Karl James
@karljames1945.bsky.social
Head, Military History, Australian War Memorial. Australia & the Second World War. Chinooks in Afghanistan. ADB editor board
Current read for #BookFriday 📖 Badsey argues the Allies “strongest card” during the invasion & breakout was airpower. But ultimately Normandy was “essentially decided by infantry, effectively supported by armour, artillery & (while in range) naval gunfire.”
#Newbook 📕 Where to begin when describing Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey? Intelligent, influential, controversial & divisive. He inspired strong loyalties amongst supporters & deep animosities in his detractors. Discuss. Review forthcoming in the @AWMemorial’s WM!
What happened after D-day when everyone in Normandy wanted to go home? Read about how the authorities intially tackled making it safe again… achurchill.substack.com/p/article-de...
ARTICLE: De-mining Normandy, 1944-45
On my travels recently I picked up a small booklet by Thomas D.
achurchill.substack.com
New book 📖 ‼️ Rich in personal stories, this work is a tribute to @AustralianArmy PoWs in Italy in #WWII, some of whom became escapers, evaders & partisans in the fight against fascism.
Join us tomorrow for the next speaker in our Author talk series at @AWMemorial. Diana Thorp will share her journey tracking down 🇦🇺women who joined the @AusAirForce @Australian_Navy @AustralianArmy in #WWII For more: www.awm.gov.au/events/autho...
Returning to NW Europe & the 21st Army Group, reading de Guingand back-to-back 📚 They are fascinating insights from Monty’s Chief of Staff in #WWII, especially “Generals at war” for its critique of Wavell & Monty’s post-war relationship with Ike. #WeHaveWays
How did VJ Day shift from raucous reunions to quiet commemoration? In our latest episode, we explore how veterans celebrated survival in London, why commemoration evolved over time, and what VJ Day meant to those who actually served. #WW2History #BurmaCampaign #MilitaryHistory
This #histbookchat I am still reading ‘Milne Bay’ so my offering is from the TBR ‘The Voyage Of Their Life: The Story of the SS Derna and its Passengers’ by Diane Armstrong. This book was a present from my Aunty and we had a great chat after I rang her to say it was my #photofriday book choice. /2
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
#histbookchat #PhotoFriday. I will be disappointed if many of you don’t already know these terrific books from @historybowsh.bsky.social and @lmbd1418.bsky.social. Shining a light on little known aspects of the CBI campaign (I was prompted by Lucy’s appearance on the Briefing Room pod)
This is on today - if you're in Canberra, come on down! #histbookchat
Karl James@karljames1945.bsky.social · 2mo agoBeginning tomorrow, join us for a new season of monthly author talks at the Australian War Memorial. Roger Noble will be sharing his experiences with the Australian Army & being at the centre of Australia's contribution to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor. awm.gov.au/events/autho...
Shame Australia is on the other side of the world to me...
Karl James@karljames1945.bsky.social · 2mo agoBeginning tomorrow, join us for a new season of monthly author talks at the Australian War Memorial. Roger Noble will be sharing his experiences with the Australian Army & being at the centre of Australia's contribution to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor. awm.gov.au/events/autho...
Beginning tomorrow, join us for a new season of monthly author talks at the Australian War Memorial. Roger Noble will be sharing his experiences with the Australian Army & being at the centre of Australia's contribution to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor. awm.gov.au/events/autho...
Imperialism & Resistance: Australia's first wars @ the @AWMemorial. Hear from authors, historians & curators reflecting on the Frontier Wars, the mid-century New Zealand Wars, & colonial commitments to Sudan, China, and the South African (Boer) War. conlog-awm-2026.eventsairsite.com
#OTD 9 July 1917, two Scottish munitions workers allowed Horace Nicholls to photograph their tattoos that remembered sweethearts died at the front or at sea. Neither their names nor the factory location were recorded, which is very probably HM Factory Gretna on the Solway Firth.
