Andy Chatterton
@Chats1
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Co-Founder of @FiveZeroPR , Second World War historian, books: Britain’s Secret Defences (2022) & Fortress Britain (2024) also Exeter City fan! @staybehinds
Budleigh Salterton, England
Joined February 2009
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Pinned Tweet
I’m excited to share the front cover of my next book “Fortress Britain 1940” which looks at the unsung and secret layers of Britain’s defence which for so long have been hidden under a narrative of Spitfires & Dad’s Army! Available for pre-order here:
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Thread 🧵: Every year I mark D-Day by thinking about my relative, Norman Bottoms of the 147th Essex Yeomanry who died on D-Day. This year though I have found the most remarkable letter from his Troop Commander to his mother, explaining the circumstances of his death.
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2K
and exhort you to bear this grief as he would have wished you to.
Believe me
Yours very sincerely
Derek Taylor
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
@thehistoryguy
#DDay80
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The last of the Dad's Army cast has passed away as Pike joins the rest of his comrades. As much as the series influenced our perception of the HG (& ARP), it ensured that 1000's of men, who were never called upon, but were willing to give up everything, are still remembered. RIP
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It's emotional & reminds us that on D-Day itself not all the deaths occurred on the beaches. The bravery of lads like Norman cannot be overestimated. The letter below is from the
@britishmemorial
page - Letter in full below:
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The final proofs are back in and it's going to print! All done! Such an amazing feeling - thanks everyone for their help and support particularly
@James1940
&
@militaryhistori
and the whole of the
@WeHaveWaysPod
community!
Available for pre-order here:
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Britain's Secret Defences is now available for preorder. Very strange to see it up there! Massive thanks to everyone that has supported/put up with me chatting on & especially
@James1940
for agreeing to write the foreword.
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
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I cannot hope to know quite how you feel and realise that anything I write is bound to be but an empty consolation for bare reality. I can only offer you the deepest sympathy of one who was privileged to wonder at his obvious devotion to yourself,
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and can only add that in the qualities of humour and zest for life, keenness of mind and generosity of spirit I do not expect to meet his equal. Would you consider it an impertinence if I say that to me also he is an irreplaceable loss.
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instantaneous and without suffering. We had to go on shortly afterwards but I returned to the cornfield at the first opportunity (which was about a week later) and then went to find his grave which I have visited again on two occasions. You ask me if, in this respect, everything
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was and is alright. I can only assure you that I have given it my personal supervision. You have been told I am sure of the affection and respect Norman gained wherever he went from his multitude of friends. knew your son very well- both as his Troop Commander and his friend:
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Sat evening primetime TV isn't as good as it used to be right? WRONG! This Saturday, 8.30pm,
#FortressBritain
on
@Channel4
with two brilliant historians,
@theAliceRoberts
@SarahLouMiller
(& me). Learn about how Britain was to defend itself during
#SWW
& maybe debunk some myths!
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Dear Mrs Bottoms,
Thank you very much for your charming letter. Far from my forgiving you for writing to me, it is I who owe you a most sincere apology for not writing to you before.
Your son and I went into action together on June the sixth: this was natural because he was my
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Amazingly a relative of one of the men on the front cover of my book has just got in touch - going to speak to the son of the Auxilier in the coming days - will update you all when I have info! How cool is that?! Any other relatives out there please do contact us!
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I have no idea how Amazon’s algorithms work but it’s always nice to be a bestseller even if it is in a rather random category!
#book
#historian
#WW2
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The role the Regulars & TA played in the defence of Britain in 1940 is often ignored. Part of the plan for the new book is that it helps to rectify this. For those of you interested can I recommend
@ckolonko
incredible site
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
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, we were the furthest from the landing beaches of any British forces. Half way across we were subjected to heavy and persistent mortar fire, which took its inevitable toll of the advancing troops. Norman was one of these. That is all. To the best of my belief, his death was
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It's in! Well, the first full draft. It aims to change people's perceptions of Brit in 1940 & give insight into a reality that isn't just Spitfires & Dad's Army! Includes new revelations about the secret civvy efforts, the Regs/TA & the efforts in the Air and Sea. Out Summer 2024
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Another great 'discovery' this time in Dumfries region of Scotland. An intact OB with bunks in place - probably a lot more too inside! Lots of investigation to be done. One to use as a template for the one we're digging at
#Warfest
?!
