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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Aug 15

Given today is VJ Day, my offering for #histbookchat is this Army Manual of Hygiene and Sanitation. It came with a letter announcing VJ Day by the Captain of the Empress of Australia, a troop transport ship actually on the way to Okinawa with airfield construction companies when Japan surrendered.

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Aug 10

Looks like one I will have to get!

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Aug 8

An often neglected subject in military fortifications in the World Wars is the role of geologists. This is an excellent read on the contributions German geologists made in fortifying the Channel Islands. #histbookchat

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Aug 1

Found in a National Trust second hand bookshop - worth it for the dust jacket alone but also proving to be a great read. Published in 1956 and probably the first account of the Dieppe Raid. #histbookchat

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Jul 30

Dutch ringed Arctic Tern W-V9, Havergate Island, Suffolk 25 July. Apparently only the second ever Dutch Arctic Tern recovered in the UK, the other amazingly being a dead bird also on Havergate on 20 June 1983 (ringed as a nestling in 1976). #birds #nature

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Jul 19

Expensive but well worth it. Excellent bibliography as well with some interesting titles published just after the war and now available as pdf downloads.

War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Jul 18

Just finished this book today, a remarkable read on how the French countryside was restored after the Great War. Bureaucratic at times, but so successful that some veterans were concerned that not enough evidence remained to evoke what had happened during the four long years of war. #histbookchat

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Jul 11

Should hopefully meet my needs; but the whole subject does seem to be gaining interest and will be a great companion to your ‘The Fear of Invasion’ !

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Jul 11

Courtesy of the Western Front Association / Turner Donovan Military Books book offer. On the watch list for a while and looks a great read. #histbookchat

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Jul 10

Rosebay Willow Herb (or Bombweed, Fireweed), Rendlesham, Suffolk. Up to late 1800’s scare in the wild in the UK but had been introduced into gardens. During WW1 its population exploded due to felled woodland for the war effort. In WW2 it again expanded and thrived in the bombed ruins of London.

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Jul 10

UFO or moon rising yesterday evening, Rendlesham Forest😀

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Jul 1

Enjoyed his 1915 as well.

War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · May 29

Yes, in the general area

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · May 29

The eerie sound of Nightjars last night, Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk. #birds #nature

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · May 8

Lucky enough to be involved in 2 #VEDay projects; giving a talk at Leiston on Britain’s WW2 defences, making the point VE Day could only have been achieved if Britain was a secure base - against invasion & air attack. 10 seconds appearance in Fire over Shingle Street, highly recommended documentary.

War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · May 5

Some of the VE Day fly past as they can in off the sea at Aldeburgh.

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · May 1

Early Purple Orchid, Friston, Suffolk. #nature #orcids

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Apr 29

Must have been cold and cramped standing in those things!

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Apr 20

Thanks for that, explains why Royal Fusiliers is on the grave stone! Not sure why CWGC list the 31st Middlesex.

War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Apr 20

Fascinating grave, Westleton churchyard, Suffolk. According to the CWGC, SJ Cracknell died while with the 31st Middlesex, a labour battalion supposedly of British citizens who were sons of enemy aliens. Private grave stone paid for by his brother who died shortly after. Spanish influenza? #ww1 #FWW

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Apr 17

Some moths today from Snape. Hebrew Character and Lesser Swallow Prominent; Powdered Quaker; Early Grey; and Common Quaker. #moths #nature

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Apr 16

Same here, almost as if they don’t want anyone to read it!

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Apr 16

Congratulations and well done!

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Apr 15

Pair of Common Gulls prospecting nest box, Havergate Island, Suffolk. #birds #birding #gulls

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War Forts @historic-concrete.bsky.social · Apr 13

Two Yarnold Sangar pillboxes dating from the Cold War, RAF Neatishead, Norfolk (still in use as Remote Radar Head Neatishead). Constructed from concrete segments and loosely based on the Pickett Hamilton pillbox. The station motto is Caelum Tuemur - ‘We Watch over the Sky’. #pillboxes #coldwar

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