Simon Jones@simonjones.bsky.social · 3mo agoA munitions worker displays tattoos of her sweetheart’s name and a cross that she added in his memory after he was killed in action. HM Factory, Gretna, 9 July 1917. Photo: Horace Nicholls. Source: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Who would like a Horace Nicholls photo? A member of the Women's Forestry Corps uses an axe to mark felled tree trunks for sawing c1917-18. Source: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Thanks everyone for reading/sharing @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social @airpowerhistory.bsky.social @rafhistory.bsky.social i@jamiemctrusty.bsky.social @karljames1945.bsky.social @rjhammond215.bsky.social @marcusfaulkner.bsky.social @ima-naval-history.bsky.social @airminded.org @alanallport.bsky.social
Have just finished Alan’s excellent 📖 Usefully, he highlights the knowledge transfer with the @AustralianArmy’s experiences in New Guinea & the Indian Army in Burma in #WWII.
Our mag "WM" issue 3 is a gallery souvenir, telling the histories behind the new galleries in the recently-opened Anzac Hall. You can find out about "WM" at wm.awm.gov.au
The loss of HMS Auckland is written up in detail here. The Tobruk Run was such a major even in Royal Navy History that it has its own Battle History (World War II - No. 52).
The Tobruk Run – Loss of HMS Auckland 24 June 1941
Introduction The Tobruk Run (colloquially known as the “Tobruk Ferry”) was a series of convoy and naval supply operations that operated with some interruptions from April to December 1941, and whic…
rommelsriposte.com
RN ship losses@rnshiplosses.bsky.social · 3mo ago24 June 1941 // Sloop HMS Auckland was sunk by German aircraft off Tobruk while escorting a convoy. Her stern was blown off by bombs and she exploded and sank. 37 crew died, 162 survivors were rescued by HMAS Parramatta. (Image: Imperial War Museum FL 1201) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory
In case you were wondering when the siege of Tobruk ended, we've got you covered now, having reviewed a bunch of primary sources. Special mention of Oz' 2/13 battalion. @karljames1945.bsky.social @alanallport.bsky.social @ima-naval-history.bsky.social @rjhammond215.bsky.social
So when DID the siege of Tobruk end?
Background On WW2Talk it was noted that the Australian Descendants Association of the Rats of Tobruk (soldiers who had been present for at least a day of the siege) took 10 December as the end date…
crusaderproject.wordpress.com
In about eight months Mom's Uncle will be one of them. bsky.app/profile/sono...
Son of Sandor @sonofsandor.bsky.social · 2y agoSep 17, 1945 #WWII Army authorities yesterday issued an official list of 4,585 Australian prisoners who have been recovered in Singapore. The list and documents had been buried in six large steel trunks. * Including Mom's cousin Roy Cheshire ambulance driver with 2/10th Australian Field Ambulance.
"A pilot forced down. A soldier captured. A nurse taken prisoner. Across conflicts, thousands of Australians have lived behind barbed wire, cut off from the world and pushed to their limits." The @AWMemorial's new podcast "Through their eyes" is out now🎧 wm.awm.gov.au/podcast/capt...
Paper version available for purchase now. www.ibneditore.it/catalogo/bre...
Breaking Rommel – IBN Editore
ibneditore.it
The Crusader Project@crusaderproject.bsky.social · 4mo agoSo this is actually happening. @rgpoulussen.bsky.social @garius.bsky.social @cedricmas.bsky.social @ww2tv.bsky.social @ima-naval-history.bsky.social @airminded.org @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social @airpowerhistory.bsky.social @rafhistory.bsky.social @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social @karljames1945.bsky.social
Current ✍️ project is looking @ a group of Australians who served with the Indian Army between #WWI & #WWII. Have also been binging & replaying old episodes of @forgottenwarpod.bsky.social cramming my knowledge of IA 🎧 What’s not to like? #WeHaveWays
