Dan P
@danieljphelan.bsky.social
Speaker, tour guide, & EOHO volunteer for @CWGC. Interested in #WW1 and #WW2. National Trails completed: Cleveland Way 2018. Hadrian’s Wall 2021. SWCP 2024. Teacher. All views my own.
Hinckley soldier Simeon Sharratt died of wounds on this day in 1915 while serving in France with the Coldstream Guards. It’s interesting to read the words he wrote to his parents in a letter home, written between spells in the trenches.
📍Hinckley Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Hinckley Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 26, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Hinckley soldier Simeon Sharratt died of wounds on this day in 1915 while serving in France with the Coldstream Guards. It’s interesting to read the words he wrote to his parents in a letter home, written between spells in the trenches.
📍Hinckley Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Hinckley Cemetery 🇬🇧
A neat row of headstones in a large cemetery in Ypres. Among them is Private Frank Wilde, Army Service Corps, who died on this day in 1918.
📍Ypres Reservoir Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Ypres Reservoir Cemetery 🇧🇪
January 25, 2026 at 9:50 AM
A neat row of headstones in a large cemetery in Ypres. Among them is Private Frank Wilde, Army Service Corps, who died on this day in 1918.
📍Ypres Reservoir Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Ypres Reservoir Cemetery 🇧🇪
Officer and poet Hugh Reginald (Rex) Freston, Royal Berkshire Regiment, was killed by a shell on this day in 1916. Two volumes of his poetry were published; the second, The Quest of Trust, was published posthumously.
📍Becourt Military Cemetery 🇫🇷
📍Becourt Military Cemetery 🇫🇷
January 24, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Officer and poet Hugh Reginald (Rex) Freston, Royal Berkshire Regiment, was killed by a shell on this day in 1916. Two volumes of his poetry were published; the second, The Quest of Trust, was published posthumously.
📍Becourt Military Cemetery 🇫🇷
📍Becourt Military Cemetery 🇫🇷
In January 1941, Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious was bombed while docked for repairs at Parlatorio Wharf in Malta’s Grand Harbour. The ship’s bell still bears the scars of the attack.
📍National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta 🇲🇹
📍National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta 🇲🇹
January 23, 2026 at 8:09 PM
In January 1941, Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious was bombed while docked for repairs at Parlatorio Wharf in Malta’s Grand Harbour. The ship’s bell still bears the scars of the attack.
📍National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta 🇲🇹
📍National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta 🇲🇹
A Lockheed Hudson returned early from an operation and crashed into the watch tower while attempting to land at RAF Donna Nook. The aircraft’s bombs exploded, killing the crew and thirteen personnel on the ground, including AC1 William Bell.
📍Beeston Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Beeston Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 22, 2026 at 7:24 PM
A Lockheed Hudson returned early from an operation and crashed into the watch tower while attempting to land at RAF Donna Nook. The aircraft’s bombs exploded, killing the crew and thirteen personnel on the ground, including AC1 William Bell.
📍Beeston Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Beeston Cemetery 🇬🇧
Thomas Lord joined Kitchener’s Army soon after war broke out and was stationed at Perham Down. He died of pneumonia on this day in 1915. His brother Frederick was killed in France in 1916 and is named on the Thiepval Memorial.
📍Barwell Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Barwell Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 21, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Thomas Lord joined Kitchener’s Army soon after war broke out and was stationed at Perham Down. He died of pneumonia on this day in 1915. His brother Frederick was killed in France in 1916 and is named on the Thiepval Memorial.
📍Barwell Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Barwell Cemetery 🇬🇧
Nineteen-year-old Second Lieutenant Charles Frederick Batty, 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was killed on this day in 1916 by a bullet when walking back from doing his rounds. His grandfather was the Mayor of Manchester from 1888-1889.
📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪
January 19, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Nineteen-year-old Second Lieutenant Charles Frederick Batty, 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was killed on this day in 1916 by a bullet when walking back from doing his rounds. His grandfather was the Mayor of Manchester from 1888-1889.
📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪
Hurricane pilot Sgt Henry Steeley was killed on this day in 1940 in a mid-air collision. After an air-firing practice over Druridge Bay, he and another Hurricane pilot collided during a mock dogfight, killing both.
📍Kenilworth Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Kenilworth Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 18, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Hurricane pilot Sgt Henry Steeley was killed on this day in 1940 in a mid-air collision. After an air-firing practice over Druridge Bay, he and another Hurricane pilot collided during a mock dogfight, killing both.
