Kate Werran

@kate-werran.bsky.social

I write about WW2 social history. Author of Black Yanks: Defending Leroy Henry in D-Day Britain (The History Press, 2024) and American Uprising in Second World War England: Mutiny in the Duchy (Pen & Sword, 2020). Assoc FRHistS. PhD Student at Exeter Uni.

What a privilege for me to visit Sturminster Newton Literary Festival yesterday. Fantastic audience, fantastic Jo Durrant interview and fantastic local leads from the floor - that I look forward to following up to shed more light on the African American experience in Second World War Britain.

Jo Durrant@jodurrant.co.uk · 2mo ago

🎤 This afternoon I had the pleasure of being in conversation at Sturminster Literary Festival with @kate-werran.bsky.social about her book ‘Black Yanks: Defending Leroy Henry in D-Day Britain’. We had a great turn out & the sun shone again ☀️

For further details of 100+ UK subject societies in history, please see our new resource bit.ly/43xhXw6 All are membership groups, offering support for historians from a wide range of backgrounds. If you seek fellow researchers in your field, we hope this guide proves useful #Skystorians.

Guide to UK history societies and networks, with text: 

"The Royal Historical Society works closely with a number of other UK and Irish societies dedicated to the study, communication and promotion of historical knowledge and understanding.

Once a year, the Society hosts a half-day meeting of heads of UK history societies to discuss subjects of shared interest, such as publishing, membership and advocacy for the discipline. The Society also holds regular online meetings with its equivalent national organisations worldwide."
Royal Historical Society@royalhistsoc.org · 2mo ago

This afternoon @royalhistsoc.org hosts its annual meeting of heads of UK #history societies. We'll be joined by representatives of 35 subject societies which support and champion historians and our discipline. They, and other societies, are a vital part of UK scholarly and civic life #Skystorians

Assorted logos of UK history societies.

I will be at Sturminster Newton on 14 June talking about the death sentence given to an African American G.I. in WW2 for a rape he did not commit - and the British campaign that set him free. I will be in conversation with the wonderful Jo Durrant - and we'd love to see you there. Doors open at 4pm.

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...and the audience made some wonderful contributions. Thank you @jodurrant.co.uk - it was fantastic to engage with such an interested and interesting audience. I loved it. And the Museum in the Park is a gem!

Jo Durrant@jodurrant.co.uk · 2mo ago

🎤 Yesterday afternoon was the next in my series of in conversation events at the Museum in the Park & I had a brilliant time talking to @kate-werran.bsky.social about a little known story from D-Day Britain about Leroy Henry. We had a great turn out on a sunny day ☀️

Jo and Kate sitting for the event

We are very pleased to welcome 386 historians who join the Society today - as Fellows, Associate Fellows, Members and Postgraduate Members: bit.ly/4uMObPk Our Fellows and Members teach, research, write and promote #history, within the UK and internationally, in and beyond education #Skystorians

Society elects 386 new Fellows, Associate Fellows, Members and Postgraduate Members - RHS

At its latest meeting on 1 May 2026, the RHS Council elected 116 Fellows, 77 Associate Fellows, 81 Members and 112 Postgraduate Members, a total of 386 people newly associated with the Society, from t...

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So looking forward to taking to you then Jo - it will be just three days short of the day 82 years ago that Leroy Henry faced court martial for a rape he did not commit.

Jo Durrant@jodurrant.co.uk · 3mo ago

🎤 We’ve had 2 fab events in the new series of in conversations at Museum in the Park including Mike from @rwldproject.bsky.social Next: @kate-werran.bsky.social on Sat 23rd May at 2pm on ‘Black Yanks: Defending Leroy Henry in D-Day Britain’ Tickets here ➡️ museuminthepark.org.uk/our-beautifu...

Officially I am now Dr Werran! So proud to graduate yesterday from the University of Exeter with a PhD by Publication in History. Thank you @exeter.ac.uk; my amazing supervisors Dr Matthias Reiss and Dr Eve Worth and publishers Pen&Sword and The History Press. Can't wait to build on my work in '26!

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It's always such a pleasure to talk to the amazing @joannadurrant.bsky.social - literally the best interviewer I've ever worked with. And such an appropriate day on which to remember lesser known aspects of WW2 history #AfricanAmericanHistory #ww2 #VEday #BlackHistory #WW2 #WorldWar2

Jo Durrant@jodurrant.co.uk · last yr.

🎧 Ep 235 of Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe podcast is out now: 🤩 @kate-werran.bsky.social talks about her books telling hidden WWII histories 📝 Story of a letter at Museum in the Park that tells poingant VEDay story 📲 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/j... 💻 jodurrantsbeautifuluniverse.libsyn.com

Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe artwork

As we celebrate international women’s day, I am thinking of the contributions of the many women who like Josephine Baker risked their lives working for the Liberation of France. Their participation will be celebrated at this important conference in Paris later this month.

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