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Peter Johnston

@peterajohnston.bsky.social

2.5K followers 660 following 300 posts

Director, Narrative and Content at Imperial War Museums. Military historian, museum professional, and frequent explorer of museums, memorials and battlefields. All views here are mine alone

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Jun 24

IWM has recently launched our India's War collecting project, aiming to improve our representation of the Indian experience of the Second World War within the museum’s collections. More details here:

www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

India's War: An IWM Collecting project

Find out more about how IWM is looking to increase the representation of the Indian experience of the Second World War within the museum’s collections.

www.iwm.org.uk

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 2d

A reminder for you all that tickets are still available for this excellent event at IWM London on 9 October, where the brilliant Kavita Puri will share insights and stories from her recent podcast series. Do join us if you can! #SWW www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-i...

IWM In Conversation: Kavita Puri | The Second Map

Forgotten histories of the Second World War: the Bengal Famine of 1943 and the war on the Asian FrontJoin journalist and broadcaster Kavita Puri and IWM's Director for Narrative and Content, Peter Joh...

www.iwm.org.uk

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 11d

That Kildunne try was phenomenal, what a player

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 12d

I've a feeling we're not in Kansas (City) anymore...

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 15d

I'm in Kansas City, Missouri this week at the National World War I Museum and Memorial for the annual meeting of our First World War network. Lots of great tours and discussions to be had over the next couple days with colleagues working across all aspects of FWW history

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 15d

Delta's finest

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 20d

An interesting article to a place I've never previously known about. Would be curious to see it in comparison to the Maginot Line and Ouvrage Hackenberg #SWW

edition.cnn.com/travel/ostwa...

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 21d

John Dundas flew IWM's R6915 Spitfire, and his and Hugh Dundas' medals and associated papers are in the IWM collection. We also have this photo (HU 141266) of the brothers taken at the house in Cawthorne in October 1940 while they were both on leave #SWW

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 21d

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Blue plaques unveiled in Barnsley for Battle of Britain brothers - BBC News

Hugh and John Dundas are honoured with blue plaques at their childhood home in Cawthorne, Barnsley.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · 26d

Today in 1945 General Seishiro Itagaki surrendered to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander in Southeast Asia, at the Municipal Building in Singapore. The Instrument of Surrender was photographed, and the pen used and a flag flown over the Padang are now in IWM's collection #SWW

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Sep 6

You know you've got a good seat for an airshow when you see this sign

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 31

Hands down the great Professor Michael Prestwich at Durham, and his module on sieges. Complete with scale models of trebuchets lobbing marbles and takes of being an expert witness in various legal cases after people were thrown from them

Rebecca Rideal @rebeccarideal.bsky.social · Aug 31

I love this! In the spirit of tangents, do you have a favourite undergrad university lecturer?

I did my undergrad degree at Leeds Uni and was lucky enough to take Prof. Simon Dixon’s modules on Russia during the times of Peter the Great and then Catherine the Great. He was a peerless teacher.

Greg Jenner @gregjenner.bsky.social · Aug 30

Yes! Still remember how a senior archaeology professor took a ten minute detour from his lecture to tell us how best to dispose of a body

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 29

Just seen a trailer for the upcoming Nuremberg movie, with Russell Crowe and Remi Malek #SWW

youtu.be/76N-wgzj8vs?...

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 27

Thanks for sharing that, powerful viewing. The veteran of the desert and NW Europe, and who just brushed it off, but had come with his mate to help him

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 27

A reminder that on 9 September I'll be hosting an In Conversation event with Kavita Puri at IWM London, hearing all about the making of her recent BBC Sounds podcast, The Second Map, and memory and forgetting in the SWW. Tickets available here:

www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-i....

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 17

If you haven't heard The Second Map yet, the new The History Podcast on BBC Sounds, I highly recommend it. And not just because I'm in it #SWW www.bbc.com/mediacentre/...

The Second Map - VJ Day podcast to air never-before-heard archival recordings and new testimonies from last remaining veterans

Meet presenter Kavita Puri and some of the contributors from The History Podcast: The Second Map as they explore World War Two’s forgotten front

www.bbc.com

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 17

We're currently recruiting an Apprentice Archivist in my brigade at IWM. It's a great role that will work across our Documents collection, a treasure trove of stories and secrets. If you're interested in forging a career as an archivist, this could be for you:
share.google/3s2r85OOjAdb...

Apprentice Archivist - IWM

Title: Apprentice Archivist. Location: IWM London. Application Deadline: 01/09/2025, 09:00

share.google

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 15

We recently sold on my children's Paw Patrol gear, including a Landing Ship (Tank), an Osprey VTOL, a Forward Operating Base, UAVs, and numerous mechanised infantry. That a private military contractor can dominate Adventure Bay is a sad indictment of our times

Dr Dion Georgiou 🇨🇾❤️🇬🇾 @drdiongeorgiou.bsky.social · Aug 14

My new piece on Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service, and the neoliberalisation of Britain’s postal service. A little 🧵 on how this theme plays out in the show…

#skystorians 🗃️ #polisky #socsky

Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service (2008–2017)

The BBC’s readaptation of the adventures of Britain’s most famous fictional postman mirrored many concurrent neoliberal transformations of its postal service.

academicbubble.substack.com

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 14

In 1982, the residents of the Falklands also insisted on continuing to drive on the left despite the Argentines attempting to make everyone drive on the right

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 14

Great coverage for the old gaff. Will make sure to see his exhibition when it opens! #SWW
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

London museum tells forgotten story of African and Indian troops in second world war

National Army Museum’s Beyond Burma exhibition examines stories of soldiers from Britain’s colonies

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Peter Johnston

Southwark Council @lb-southwark.bsky.social · Aug 13

Did you know that our very own HMS Belfast was on her way to East Asia to assist in the war effort 80 years ago this week?

On VJ Day she had reached the coast of Australia. The ship continued on to Japan to help find and bring British POWs and civilian internees back home.

Image: IWM (ABS 694)

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Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 11

Upping this on the back of Kavita's article in the @theobserveruk.bsky.social over the weekend:
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 10

Bit strange they left the information on the yosegaki hinomaru so vague in that section, and didn't explain what it was or its cultural significance #AntiquesRoadshow #VJDay80

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 9

England won't be able to be this wasteful against the Black Ferns or the Bokke #RedRoses

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 8

On 9 September I'll be interviewing the brilliant Kavita Puri about her new BBC podcast, The Second Map. Come hear Kavita reflect on the SWW in SE Asia, remembering and forgetting, and how to find new stories and ways to look at these seismic events. Details here: www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-i...

IWM In Conversation: Kavita Puri | The Second Map

Join journalist and broadcaster Kavita Puri and IWM's Director for Narrative and Content, Peter Johnston, as they discuss the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which is the focus of a new BBC documentary se...

www.iwm.org.uk

Peter Johnston @peterajohnston.bsky.social · Aug 2

I do enjoy a bit of cap badge iconography

UK Defence Journal @ukdefencejournal.org.uk · Aug 2

The British Army’s newest regiment, the King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA), has unveiled its official cap badge following approval from His Majesty The King.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=61184

King’s Gurkha Artillery unveils new cap badge

The British Army’s newest regiment, the King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA), has unveiled its official cap badge following approval from His Majesty The King.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk