Winkie Williamson
@palacestories.bsky.social
Writing fact-based stories about the d’Erlanger family at the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace in Sidi Bou Saïd. Currently in Tunisia, aiming to post regularly about 'The Palace at War: Operation Torch and the Tunisian Campaign 1942 - 1944'.
1942: Tunisian campaign: A different voice will now start reporting. This is a novel inspired by the events of 1942, written by a former Peace Corps volunteer who spent two years in Kasserine. #WritingCommunity, #ww2,
December 3, 2025 at 12:50 PM
1942: Tunisian campaign: A different voice will now start reporting. This is a novel inspired by the events of 1942, written by a former Peace Corps volunteer who spent two years in Kasserine. #WritingCommunity, #ww2,
December 1942: Medjez-el-Bab. Para Stainforth reports that they had flown out of Algeria in hot weather - wearing string vests under their smocks. But now it's cold and wet. Their clothes are soaked and rotting. No wonder Philip Jordan was happy to have a bath. A campaign of nerves. #WW2
December 3, 2025 at 12:19 PM
December 1942: Medjez-el-Bab. Para Stainforth reports that they had flown out of Algeria in hot weather - wearing string vests under their smocks. But now it's cold and wet. Their clothes are soaked and rotting. No wonder Philip Jordan was happy to have a bath. A campaign of nerves. #WW2
ODT 1942. #Tunisia, Souq el Arba: Philip Jordan has had a HOT BATH! The first time he's taken off his clothes in a fortnight. Then dinner: eggs, chicken, wine and brandy. A fire in the grate, comfortable chairs. 'An evening of pure, innocent happiness, with every moment of it earned.' #WW2,
December 3, 2025 at 11:29 AM
OTD In Algiers. 1942 Tunisian Campaign, Eisenhower's aide Harry Butcher writes his diary. Butcher later writes ' the boss is getting off some super-duper messages to the General Marshall and Combined Chiefs of Staff re Dakar and Darlan ...' In the end it's all politics and massaging egos. #WW2
December 3, 2025 at 10:20 AM
OTD In Algiers. 1942 Tunisian Campaign, Eisenhower's aide Harry Butcher writes his diary. Butcher later writes ' the boss is getting off some super-duper messages to the General Marshall and Combined Chiefs of Staff re Dakar and Darlan ...' In the end it's all politics and massaging egos. #WW2
Andre Gide is at the Ennejma Ezzahara Palace at least in book form. His 1922 novel, 'Les Caves du Vatican', set in Rome, features a kidnapping plot against Pope Leo XIII. Bettina's father was Chamberlain to that Pope. In 1897 Pope Leo blessed her womb and in 1898 he was 'Godfather' to her son Leo.
December 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Andre Gide is at the Ennejma Ezzahara Palace at least in book form. His 1922 novel, 'Les Caves du Vatican', set in Rome, features a kidnapping plot against Pope Leo XIII. Bettina's father was Chamberlain to that Pope. In 1897 Pope Leo blessed her womb and in 1898 he was 'Godfather' to her son Leo.
December 1942: Andre Gide in Sidi Bou Said. I assume Baroness Bettina is aware of Andre Gide: He's a close neighbour. PLUS I see there are SEVEN books by Andre Gide in the Library at the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace. Including 1922 'Les Caves du Vatican', subject of my next post. #writingcommunity, #WW2
December 3, 2025 at 6:53 AM
December 1942: Andre Gide in Sidi Bou Said. I assume Baroness Bettina is aware of Andre Gide: He's a close neighbour. PLUS I see there are SEVEN books by Andre Gide in the Library at the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace. Including 1922 'Les Caves du Vatican', subject of my next post. #writingcommunity, #WW2
3 Dec 1942: Andre Gide on BBC's reaction to Mussolini speech. ‘Can it be that such coarse insults find an echo in the hearts of the majority, and must the radio seek to satisfy that majority? Can they not be made to realize [...] that one debases oneself by trying to debase a conquered enemy?' #WW2
December 3, 2025 at 6:25 AM
3 Dec 1942: Andre Gide on BBC's reaction to Mussolini speech. ‘Can it be that such coarse insults find an echo in the hearts of the majority, and must the radio seek to satisfy that majority? Can they not be made to realize [...] that one debases oneself by trying to debase a conquered enemy?' #WW2
1942: Tunisian Campaign. 73-year-old Andre GIDE was in residence in Sidi Bou Said when the Axis forces took over Tunisia, and kept a detailed diary. His comments of November 30 set the scene. Like Baroness Bettina he is worried about the situation. #WW2, #writingCommunity
December 3, 2025 at 4:49 AM
1942: Tunisian Campaign. 73-year-old Andre GIDE was in residence in Sidi Bou Said when the Axis forces took over Tunisia, and kept a detailed diary. His comments of November 30 set the scene. Like Baroness Bettina he is worried about the situation. #WW2, #writingCommunity
December 1942. Algiers. General 'Tooey' Spaatz has just arrived from London. He will be central to the story of the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace during the war, so it's worth introducing him right now. That's him on the right: He already has a reputation for endurance flying. #WW2, #writingCommunity
