Steve Smith
@stevesmith1944
Accredited battlefield guide, trainer & published author, works for Sophie's Great War Tours & Adaptable Travel co-owner of
Today is the 111th Anniversary of the 1/5th Bn Norfolk Regiment going over the top in Gallipoli and allegedly disappearing from sight and sound. You could still believe the myths about that or you could read my book on the subject ... #WW1 #Norfolk #FWW #Gallipoli #sandringham #history
Remembering D-Day 6th June 1944 ... #WW2 #DDay #normandylandings #history
Yesterday I set the scene for the German offensive at Verdun. We visited the Bois des Caures, Fleury, which is one of the 9 'detruit' villages in this area, before moving onto Fort Douaumont. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #Verdun #history
I'm now at Dover waiting to board a ferry to France to pick up my guests for a battlefield tour to the French and American sites around Verdun. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #Verdun #history
I'm currently on my 1st battlefield tour of the season where I'm showing guests around sites in France & Flanders looking at where 2 grandfathers served in the infantry & Royal Engineer railway troops between 1916 & 1918. This is on a tour arranged by @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #history
It was great to launch my book the other day at the Lynn Museum in King's Lynn & thanks to the Norfolk Museum Services for their support & to everyone who came along. I've also provided a link to where you can get a copy #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history
I took some guests to the Cambrai Memorial in July this year mainly to pay our respects to their C.O. who was also KIA that day
I visited the area in 2022 as part of my research and said hello to them all then. Here's the panel he's commemorated on.
I've been able to hold a physical copy of my new book today. It looks at the alleged disappearance of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment at Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12th August 1915. It's on sale now & I've left a link to where you can get a copy in the comments. #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli
My latest book is released today. It looks at the alleged disappearance of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment during their advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12th August 1915. I've provided a link to where you can buy a copy in the comments. #WW1 #Norfolk #FWW #Gallipoli #history
Here's another photo of him. He features in my next book on the alleged disappearance of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment at Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12 August 1915.
Lance Corporal 1585 Frank Norman Fox, 5th Norfolks, who took part in the failed advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12 August 1915. He features heavily in the allegations made that the men who disappeared were allegedly '....lost to sight or sound.' #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history
Most of the officers of the 5th Norfolks, alleged to have been, '...lost to sight or sound. Not one of them ever came back.' This alleged disappearance will be tackled in my next book which is out on 30 November 2025 #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history
Sergeant 2179 John Lee Goulder, aged 32. He features heavily in my next book when I look at a particular myth that's been going around since the time of the Gallipoli Campaign. #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #wewillrememberthem
2nd Lt Marcus Oliphant who was KIA in the advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12 August 15 serving with the 5th Norfolks. He will feature in my next book & more info on that can be found via the link #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli #history stevesmith1944.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/t...
I should have checked my records first. The CWGC should have him down as 7th Battalion. It probably doesn't help that his SE has him as 9th Bn. He was reported missing after the failed attack on Bayonet Trench & Luisenhof Farm near Gueudecourt on 12 October 1916
We used to be able to get these in one of our local supermarkets but now we can only get them online. I love them & I'm also rather partial to a flapjack now & then 😁
All being well, my next book comes out on 30 Nov 25. It looks at the alleged disappearance of the 5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment & looks at all the duff history that surrounds the story of their advance on Kuchuk Anafarta Ova on 12 Aug 15 during the Gallipoli Campaign #WW1 #FWW #Norfolk #Gallipoli
Our final visit to pay our respects was for one of my guests whose wife had a relative buried in Cabaret Rouge Cemetery near Souchez. Ernest died in an action at Vimy Ridge on 30 May 16. He had only been in France for a few months @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social #WW1 #FWW #wewillrememberthem #history
He was killed in action working on reserve lines near Hersin and had only been in France for a very short while before he died.
We finished up at Vimy Ridge where my guests got to see the sacrifice made by Canada during the battle there. It's been quite an emotional visit for all of them.
I'm now home after getting back from my battlefield tour for @sophie1wwtours.bsky.social & yesterday my guests got to see the French cemetery at Notre Dame de Lorette as well as the memorial to all nations that fell in the Nord & Pas de Calais regions in the Great War #WW1 #FWW #history
While we were looking at the site where Henry was killed we found an unidentified soldier of the Devonshires in London Road Cemetery & Extension and wondered if it could be Henry