Peter Johnston
@peterajohnston.bsky.social
Director, Narrative and Content at Imperial War Museums. Military historian, museum professional, and frequent explorer of museums, memorials and battlefields. All views here are mine alone
Pinned
India's War: An IWM Collecting project
Find out more about how IWM is looking to increase the representation of the Indian experience of the Second World War within the museum’s collections.
www.iwm.org.uk
IWM has recently launched our India's War collecting project, aiming to improve our representation of the Indian experience of the Second World War within the museum’s collections. More details here:
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Hoping to catch up with lots of @smh-historians.bsky.social friends and colleagues while at #SMH2026 in a few weeks. Let me know if you're going to be there. I'm still waiting on the final schedule, but know for sure I'll be talking about Afterlives of British Forces Germany on the Sunday at 10.00
January 15, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Hoping to catch up with lots of @smh-historians.bsky.social friends and colleagues while at #SMH2026 in a few weeks. Let me know if you're going to be there. I'm still waiting on the final schedule, but know for sure I'll be talking about Afterlives of British Forces Germany on the Sunday at 10.00
Reposted by Peter Johnston
There's still time to sign up for TNAs archival skills training sessions relating to military history/records on 3/4 February: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/practical-...
Practical Archival Skills Training: Military History
This workshop is designed to develop the skills of students undertaking research on records relating to military history (1782-present).
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 10:24 AM
There's still time to sign up for TNAs archival skills training sessions relating to military history/records on 3/4 February: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/practical-...
Just squeaks in
December 27, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Just squeaks in
This genuinely sounds like a cracking exhibition www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
December 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
This genuinely sounds like a cracking exhibition www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
December 19, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Sobering reading. And it doesn't take account the issue of quality of forces. But it finally appears the idea of mass having a value of its own is catching on. Yes in 1991 a division was deployed on GRANBY but it took a further 2 from 1 BR Corps to put it into the field
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
December 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Sobering reading. And it doesn't take account the issue of quality of forces. But it finally appears the idea of mass having a value of its own is catching on. Yes in 1991 a division was deployed on GRANBY but it took a further 2 from 1 BR Corps to put it into the field
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Give me a bauble, Vashilllly. One bauble only, please"
December 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
"Give me a bauble, Vashilllly. One bauble only, please"
@dankaszeta.bsky.social's rather epic thread didn't get to either of the world's greatest condiments....
December 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
@dankaszeta.bsky.social's rather epic thread didn't get to either of the world's greatest condiments....
Great news, but not sure why The Spy Who Came In From the Cold is being adapted under a different name? Legacy of Spies is an excellent novel, full of le Carré's rage against 21st century certainties and moral superiorities. Would be a fine adaptation in its own right
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
New BBC le Carré series Legacy Of Spies starring Matthew Macfadyen, Charlie Hunnam, Daniel Brühl and Devrim Lingnau announced
The series will chart George Smiley’s overarching quest for his nemesis, Russian master-spy Karla, through the defining era of our modern age, the Cold War
www.bbc.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Great news, but not sure why The Spy Who Came In From the Cold is being adapted under a different name? Legacy of Spies is an excellent novel, full of le Carré's rage against 21st century certainties and moral superiorities. Would be a fine adaptation in its own right
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...
Don't understand that 20 minute red card in the IRE Bokke game. It's always foul play, always illegal, no mitigation. So by the laws it has to be a flat red, not a 20 minuter? Rugby's destroying itself by constantly tweaking laws and inconsistently and incoherently applying them
November 22, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Don't understand that 20 minute red card in the IRE Bokke game. It's always foul play, always illegal, no mitigation. So by the laws it has to be a flat red, not a 20 minuter? Rugby's destroying itself by constantly tweaking laws and inconsistently and incoherently applying them
Share a TV series you've watched from beginning to end more than once.
November 19, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Share a TV series you've watched from beginning to end more than once.
Enjoying "French rugby broadcast" bingo tonight as Les Bleus take on the Bokke. In shot focus shift from crowd to player during anthem? Check. Fan with beret and tricolour face paint? Yep. Still waiting on artist painting a watercolour and a bit of French foul play that mysteriously has no replay
November 8, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Enjoying "French rugby broadcast" bingo tonight as Les Bleus take on the Bokke. In shot focus shift from crowd to player during anthem? Check. Fan with beret and tricolour face paint? Yep. Still waiting on artist painting a watercolour and a bit of French foul play that mysteriously has no replay
Fascinating story this. Similar to how in the FWW the British Army used poles and wires from the hops fields to build screens shield the Menin Road and others from reconnaissance or to stop artillery targeting troops and transport build ups
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
November 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Fascinating story this. Similar to how in the FWW the British Army used poles and wires from the hops fields to build screens shield the Menin Road and others from reconnaissance or to stop artillery targeting troops and transport build ups
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Vital reading from @ianvisits.co.uk, featuring IWM's seasonal contribution
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/chr...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/chr...
Christmas jumpers from London’s venues
'Tis fast approaching the season to sit in front of your computer on a video call wearing nothing except a Christmas Jumper.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Vital reading from @ianvisits.co.uk, featuring IWM's seasonal contribution
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/chr...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/chr...