December 2, 2025 at 10:55 AM
December 1942. Algiers. General 'Tooey' Spaatz has just arrived from London. He will be central to the story of the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace during the war, so it's worth introducing him right now. That's him on the right: He already has a reputation for endurance flying. #WW2, #writingCommunity
December 1942. Algiers: Cpt Harry Butcher, naval aide to Eisenhower reports: The generals have arrived, Patton from Casablanca and Spaatz from London. First task: to give out Purple Hearts medals. Asked where he was hit, one wounded soldier replied 'in the butt'. #WW2, #WritingCommunity,
December 2, 2025 at 10:25 AM
December 1942. Algiers: Cpt Harry Butcher, naval aide to Eisenhower reports: The generals have arrived, Patton from Casablanca and Spaatz from London. First task: to give out Purple Hearts medals. Asked where he was hit, one wounded soldier replied 'in the butt'. #WW2, #WritingCommunity,
December 1942. The Germans have occupied the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace and Baroness Bettina is worried. She has mixed nationality: mother American, father Italian and her late husband was born German and naturalised British. But, as her son Leo explains, it all turns out fine. #writingCommunity, #WW2
December 2, 2025 at 9:46 AM
December 1942. The Germans have occupied the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace and Baroness Bettina is worried. She has mixed nationality: mother American, father Italian and her late husband was born German and naturalised British. But, as her son Leo explains, it all turns out fine. #writingCommunity, #WW2
OTD 1942. Tunisia: Philip Jordan drove 50 miles to Souq el Arba to submit his copy. Sees former commanding officer mixing a cocktail of gin and vermouth in a tin mug, and they drink each other's health. Bumps into Randolph Churchill 'very gay but looks fat in a battledress'. #WritingCommunity, #WW2
December 2, 2025 at 9:20 AM
OTD 1942. Tunisia: Philip Jordan drove 50 miles to Souq el Arba to submit his copy. Sees former commanding officer mixing a cocktail of gin and vermouth in a tin mug, and they drink each other's health. Bumps into Randolph Churchill 'very gay but looks fat in a battledress'. #WritingCommunity, #WW2
OTD 1942, Tunisia near Medjez-el-Bab. Of the correspondents reporting, Philip Jordan is among the most critical, and here is noting they have met far more resistance than anticipated from the German side. Are the Allies really in control of Tebourba? Jordan is not convinced. #WritingCommunity, #WW2
December 2, 2025 at 6:35 AM
OTD 1942, Tunisia near Medjez-el-Bab. Of the correspondents reporting, Philip Jordan is among the most critical, and here is noting they have met far more resistance than anticipated from the German side. Are the Allies really in control of Tebourba? Jordan is not convinced. #WritingCommunity, #WW2
OTD 1 December 1942, near Medjez el Bab in Tunisia, Philip Jordan complaining: 'The position is intolerable. Among instructions to the censors is one that says we may write nothing liable to embarrass our governments. This is pure Gestapoism and an outrage. Nor may we criticise. Another outrage!'
December 1, 2025 at 9:55 AM
OTD 1 December 1942, near Medjez el Bab in Tunisia, Philip Jordan complaining: 'The position is intolerable. Among instructions to the censors is one that says we may write nothing liable to embarrass our governments. This is pure Gestapoism and an outrage. Nor may we criticise. Another outrage!'
1942: Tunisian Campaign. The Germans have occupied the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace. Its owner, Baroness Bettina d'Erlanger is a cosmopolitan: Italian father, American mother, widow of a man born German, raised in France and who was a naturalised British citizen. She has good reason to be fearful.
November 30, 2025 at 2:49 PM
1942: Tunisian Campaign. The Germans have occupied the Ennejma Ezzahra Palace. Its owner, Baroness Bettina d'Erlanger is a cosmopolitan: Italian father, American mother, widow of a man born German, raised in France and who was a naturalised British citizen. She has good reason to be fearful.
November 1942 Tunisia. By 30 November, with around 40,000 troops in country, the Axis forces are fully in control. The leaders are looking around for suitable accommodation - and have their eyes on the ideal property: The Ennejma Ezzahra Palace in Sidi Bou Said. Baroness Bettina gets a visit.
November 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
November 1942 Tunisia. By 30 November, with around 40,000 troops in country, the Axis forces are fully in control. The leaders are looking around for suitable accommodation - and have their eyes on the ideal property: The Ennejma Ezzahra Palace in Sidi Bou Said. Baroness Bettina gets a visit.
OTD 1942 Stainforth above Oudna, Tunisia. Five minutes to go! The red-eye signals time to jump. 'Almost before I knew what had happened I was scrambling for the aperture and lunged outward into space.' Stainforth lands safely. Others are not so lucky.
