1/3 Was Sefton a collaborator – or simply surviving? In Stalag 17, Sefton trades with German guards and defends himself by saying everyone does it. The reality behind the scene was more complicated. #WW2 #POW

Why The Undefeated? Because Allied POWs weren’t simply “sitting out the war”. They fought their own battle against hunger, isolation, uncertainty and the psychological strain of captivity. The title reflects their determination to survive and resist. #WW2 #POW

1/3 One of the hardest battles Allied POWs faced wasn’t against their captors - it was against monotony. Canadian POW Jean Hogue wrote: “Life in a POW camp is monotonous… You talk about food and the day you’ll get out… if you get out alive.” #WW2 #POW

One question I’m often asked: Was life as an Allied POW better in Italy or Germany? The answer isn’t straightforward. Conditions varied hugely depending on the camp, the commandant and the stage of the war. In this clip, I explain why. What surprised you most? #WW2 #WW2History #MilitaryHistory

1/4 One of the most uplifting scenes in The Captive Heart is the arrival of Red Cross parcels. For Allied POWs, these deliveries meant far more than food. They represented hope, survival and proof that they had not been forgotten. #WW2 #POW

1/5 One of the most extraordinary stories I uncovered while researching The Undefeated wasn’t just about survival, it was about humanity in the face of genocide. In January 1945, 16-year-old Sara Matuson escaped from a Nazi death march. #WW2 #Holocaust

1/3 One chilling scene in Stalag 17 shows the bodies of prisoners shot trying to escape. It wasn’t just Hollywood. In March 1941, Lance Bombardier Joseph Reid and Corporal Samuel Green were recaptured just one day after escaping from a German coal mine work camp. #WW2 #POW

1/3 One of the most valuable possessions in an Allied POW camp wasn’t food - it was a hidden radio. Built from smuggled and bartered parts, these clandestine sets brought BBC news behind the barbed wire and countered German propaganda. #WW2 #POW

One of the greatest challenges for Allied POWs wasn’t just surviving - it was filling the endless days. Books from the Red Cross, classes and self-education gave many prisoners a sense of purpose while they waited for a war that had no obvious end. #WW2 #POW

1/3 One memorable scene in Stalag 17 sees a POW receive a letter from his wife explaining she has “found” a baby on the doorstep. The joke had a basis in reality. For many Allied POWs, letters from home brought heartbreak as well as hope. #WW2 #POW

Four months since The Undefeated was published. I never imagined readers in ten countries or 24 Amazon 5⭐️ reviews. Thank you to everyone who’s bought, read or recommended it. If you enjoyed it, please keep sharing your reviews and reader photos - they make a huge difference!

Hollywood may have convinced us that every man felt it was his duty to try and escape but, as I explain in this short clip, the reality was more complex. #ww2 #theundefeated #ww2history #historybooks #prisonersofwar

Hollywood’s POW camps are only part of the story. Stalag VIIA held prisoners from across the Allied world - British, Americans, Canadians, Indians, Australians, New Zealanders, French, Greeks, Dutch, Serbs, Brazilians and more. #WW2 #POW

Our Hollywood version of the POW experience portrays escaping as a regular activity carried out by almost all POWs. The reality, as I explain in this clip, was somewhat different. #ww2 #ww2history #prisonersofwar #militaryhistory #historybooks

John (aka Wee Mac) from Perth messaged the Highland IC today to share this photo and message. Thanks John and thanks to everyone who has bought The Undefeated and shared their photos and stories with me. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

In German POW camps, cigarettes, chocolate and coffee from Red Cross parcels could buy almost anything. Harry Watson later joked: “If I’d had enough cigarettes and chocolate, I could have got a Tiger tank!” #WW2 #POW

During a recent Facebook Q&A session I was asked if there was any advice I could give to someone thinking about writing their own book. #writingtips #militaryhistory #ww2 #historybooks

1/8 🇺🇸 Remember the Fourth of July scene in The Great Escape? It really happened. As shown in movie the party is short-lived and contrasted with the discovery of tunnel “Tom”. The real events lacked the drama - but were considerably more raucous. 🧵

Hmm. How about now?

Current status.

#PhotoFriday the current secondary sources pile for my next book. #Histbookchat

They say you could tell a 1940 POW by his lack of medals. Some men, like my great grandad didn’t even bother to apply. It was only after researching his service that I found out he was eligible and finally had them issued. What’s your WW2 family treasure?

Good news! The Undefeated is now available on Kindle. Discover the untold stories of Allied POWs in paperback or ebook. Thank you to everyone who’s supported the book. #Kindle #WW2 #WW2History #MilitaryHistory

As the #fifaworldcup2026 continues. I thought I would share this reel. Thanks to the diverse nature of the Allies many camps were able to play regular matches and even internationals! Not quite Escape To Victory but a reminder that football endured even in the midst of war.

When writing a book you need passion, research skills and a desire to tell a story. But sometimes you also need a little bit of luck to come your way. @thealmurray @jamesholland1940 @wehavewayspod #historybooks #militaryhistory #writing

#photofridays In this short reel I present some POW portraits giving you a close-up look at the faces of The Undefeated. #ww2 #ww2history #ww2photos #secondworldwar

One regret: not being able to include colour images of the remarkable theatre programmes preserved by Lance Bombardier Bernard Cockcroft. A POW in Stalag 383, Cockcroft helped stage theatrical and musical productions, both behind the scenes and performing female roles on stage.

The genesis of The Undefeated was the realisation that there was a story waiting to be told. Not the famous escapes or Hollywood myths, but the experiences of ordinary Allied POWs whose voices had largely been overlooked It’s my attempt to let those men tell their own story.

Happy Father’s Day to all my fellow Dads! Winner of the prize draw for a signed copy of The Undefeated is Facebook follower Rod D. If Rod can get in touch with his address details I’ll get a signed copy in the post asap. Thanks to everyone who took part. #ww2 #fathersday

FATHER’S DAY GIVEAWAY Win a signed copy of The Undefeated. To enter, like this post, follow, and comment with the name of a father, grandfather, or family member whose story deserves to be remembered. Winner announced tomorrow. UK residents only.