Chris Baker
@fourteeneighteen.co.uk
I run The Long, Long Trail and I am in the process of retiring from researching soldiers for a living. Brummie then Lichfeldian and then whatever people who live in Leamington Spa are called. Alum of Unis of Nottingham and Birmingham.
Reposted by Chris Baker
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
Reposted by Chris Baker
Johnson makes Michael Foot look dapper.
November 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Johnson makes Michael Foot look dapper.
An absolute disgrace. And the way things are going, UK won't be far behind.
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
An absolute disgrace. And the way things are going, UK won't be far behind.
In memory of Frank, Harry, Albert, Charles, Thomas, William, Gabriel and James, and all other members of my family who experienced the terrible Great War.
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 AM
In memory of Frank, Harry, Albert, Charles, Thomas, William, Gabriel and James, and all other members of my family who experienced the terrible Great War.
Reposted by Chris Baker
How ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
The 'Great Noticing' Era
Ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 12:23 PM
How ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
Remembering #OTD 1914 the terrible losses suffered by the remnants of the battalions of 22nd Brigade in their attack near Armagh Wood in the First Battle of Ypres. #ww1 #genealogy
November 7, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Remembering #OTD 1914 the terrible losses suffered by the remnants of the battalions of 22nd Brigade in their attack near Armagh Wood in the First Battle of Ypres. #ww1 #genealogy
Hardly any fireworks here last night. I guess they are all spread out over the weeks that now cover Diwali, switching on Christmas lights, birthdays, people winning the bakeoff, whatevs. Shame, really. 5 November was THE great night of the year when I was growing up.
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Hardly any fireworks here last night. I guess they are all spread out over the weeks that now cover Diwali, switching on Christmas lights, birthdays, people winning the bakeoff, whatevs. Shame, really. 5 November was THE great night of the year when I was growing up.
Just completed work on researching a soldier of the QO Royal West Kent Regiment. When he enlisted in 1915 he could only sign his name by using a mark, i.e. he could not write. I cannot recall ever seeing that before. After the 1870 Elementary Education Act, it became most uncommon. #ww1 #genealogy
November 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Just completed work on researching a soldier of the QO Royal West Kent Regiment. When he enlisted in 1915 he could only sign his name by using a mark, i.e. he could not write. I cannot recall ever seeing that before. After the 1870 Elementary Education Act, it became most uncommon. #ww1 #genealogy
Reposted by Chris Baker
Volume 1 of London Pride is on its way! It examines London’s Territorial Force (TF) from 1908-21, exploring its unique structure, socio-economic composition, military operations during the GW. Ideal for office & home use & Xmas presents. Reg interest: tinyurl.com/25tty85e
@parhistory.bsky.social
@parhistory.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Volume 1 of London Pride is on its way! It examines London’s Territorial Force (TF) from 1908-21, exploring its unique structure, socio-economic composition, military operations during the GW. Ideal for office & home use & Xmas presents. Reg interest: tinyurl.com/25tty85e
@parhistory.bsky.social
@parhistory.bsky.social
What, precisely, is poignant about that?
Burntwood park decorated ahead of Remembrance Sunday
Burntwood park decorated ahead of Remembrance Sunday - Lichfield Live®
A park in Burntwood has been decorated with a "poignant display" ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
lichfieldlive.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 AM
What, precisely, is poignant about that?
#OTD 1918 The last major action for British forces in the Great War: the Battle of the Sambre #ww1 #genealogy Here's a snapshot of one part of the battle: see www.longlongtrail.co.uk/the-liberati...
The liberation of Landrecies - The Long, Long Trail
My first ever visit to this part of France was in 1991. I had been on a business trip to Brussels and […]
www.longlongtrail.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 7:24 AM
#OTD 1918 The last major action for British forces in the Great War: the Battle of the Sambre #ww1 #genealogy Here's a snapshot of one part of the battle: see www.longlongtrail.co.uk/the-liberati...
I struggle to think of a more complete waste of money.
