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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 8d

Certainly keeping us in check! 🤣

Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · 8d

Hut Dog Charlie Chaplin is with us on a Temporary Posting at the moment whilst his mum is in hospital.

He has been patrolling the trenches, inspecting the huts and checking out the woodland for enemy activity!

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Aug 21

…The archive is a superb record of two of the Ipswich Home Guard battalions, and the lists of members are particularly useful.
Thank you to Major Webster’s daughter, Helen, and Ryan Davies for the opportunity to acquire this important addition to our Home Guard collection.

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Aug 21

We are very lucky to have recently received the archive of Major J.B. Webster, who commanded D Coy. of the 9th and also the 11th Suffolk Home Guard in Ipswich.

The boxfile was packed with orders, letters, nominal rolls, circulars, maps & details of local Home Guard exercises…
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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Aug 15

It is extraordinary how a battered old cap like this can suddenly open up a whole story about a soldier’s life.

Remembering all those who fought for liberty and freedom in the Far East, 1941-1945, and have rarely received the recognition that they deserved.

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Aug 15

With the action occurring in North Africa the cap being sold by a maker in Cairo makes perfect sense.

His Squadron (B) of the 3rd King’s Own Hussars were posted to Java, where he was captured after the Squadron were involved in a brief fight.

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Aug 15

The cap had been worn by Capt. John Bentley-Taylor, MC, for 3 years as a FEPoW.

We found his MC citation, for rescuing the crew of a Light Tank in Jan. 1941, with 13 Italian M13 tanks closing in on him - a “particularly gallant” action, as the 4 Armd Brig commander said.

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Aug 15

However, the lady who gave it to us had said, “This cap belonged to Bentley-Taylor. He did something terribly brave and was then a Prisoner of War in the Far East”.

The neatly darned hole in the top and those excessive sweat stains in the lining suddenly made more sense…

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Aug 15

Another reminder of the war in the Far East for VJ Day 80:

When we were first given this battered old Officer’s cap it was covered in cobwebs and dust, with several holes in the fabric, and, at first glance, looked like something that had been used for amateur theatre.

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jul 23

Kicking off our July #HuttedHistories, the fantastic Stephen Barker joins us with his talk ‘Watershed – Mahatma Gandhi and the First World War’

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jul 15

It is just over a week until our July #HuttedHistories, on Wednesday 23rd, when we are delighted to welcome Stephen Barker for his talk: ‘Watershed - Mahatma Gandhi and the First World War’

For more information and tickets for this fascinating talk:

rb.gy/lxxuuy

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jul 14

One of our resident fox cubs at Brook Farm Camp was caught on camera enjoying a peaceful snooze… until his sibling decided now was the perfect time for a surprise play attack!

🦊

#AnimalsofBrookFarmCamp

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jul 11

To celebrate World Horse Day 2025 we have this beautifully illustrated pre-Great War card game for you.

The Cavalry Game “…was invented in the hope that it might teach some of our boys and girls the names and numbers of the British Cavalry Regiments”.

#WorldHorseDay2025

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jul 10

🤣🤣🤣

Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jul 10

“The Trench Periscope has been hit, Sir!”

“German sniper?”

“No, Sir.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sir!”

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jul 6

To mark the 2025 Tour de France here is a rare Great War cyclist piece from our collection, found recently in France.

It’s a 1916 dated Lucas “Cycloe”No.10 front carrier. These were fitted to the MkIV & V bicycles of the Army Cyclist Corps and Infantry Battalion Signallers.
🚲

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jul 1

A poignant reminder of the first day of the Battle of The Somme - Lt Gilbert Hattersley’s blood-stained map showing the planned advance, up Sausage Valley, of the ‘Cambs Suffolks’ (marked ‘D Coy’ on the map), to Contalmaison.

Hattersley was wounded very early on.

#Somme109

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jun 25

It’s a full house for tonight’s #HuttedHistories talk! The brilliant Richard van Emden is giving us a fascinating sneak preview of his upcoming memoir about his life with Great War veterans.

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jun 25

The Old Contemptibles Association was inaugurated at the Red House, Clapton, 100 years ago today. There is a service at the Red House to mark the occasion.

We are proud to hold the Teddy Noyes Old Contemptibles Archive here at Great War Huts and we will remember The Chums today.

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Reposted by Great War Huts Museum

Football and War Network @footballandwar.bsky.social · Jun 25

Clive Harris will be giving a talk entitled: ‘A Tale of Two Footballing Men’ about Alex 'Sandy' Turnbull and Donald Bell, on Saturday 19th July at the @greatwarhuts.bsky.social Football at War Event.

🎟️ Tickets £25 including lunch
shorturl.at/r98VL

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · Jun 8

If you like trenches, tea and cake, this one’s for you.

Join Taff Gillingham this Father’s Day for ‘Tea & Trenches’ for an immersive experience with uniforms, artefacts & trenches.

History, humour & Victoria sponge included! ☕🍰

🎟️ shorturl.at/UQ8Cp

#TeaAndTrenches

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Reposted by Great War Huts Museum

Stephen Chambers @stevejchambers.bsky.social · May 29

A nice surprise was waiting on the doorstep this afternoon. I’ll be taking a few to the June 14th @gallipoliassoc.bsky.social and @greatwarhuts.bsky.social conference in Suffolk if anyone would like a copy … and there are 4 wonderful speakers and a First World War trench to explore as well 😁

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · May 28

A fantastic evening for our third Hutted Histories talk, ‘Prepared for War: Uniforms and Equipment of the Great War British Soldier’ - brilliantly delivered by Taff Gillingham with a special appearance by L/Cpl Kieran Morling. Huge thanks to everyone who came along!

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Great War Huts Museum @greatwarhuts.bsky.social · May 28

Really good to see you, Chris! Thanks for coming along 🙂

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Reposted by Great War Huts Museum

Chris Kolonko-Weet @ckolonko.bsky.social · May 28

Amazing @greatwarhuts.bsky.social talk tonight as always. Really useful to learn about the evolution of British Army kit and weaponry from before and during the First World War. Helps put Second World War kit into context.

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