📍Kenilworth Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Kenilworth Cemetery 🇬🇧
German geophysicist Leo Gburek took part in the Third German Antarctic Expedition in 1938/39 and is remembered in Antarctica, where a group of rocky elevations on the ice sheet bear his name…1/2
📍 Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍 Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 17, 2026 at 5:25 PM
German geophysicist Leo Gburek took part in the Third German Antarctic Expedition in 1938/39 and is remembered in Antarctica, where a group of rocky elevations on the ice sheet bear his name…1/2
📍 Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍 Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery 🇬🇧
Bomb disposal officer Captain Edward Crump was killed, along with Sergeant Frederick Bumstead, while dealing with a 250kg bomb at the White Ground Estate, Bermondsey, London.
📍Dunton Bassett (All Saints) Churchyard 🇬🇧
📍Dunton Bassett (All Saints) Churchyard 🇬🇧
January 16, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Bomb disposal officer Captain Edward Crump was killed, along with Sergeant Frederick Bumstead, while dealing with a 250kg bomb at the White Ground Estate, Bermondsey, London.
📍Dunton Bassett (All Saints) Churchyard 🇬🇧
📍Dunton Bassett (All Saints) Churchyard 🇬🇧
Two airmen, an Australian and an American (who was serving with the RCAF), are buried next to each in Warwickshire. They died together when their Airspeed Oxford collided with another aircraft over RAF Church Lawford.
📍Rugby (Whinfield) Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Rugby (Whinfield) Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 15, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Two airmen, an Australian and an American (who was serving with the RCAF), are buried next to each in Warwickshire. They died together when their Airspeed Oxford collided with another aircraft over RAF Church Lawford.
📍Rugby (Whinfield) Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Rugby (Whinfield) Cemetery 🇬🇧
A memorial to the crew of a Wellington bomber who were all killed when their aircraft crashed during a cross-country training flight on the outskirts of Hinckley on the night of 14 January 1945.
📍Burbage, Leicestershire 🇬🇧
📍Burbage, Leicestershire 🇬🇧
January 14, 2026 at 9:33 PM
A memorial to the crew of a Wellington bomber who were all killed when their aircraft crashed during a cross-country training flight on the outskirts of Hinckley on the night of 14 January 1945.
📍Burbage, Leicestershire 🇬🇧
📍Burbage, Leicestershire 🇬🇧
Always hard-hitting and humbling to see such a young age carved in stone.
📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪
January 14, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Always hard-hitting and humbling to see such a young age carved in stone.
📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Essex Farm Cemetery 🇧🇪
The first fatal accidental loss of a Handley Page Halifax occurred on 13 January 1941 during a consumption test flight. One of the six crewmen killed was Sgt John (Jack) Napier Hall from Coventry.
📍Stoke (St Michael) Churchyard 🇬🇧
📍Stoke (St Michael) Churchyard 🇬🇧
January 13, 2026 at 6:16 PM
The first fatal accidental loss of a Handley Page Halifax occurred on 13 January 1941 during a consumption test flight. One of the six crewmen killed was Sgt John (Jack) Napier Hall from Coventry.
📍Stoke (St Michael) Churchyard 🇬🇧
📍Stoke (St Michael) Churchyard 🇬🇧
James Ware, RAFVR, served as ground crew with 514 Squadron. He died after suffering a ruptured aneurysm at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridgeshire, which is not far from RAF Waterbeach where his squadron was stationed.
📍Scarborough (Woodlands) Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Scarborough (Woodlands) Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 12, 2026 at 5:22 PM
James Ware, RAFVR, served as ground crew with 514 Squadron. He died after suffering a ruptured aneurysm at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridgeshire, which is not far from RAF Waterbeach where his squadron was stationed.
📍Scarborough (Woodlands) Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Scarborough (Woodlands) Cemetery 🇬🇧
Private Thomas Howlett, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, died of wounds at Manchester’s Victoria Red Cross Hospital. In addition to loved ones, his funeral was attended by many Belgians, likely refugees then living in the town.
📍 Ilfracombe (Holy Trinity) Churchyard 🇬🇧
📍 Ilfracombe (Holy Trinity) Churchyard 🇬🇧
January 11, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Private Thomas Howlett, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, died of wounds at Manchester’s Victoria Red Cross Hospital. In addition to loved ones, his funeral was attended by many Belgians, likely refugees then living in the town.
📍 Ilfracombe (Holy Trinity) Churchyard 🇬🇧
📍 Ilfracombe (Holy Trinity) Churchyard 🇬🇧
A thought-provoking quote on the wall in the visitors’ centre at the @CWGC’s largest site.
📍Tyne Cot Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Tyne Cot Cemetery 🇧🇪
January 10, 2026 at 10:30 AM
A thought-provoking quote on the wall in the visitors’ centre at the @CWGC’s largest site.