I was really excited to join a special tour of Clapham South Deep Level Shelter this afternoon with IWM's patrons. A fascinating history beyond the Second World War, with an afterlife including being a hostel and labour exchange for those on the Windrush, and a hotel for the Festival of Britain
October 29, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I was really excited to join a special tour of Clapham South Deep Level Shelter this afternoon with IWM's patrons. A fascinating history beyond the Second World War, with an afterlife including being a hostel and labour exchange for those on the Windrush, and a hotel for the Festival of Britain
Thanks to the generosity of the Clore Duffield Foundation we are recruiting a specialist Holocaust curator at IWM. This is an exciting role that'll be responsible for IWM’s internationally significant Holocaust collections and galleries. Details here:
imperialwarmuseums.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
imperialwarmuseums.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
Quick Check Needed
imperialwarmuseums.tal.net
October 27, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Thanks to the generosity of the Clore Duffield Foundation we are recruiting a specialist Holocaust curator at IWM. This is an exciting role that'll be responsible for IWM’s internationally significant Holocaust collections and galleries. Details here:
imperialwarmuseums.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
imperialwarmuseums.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
I'm terribly sad to read this. Thoughts with all of Tim's family, friends and colleagues
One of our best is gone
War Museum announces passing of Chief Historian, Dr. Tim Cook
www.newswire.ca/news-release...
War Museum announces passing of Chief Historian, Dr. Tim Cook
www.newswire.ca/news-release...
War Museum announces passing of Chief Historian, Dr. Tim Cook
/CNW/ - The following is a statement issued today by Canadian War Museum and Canadian Museum of History President and CEO Caroline Dromaguet: "The Canadian War...
www.newswire.ca
October 26, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I'm terribly sad to read this. Thoughts with all of Tim's family, friends and colleagues
I'm glad someone penne'd a few lines on this to bring it to wider attention
October 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
I'm glad someone penne'd a few lines on this to bring it to wider attention
Plans for a Vienna airlift were also made after Berlin, as Vienna was likewise divided into four but inside the Soviet zone and there were fears it took could be cut off
October 16, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Plans for a Vienna airlift were also made after Berlin, as Vienna was likewise divided into four but inside the Soviet zone and there were fears it took could be cut off
Reposted by Peter Johnston
📣 Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus.
A new exhibition running at the Imperial War Museum between Oct 2025 - March 2026.
I was approached last year to join the advisory panel and have been so delighted to see this project come to fruition.
A new exhibition running at the Imperial War Museum between Oct 2025 - March 2026.
I was approached last year to join the advisory panel and have been so delighted to see this project come to fruition.
October 16, 2025 at 9:34 AM
📣 Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus.
A new exhibition running at the Imperial War Museum between Oct 2025 - March 2026.
I was approached last year to join the advisory panel and have been so delighted to see this project come to fruition.
A new exhibition running at the Imperial War Museum between Oct 2025 - March 2026.
I was approached last year to join the advisory panel and have been so delighted to see this project come to fruition.
Now open at IWM London, our brand new special exhibition Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus. It's fascinating, it's revelatory and it's FREE. Do come and see it!
www.iwm.org.uk/events/emerg...
www.iwm.org.uk/events/emerg...
October 16, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Now open at IWM London, our brand new special exhibition Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus. It's fascinating, it's revelatory and it's FREE. Do come and see it!
www.iwm.org.uk/events/emerg...
www.iwm.org.uk/events/emerg...
That's a strong early runner in the #MuseumsChristmasJumper cohort
🎅✈️ It’s landed! The 2025 Santa Spitfire Christmas Jumper is now in stock at the RAF Museum and online at rafmuseumshop.com 🎄
Featuring Santa flying a Spitfire with “Tally Ho Ho Ho” across the shoulders — sizes S–XXXL, £35. Don’t miss out!
bit.ly/4q5a3Eg
#RAFMuseum #ChristmasJumper
Featuring Santa flying a Spitfire with “Tally Ho Ho Ho” across the shoulders — sizes S–XXXL, £35. Don’t miss out!
bit.ly/4q5a3Eg
#RAFMuseum #ChristmasJumper
October 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM
That's a strong early runner in the #MuseumsChristmasJumper cohort
A reminder for you all that tickets are still available for this excellent event at IWM London on 9 October, where the brilliant Kavita Puri will share insights and stories from her recent podcast series. Do join us if you can! #SWW www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-i...
IWM In Conversation: Kavita Puri | The Second Map
Forgotten histories of the Second World War: the Bengal Famine of 1943 and the war on the Asian FrontJoin journalist and broadcaster Kavita Puri and IWM's Director for Narrative and Content, Peter Joh...
www.iwm.org.uk
October 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A reminder for you all that tickets are still available for this excellent event at IWM London on 9 October, where the brilliant Kavita Puri will share insights and stories from her recent podcast series. Do join us if you can! #SWW www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-i...
That Kildunne try was phenomenal, what a player
September 27, 2025 at 3:13 PM
That Kildunne try was phenomenal, what a player
I've a feeling we're not in Kansas (City) anymore...
September 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I've a feeling we're not in Kansas (City) anymore...