Robert Lyman 🇺🇦
@robert_lyman
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Apologies for the salmon shorts, but it is summer!
A little present from
@OspreyBooks
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Just had a message from my son. He’s been away for 10-days. Welcome to the infantry!
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RIP Rev Dr Graham Lyman 1936-2023.
Farmer; Presbyterian minister; preacher; Chaplain General Australian Army & in retirement a producer of very fine Shiraz in the Barossa Valley.
My father.
It was a great blessing being able to spend precious time with him at Christmas.
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He’s not the only person who’s shocked.
As an historian, I thought the jew-hate was behind us but no, it’s alive and thriving in our own society.
“People are saying things about Jews that they were saying in the 1300s.”
Author Howard Jacobson says he “can’t sleep at night” and he is “flabbergasted” by the state of antisemitism in Britain.
@HugoRifkind
|
#TimesRadio
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This is pure sophistry
@JohnSimpsonNews
. The innocent dead cannot make such elegant linguistic distinctions. If you can’t describe the butcherers of women and children at a peace rave (not to mention the slaughter of babies) as terrorists - as the law does - then the BBC - and
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In exciting news, I’m pleased to say that we’re grandparents for the first time.
Welcome Caspar! Caspar means ‘keeper of the treasure’ and is one of the names attributed to the Magi who travelled to worship the infant Jesus in Bethlehem for the first Christmas.
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Do we really understand the huge and sustained requirement for artillery in the contact battle? Ukraine is clearly reminding us of many things. When was the last time a ‘British’ infantry formation undertook a planned attack on a well defended position? I’ve been staggered to
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Just putting this out there.
This was when we had a real live enemy in Europe….
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First class obituary of the late Major General Mark Strudwick.
Read the last sentence.
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Blowers in the
@Telegraph
today
It’s strange to those unused to it, but it works, in part by separating the head of state from the hurly-burly of politics.
Just as we respect democracies with other traditions, it would seem gracious & polite for others to respect ours.
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Very nice to hear the King mention the great battles of Imphal and Kohima raging in India at the time of D Day, in his marvellous speech at Portsmouth today.
"And as we remember, with humility, pride and gratitude, let us never forget that the soldiers who fought in the campaign
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Devastating analysis of fantasy British foreign policy by
@matthewsyed
in
@thetimes
today. I couldn’t put it better myself (though I’ve tried); this is as good as it gets.
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No surprise here: it’s entirely unfair to ask soldiers to cover for much better paid strikers
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When I did my all-arms parachute course I thought it was normal to black out every time I jumped, waking up to see the chute billowing above me. My friends assured me otherwise, but I seemed OK so thought no more of it. It was only many years later that I was discovered to have a
US Airborne parachute failure. Listen to soldier shouting "pull you're reserve dumb arse"
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In significant policy move,
@Amnesty
vote to become the mouthpiece of Russian Army.
⚡️ Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harm’s way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas.
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Seriously, what sort of person just chucks their rubbish from their car, in a quiet country lane?
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My old mate Rajindar Singh Dhatt!
Rajindar is a
#kohima
veteran
@KohimaEdTrust
100 year old Rajindar Singh Dhatt waits for the Queen's procession to pass in Hounslow, West London with a single rose in his hand to pay his respects
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Lest we forget. It’s 10 years since 3 RIFLES suffered 30 KIA in Afghan
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Well done Konstantin! What a brilliant communicator
@AspectsHistory
Konstantin Kisin at the Oxford Union, by
@KonstantinKisin
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Meanwhile, in other news, very proud that my niece has also donned a uniform
@NZDefenceForce
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One day they’ll invent something that just sorts books out, back onto shelves, the bibliographic equivalent of a vacuum cleaner or some sort. It’s just too difficult for me, so piles it’ll just have to be
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Its VJ Day today.
15 August 1945 ended nearly 4 years of war for Britain since 7 December 1941 but much more for the Chinese, who had endured war in Manchuria since 1931 and in China proper since 1937.
4 years for us. 14 years for the Chinese.
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Just a periodic reminder that war is fought by teenagers...
