Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · 1d

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

The Australian POWs who became double agents and uncovered genocidal plans

It started a researcher down a rabbit hole "beyond anything anyone could ever dream up", involving deception, double agents, secret names and plans for a genocide.

www.abc.net.au

2 4 14

Reposted by Karl James

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 2d

#OTD in 1941 General Bortolo Zambon, GOC Brescia division, relinquished his command. He had fought under Rommel for all of the latter’s battles and led his division during the siege of Tobruk.

@karljames1945.bsky.social @cedricmas.bsky.social @ima-naval-history.bsky.social

D.A.K. War Diary 9 April 1941

9 April 1941 Aerial reconnaissance during the morning 9 April showed: Mechili – Gadd el Ahmar free of enemy, there one of our detachments. 40km east of Gadd el Ahmar retreating enemy column. …

rommelsriposte.com

1 4 20

Reposted by Karl James

Alan Owlport 🦉 🎃 @alanallport.bsky.social · 10d

Stanning Joshua Chamberlain today because sometimes to save the Union you need a pointy-headed college professor with eccentric grooming

2 1 17

Reposted by Karl James

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · 11d

#OTD in 1941 12 Field Coy R.E. started a new war diary, settling in for another month of the siege of Tobruk.

@ubiquevir.bsky.social @karljames1945.bsky.social

rommelsriposte.com/2021/11/05/1...

12th Field Company War Diary October 1941

Tobruk Lieutenant D.V Hutchinson M.B.E. and the 12th Field Company R.E. had now been in Torbruk Garrison for four days, situated at a camping area …12th Field Company War Diary October 1941

rommelsriposte.com

4 18

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · 15d

It’s the best scene in the film

1

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · 15d

Family movie night 🦈

5 2 45

Reposted by Karl James

Kristen Alexander @kristenauthor.bsky.social · 26d

Sad news for Alexander Fax Booksellers in Mawson ACT. We're closing the shop. But not the business! We will continue to sell quality military books online and by mailorder to subscribers. If you are local, pop into the shop and check out the bargains. 50% off most; exceptions bargain bins & shelves.

1 5 7

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Sep 5

This week at the Australian War Memorial, we had Michael Veitch present on Borneo, I’ve just finished the book 📖 It’s an easy read & a good introduction to the I Aust Corps operations on Borneo in 1945.

#WehaveWays #HistBookChat

1 2 15

Reposted by Karl James

Thomas Rogers @drtom-historian.bsky.social · Sep 3

Come and study with us! It'll be fun!

Applications are open for the Australian War Memorial Summer Scholars program, to be held in Canberra next Jan-Feb.

Apply here: www.awm.gov.au/get-involved...

B+W photo of Charles Bean at work, c. 1920s. AWM A05389.

8 6

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Sep 2

On today at the @AWMemorial. It’s not too to come along this afternoon for what will be a great #WWII talk.

#WeHaveWays #HistBookChat

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 29

This #BookFriday don’t forget to book your free tickets for next week’s author talk at the @AWMemorial! Join us as Michael Veitch discusses his latest 📖 on the Borneo campaigns in 1945. See: awm.gov.au/author-talk-mi… #WeHaveWaysy#WWIIII

6

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 29

This #BookFriday don’t forget to book your free tickets for next week’s author talk at the @AWMemorial! Join us as Michael Veitch discusses his latest 📖 on the Borneo campaigns in 1945. See: awm.gov.au/author-talk-mi… #WeHaveWaysy#WWIIII

1 3 10

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 28

London museum tells forgotten story of African and Indian troops in second world war
National Army Museum’s Beyond Burma exhibition examines stories of soldiers from Britain’s colonies

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

London museum tells forgotten story of African and Indian troops in second world war

National Army Museum’s Beyond Burma exhibition examines stories of soldiers from Britain’s colonies

www.theguardian.com

2 7

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 22

This #BookFriday, the last of my recent🏖️reads, Captain Andrew Wilson's ripping memoir as a troop commander in Churchill flamethrower tanks in NW Europe & this brief history of Samurai & medieval Japan, beautifully published by @TuttleBooks 📚

#HistBookChat

13

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 22

This #BookFriday, the last of my recent🏖️reads, Captain Andrew Wilson's ripping memoir as a troop commander in Churchill flamethrower tanks in NW Europe & this brief history of Samurai & medieval Japan, beautifully published by Tuttle 📚

