Another Old Contemptibles grave marker plaque rescued thanks to Andrew Thornton. Many thanks to St Peter & St James Hospice, Sussex, who kindly sent it for the cost of the postage. It arrived yesterday - appropriately on August 5th Chum Cottee died March 1954. Buried in Lambeth.

Yes! This is Charlie Chaplin, who came to live with us after his previous owner was no longer able to look after him. He has the job of welcoming visitors and looking after the trenches.

It’s Minden Day today, so #HutDog Charlie is #MindenDog Charlie, with his red and yellow Suffolk Roses to commemorate the battle in 1759. He has just returned from Doggy Duty at the Suffolk Regiment annual reunion at Gibraltar Barracks! ‘Stabilis’

It’s a warm Thursday afternoon here at Brook Farm Camp so Chief Hut Builder Kev is about to repaint a 9.2” BL Howitzer shell (it’s completely empty), originally fired at Serre on the Somme, to go with our recently restored 1904 Royal Navy 9.2” breech.

…The Green, Red and Brown colours of The Tank Corps, now The Royal Tank Regiment, represents the Corps motto: “From the Mud, through the Blood, to the Green Fields Beyond”. Remembering Alfred and all of his 9th Tank Battalion comrades today. 6/End

…Alfred had previously served in The Cambridgeshire Regiment before transferring to the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps, later renamed The Tank Corps. These are his Heavy Branch identity discs… 5/

…After the fighting was over, Alfred was taken to a French Field Hospital where he died the next day. He was buried in a French cemetery at Ferme D’Eruse and re-interred in the 1920s to Roye New British Cemetery… 4/

…In 2018 Kev and his family made a pilgrimage to the site where his tank was knocked out. The Commander of the Tank, 2nd Lt W. Molloy, who lost an eye in the same action, sent this letter to Alfred’s Mother... 3/

…On 23rd July 1918 the 9th Tank Battalion took part in the Battle of Sauvillers. This little known action was the first time that British tanks took part in a battle exclusively in support of the French Army. 9th Tank Battalion casualties: 20 Killed, 38 Wounded, 7 Missing… 2/

The Green, Red and Brown flag of The Tank Corps flies over Brook Farm Camp today to commemorate the death of Kev’s Grandfather, 92958 Pte Alfred James Tabor, who was mortally wounded 108 years ago today, driving a male MkV Tank, No.9049… 1/

A poignant reminder of the first day of The Somme - Lieutenant Gilbert Hattersley’s blood-stained map showing the planned advance. He was wounded in the leg early on, the 11/Suffolk had the heaviest 34th Division casualties and didn’t reach Contalmaison. Remembering them all today. #Somme110

Meanwhile, Taff worked on the UK Somme100 commemorations, including the Westminster Abbey service and the 1st July event at Heaton Park in Manchester. Taff and Foz then had the honour of taking part in the first part of the overnight vigil at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior with HM The Queen. /End

The Battle of The Somme Centenary, 10 years ago, was a busy time for GWH. Lyndsay was part of the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport team organising the Westminster Abbey service and overnight vigil, which took place 10 years ago tonight, and designing these popular keepsakes! /1

Who knew an old fallen log could be such a popular hangout? Here at Brook Farm Camp, it’s become a favourite perch, pathway, and meeting place for plenty of our wildlife friends! 🦊🦡🐿️🦆🐦

…at Donington (St Cuthbert), near Albrighton, Shropshire, with full military honours. Francis had landed on 13th November 1914 and was entitled to the 1914 Star with clasp, making him an ‘Old Contemptible’. 4/End

…the British Government banned the practice in 1915. After that, with a tiny handful of clandestine exceptions, British servicemen and women who died on Active Service were buried as near as possible to where they died. Francis was buried in his local Churchyard… 3/

Sadly died on the 25th April at Boulogne, aged 36. His story so far is similar to the thousands of others who gave their lives for their country during The Great War. However, Francis Yates was one of only a handful of men whose bodies were repatriated for burial in Britain before… 2/

We have an Officer’s Service Dress jacket in the Great War Huts Collection which belonged to Captain Francis William Yates, who was wounded by a shell fragment on 18th April 1915 at Hill 60, while serving with 2nd Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. 1/

…Khaki Glengarries were not worn outside Canada, as far as we know, and were discontinued in 1916. Private Herbert George Laight, 42nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, seen here wearing one during his training. 3/End

…Pattern ‘Kitchener Blue’ uniforms in Great Britain. It’s a nice example, which has clearly been worn. The Glengarry has a maker's stamp - "Ansley Dineen Hat and Fur Co. Ltd. Toronto 1916" with the Canadian ordnance C and Broad Arrow mark on the black cloth lining… 2/

Our Scotland trip concluded with the acquisition of a Khaki Canadian Glengarry. These generic caps were worn by Canadian Scottish units training in Canada before stocks of the proper regimental Glengarries were available, a similar situation to the issue of the Emergency… 1/

…to the fight: "...we are always ready any time the baby killers like to venture out of there nest" He was the Son of William Owen, of 18, Derby Street, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, and held the Africa General Service Medal with Somaliland Clasp. He was 31. #Jutland110 2/End

Remembering Leading Stoker John Owen who was killed 110 years ago today when the Battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary blew up after being hit by SMS Derfflinger at the Battle of Jutland. 1,266 crewmen were killed. There were only eighteen survivors. John had been looking forward… 1/

…Luckily it was a quiet day in the trenches, with only a couple of ‘Jack Johnsons’ and a whiff of gas to disrupt our discussion of Trench Routine and life in the trenches. #HutDog Charlie was on hand to mop up mislaid biscuits. Thanks to the GWH Team and all participants! 4/End

…After an excellent lunch, provided by Jane and Alan, it was time for Foot Drill with everyone soon Forming Fours like veterans! Rifles were issued for a spot of Musketry and some Rifle Drill before heading off to the Trenches via the Leach Trench Catapult... 3/

…After a talk by Taff giving an overview of the development of the kit, everyone was shown how to assemble their own full set of Pattern 1908 Web Equipment. As it was such a lovely day we sat in the picnic area to talk about poison gas, gas alarms and types of respirators… 2/

Our first GWH Study Day - ‘Now You’ve Got The Khaki On’ has been a great success. Participants from across the country travelled to Brook Farm Camp to learn about the uniforms, equipment, weapons and drills of the British Infantryman of the Great War… 1/

…and still features the escape hatch at the opposite end to the door. It’s a nice survivor and a reminder of the impending sense of foreboding among the civilian population in the late 1930s, and will be a very useful addition to our Second World War education package. 5/End

…all chamfered, and the chicken wire supported by upholstery straps and covered with thick corn sacks which had been split down the long edges and opened out into the full length. The entire operation took us less than an hour. The empty shelter is now a very usable space… 4/

…local museum that might like to save them. They are suffering badly from woodworm, so many parts won’t be reusable but they are both in good enough condition to provide patterns & will certainly have some original parts. The joinery was excellent, with the sharp corners… 3/