📍Tyne Cot Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Tyne Cot Cemetery 🇧🇪
Victor Hugo Brayne BEM died on this day in 1943 while serving at HMS Flora. A Great War veteran with the D.C.L.I., he later served as a fireman and was awarded for his conduct during the Coventry air raids in 1941.
📍Coventry (Windmill Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Coventry (Windmill Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 8, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Victor Hugo Brayne BEM died on this day in 1943 while serving at HMS Flora. A Great War veteran with the D.C.L.I., he later served as a fireman and was awarded for his conduct during the Coventry air raids in 1941.
📍Coventry (Windmill Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Coventry (Windmill Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧
“Jutland Hero’s Death” was the headline used to report the death of Stoker 1st Class Alfred Ethelbert Tucker, a veteran of the Battle of Jutland who served aboard the dreadnought battleship HMS Agincourt.
📍 Winchester (West Hill) Old Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍 Winchester (West Hill) Old Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 7, 2026 at 6:59 PM
“Jutland Hero’s Death” was the headline used to report the death of Stoker 1st Class Alfred Ethelbert Tucker, a veteran of the Battle of Jutland who served aboard the dreadnought battleship HMS Agincourt.
📍 Winchester (West Hill) Old Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍 Winchester (West Hill) Old Cemetery 🇬🇧
There are 379 casualties buried in this Staffordshire cemetery, including 79 New Zealanders. Among them is Pte George Slade, NZ Medical Corps, who died of cardiac failure under anaesthetic and is buried a long way from home.
📍Cannock Chase War Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Cannock Chase War Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 6, 2026 at 6:22 PM
There are 379 casualties buried in this Staffordshire cemetery, including 79 New Zealanders. Among them is Pte George Slade, NZ Medical Corps, who died of cardiac failure under anaesthetic and is buried a long way from home.
📍Cannock Chase War Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Cannock Chase War Cemetery 🇬🇧
After 15 months as a prisoner of war in Germany, L/Cpl Henry Hobbis was returning to the UK and his home in Coventry when he succumbed to influenza.
📍Les Baraques Military Cemetery 🇫🇷
📍Les Baraques Military Cemetery 🇫🇷
January 5, 2026 at 7:50 PM
After 15 months as a prisoner of war in Germany, L/Cpl Henry Hobbis was returning to the UK and his home in Coventry when he succumbed to influenza.
📍Les Baraques Military Cemetery 🇫🇷
📍Les Baraques Military Cemetery 🇫🇷
Private Noel Finucane of The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) survived the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania but was later killed in Belgium. He also served on the Aquitania until the evacuation of Gallipoli.
📍Vlamertinge Military Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Vlamertinge Military Cemetery 🇧🇪
January 4, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Private Noel Finucane of The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) survived the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania but was later killed in Belgium. He also served on the Aquitania until the evacuation of Gallipoli.
📍Vlamertinge Military Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍Vlamertinge Military Cemetery 🇧🇪
Australian tunneller Sapper Michael Francis Lynch was killed in action on this day in 1918. I didn’t notice it at first, but I’ve since realised there’s something unusual about his headstone. Can you spot it too?
📍 Menin Road South Military Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍 Menin Road South Military Cemetery 🇧🇪
January 3, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Australian tunneller Sapper Michael Francis Lynch was killed in action on this day in 1918. I didn’t notice it at first, but I’ve since realised there’s something unusual about his headstone. Can you spot it too?
📍 Menin Road South Military Cemetery 🇧🇪
📍 Menin Road South Military Cemetery 🇧🇪
Sapper Charles Dennis Swann served with 575 Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers. Originally from Roundhay, Leeds, he is one of only two WW2 soldiers buried in Portugal.
📍Lisbon (St George) British Churchyard 🇵🇹
📍Lisbon (St George) British Churchyard 🇵🇹
January 2, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Sapper Charles Dennis Swann served with 575 Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers. Originally from Roundhay, Leeds, he is one of only two WW2 soldiers buried in Portugal.
📍Lisbon (St George) British Churchyard 🇵🇹
📍Lisbon (St George) British Churchyard 🇵🇹
After being wounded in France on 9 October 1917, Pte Herbert Wadsworth of the Coldstream Guards spent two weeks in hospital before being evacuated to England. Sadly, he died from his wounds on New Year’s Day 1918.
📍Market Harborough (Northampton Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Market Harborough (Northampton Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧
January 1, 2026 at 9:03 AM
After being wounded in France on 9 October 1917, Pte Herbert Wadsworth of the Coldstream Guards spent two weeks in hospital before being evacuated to England. Sadly, he died from his wounds on New Year’s Day 1918.
📍Market Harborough (Northampton Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧
📍Market Harborough (Northampton Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