Infantry and carriers of 8th Royal Scots pause during the attack by 15th (Scottish) Division on Tilburg, in the Netherlands. 27 October 1944. © IWM B 11400
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Second hand books sometimes arrive with fascinating provenance….
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Sad to report that Hector, famous on this site, with a fan club that spanned several continents, passed away peacefully today, aged 11-years. These pix were taken a month ago. The squirrels & rabbits around us here in our part of rural Berkshire can now breathe easy.
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Well done the remarkable British Armed Forces! Very proud of everyone today
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Excellent thread, and, though I get the point, ‘British Army’ should in fact be, for the 1897 battle, replaced by the ‘Indian Army’, as the Sikhs were fighting as part of the legally constituted army of the new (albeit colonial) India. It makes your last point even more powerful
Battle of
#Saragarhi
and Battle of
#BhimaKoregaon
both had Indian soldiers fighting for the British. While the Battle of Saragarhi has become a symbol of valour and courage, the Battle of Koregaon has still not got its due in history. Read the thread🧵
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We have all lost something of ourselves tonight.
God Save the King!
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This is a photo of Chris Hodder QGM in Belfast in 1987.
We were both in 10 Platoon, Salerno Company
@RMASandhurst
in 1981.
The photo was taken by one of the two ATO Pig drivers, Billy Williams.
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I am editing Field Marshal Slim's papers.
Included are some hilarious papers from the Staff College, Quetta, in 1926, proving to unbelievers that Staff College can be fun. I'll post more IDC.
Current and ex-infantrymen of a nervous disposition should look away now
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On Remembrance Day I laid a wreath at the Japanese memorial above Jotsoma village. As an ex-British soldier I was proud to do so, in memory of the brave men who did their duty for their country. We were enemies then, but wars must pass and we must learn to conquer the peace. This
Different strokes. For some Japanese & INA were liberators, OTH there are those who commemorate Allied Victory. Does India need to accommodate this diversity in its assessment of the
#Raj
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Thank you everyone for your thoughts & messages. They’re very much appreciated.
Here’s the proof of life photo taken by
@monty_lyman
.
I’m home & pretty much back on track. I look forward to catching up with everyone in person or online over coming months. See you at DREI!
Thoughts with Rob Lyman as he recovers from his Sunday morning medical scare. Gifts of fine claret and unsmoked salmon have been prescribed, but ones of Beef Wellington & fine Stilton, I fear, are outlawed. Speedy recovery, mon cher ami
@robert_lyman
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I'm very pleased to say that rumours of my demise have been considerably exaggerated.
Thank you to everyone for your messages of support.
Here's something to prove that I can take time off...
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We’ve only gone and done it!
Lots of sore feet today in
#Kohima
as 18-walkers successfully recreate the famous 39-hour withdrawal of 1st Assam Regiment from Jessami to Kohima 1-3 April 1944.
Congrats to Charlotte Carty (who dreamt up the idea) and to Bertie Lawson of
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Between Field Marshal Bill Slim’s retirement from Windsor as Constable in June 1970 until his death in December, what one person telephoned Aileen every single day to find out how he was?
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
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Coming back to Nagaland brings back memories of the Naga men of V Force, 1st Bn Assam Regiment & the Assam Rifles who did so much to halt the Japanese invasion of India in 1944. Here is Sovehu Neinu, from Jessami, who fought with Captain Jock Young at
#Kharasom
. Photo taken 2011
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There is a thing on Twitter to show photos of when you were 20. Here’s me, aged 21, West Belfast
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ITS DONE! (all 1.5 inches of it). I’m sending it to
@OspreyBooks
tonight & the ‘de’ll can take the hindmost.’ Maps & pix to follow, but words (pre-edit) are now written & in some semblance of order. Pub Nov 21. Thanks to all the folk who’ve helped me on the way!
@marcuscowper
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Feeling very pleased with myself today. I walked 24-miles in 7-hours as part of my training for the 39-hour 80-mile march from Jessami to Kohima on 1-3 April 2024. A bunch of us are walking in the footsteps of 1st Assam Rifles as they withdrew from combat to reinforce the
#Kohima
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The world seems to be inhabited by two sorts of people at present.
