Paul Reed
@sommecourt.bsky.social
2.8K followers 190 following 840 posts
Military Historian, author and Battlefield Guide. Occasional wargamer. Host of the Old Front Line #WW1 #podcast. www.oldfrontline.co.uk
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sommecourt.bsky.social
New Old Front Line #podcast Q&A episode out now:

- Who were the officers in the British Army in #WW1?
- Did British veterans really hate their enemy?
- Why did some men re-enlist after discharge?
- Is interest in the Great War fading on the battlefields today?

oldfrontline.co.uk/2025/10/04/q...
Questions and Answers Episode 37
In this WW1 Q&A episode, we explore the lives and social backgrounds of British Army officers, ask whether First World War veterans hated their German enemies, and share the rema…
oldfrontline.co.uk
sommecourt.bsky.social
New Old Front Line #podcast Q&A episode out now:

- Who were the officers in the British Army in #WW1?
- Did British veterans really hate their enemy?
- Why did some men re-enlist after discharge?
- Is interest in the Great War fading on the battlefields today?

oldfrontline.co.uk/2025/10/04/q...
Questions and Answers Episode 37
In this WW1 Q&A episode, we explore the lives and social backgrounds of British Army officers, ask whether First World War veterans hated their German enemies, and share the rema…
oldfrontline.co.uk
Reposted by Paul Reed
wlupress.bsky.social
Coming Soon! The Taking of Vimy Ridge: First World War Photographs of William Ivor Castle, by Carla-Jean Stokes, explores the life and works of a Canadian official First World War photographer known for staging and manipulating his photographs. Preorder now at
www.wlupress.wlu.ca/...
The book cover features a truck convoy of celebrating soldiers, and an endorsement from historian Jonathan F. Vance: “The Taking of Vimy Ridge is essential reading for anyone who wants a better understanding of First World War photography.
Reposted by Paul Reed
drlindseyfitz.bsky.social
The hematologist Oswald H. Robertson pioneered the idea of "blood banks" in WWI by packing glass jars of citrated blood from universal donors in an ice-filled chest that he had constructed from ammunition cases. He convinced countless others to donate blood during the war.
A blue-grey box with a Red Cross on it, which reads: "BLOOD TRANSFUSION SET."
sommecourt.bsky.social
Remembering the Forgotten Front: in the latest @oldfrontline.bsky.social for the 110th Anniversary of the Battle of Loos we make an overview of the 'Forgotten Front' in Northern France and discover the history, landscape and stories of those who fought there.

oldfrontline.co.uk/2025/09/27/r...
Remembering the Forgotten Front
What was the “Forgotten Front” of Northern France? In this episode, we explore the stretch of battlefield from Armentières on the Belgian border through La Bassée to the ground near Loos,…
oldfrontline.co.uk
sommecourt.bsky.social
That time of the month for decent coffee and a read of the new @wssmagazine.bsky.social.
sommecourt.bsky.social
Oh thanks! I hope to go and see the new Gallery sometime soon!
sommecourt.bsky.social
How fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
Reposted by Paul Reed
toonpack.bsky.social
@sommecourt.bsky.social These are the buttons and the “lost” soldier mentioned by Nicki in your war detectives episode that I was kindly pointed to.
toonpack.bsky.social
The Newcastle Tramways buttons that were instrumental in identifying him, Great Uncle Gordon finally be laid to rest, wonderful service/experience. 110 years, to the day, of his death. Lost but now found. #WWI #Loos #History
Soldiers Cameron Highlanders shoulder badge and two buttons. Soldiers grave Soldiers headstone
Reposted by Paul Reed
toonpack.bsky.social
The Newcastle Tramways buttons that were instrumental in identifying him, Great Uncle Gordon finally be laid to rest, wonderful service/experience. 110 years, to the day, of his death. Lost but now found. #WWI #Loos #History
Soldiers Cameron Highlanders shoulder badge and two buttons. Soldiers grave Soldiers headstone
sommecourt.bsky.social
Thanks to all who joined us for a @oldfrontline.bsky.social Podcast Supporters evening where @profpeterdoyle.bsky.social joined us for an excellent talk about the Battle of Loos in 1915 - with the 110th Anniversary tomorrow, very apt!
sommecourt.bsky.social
Fascinating to see that!
Reposted by Paul Reed
bdarcy.bsky.social
The Cenotaph in Trinity, Newfoundland, Canada. A moving tribute to those lost while serving with the Royal Navy and in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. @sommecourt.bsky.social
sommecourt.bsky.social
Thanks, Alan! I very much enjoy doing these!
sommecourt.bsky.social
Questions & Answers Episode 36: in the latest
@oldfrontline.bsky.social we answer questions about what happened to German forces at the end of the war, how the dead were buried, poison gas and the fate of all those War Horses at the close of the conflict.
oldfrontline.co.uk/2025/09/20/q...
Questions and Answers Episode 36
In our first QnA Episode for Season 9 we look at what happened to the German forces when the guns went silent on 11th November 1918, discuss the use of poison gas and it’s legacy on the battl…
oldfrontline.co.uk
sommecourt.bsky.social
Sorry for your loss, mate.
sommecourt.bsky.social
Every year on the Arnhem Anniversary I take this book off the shelves and give it a read: it’s one of my favourite memoirs of the battle, and I love the Prologue too and the introduction by Hackett, who I was lucky to meet several times.
sommecourt.bsky.social
#Arnhem81: today in 1944 Operation Market Garden began. The Air Armada took elements of three Airborne divisions deep into enemy territory and filled the skies as men dropped between Eindhoven & Arnhem, as seen in these private photos of the time.
sommecourt.bsky.social
Season 9 of @oldfrontline.bsky.social begins tomorrow with a walk at Gommecourt on the Somme. Lots more coming this season!
sommecourt.bsky.social
Where #WW1 met #WW2 - Field Marshal Montgomery visits the Canadian First World War memorial at Vimy Ridge #OTD in 1944. Monty had served at Vimy in 1916 as a Staff Officer.
Description

Object description

Field Marshal Montgomery visits the Canadian First World War memorial at Vimy Ridge, 8 September 1944.
Object Details

Category
Photographs
Related period
Second World War (production), Second World War (content)
Creator
Morris, John D.L.
No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit
Production date
1944-09-08
Materials
whole: Nitrate

Catalogue number
BU 760
Part of
WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
sommecourt.bsky.social
Good find! The Great War is all around us!
sommecourt.bsky.social
Thanks, Alan! There certainly will be some more!