Wishing the #histbookchat community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. A houseplant might double as our Christmas tree but it still has pride of place for the third year running! 😍
December 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Wishing the #histbookchat community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. A houseplant might double as our Christmas tree but it still has pride of place for the third year running! 😍
I’m currently locked out of my DMs due to the new age verification requirements. Apologies if you have sent me a DM and I can’t read/reply.
December 21, 2025 at 4:14 AM
I’m currently locked out of my DMs due to the new age verification requirements. Apologies if you have sent me a DM and I can’t read/reply.
I’m still with the doomed 2/40 Bn in Timor this #photofriday and as @alparky.bsky.social said, it’s a superbly researched book.👌Staying in Timor, next I will be reading my very special copy of ‘A History Of The 2nd Independent Company and 2/2 Commando Squadron‘ by Colin Doig. ♦️♦️ #histbookchat /2
December 19, 2025 at 4:29 AM
I’m still with the doomed 2/40 Bn in Timor this #photofriday and as @alparky.bsky.social said, it’s a superbly researched book.👌Staying in Timor, next I will be reading my very special copy of ‘A History Of The 2nd Independent Company and 2/2 Commando Squadron‘ by Colin Doig. ♦️♦️ #histbookchat /2
This #photoFriday finds me with Sparrow Force in Dutch Timor and ‘Doomed Battalion: The Australian 2/40 Battalion 1940-45, Mateship & Leadership In War & Captivity’ by Peter Henning. Mainly Tasmanians, the 2/40th Battalion was sent to Timor in December 1941 to garrison an airfield. #histbookchat /2
December 12, 2025 at 12:24 AM
This #photoFriday finds me with Sparrow Force in Dutch Timor and ‘Doomed Battalion: The Australian 2/40 Battalion 1940-45, Mateship & Leadership In War & Captivity’ by Peter Henning. Mainly Tasmanians, the 2/40th Battalion was sent to Timor in December 1941 to garrison an airfield. #histbookchat /2
My #photofriday offering is my current read ‘Ambon: The truth about one of the most brutal POW camps in World War II and the triumph of the Aussie spirit’ by Roger Maynard. Sent on a doomed mission to defend the island of Ambon, only 300 men out of a force of 1150 survived the war. #histbookchat /2
December 5, 2025 at 4:47 AM
My #photofriday offering is my current read ‘Ambon: The truth about one of the most brutal POW camps in World War II and the triumph of the Aussie spirit’ by Roger Maynard. Sent on a doomed mission to defend the island of Ambon, only 300 men out of a force of 1150 survived the war. #histbookchat /2
Currently reading: ‘Gull Force: Survival and Leadership in Captivity 1941-1945’ by Joan Beaumont.
November 25, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Currently reading: ‘Gull Force: Survival and Leadership in Captivity 1941-1945’ by Joan Beaumont.
In Melbourne this week and very happy to find a copy of ‘It Happened To Us - Mark II’ by Gunner Finkemeyer. If it’s half as good as the first one I am in for a great read. #histbookchat
November 24, 2025 at 1:04 AM
In Melbourne this week and very happy to find a copy of ‘It Happened To Us - Mark II’ by Gunner Finkemeyer. If it’s half as good as the first one I am in for a great read. #histbookchat
@lwestwoodauthor.bsky.social This has been an insane day, Laurence. Sixteen wickets! 🤣
November 21, 2025 at 9:33 AM
@lwestwoodauthor.bsky.social This has been an insane day, Laurence. Sixteen wickets! 🤣
This #photofriday finds me still in Rabaul and thinking about my next read ‘Line of Fire’ by Ian Townsend which looks at five Australians, including an eleven year old boy and his mother, who were executed for spying by a Japanese firing squad at Rabaul. #histbookchat /2
November 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM
This #photofriday finds me still in Rabaul and thinking about my next read ‘Line of Fire’ by Ian Townsend which looks at five Australians, including an eleven year old boy and his mother, who were executed for spying by a Japanese firing squad at Rabaul. #histbookchat /2
For my #photofriday #histbookchat post I just want to say how much I appreciated the Mawson bookshop. My son and I loved visiting and chatting with David who was always kind and generous with his knowledge and most importantly we bought heaps of great books! All the best to you both, Kristen. 🍰📚
Just a little reminder folks. We cease trading at the Mawson shop 3.00 1 November. There's still plenty of stock available: military, fiction, aboriginal history, fishing etc. So last chance (almost) to visit. BTW: we've put our website inventory on vacation pro tem. We'll reinstate ... SOON!