Those who are outraged at the deliberate slaughter of babies.
And those who say, “Yes, but…”
Why would
@bbcquestiontime
give airtime to Jake ?
You’ve had all the details of the vile bigoted comments he made (and he acknowledged as such by deleting)
Why in the midst of such high tensions are divisive voices considered appropriate for what should balanced political debate
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Sitting in one’s armchair with a glass of claret worrying about the pile of books next to the desk that need to be read by….yesterday
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Here is one of mine on the Tobruk battlefield on a Dad’s ‘n Lads tour…
Here are my daughters enjoying a walk along Hadrian’s Wall
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Today's BIG news: 98,333 words done & Richard & I have put pens down!
It'll be off to
@OspreyBooks
soon for publication in October.
It's sub-title is 'A Cautionary Tale for Modern Britain.'
If I say so myself, its a corker & I can't wait for you to read it too!
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In 2017 nearly half of British 18-24 year olds were not even aware that British forces had fought in the Second World War…
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80-years ago today this Assam Regiment veteran (now 102 years old) was fighting to defend Jessami from the Japanese. The battalion’s remarkable 5-day defence of Jessami took the sting out of Sato’s offensive and, together with that of Sangshak, meant that the Japanese did not
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Happy? No, ecstatic. The lovely
@Tofrek
has given me a silk aircrew escape map of Burma.
Negotiations are now proceeding to get this framed and on a wall
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Trevor Phillips “Cancelling colonial history erases my family”
I agree
My own view is that cancelling history actually favours the elites & their narratives while making slaves of the downtrodden & voiceless
Cancelling is an elitist project.
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Very pleased to be at
@RMASandhurst
today to celebrate Officer Cadet JPR Lyman being commissioned into
@RiflesRegiment
today, 38 years after his father
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A master class on Dunkirk 1940 by
@James1940
to probably 1,000 of us at
@WeHaveWaysPod
Truly remarkable stuff
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Remember that my youngest was very 'friendly' with Hugh Verity's granddaughter?
Well, I'm pleased to say that he's got his priorities right.
Readers, he's marrying her...
Congratulations
@phineas_lyman
and Kierra Crawley!
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Walked into a pub tonight, to be offered a beer by
@almurray
and a scintillating conversation about the state of the universe and all its ills, especially those caused directly or indirectly by the current regime in Russia…
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Thank you
@KohimaEdTrust
All at KET would like to congratulate our trustee
@robert_lyman
most warmly on being awarded his MBE by HRH The Princess Royal in Windsor yesterday for his services to military history and charitable work in Nagaland, Northeast India. Congratulations!
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Thank goodness for vaccines.
Found my old Army vaccine certificates today
I never heard anyone complaining about being inoculated against Yellow Fever, polio, typhoid or tetanus.
We took it for granted that we were beneficiaries of modern enlightened science.
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A thread about generals and their sons in Burma.
Three generals who were serving - or who had served in Burma - lost their sons, during the war in Burma.
First, Maj Gen Freddie Loftus-Tottenham and his wife Marjorie had three sons.
Two were KIA during the war, one at
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Indian Army Staff College, Quetta, 1926
Staff Writing Exercises. Letter
#1
.
You are 2Lt A. BRICK-DROPPER, 14th Rumbelbellypore Light Infantry....
Have a go!
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Its Publication Day!
Its been in the making for 30-years.
Heartfelt thanks to all who made it happen, incl
@OspreyBooks
@BloomsburyBooks
@KohimaEdTrust
@NAM_London
@USI_CAFHR
@MrMaitra
@I_W_M
@katemooreditor
@marcuscowper
@James1940
@UntotheHills_
@Imphal_Battle
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A little indulgence from me today as I congratulate my parents on their 60th wedding anniversary. Dad has been, variously, a soldier, Rev, Dr, Chaplain General in the Australian Army, farmer & grower of shiraz; Mum, throughout, a brilliant DA&QMG.
