Johnson - what a wonderful, gentle, thoughtful human being. The last of the Dam Busters. That’s it. End of an era. A big and sad moment.
What a good thing it was that the Kinder Transport and those Jews escaping Nazi Germany in the late 1930s weren’t confronted by and this mob in Govt at the moment. Blimey. The shame of our approach to Ukrainian refugees…
Hooray! Publication day for Sicily 43 & also paperback of Normandy 44 (with new content). If this might be your cup of tea, thank you very much in advance & I really hope you enjoy one or other or both! They’ve certainly be fascinating to write.
First Tom Neil, then Geoff Wellum and now the wonderful Mary Ellis. Three flying legends gone, just like that. It’s really quite traumatic how fast that amazing generation is slipping away. I feel more than wistful.
A pal of mine in California just sent me these of the attack on Pearl Harbor - unbelievable quality for 1941!
Always a big moment! I’ve reached the end of Sicily 43. Phew. It’s been a bit of an epic, I’m not gonna lie...
At last The Queen’s Head has an apostrophe! It’s taken years of lobbying but on the day the pubs reopen it’s great to see our village boozer has finally come to terms with grammar. Good luck on opening day!
So, after four days on the ground I think I’ve cracked Op MARKET GARDEN. All sewn up. The big questions answered. No more doubt about it. You can’t beat walking the ground…
So very, very sad to hear Lyn Macdonald has passed away. A dear friend, brilliantly fun person to be around & a pioneer of recording oral testimonies of veterans. That we have such records of FWW veterans is in no small part down to her. She will be greatly missed.
Gen Mark Clark’s Ike jacket he wore in Italy. How cool is that???
Blimey, what an extraordinary cinematic experience this is. A wonderful, beautifully filmed movie with stunning set pieces. Incredible performance & lingers in the mind. Can’t stop thinking about my grandfather. And historical detail v impressive. #1917Movie
TRAGEDY OF SCAMPTON’S FUTURE. One of the most original 1930s airfields, with amongst the most heritage of any in UK. From where 617 Squadron flew the Dams Raid. Future looks VERY grim. PLEASE RT THIS THREAD & HELP!
What a gift from my beloved Bro - a first edition printing of Churchill’s ‘never in the field of human conflict...’ speech about the Few. Wonderful.
You know I love a then and now. Here’s Carentan. Dick Winters was wounded just to the right. #normandy44
I think we all hope that when confronted by a situation that requires immense personal moral courage we have the will and fortitude to face it. Boy, have these Ukrainians passed that test.
IT'S JUST SO WRONG! Pls RT! I know I've been banging the Scampton drum a bit these past couple of weeks but I've now seen the 's plans for Scampton, which were clearly written with minimal planning, little prep and little thought. Back of fag packet stuff. But...
Very thrilled and humbled to receive an honorary doctorate yesterday from in the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral. An occasion to savour. Many congrats to who was sworn in as the new Chancellor. Quite a day!
My new film is out #PBS on 25 June: World War Speed One of the amazing things I learned was that SS-Panzer commander, Jochem Peiper, didn’t sleep for 7 days during the #BattleoftheBulge & took 5 x Pervitin tabs a day - that’s crystal meth. That’s some drug intake!
For all those wondering on the progress of PCA, I’m glad to report that he is out of intensive care. He’s escaped the perimeter & almost across the Rhine… And this wonderful news on publication day for 1945: VICTORY IN THE WEST.
This is a rather impressive - and very large - stain-glass window at Roll-Royce in Derby. Quite the thing.
Very sad to hear that Fred Glover has died. A proud but very humble D-Day Para and lovely fellow. It’s very sad - actually, traumatic - how swiftly that truly incredible generation are slipping away.
It’s a picture that haunts me whenever I think of this poor, tragic girl. The things some humans do is beyond any kind of comprehension…
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On March 12, 1943, the 14-year-old Polish Catholic girl Czesława Kwoka was killed in the German extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau with a phenol injection to the heart.
She’s one of the most well-known Polish victims due to the haunting photo taken at her arrival to the camp.
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Most of her pupils don’t have the right laptops - they’ve been promised by the Govt but haven’t ever arrived. She is also expected to clean the school as the cleaners won’t come in. On top of that she has to phone those kids not reporting to school and then go around to their...
With Guy Whidden, who fought with the 502nd PIR in Normandy and beyond. I can’t help feeling wistful, though. These veterans are becoming so few and the survivors really are very old now. They’re to be savoured while there’s still time. #DDay75 #Normandy44
At last. Pilgrimage complete. I feel ridiculously emotional.
I’m not gonna lie - I LOVE this. A New Zealander emerging from the smoke and ruins in Italy. Haunting, moving, striking and fresh and original too. And yes, clearly they did still have SMLE No 1 Mk IIIs and 17-inch sword bayonets in 1943!
Bound preview copy in. Finished copies in within four weeks. Photo sections, maps, integrated pics all signed off. Thanks to all at and ALL who have helped with this.
Hooray! Publication day! Thank you so much to all who have helped with this: the veterans, the Sherwood Rangers families, the wider SRY fraternity, the team the gang , friends, colleagues. Everyone.
My new ‘study’ - looks very à la 1940s mode. Except for the screen and iPad of course…
May 10 is a BIG day: 82 years ago, Churchill took over as PM, the Germans launched their assault on France and the Low Countries. And today it’s ’s birthday. Happy birthday, Al.
Good news - Legal action being taken against the Govt about their plans for Scampton. The fight back begins!!@WeHaveWaysPod
I can’t bear how binary & tribal everything seems to be. What’s wrong with nuance, differing views sitting side by side & complex opinions? Or with respecting different takes on things? theguardian.com/books/2020/jun
Airborne flags hanging from SO many houses here in #Arnhem. Amazing to see. #MarketGarden75 #WeHaveWays
Oh, yes! My Citroen is back and now so super shiny, shnazzy and shexy! Forget the Dodge, this beauty is coming to Warfest!
It’s quite an rare thing to have a new all-action SWW drama on the #BBC - a very rare thing, actually - so it seems only right that & I should give it a special preview on the today. Stick with it people - Ep 2 better than 1 and 3 & 4 are terrific!
During the war, Vera Lynn crossed the generations and broke barriers of class that allowed her to reach more people than anyone had ever managed before. And now she’s gone, this icon of Britain in the Second World War. It’s sad - and another link gone.
Every time I see one of these I marvel at the ambition to create two mobile harbours, each the size of Dover. 146 Phoenixes like this, 532,000 cubic yards of concrete, 39,000 tons of steel, 55,000 workforce & 300 construction firms.And quite a lot else going on at the time. Wow.
Very sad to hear that Gen Stuart Watson MC has passed. He landed on Sword Beach on D-Day & served with the 13/18 Hussars all the way through to VE Day & continued in the Army post-war. Always really good to me, he was a lovely fellow, who lived a remarkable life.
I've just written in my new book - apropos Dec 1943 - 'Man-for-man, the Allied infantry were proving better than their German counterparts.' And I've the stats to back that up. Gave me a huge amount of pleasure to type, I must say.
Very good to be here at the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park at 11am today - and joined by a smattering of people all standing in silent contemplation. But how can you really contemplate the enormity of what they went through?
