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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Sep 1

Only recently found out I am related to Freddie Bradley. He was shot in a village called Le Paradis on the Dunkirk Perimeter by soldiers of the SS Totenkopf Division along with 96 of his company after they surrendered having ran out of ammunition. He was my great nan’s cousin.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 23

Run up to RAF Barkston Heath this morning, the site of 1st Parachute Battalion’s take off on their lift into Arnhem, Sunday 17 September 1944. They were flown in on the C-47s of the USAAF 61st Troop Carrier Group. ‘Bring up the PIAT’ t-shirt was a requirement!l naturally!

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 20

I’ve said said it before and I’ll say it again. This is the absolute daddy @mikehistorian.bsky.social

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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 20

Whatever your thoughts are on the Das Boot TV series the opening scene when the Short Sunderland attacks is awesome!

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 18

Visited former Coastal Command base RAF Oban whilst on holiday in Scotland. Brave lads these. The unglamorous ‘Cinderella Boys’ who played a pivotal role in winning the Battle of the Atlantic.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 16

Caerlaverock Castle 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 13th fortress taken by Edward I and Jacobean palace

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 4

Short Sunderland! Always good to see some Coastal Command kit. Unsung heroes.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 4

Lots of cool Bomber Commmand related stuff at the RAF Museum in London, including S for Sugar (formerly Q-Queenie) a Lanc that completed 137 ops, a downed Halifax Mk II rescued from a fjord, tons of tech from the bombers, a Me110 with radar and Schräge Musik, flight suits & a GEE transmitter!

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 4

One of my Bomber Command days out last week: 2 Lancs, 1 Mossie, 9 Red Arrows (unexpected treat), 4 bases (Coningsby, East Kirkby, Woodhall Spa & Metheringham) and 1 happy member of the WW2 afflicted!

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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 4

Last surviving intact Halifax bomber (to our national shame). Painted up (on one side) as F-Freddy AKA ‘Friday the 13th’ at the Yorkshire Air Museum, former RAF Elvington. The original completed 128 ops over enemy territory!

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Aug 4

The main runway at RAF Burn. Cyril Barton in his 578 Squadron Halifax took off right here on the night of 30 March 1944 bound for Nuremberg, he wouldn’t return but would win a VC for his immense bravery. I’m certain the poppies I found growing on the perimeter track were for him.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Jul 6

Such an honour to represent my family again at Tyne Cot.

My great great granduncle John. A cockney boy just like me. Never got to come home to the East End from Flanders.

We never forgot you John. I know your sister Lily missed you greatly.

Lest we forget

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · May 8

VE Day 80!

Thinking of these men today. I’m deeply proud of them all.

Driver Arthur Roberts, Royal Engineers
Gunner Henry Finck, Royal Artillery
Corporal James Thomas, Reconnaissance Corps

From the escape at Dunkirk to Monte Cassino, my family played their part in the the defeat of fascism.

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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · May 5

Best way to start today #VEDay80

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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · May 1

Ken Hay, 4 Dorsets, 38 Div in VE Day: We Were There on BBC.

No Ken, you don’t need to be sorry. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

#VEday80

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 28

Was there two weeks ago visiting the grave of a former student of the school I teach at in Bakewell, Lady Manners School.

Second Lieutenant George Holmes of the 15th Sherwood Foresters.

Such an incredible place to visit.

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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 16

Walked to Thiepval Memorial today. It was an honour to find where Samuel Sheldon is remembered. He was a baker from Baslow, born in Sheffield and a former student of Lady Manners School, Bakewell. He died at Serre on 1 July 1916. His body was never recovered.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 16

Then and now. The Sunken Road in No Man’s Land in 1916 opposite Beaumont-Hamel. This was the jumping off point for these lads of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, 29th Division. Such a humbling place to visit.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 16

More images from the front line near the Sheffield Memorial Park. Lads from the industrial North of England lie side by side just as they advanced on 1 July 1916.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 16

Sheffield Memorial Park on the Somme, including the beautiful Railway Hollow Cemetery. From here the northern pals battalions of the 31st Division attacked the German trenches in front of Serre, 1 July 1916. Many didn’t come home. Events on the Somme changed Britain forever.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 12

Managed to find some 110yr old training trenches dug up on moors over Redmires Reservoir. This is where the volunteer soldiers of the 12th (Service) Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment (Sheffield City Battalion) of ‘Kitchener’s Army’ prepared for war. They would eventually be sent to the Somme.

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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 3

And a massive shout out to @sommecourt.bsky.social for the walks I’m planning to do from his magisterial ‘Walking the Somme’

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 3

I’m not a First World War buff but it does interest me and it’s significance to WW2 is plain to see. So I’m planning a trip to Picardy over the hols to walk the ground. Made myself an order of battle for the first day of the Battle of the Somme using Martin Middlebrook’s book.

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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Apr 3

I’m not a First World War buff but it does interest me and it’s significance to WW2 is plain to see. So I’m planning a trip to Picardy over the hols to walk the ground. Made myself an order of battle for the first day of the Battle of the Somme using Martin Middlebrook’s book.

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Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Mar 15

My great grandfather Driver Arthur Roberts was evacuated of this very beach in May 1940. Words can’t express what an honour it was to finally visit Dunkirk today.

Martin Roberts @martinsroberts.bsky.social · Dec 31

Best beers I’ve drunk for the first time in 2024:

▪️Thornbridge / The Kernel - Burton Ale (on the Union System!)
▪️Northern Monk / Timothy Taylor - Unity Stout