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I love this! The Indian Army certainly saved India from the Japanese. 87% of the 606k men in 14 Army were Indian; 10% British. Spectacularly successful Indian Army in 45 was no longer the small, ill-equipped constabulary of the Raj in 39, but a powerful all-conquering juggernaut
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Not often you see 12 Spitfires, with Sally B belching smoke on the flight line
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Debate raging in the house.
Is this still useable? My view is Yes! My son (born in 1996 with all the prejudices of the young, is horrified)
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Be careful what you wish for
Leftist woman handing out anti-shah manifesto. Tehran, iran, 1979. (688×473)
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I don’t know any serious military historians who think this.
Certainly, the men fighting the Wehrmacht didn’t.
Some military historians believe that one reason Hitler’s army fell apart in 1944-1945 Europe was that, unlike the Allied officers and soldiers trained in democracies, the troops schooled under the Nazis could not, when necessary, think for themselves on the battlefield.
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Fascinating. Indian soldier suffering bayonet wounds in Burma, 1945 is taught to knit, in part to keep his brain active and thinking of things other than his wound and pain. In the
@NAM_London
online collection
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On this day in 1942, one of the most amazing raids of the Second World War took place...
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I'm very pleased to announce that I have today signed a deal with
@OspreyBooks
@BloomsburyBooks
to write this, for publication in 2022. I'll clearly have much less time for twitter now...
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We lost Hector over a year ago, but are looking forward to welcoming this little bundle of mischief - Humphrey - to the family in a few weeks time.
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Thank you!
We were delighted to learn that
@robert_lyman
has been awarded an MBE on the New Year Honours List. A big congratulations to you Rob!
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Yippee!
A couple of fat boxes have arrived from
@OspreyBooks
Kiki and Hector want to know what they contain…
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Back from two months campaigning in India and Burma (Myanmar) I’m now enjoying being at home with the dogs and a roaring fire (in mid-April!) and piles of reading to catch up on…
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I am reluctant to get involved in this National Service debate, except to observe that it does not appear driven by the needs of the Armed Forces, but rather at some attempt at social engineering. I’m also suspicious that it’s come out after the announcement of a GE. If it were
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Thank you for expressing your views so clearly.
Obviously I don’t agree with them.
I’m an historian who enjoys understanding the past, rather than living in a fabricated mythology.
I’m happy to debate the subject, politely, anytime.
Stooge? For fighting against British Imperialism which impoverished India,looted 45Tr$, killed 35m people in famine etc are you real
@robert_lyman
? You are such a big fraud! Shameful
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A little reminder from Ian Beckett of the reality of British Army casualties in WW2 compared to the Great War.
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A photo from Lord Slim today. This is one of the 4 Italian bullets that penetrated the then Brigadier Bill Slim at Gallabat in 1940, fortunately only wounding him.
He was very lucky, and so were we that he survived. He was badly wounded twice in the Great War and came close to
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How it started
@phineas_lyman
16-months ago, first day at
@RMASandhurst
. How it is now, at the end of Platoon Commanders Battle Course
@schinf
@5RIFLESOFFICIAL
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I haven’t the heart to tell them it’s Sunday, and the next postman isn’t arriving until after the bank holiday
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Do other chaps have this problem?
What on Earth happens to the pairs?
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I had an angry letter from a chap in Australia after publication of my book on Tobruk, because I had failed to mention his father's pioneer unit
I'm serious.
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Replacing our roof, first built in 1773, and last repaired in 1850. Look how the builders numbered the roof joists with Roman numerals. Each of these nails was hand forged.
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History demonstrates repeatedly that unless one fights back against bullies, the bullies will win, at least in the short term, and cause untold damage and pain unless they’re restrained.
Advice to Israel not to retaliate against Iran after an unprecedented military assault (you
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In 1941 the Japanese had no plan to succeed in the war they unleashed on the world; they only had a plan to invade.
Invading and succeeding are very different things.
The Japanese were good at fighting, but bad at war.
Vlad should read my book.
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