1

Reposted by Karl James

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · Aug 21

Today’s favourite #warart

“Anti-aircraft defences, Marsa Matruh” (1941)

#desertwar #ww2 #militaryhistory

@karljames1945.bsky.social @thehistoryguy.bsky.social @alanallport.bsky.social @cedricmas.bsky.social

Depicts unidentified Australian soldiers standing with a Bren gun mounted on a tripod for anti-aircraft defence in the Western Desert during the North African campaign. Hele was serving as a private in the AIF, when in January 1941 he was commissioned in the field by General Blamey and given the task of depicting the activities of Australians in North Africa. His appointment was made official in October 1941. From June 1943 until the end of the Second World War Hele worked in a number of locations in Northern Australia and New Guinea, holding his commission until 1947. Hele was again commissioned an official war artist , with the rank of Major, during the Korean War. From 1953 he executed a number of portrait and painting commissions for the Australian War Memorial and in 1969 was awarded a CBE for his services to art.
AWM Accession Number ART22868
Collection type Art
Measurement framed: 83.7 x 73.8 cm
Object type Painting
Physical description oil on canvas on cardboard
Maker Hele, Ivor
Place made North Africa: Western Desert, Western Desert (Egypt), Mersa Matruh
Date made 1941
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945

2 10 47

Reposted by Karl James

Son of Sandor @sonofsandor.bsky.social · Aug 20

Aug 20, 1950 Australian born Major Benjamin Carlin and his wife yesterday reached the island of Flores, in the Azores, in their amphibious jeep. They had been missing for more than a week. The Carlins left Nova Scotia on July 19 in an attempt to cross the Atlantic in their 17ft converted jeep.

1 3 10

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 19

The Australian War Memorial's special #VPDay symposium "Interpreting Australia's Second World War: previewing Anzac Hall" is now online: www.youtube.com/live/P6vGj8_....

For more #WWII see, including author talks, see: www.awm.gov.au/the-end-of-t...

#WeHaveWays #WWII #VJDay80

7 11

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 17

Interesting history mystery you’ve uncovered

1

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 14

Oh wow 🤩

Reposted by Karl James

Justin Plummer 🇦🇺 @ausarsenal.bsky.social · Aug 13

@karljames1945.bsky.social please keep an eye on this!

Jim Toms @jim09ea63.bsky.social · Aug 13

Just found out that BM597 is off to a new home in Australia 🇦🇺
Farewell Polish Spitfire
Snapped here in 2019 at Flying Legends climbing off the grass strip at Duxford

1 1 2

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 13

My latest article, “The Final Campaigns” about Australia’s controversial Pacific campaigns in 1944-45, is now available for free on the @AWMemorial’s new digital magazine WM: wm.awm.gov.au/read/final-c...

So too are some of my older Wartime articles on #WWII.

#WeHaveWays #VJDay80

3 10

Reposted by Karl James

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · Aug 10

Throughout the month of August 1941, the RAF put in a solid effort to allow the Axis to discover that their radio communications were being read.

@rafhistorical.bsky.social @rafhistory.bsky.social @cedricmas.bsky.social @rjhammond215.bsky.social @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social @alanallport.bsky.social

Protecting ULTRA – Must try harder?

Background ULTRA was the code-name given to radio interception and decryption of Axis radio communications. While many people know that this affected a lot of German radio communications, what is l…

rommelsriposte.com

4 9 32

Reposted by Karl James

Jack Bowsher - Thunder Run @historybowsh.bsky.social · Aug 11

Something a little different this week - Rob and I discuss the evacuation of Burma, so often overlooked or just a footnote to 1942, then look at some harrowing eyewitness accounts. Fascinating and harrowing in equal measure.

The Forgotten War Pod: Burma Campaign WW2 @forgottenwarpod.bsky.social · Aug 11

NEW EPISODE LIVE! This week, we explore the tragic refugee crisis that engulfed Burma in 1942. We move beyond the military campaign to share the harrowing eyewitness accounts of the civilians who fled the Japanese invasion on the long walk to India. #ForgottenWar #WWIIHistory

4 11

Reposted by Karl James

From Balloons to Drones @balloons2drones.bsky.social · Aug 10

Using atomic bombs to end the Second World War was inevitable thehub.ca/2025/08/10/u...

Graham Broad: Using atomic bombs to end the Second World War was inevitable

thehub.ca

4 3

Karl James @karljames1945.bsky.social · Aug 10

One day closer presents!

1