October 31, 2025 at 6:00 AM
For my #photofriday #histbookchat post I just want to say how much I appreciated the Mawson bookshop. My son and I loved visiting and chatting with David who was always kind and generous with his knowledge and most importantly we bought heaps of great books! All the best to you both, Kristen. 🍰📚
Reposted by Chez
Final proof. Exciting and terrifying in equal measure. #amwriting
October 26, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Final proof. Exciting and terrifying in equal measure. #amwriting
Soon I’ll be picking up where Fortress Rabaul leaves off with ‘Target: Rabaul - The Allied Siege of Japan’s Most Infamous Stronghold, March 1943-August 1945’ by Bruce Gamble. It is also my humble #photofriday #histbookchat offering this week.
October 24, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Soon I’ll be picking up where Fortress Rabaul leaves off with ‘Target: Rabaul - The Allied Siege of Japan’s Most Infamous Stronghold, March 1943-August 1945’ by Bruce Gamble. It is also my humble #photofriday #histbookchat offering this week.
My ruptured achilles and smashed knees have been healing nicely so I started on longer walks a few weeks ago. I’m up to 17km and absolutely loving it. #walking #rehab
KISS "Unplugged" Beth
YouTube video by Paul Stanley
youtu.be
October 18, 2025 at 3:45 AM
This #photofriday I am reading ‘Fortress Rabaul: The Battle for the Southwest Pacific, January 1942-April 1943’ by Bruce Gamble. This is the 2nd book in Gamble’s trilogy and focuses on the opening phase of the conflict when Rabaul served as a springboard for new Japanese offensives. #histbookchat /2
October 17, 2025 at 6:21 AM
This #photofriday I am reading ‘Fortress Rabaul: The Battle for the Southwest Pacific, January 1942-April 1943’ by Bruce Gamble. This is the 2nd book in Gamble’s trilogy and focuses on the opening phase of the conflict when Rabaul served as a springboard for new Japanese offensives. #histbookchat /2
This #photofriday I am reading ‘Darkest Hour: The True Story of Lark Force at Rabaul’ by Bruce Gamble. This is a re-read for me and kicks off a new series looking at Lark, Sparrow and Gull Forces, inc. infantry battalions and other units in New Britain, New Ireland, Timor and Ambon. #histbookchat /2
October 10, 2025 at 2:15 AM
This #photofriday I am reading ‘Darkest Hour: The True Story of Lark Force at Rabaul’ by Bruce Gamble. This is a re-read for me and kicks off a new series looking at Lark, Sparrow and Gull Forces, inc. infantry battalions and other units in New Britain, New Ireland, Timor and Ambon. #histbookchat /2
This is where I leave the Broken Eighth and this series which was a fascinating, rewarding and memorable look at the Australian Armoured Corps history, the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment, the 2/3rd and 2/4th Machine Gun Battalions and the 2/15th and 2/14th Field Regiments. Lest we forget. #histbookchat
October 4, 2025 at 6:25 AM
This is where I leave the Broken Eighth and this series which was a fascinating, rewarding and memorable look at the Australian Armoured Corps history, the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment, the 2/3rd and 2/4th Machine Gun Battalions and the 2/15th and 2/14th Field Regiments. Lest we forget. #histbookchat
This week for #photoFriday I am currently reading ‘The Broken Eighth: A history of the 2/14th Australian Field Regiment- Darwin - New Guinea - New Britain’ by Ron Jackson, who joined the regiment in Darwin in 1942. The title of the book refers to the Regimental Colour Patch. #histbookchat /2
October 3, 2025 at 1:49 AM
This week for #photoFriday I am currently reading ‘The Broken Eighth: A history of the 2/14th Australian Field Regiment- Darwin - New Guinea - New Britain’ by Ron Jackson, who joined the regiment in Darwin in 1942. The title of the book refers to the Regimental Colour Patch. #histbookchat /2
This week I am still reading ‘From Snow To Jungle‘. In the book Ray Parkin and his ‘Into The Smother’ was mentioned and I thought I would have no chance of ever finding it. To my delight I came across it last Friday and it is my humble #photofriday #histbookchat offering. /2
September 28, 2025 at 5:45 AM
This week I am still reading ‘From Snow To Jungle‘. In the book Ray Parkin and his ‘Into The Smother’ was mentioned and I thought I would have no chance of ever finding it. To my delight I came across it last Friday and it is my humble #photofriday #histbookchat offering. /2
This #photofriday I am currently reading ‘From Snow To Jungle: A history of the 2/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion’ by John Bellair. Formed in South Australia in June 1940 and sent overseas in April 1941 to join the 7th Australian Division in the Syrian campaign … #histbookchat /2