@WeHaveWaysPod
@James1940
@almurray
#history
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right hand man. As far as my job was concerned, the success of the support given by our Regiment to the infantry was largely attributable to faultless wireless communications for which he was largely responsible. In the long period of waiting and in that first hour which to many
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I never thought I’d see a book I’ve written in an actual bookshop and in one case in the window! It’s the most incredible feeling! Thanks everyone for all your support and help!
@Casemate_UK
@WeHaveWaysPod
@James1940
@militaryhistori
@robert_lyman
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of us must have been the biggest test of any over here he set that example of courage, determination & cheerfulness which I had learnt to expect of him. During the advance it was necessary for us to cross a large open cornfield with the leading infantry. At that time, I believe
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Proofs are in of Fortress Britain 1940! Providing insight into the unsung & secret defences Brit had in place during 1940, including Regulars & TA, pillboxes & stoplines, Home Guard, Aux Units, SDB, Section VII, Dowding System, Bomber & Coastal Command, Royal Navy, subs & RNPS!
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Watched Ep 3
#MastersOfTheAir
I'm loving it - not getting wrapped in the detail & hoping like BoB it'll get ppl interested in SWW. But I'm not an air guy - question. How many bombers were shot down by gunners from other bombers? They seem v proactive, firing left, right & centre
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#OTD
my relative, Norman Bottoms, Essex Yeomanry, died on the beaches of France, aged just 23. His Mum had begged him not to join.
#DDay77
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
#Normandy
#essex
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Very excited to have 'found' a surviving member of Section VII, the post-occupation resistance group that would have carried out acts of sabotage, intelligence gathering as well as managing escape lines throughout Britain had the Germans invaded and won, during WW2! More soon!
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1/2 I'm absolutely delighted to let you know I've signed a contract with
@Casemate_UK
for a second book! Due out in mid-2024 it will delve into the true story of Britain's defences on land, sea & air in 1940 (incl new info about secret groups). So many people to thank...
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What an amazing day at
@CVHISTORYFEST
- it’s not everyday you get to meet your hero! Geddon Phil Harding!
#amazinghistory
#archaeology
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Most went to the grave without saying a word to anyone, without any recognition of what they were prepared to do for the country.
We remember and thank them now.
#WeWillRememberThem
We remember the Aux Units, Special Duties Branch, Section VII & all the civilian vols, who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if the Germans had invaded in the SWW.
A cross was laid at Coleshill House, the HQ of the Aux Units - thanks to Roger Green & Steve Treadwell.
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One of most remarkable ints I’ve seen. A Ukrainian MP walking round the streets of Kiev with an assault rifle over his shoulder talking about the fight of the Ukrainian population to keep the Russians out from the capital. A brave chap, as they all are.
@SkyNews
@militaryhistori
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Out and about bunker hunting with
@chatabix1
! Can’t wait for you to hear about our brilliant day!
@gillinghamjoe
#amiSean
?
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What an absolutely incredible talk with
@militaryhistori
John Jammes - a French Resistance veteran - moving, amusing & a real insight into the resistance movement. Brilliant
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Absolutely delighted to let you know that I'm talking again at
@WeHaveWaysPod
festival 2024. All being well I'm going to be interviewing possibly the last surviving Auxiliary Unit member, Ken Welch - an incredible honour. Always thankful for the support of
@almurray
&
@James1940
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What an amazing weekend! A brilliant crowd for my talk,
@ColesBooks
doing a super job in selling the book, amazing talks, brilliant
#SWW
displays & of course the superb IC! So many thanks to
@James1940
@almurray
@tonypastor70
for everything!
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I know there are going to be moans about inaccuracies about
@SASRogueHeroes
but so far I’ve enjoyed it - it has a bit of a British Inglorious Basterds feel to it! If it encourages more into an interest/reigniting an interest in the
#SWW
that has to be a good thing
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Not quite where I thought research for book 3 would start. However, the staff have been amazing & come from all over the world. God forbid that Tommy or his fascist thugs get injured & have to be treated by someone not born & bred in this country - presuming they’d refuse?!
