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 have previously read about the 2nd Independent Company in Bernard Callinan’s ‘Independent Company: The Australian Army in Portuguese Timor 1941-43’. It’s a great story and I’m really looking forward to reading Colin Doig’s history.
December 19, 2025 at 4:34 AM
I have previously read about the 2nd Independent Company in Bernard Callinan’s ‘Independent Company: The Australian Army in Portuguese Timor 1941-43’. It’s a great story and I’m really looking forward to reading Colin Doig’s history.
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
I’m about halfway through this and it’s a much better follow-up to Joan Beaumont’s ‘Gull Force‘ than I was expecting. I’ve previously read ‘Ambon: Island of Mist’ by Courtney Harrison and may re-read that next before moving on to Timor and another doomed Australian infantry battalion: the 2/40th.
December 5, 2025 at 4:55 AM
I’m about halfway through this and it’s a much better follow-up to Joan Beaumont’s ‘Gull Force‘ than I was expecting. I’ve previously read ‘Ambon: Island of Mist’ by Courtney Harrison and may re-read that next before moving on to Timor and another doomed Australian infantry battalion: the 2/40th.
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
I’m hoping to pick up Wolfpack when I’m in Sydney next month. I’ve read Poland 1939 and The Devil’s Alliance, both of which were insanely well structured and written. I’m not surprised Alex burnt through Wolfpack!
November 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
I’m hoping to pick up Wolfpack when I’m in Sydney next month. I’ve read Poland 1939 and The Devil’s Alliance, both of which were insanely well structured and written. I’m not surprised Alex burnt through Wolfpack!
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.
This has been on The List since June last year. @alparky.bsky.social one of yours?
November 24, 2025 at 4:47 AM
This has been on The List since June last year. @alparky.bsky.social one of yours?
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
From The List to the TBR. Well done, Laurence! 😁 #histbookchat
November 24, 2025 at 12:52 AM
From The List to the TBR. Well done, Laurence! 😁 #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! 🤣
I’m travelling this weekend and will be taking ‘Line of Fire‘ with me and also ‘Gull Force’ by Joan Beaumont. This will be the first of three books on Gull Force and the tragedy of the 2/21st Infantry Battalion, sent to Ambon to defend the island's harbour and air strip against the Japanese.
November 21, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I’m travelling this weekend and will be taking ‘Line of Fire‘ with me and also ‘Gull Force’ by Joan Beaumont. This will be the first of three books on Gull Force and the tragedy of the 2/21st Infantry Battalion, sent to Ambon to defend the island's harbour and air strip against the Japanese.
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
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.
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
Yes but in the general WWII area. I was very lucky. I don’t as yet have the trilogy but hopefully they will be well covered in ‘Odyssey’.
September 28, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Yes but in the general WWII area. I was very lucky. I don’t as yet have the trilogy but hopefully they will be well covered in ‘Odyssey’.
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
I was in a bookshop one day with my son and he pointed to the books behind the seller and said “Look, mum. Gunners in the jungle.” This was one of those great finds! I’ve wanted to know more about the 2/15 Field Regiment ever since reading the two books by Rowley Richards who was the regiment RMO.
August 22, 2025 at 4:48 AM
I was in a bookshop one day with my son and he pointed to the books behind the seller and said “Look, mum. Gunners in the jungle.” This was one of those great finds! I’ve wanted to know more about the 2/15 Field Regiment ever since reading the two books by Rowley Richards who was the regiment RMO.