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The latest in my Nigel Tranter project is the MacGregor Trilogy. Three books focused on the proscribed MacGregor Clan in the late 17th and ...

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 2d

Latest in my Nigel Tranter project is the MacGregor Trilogy. Three books focused on the MacGregor Clan in the late 17th and early 18thC. This begins with the story of Rob Roy and continues with his relatives in the 1745 rising. Classic Scottish legend. balkandave.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...

The MacGregor Trilogy

balkandave.blogspot.com

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 4d

OTD in 1571, the Battle of Lepanto was fought off the coast of Greece. The Holy League gained a decisive victory, with the Ottoman fleet almost completely destroyed. However, the Ottomans rapidly rebuilt their fleet in under 6 months. Some of my galleys using Black Seas rules.

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 4d

The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist. “it’s impossible that a group of thieves initiated this action without the involvement of a state.” www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist

The long read: Between 2022 and 2023, as many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bi...

Robison warns of 'difficult choices' as Scottish Budget date set

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 4d

Scotland's historic buildings must not be 'left to rot' as tough choices loom. Faces pressures over rising visitor numbers, deterioration of monuments caused by climate change, increased costs and a lack of traditional skills to maintain its assets. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Scottish government will outline its tax and spending plans for the year on 13 January, more than a month later than usual.

www.bbc.co.uk

Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 6d

The Yugoslavs held off the Nazi hordes, this afternoon anyway. In fairness, the rookie Stuka pilot bombing a German unit helped 😂. Bolt Action at GDWS today.

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 6d

Bolt Action at the club this afternoon. German invasion of Yugoslavia. Not a good start with my R35 missing his first shot but at least the PkwIII also missed.

Site of fortress conquered by Ottoman founder Osman I in early 1300s identified - Türkiye Today

Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 8d

Researchers have identified the location of Cadirli Fortress, one of the earliest strongholds conquered by Osman Ghazi the founder of the Ottoman state, in the early 14thC.
The finding sheds new light on the formative years and reliability of chronicles. www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/site...

Cadirli Fortress, captured by Osman Ghazi in the early 1300s, has been located in Bilecik, confirming early Ottoman chronicles’ historical accuracy

www.turkiyetoday.com

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 8d

Archaeologists uncover Ottoman-era key (29cm long) at historic Bitlis Castle. Alongside the key, the expert team uncovered a variety of significant artifacts and structures within a 50-square-meter vaulted space, believed to be the palace’s reception area. www.dailysabah.com/life/history...

Archaeologists uncover Ottoman-era key at historic Bitlis Castle

Archaeological excavations at Bitlis Castle in southeastern Türkiye, a historic site that has hosted numerous civilizations throughout history, have...

www.dailysabah.com

‘See you in Valhalla’: how the FBI director waded into the far-right’s obsession with the Vikings

Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 9d

‘See you in Valhalla’: how the FBI director waded into the far-right’s obsession with the Vikings. It doesn’t require any understanding of the Norse tradition. It comes from the Nazi’s fetishisation of violent death to secure the racial purity of Germany. theconversation.com/see-you-in-v...

Was the FBI chief sending a message to white supremacists? It’s more likely Patel’s Valhalla reference was a clumsy attempt to call Kirk a hero.

theconversation.com

Warwick military heritage

Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 10d

My blog on an afternoon spent in Warwick’s three regimental museums. The Hussars, Yeomanry and Fusiliers. Excellent wee museums and my thanks to the volunteers who add so much to the experience. balkandave.blogspot.com/2025/10/warw...

I was in Warwick last Saturday afternoon, not for the castle, which I have visited before, but to visit the three regimental museums. Yes, ...

balkandave.blogspot.com

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 10d

‘Laughing at a libertarian crypto dragon? That rules’: Brennan Lee Mulligan on how Dungeons & Dragons took over the world. The games master has accrued millions of fans and sold out Madison Square Garden with his shows where he plays D&D live with guests.

www.theguardian.com/games/2025/s...

‘Laughing at a libertarian crypto dragon? That rules’: Brennan Lee Mulligan on how Dungeons & Dragons took over the world

The games master has accrued millions of fans and sold out Madison Square Garden with his shows where he plays D&D live with guests. He’s still ‘bewildered’ by the success

The Partisan review – the thrilling escapades of Churchill’s favourite spy

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 10d

The Partisan review – the escapades of Churchill’s favourite spy. The Partisan is a film that on paper has some thrilling moments, but somehow they don’t always translate on screen as all that exciting. Unlike the heroine, it never takes much of a risk. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

Morgane Polanski is intense and seductive as Polish agent Krystyna Skarbek, in an uneven drama about her missions across Nazi occupied Europe

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 11d

OTD in 1918, the Armistice of Salonika came into effect, ending Bulgaria's participation in World War I on the side of the Central Powers. Some of my 28mm Bulgarian troops of the period.

Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 12d

OTD in 1687, Venetian forces under Francesco Morosini captured the Acropolis of Athens. A Venetian cannonball struck the Ottoman gunpowder store, causing a large part of the Parthenon to collapse. The Venetians abandoned Athens on 31 Dec. Some of my 28mm Ottomans of the period.

Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 13d

My first visit to Aston Villa. We have only won once here in 21 games, but records are there to be broken! God loves an optimist.

As the football (Aston Villa v Fulham) was switched to Sunday for TV purposes, I found myself with a spare day in the Birmingham area. I vis...

Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 13d

Popped in to the Birmingham Museum en route to the footie. Displays reflect the city’s manufacturing role providing muskets and swords (exported Tulwars to India!), and later machine guns and Spitfires. They made wings in the chocolate factory.

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 14d

My blog on a trip around Birmingham today, including the Midland Air Museum and Kenilworth Castle. The air museum has a fabulous range of aircraft with old favourites and some very rare types. balkandave.blogspot.com/2025/09/midl...

Midland Air Museum

balkandave.blogspot.com

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 14d

OTD in 1669, the epic siege of Candia (Crete) ended with a Venetian surrender to the Ottomans. 21 years counts as epic in my book! Some of my 28mm French and Italian volunteers defending against another Janissary attack.

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 14d

The Fusilier Museum in Warwick covers the Warwickshire Regiment. Monty and Slim were commissioned into this regiment. If you add in Archibald Nye as Deputy CIGS, then you could argue, as the volunteers in the museum do, that the Warwickshire’s won WW2. 👏😂👏

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Dave Watson @balkandave.bsky.social · 14d

The Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum has a Krupp 75mm captured at Huj in Palestine in 1917. Crewed by Austrian troops attached to the Ottoman 53 Division. The last unsupported British cavalry charge.