#NHS
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Delighted with the cover of the new book with amazing endorsements & brilliant cartoon which I think should stand out! It is out soon covering the secret & unsung measures that Britain had in place in 1940! Fortress Britain 1940 available for pre-order:
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ALERT ALERT!!! Auxiliary Unit member has just got in touch this morning. Hugely significant as we weren’t sure there were many/any surviving! Fantastic news - updates to follow!
#history
#SWW
@WeHaveWaysPod
@WW2TV
@militaryhistori
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Sat at 8.30pm on
@Channel4
is
#FortressBritain
. A four part series on how Britain defended itself against potential invaders. The second episode (Sat 1st April) is on the
#SWW
& features secret bunkers, secret resistance plans & me!
@IWC_Media
@WeHaveWaysPod
@theAliceRoberts
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In 1946 articles appeared in regional newspapers about the British Maquis. No one knows where the info came from, but it was quickly shut down as nothing else appeared. However, we have recently found this amazing cartoon from the Birmingham Mail!
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
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My first
#WorldBookDay
as an actual author/historian person! But here’s to all the amazing historians who continue to inspire & give their time so generously to me and others just entering the ‘profession’!
@James1940
@militaryhistori
@WW2TV
@robert_lyman
@WeHaveWaysPod
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The grand unveiling of Fortress Britain 1940! Thanks so much to
@thehistoryguy
for the foreword &
@DrHelenFry
&
@James1940
for their generous endorsements! The book covers the unsung & secret defences Britain had in place in 1940!
#notjustspitfiresanddadsarmy
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Here’s an original Countryman’s Diary. Looks innocent enough from the front but inside training on everything an Auxilier would need to know. Hidden in plain sight in Ken’s house for years.
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What an absolute honour it was to attend and talk at
@WeHaveWaysPod
#WarFest
. The most amazing speakers & fantastic to put some
#IC
faces to names! Thanks so much
@almurray
@James1940
@tonypastor70
(credit
@NikkiJFaulkner
for pic)!
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One of the best things of writing this book is feeling like a 'proper' historian! There is so much remarkable information to dig through!
#history
#archives
#book
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
@James1940
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Sometimes in a female dominated family one has to do things that one could not imagine doing pre-kids.
#pink
#BarbieMovie
#realmenwearpink
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Another day, more fantastic Aux Unit OBs and Special Duties Branch wireless bunkers! All part of an exciting new project.
@staybehinds
#Wales
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A very happy birthday to one of the stars of my book, Joyce Harrison, the Special Duties Branch runner who is 105 today!
An amazing lady who has added a great deal to our knowledge of the role of runners/messengers in SDB. We all have a lot to thank her for.
@WeHaveWaysPod
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So much more than a podcast too. A community creator, a supporter of those looking to enter the history sector, an event organiser extraordinaire, a tool which ensures the SWW is brought into the mainstream & perhaps most importantly an approachable, friendly team!
Raise a glass one and all. 601 episodes of
#WeHaveWays
- or approximately 25 days of non stop war waffle from
@almurray
and
@James1940
- and don’t think we’re done. The battle has barely begun.
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Deep into Chapter One now - I can’t believe I’ve got the chance to write another book, I’m so lucky! Yet again I’m learning more everyday about Britain’s defences in 1940 - starting to get excited about how it is forming up!
@Casemate_UK
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
#History
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A few shots of the inside. Fully in tact SD bunker small, compact and would have had a radio set sending timely, accurate info of local German troop movements. The info would have gone to a zero station where ATS women radioed it on to local command.
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Going through my G Grandfather’s
#FWW
papers. Forgotten how amazing they are. His orders to France, training docs, pics (he’s 2nd from the left seated) & most remarkably a French menu which his mates have signed.
@churchill_alex
@ProfPeterDoyle
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Merry Christmas everyone! Today marks the day that the manuscript is in! Now just editing to go…! Thanks to
@tonypastor70
@James1940
@almurray
and all at
@WeHaveWaysPod
for their support and amazing content over the last year. Here’s to more of the same in 2022!