September 19, 2025 at 5:19 AM
This #photofriday I am currently reading ‘From Snow To Jungle: A history of the 2/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion’ by John Bellair. Formed in South Australia in June 1940 and sent overseas in April 1941 to join the 7th Australian Division in the Syrian campaign … #histbookchat /2
This #photofriday finds me with the 2/4th Machine Gun Bn, the Ghosts in Khaki, who are now in captivity. My book was previously owned by a member of the 2/4th who was sent to the railway with D Force and perhaps it was his copy of the Serenity Prayer which I found marking this page. 🙏🏻 #histbookchat
September 12, 2025 at 6:35 AM
This #photofriday finds me with the 2/4th Machine Gun Bn, the Ghosts in Khaki, who are now in captivity. My book was previously owned by a member of the 2/4th who was sent to the railway with D Force and perhaps it was his copy of the Serenity Prayer which I found marking this page. 🙏🏻 #histbookchat
This week finds me on Singapore Island with the 2/15 Field Regiment. Fighting alongside them are three Australian infantry battalions and the 2/4 MG Bn. My humble offering this #photofriday is ‘Ghosts In Khaki: The History of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion’ by Les Cody. #histbookchat /2
August 29, 2025 at 6:36 AM
This week finds me on Singapore Island with the 2/15 Field Regiment. Fighting alongside them are three Australian infantry battalions and the 2/4 MG Bn. My humble offering this #photofriday is ‘Ghosts In Khaki: The History of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion’ by Les Cody. #histbookchat /2
This #photofriday finds me reading ‘Gunners In The Jungle: A story of the 2/15 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 8 Division’ by Cliff Whitelocke which covers the Malaya Campaign, Nov 1940 to Feb 1942.
“In battle courageous, in captivity its spirit remained unbroken” #histbookchat /2
“In battle courageous, in captivity its spirit remained unbroken” #histbookchat /2
August 22, 2025 at 4:36 AM
This #photofriday finds me reading ‘Gunners In The Jungle: A story of the 2/15 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 8 Division’ by Cliff Whitelocke which covers the Malaya Campaign, Nov 1940 to Feb 1942.
“In battle courageous, in captivity its spirit remained unbroken” #histbookchat /2
“In battle courageous, in captivity its spirit remained unbroken” #histbookchat /2
Fin. The stories were so incredibly moving and well told. In Dick Mountford’s story he recounts the time in Changi hospital when he helped the orderlies look after Rod Wells and his sig. mate who had so far endured 18 months of inhumane solitary confinement in Outram Road Gaol. #histbookchat
This week I’m on a trip up the NSW coast and hoping for a rainy day tomorrow so I can curl up with my current read ‘It Happened To Us’ by Gunner Finkemeyer. It’s a collection of stories, in their own words, by members of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment. I absolutely love it. #histbookchat /2
August 21, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Fin. The stories were so incredibly moving and well told. In Dick Mountford’s story he recounts the time in Changi hospital when he helped the orderlies look after Rod Wells and his sig. mate who had so far endured 18 months of inhumane solitary confinement in Outram Road Gaol. #histbookchat
This week I’m on a trip up the NSW coast and hoping for a rainy day tomorrow so I can curl up with my current read ‘It Happened To Us’ by Gunner Finkemeyer. It’s a collection of stories, in their own words, by members of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment. I absolutely love it. #histbookchat /2
August 18, 2025 at 5:28 AM
This week I’m on a trip up the NSW coast and hoping for a rainy day tomorrow so I can curl up with my current read ‘It Happened To Us’ by Gunner Finkemeyer. It’s a collection of stories, in their own words, by members of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment. I absolutely love it. #histbookchat /2
This week my #photofriday offering is the book I am currently reading: ‘Tid-Apa: The History of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment’ by N C Smith. It’s impossible to read about the Malaya campaign without wanting to know more about these courageous fellas.
Tid-Apa. It’ll be OK. 🫡
#histbookchat
Tid-Apa. It’ll be OK. 🫡
#histbookchat
August 15, 2025 at 3:47 AM
This week my #photofriday offering is the book I am currently reading: ‘Tid-Apa: The History of the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment’ by N C Smith. It’s impossible to read about the Malaya campaign without wanting to know more about these courageous fellas.
Tid-Apa. It’ll be OK. 🫡
#histbookchat
Tid-Apa. It’ll be OK. 🫡
#histbookchat