Mark Jones
@mark18681918
PhD student @cardiffuni.bsky.social/Prifysgol Caerdyd. Critical historian researching regimental identity, organisational culture & learning processes within the British Army during the Cold War.
Quick #HistBookChat update this week - a backlog clearance read in the form of Tim Pritchard's "Ambush Alley". A rare embedded-journalist book from OIF that I haven't read, I'm about halfway through and it's...ok? Perhaps a case of reader fatigue than a genuine critique of the book. #Skystorians
Fini/...uncomfortable reading. An exceptional book, well worth the space on your book shelf. #HistBookChat #Skystorians
4/...addition to the literature Finally, Bergman's "Rise and Kill First". A book which has taken me ages to finish although I have no clue as to why - it's a magnificent work of espionage history. Very topical in light of Israel's current wars in Gaza and Iran, it makes for... #HistBookChat
3/ Next up is a PhD read, "Adaption Under Fire". The authors' theory/model of adaption is compelling, although the application of this model is mixed, relying in places on oversimplified historical case studies to support their salient arguments. Nevertheless, it's a worthy... #HistBookChat
2/ To prove I don't just read military history, here's Maggs' "The Story of the Big Four Railway Companies". A really fun introduction to the subject, I've picked up two of his other books on the Great Western and Southern railways. Highly recommended! #HistBookChat #Skystoriabs
Looking forward to tonight's match, although Norway are going to be a really tough team to play against. They also have (to my mind) the best kit of all the World Cup competitors (although Côte d'Ivoire isn't far behind)
5/ Although I'm not usually drawn in by first hand accounts, I found Colbeck's social study of the battle of Mt Longdon a far more engaging read, with some interesting insights on the tactical approach to battle and the culture of the Parachute Regiment of this period. #HistBookChat #Skystorians
4/...ecclesiastical perspectives on the past. A great read for the 'New Historians' amongst you. Cooksey's book on 3 PARA falls into the "Osprey Campaigns" style of study - some great illustrations (the maps/photography are excellent) but overall a fairly light analysis of the battle.
3/ "Hell's Foundations" is definitely a book for fans of the historians' craft. Although principally focused on the town of Bury and its relationship with Gallipoli, Moorhouse offers a truly cross-disciplinary study incorporating civil-military relations, politics, society, culture and even...
2/...but "Inside the British Army" has been an interesting and revealing read. Representing a quick canter through the British Army in the late 1980s, it's fascinating to see how many of the arguments of today echo into the past (the 'feckless youth' of the 1980s did, in fact, do alright after all).
Happy #HistBookChat Friday folks! A bit of a bumper edition today, the culmination of a fortnight's worth of quick reads and the final completion of some longer-term reading projects. Anthony Beevor has become something of a Bête Noire for military/conflict historians... #MilHist #Skystorians
A great trip to the National Archives yesterday - @zachota.bsky.social @swbfolsom.bsky.social and @bafriedman.bsky.social will doubtless be pleased with this reflection from the Royal Regiment of Wales after a joint exercise in Hawaii... #Archives #MilHist
After a massive break from #HistBookChat I'm finally back 😀 Lots of Journal and Archive reading over the last couple of months, but I've recently finished MLR Smith's "Fighting for Ireland". Highly recommended, albeit it's interesting to see the levels of pessimism the author has with...
...hasn't been washed in a long time) and the colour scheme isn't quite right (I didn't agree with Airfix's selection but my choices have left it looking a bit 'Cold War Armée de l'air' - a contrarian entry for #BastilleBuild?). That being said, I'm happy with it overall. #histscalemodels
And here's model number two - a thirty year old Airfix Saab Draken! Overall, I'm happier with the build quality, although my canopy masking failed me and the clean-up job didn't quite repair the damage. I also went a bit overboard with the weathering (this particular Draken... #histscalemodels
Well here it is, my very first model! The scheme is incorrect (didn't want to buy any one off paints) and there are two clear and obvious errors (cannons fitted incorrectly/canopy wonky) but any other feedback is very much appreciated! #histscalemodels
Dixon's book might be something of a classic, but it's also a work that's fifty years old. The historiography has, unsurprisingly abd invevitably, moved on, and his characterisation of figures such as Haig and Percival simply doesn't stand up to modern scholarship. 2/
Bung a reactor back into the most recent Repulse and we can really get the band back together
In terms of this week's reading...something very much 'on the nose'. (Ironically with a woven bookmark from Cyprus) #HistBookChat #Skystorians #IR
2/ This isn't helped by the Chapter structure which often overlaps events. It's certainly sparked my intetest, but I'll definitely be looking for something more in-depth (read 'Academic') once I've read the author's previous work "The Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club" on US Navy aviation. #HistBookChat
Happy #HistBookChat Friday folks. Finally finished "Going Downtown" by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, which has proven surprisingly topical in light of the last week's events. If I'm honest, it's been a frustrating read. It's well written but very 'light' in its analysis. Cont... #Skystorians #Vietnam
When they run out of missiles at least they have Old Ironsides as backup...
I'm intrigued by the discourse discouraging people from speculating which submarine sank the Dena, when said submarine is almost certainly returning to Pearl Harbour, Kitsap, Yokosuka or Point Loma flying one of these...