#SWW
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Hope everyone enjoyed the trip around Welsh secret bunkers today! It was an amazing day! There might be more pictures tomorrow so keep your eyes out!
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Some exciting news coming out of
#Cornwall
this evening. We may have located the OB of one of the few/if not the only surviving Auxilier. He thought it had been destroyed! More info and images to hopefully follow!
#SWW
@WeHaveWaysPod
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This
@WeHaveWaysPod
livestream has been soooooo interesting.
@hoyer_kat
new book is going to be a cracker - so many points that I’ve never considered about East and West Germany and the consequences of the split and reunification. Brilliant stuff.
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A little experiment to see where the air vent pipes surfaced. And for once it worked!
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A cracking book on the virtually unheard of Royal Navy Patrol Service during the
#SWW
. These brave & hard trawler men, civilians & RN officers crewed trawlers that swept mines & chased U-boats. These will be included in the new book (out summer 2024).
@Casemate_UK
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Three years ago today this beauty of an OB was ‘discovered’ in Scotland! It had bunks in place and it amazing condition. They’re still out there people get looking!
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Late afternoon summer sun, glass of rose,
@militaryhistori
and this view. Feeling pretty content right now!
#cornwall
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Look out for news next week on pre-order details for my new book on Britain's Secret Defences! It's looking official launch will be in June/July.
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
#book
#SWW
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Rewatching
@James1940
Normandy 44 doc. Haven’t watched it for a bit but it’s one of those ones you can keep coming back to and learning more stuff! More docs like this please!
#notalkingheads
#SWW
@WeHaveWaysPod
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I sometimes sit back & reflect just how amazing the last two years have been. I’m incredibly lucky to have published one book, with another on its way in the summer. If you had told me 5 years ago that was to be the case I would never have believed you!
#WorldBookDay
#historian
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Oh no oh no oh no! I promised myself I wouldn’t fall into the modelling gang but….
@WeHaveWaysPod
@RedFiveModels
@almurray
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Boy suicide bombers, pulling grenades from their pockets after begging for bread. Afghanistan? Nope Britain in 1940, training & preparing schoolboys for a German occupation. More in my new book, out Summer 2024-changing perceptions of Brit in 1940
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
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My Grandad ignited my interest & passion for the
#SWW
. He continues to help me even though he’s no longer with us too - these War magazines are not only amazing reads but incredibly helpful primary sources for the new book! Thanks Grandad!
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
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Just doing some more wider reading for the second book and I’m delving into this again. I’d forgotten just how good it is!
@Books2Cover
@James1940
#photofriday
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If you haven’t seen Episode 9 of Band of Brothers please take the time to watch. It encapsulates the horror of the Holocaust & why it should never be forgotten. A powerful
@WeHaveWaysPod
livestream with
@johnorloff
@James1940
@almurray
thank you chaps.
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Will add more details/pictures/answers to questions later this evening. But how about this as a taster?! Ken holding his home made club ready for action against enemy sentries! Had an amazing chat. More later.
@WeHaveWaysPod
@thehistoryguy
@militaryhistori
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This podcast has had an actual real impact on my life! Without the encouragement and help from
@almurray
@James1940
@tonypastor70
there’s no way I could have got the book done & out or considered doing another one! Congrats to everyone at Goalhanger!
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Remembering my relative Norman Bottoms, who died on D-Day aged just 23. He sacrificed his today for our tomorrow.
#RemembranceDay2021
#LestWeForget
#RemembranceDay
#essex
#essexyeomanry
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Fifty reviews of my book! Thank you to everyone (even the one star person) who took the time to read and review - it makes a big difference and means a lot to me. I thought it might be just my Mum that bought one so this is amazing!
#Nowontothesecond
@WeHaveWaysPod
@Casemate_UK
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Merry Christmas! Anyone else have a little festival swim this morning? Not too cold but a tad choppy!
#budleigh
#Christmas2021
@militaryhistori
presuming you went in and it was a little warmer?!
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Thanks so much to everyone who came to my
@WeHaveWaysPod
fest talk (despite the horrendously hot conditions)! As always it’s been a real honour to talk at such an amazing event!