The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer in Coleshill near Birmingham, between the M6 and M42, will be 51 metres tall
Work begins on Christian monument bigger than Angel of the North
The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer in Coleshill near Birmingham, between the M6 and M42, will be 51 metres tall
www.thetimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I struggle to think of a more complete waste of money.
The entire chain of command should be sacked. BBC News - Jaysley Beck: Ex-sergeant jailed for sexual assault on soldier - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Jaysley Beck: Ex-sergeant jailed for sexual assault on soldier
Michael Webber admitted sexually assaulting Jaysley Beck, 19, who later took her own life.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The entire chain of command should be sacked. BBC News - Jaysley Beck: Ex-sergeant jailed for sexual assault on soldier - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Testing a link patreon.com/thelonglongt...
The Long, Long Trail | Patreon
Chris Baker creating content on British military history
patreon.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Testing a link patreon.com/thelonglongt...
Latest addition to The Long, Long Trail is "The location of 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques". See www.longlongtrail.co.uk/the-location...
The location of 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques - The Long, Long Trail
The 4th Stationary Hospital was a unit of the Royal Army Medical Corps. It relocated from Saint-Omer to Arques in May 1915 […]
www.longlongtrail.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Latest addition to The Long, Long Trail is "The location of 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques". See www.longlongtrail.co.uk/the-location...
October 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
This. I drove through a place today that has zip tied a cardboard poppy to every lamppost. I read again of well-meaning ladies who crocheted thousands of poppies. Why? What do they think these things achieve?
I recall in the 60s, Remembrance Day was one solemn Sunday morning. That was it.
It was a moving occasion at our local memorial and attended by actual WW1 and WW2 veterans. Unlike the mawkish weeks long competition for the most tasteless display of a poppy that it's become
Often, less is more.
It was a moving occasion at our local memorial and attended by actual WW1 and WW2 veterans. Unlike the mawkish weeks long competition for the most tasteless display of a poppy that it's become
Often, less is more.
October 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This. I drove through a place today that has zip tied a cardboard poppy to every lamppost. I read again of well-meaning ladies who crocheted thousands of poppies. Why? What do they think these things achieve?
Great article
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
October 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Great article
My latest addiion to the Long, Long Trail is an article on a Western Front place you may never have heard of: Quinconce. #ww1 #genealogy See www.longlongtrail.co.uk/gazetteer-of...
Gazetteer of the Western Front: Quinconce - The Long, Long Trail
An unusual place name: a quinconce is a geometric arrangement of five points, with four forming a square or rectangle and the […]
www.longlongtrail.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
My latest addiion to the Long, Long Trail is an article on a Western Front place you may never have heard of: Quinconce. #ww1 #genealogy See www.longlongtrail.co.uk/gazetteer-of...
Reposted by Chris Baker
"If you’re a bunch of racist Israeli football hooligans who want to travel to the UK for sport - the British government will fund your security when the police say it’s unsafe for you to come. It will approve your visa"
"But if you’re an 11 year old table tennis prodigy from Iran ...."
"But if you’re an 11 year old table tennis prodigy from Iran ...."
October 23, 2025 at 9:21 AM
"If you’re a bunch of racist Israeli football hooligans who want to travel to the UK for sport - the British government will fund your security when the police say it’s unsafe for you to come. It will approve your visa"
"But if you’re an 11 year old table tennis prodigy from Iran ...."
"But if you’re an 11 year old table tennis prodigy from Iran ...."
@sommephantom.bsky.social Boot stamp plays part in identifying soldier. Oh.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Four WW1 Grimsby soldiers found during hospital build
Privates Arthur Cook, Robert Cullum, John Fraser and William London were found during building work.
www.bbc.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:37 AM
@sommephantom.bsky.social Boot stamp plays part in identifying soldier. Oh.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Indeed. An appalling event that, when I grew to understand it more, played an important part in shaping my world view.
October 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Indeed. An appalling event that, when I grew to understand it more, played an important part in shaping my world view.