Gary Sheffield
@profgsheffield
Military History & other stuff. Visiting Prof, Defence Studies Dept, KCL. Husband, father, grandpa. Christian. Arsenal. Labour. Spaniel magnet. All opinions are just mine. Reposts do not = endorsement.
Yesterday we had our annual reunion of @universityofleeds.bsky.social friends - most of us met in 1979! Stupidly I forgot to take any photos so here's one from last year's bash (+ other halves)
Surely he must have signed it - there's a picture on a coin of John with pen in hand 🙂
Another FWW day with my Canadian party. We went to Delville and I found 2 graves from 22nd R Fusiliers killed in July 1916. Also me with my fellow historian @meganahamilton.bsky.social at Toronto Cemy, discussing CDN Corps on 8 August 1918
Another excellent day with the Canadian Battlefield Foundation. Today we explored the Somme 1916 with a Canadian/Newfoundland emphasis.
Dr Wendy Maddocks @nursinghistory.bsky.social giving an excellent paper on NZ nurses in the Great War at NZ Military History conference. Exciting new research
I'm enjoying the A$ to £ exchange rate - present for grandson about a fiver
Greetings from down under. At Sydney airport en route to a conference in NZ.
Lunchtime business meeting in one of my favourite places - #Bath
Very pleased to see tribute paid to the late Brian Bond at today's KCL Sir Michael Howard Centre annual lecture. @dsdkings.bsky.social @warstudieskcl.bsky.social
@margothodson.bsky.social reading the Roll of Honour at the Remembrance Sunday service this morning.
At church for Remembrance Sunday. I'm early cos I'm on welcome duty.
@meganahamilton.bsky.social giving a paper on her PhD research at the IHR/Sir Michael Howard Centre joint seminar today
Terrific album. Part of a box set of Dire Straits live cds bought for me by Mrs S for my birthday. I realise that it is essentially the same set (minus guests) as I saw them play at Leeds University a few weeks before.
A very successful day panning for gold at the PRO (ok TNA if you must).
A cup of tea at the PRO before the final sprint to get through my files
Rare photo from First World War: the Chicken Brigade of RCA (Royal Clown Artillery).
Big personal news: yesterday I made my first visit to our new granddaughter Pippa Willow Taylor & new grandson Finley Briar Taylor yesterday! Born on Tuesday. Babes and mum doing well. We had Rowan to stay with us and he was (mostly) as good as gold. We now have four grandchildren!
I was privileged to be given a tour of Armourer's Hall this morning by the Clerk. A magnificent building. I was particularly taken with this Napoleonic cuirass captured at Waterloo (paired with a slightly later helmet). Also this coat of arms of the first Queen Elizabeth.
While out for a Bank Holiday walk with Mrs S this afternoon, we walked by one of my favourite Wantage sites - Stiles' Court almshouses
Wrong. It is 'Went the Day Well'. With Thora Hird as a gun totin' all action heroine, how can it not be?
I'm fascinated by Op Epsom and it is rare that I get to devote a whole day to it on a battlefield tour, but I did today with the Caledonian Club. We followed the route of 15th Scottish Division in June 1944 to Gavrus, ending on Hill 112
Being a battlefield historian at Pegasus Bridge, early yesterday morning