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It's so difficult to find a gift for Father's Day. How about a book looking at the highly secret, ruthless layers of civilian defence that would have hit a German invasion/occupation?! My Dad would love it but he's already got four copies
#FathersDay2023
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Well it's been quite a morning! A great response from the
@WeHaveWaysPod
so I thought that it was a good time to announce that I'm delighted to have signed a contract with
@Casemate_UK
@casemateeditor
for a new book on Aux Units/SDB/Section VII and much more! Out early 2022!
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So good to speak to
@WW2TV
this evening about Section VII - the 'real British resistance' - thanks to everyone who came along! If you missed it it's available here (cut the first couple of minutes whilst Devon WiFi sorted itself out)! Woody - thanks so much mate.
@WeHaveWaysPod
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The inaugural meeting of the Devon IC. Exclusive membership at the moment but more welcome! Not quite at the standards set by the Dorset IC yet!
@stubertphoto
& Sean Mills at The Feathers
#Budleigh
@WeHaveWaysPod
@militaryhistori
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I might be in some trouble… please send help if I’m not out by closing time! Bookmark in
#Falmouth
@WeHaveWaysPod
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Sad to say that Ken Welch, prob the last surviving Aux Unit member cannot make it to
@WeHaveWaysPod
fest. He's too ill but was so looking forward to meeting you all! I'm doing a talk instead on the new book at 4.30pm on Friday (will also be doing a book signing at some point)!
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Tonight's livestream was a great reminder of just how unique & brilliant the
@WeHaveWaysPod
fest is. The momentum built over the past three events all points to 2024 being the biggest and best yet (& if in the summer might coincide with the launch of my next book)...!
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I know
@almurray
is No.1 in movers and shakers but my book, very much focused on the secret resistance civilian units (on land) that would have met the German invasion is for some reason No 1 in books on the Battle of the Atlantic…?!
@WeHaveWaysPod
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If you told me a couple of years back that i’d be taking
@gillinghamjoe
on a tour of Coleshill I would have said you’d been in a bunker for too long. My life is now officially mental & I love it!
@chatabix1
NEW EP ALERT. WW2 historian
@Chats1
takes Joe on a tour of Coleshill House where the secret resistance learnt how to be assassins & blow stuff up! Listen to 3 grown men get excited about upside down horseshoes, chicken sheds & underground bunkers ! 🎧➡️
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Calm, concise and relevant commentary from
@militaryhistori
on
@bbc5live
on the Ukraine war. Like his books, diligently well researched and informed. We need more voices like his on mainstream channels.
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Thanks to everyone that has bought the book & for the lovely initial comments! If you've read & enjoyed Britain's Secret Defences it would be amazing if you could leave some feedback on Amazon - apparently it really helps! Thanks again everyone!
#SWW
#Historian
@WeHaveWaysPod
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What a beautiful day at
@CVHISTORYFEST
The
@HistoryRage
chaps on fire as usual, great speakers, great beer! Thanks to everyone who turned up to my talk (including
@James1940
- thanks for your question Jim)! Back on Sunday at 4pm - can’t wait!
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When your daughter goes on her Year 6 residential to London, visits the
@I_W_M
& comes back with the perfect gift for her old Dad! Knew raising her to be a
#history
fan would pay off!
@BudleighStP
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What’s the perfect accompaniment to a Saturday morning coffee? Biscuit? Slice of cake? Devon pasty? Nope Sand & Steel by the incomparable
@militaryhistori
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Kindle version of Britain's Secret Defences now available for pre-order (available in September)! Narrator not confirmed but we're working on getting the best...!
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Britain’s defences against a German invasion (however likely) remain with us (& in some cases under us) everywhere. The key is not to look at them in isolation, as bits of concrete on a beach or in a field, but rather as a fully connected, planned defensive strategy!
Very exciting to discover these anti-tank defences at the edge of the Lindisfarne causeway. Had no idea.
@WeHaveWaysPod
@holland_tom
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You literally cannot beat
#tarbarrels
mental British tradition at its best! Updates throughout the night…!
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