November 29, 2025 at 3:17 AM
OTD 1942 Stainforth above Oudna, Tunisia. Five minutes to go! The red-eye signals time to jump. 'Almost before I knew what had happened I was scrambling for the aperture and lunged outward into space.' Stainforth lands safely. Others are not so lucky.
OTD 1942: 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment crosses the frontier into Tunisia. Peter Stainforth throws up his early breakfast into a bucket. The rest of the day he will have to fight on an empty stomach. The first sight of the mountains 'awe-inspiring: gigantic, terrible, wonderful and savage.'
November 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM
OTD 1942: 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment crosses the frontier into Tunisia. Peter Stainforth throws up his early breakfast into a bucket. The rest of the day he will have to fight on an empty stomach. The first sight of the mountains 'awe-inspiring: gigantic, terrible, wonderful and savage.'
OTD 1942: Tunisian Campaign. The battle for Oudna is about to begin. in 'Wings of the Wind' on Archive.org Peter Stainforth provides a useful map.
November 29, 2025 at 3:01 AM
OTD 1942: Tunisian Campaign. The battle for Oudna is about to begin. in 'Wings of the Wind' on Archive.org Peter Stainforth provides a useful map.
OTD 1942, Algeria: Peter Stainforth about to fly: 'everything seemed to go wrong'. Recent rains had made parts to the aerodrome very soft and muddy' [...] 'only half the aircraft arrived' and they were unnumbered leading to chaos as they 'bombed up'. Finally take off: Destination Oudna, Tunisia.
November 29, 2025 at 2:45 AM
OTD 1942, Algeria: Peter Stainforth about to fly: 'everything seemed to go wrong'. Recent rains had made parts to the aerodrome very soft and muddy' [...] 'only half the aircraft arrived' and they were unnumbered leading to chaos as they 'bombed up'. Finally take off: Destination Oudna, Tunisia.
This being Thanksgiving, I give thanks to Archive.org for this stunning publicity shot of Otis Skinner in 1920 film of Edward Knoblock's play 'Kismet'. Knoblock was inspired to write 'Kismet' while on a trip to Tunisia with the d'Erlangers in 1909. #orientalism source: tinyurl.com/bdhmfenn
November 27, 2025 at 6:37 AM
This being Thanksgiving, I give thanks to Archive.org for this stunning publicity shot of Otis Skinner in 1920 film of Edward Knoblock's play 'Kismet'. Knoblock was inspired to write 'Kismet' while on a trip to Tunisia with the d'Erlangers in 1909. #orientalism source: tinyurl.com/bdhmfenn
OTD 26 November 1942 it was THANKSGIVING THURSDAY. In North Africa, Roosevelt's proclamation has an added message. Psalm 23: 'The Lord is my shepherd..' which claims 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.' #WW2 #Thanksgiving #Tunisia. #Medjez-El-Bab
November 26, 2025 at 6:07 AM
OTD 26 November 1942 it was THANKSGIVING THURSDAY. In North Africa, Roosevelt's proclamation has an added message. Psalm 23: 'The Lord is my shepherd..' which claims 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.' #WW2 #Thanksgiving #Tunisia. #Medjez-El-Bab
OTD 1942.Philip Jordan reporting from near Medjez el Bab where the #Tunisian Campaign has truly started. Woken by the cold, at midnight he went to the Operations Room to file his report. Just before dawn the tanks had passed 'like a mass of leaves blown violently across loose gravel.'
November 26, 2025 at 4:02 AM
OTD 1942.Philip Jordan reporting from near Medjez el Bab where the #Tunisian Campaign has truly started. Woken by the cold, at midnight he went to the Operations Room to file his report. Just before dawn the tanks had passed 'like a mass of leaves blown violently across loose gravel.'
24 November 1942 Tunisia. Battles have begun, and the 1st Parachute Battalion have been deployed, along with Sappers from 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers brought in to mine the roads to prevent enemy withdrawal. Things do not go to plan. paradata.org.uk/content/4663...
November 25, 2025 at 8:20 AM
24 November 1942 Tunisia. Battles have begun, and the 1st Parachute Battalion have been deployed, along with Sappers from 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers brought in to mine the roads to prevent enemy withdrawal. Things do not go to plan. paradata.org.uk/content/4663...
1942: WW2 North Africa. Legend has it that 'as long as there are macaques on Gibraltar, the British will hold the territory.' By 1942 numbers had dwindled. Churchill ordered the transfer of macaques from Algeria and Morocco to Gibraltar. Budget £4 a month for fruit, veg & nuts. tinyurl.com/y9erc428
November 25, 2025 at 7:07 AM
1942: WW2 North Africa. Legend has it that 'as long as there are macaques on Gibraltar, the British will hold the territory.' By 1942 numbers had dwindled. Churchill ordered the transfer of macaques from Algeria and Morocco to Gibraltar. Budget £4 a month for fruit, veg & nuts. tinyurl.com/y9erc428