Kristen Alexander
@kristenauthor.bsky.social
Aust aviation & captivity historian. 6th book Kriegies: The Australian Airmen of Stalag Luft III (alexanderfaxbooks.com.au or Amazon) winner 2024 NSW Premier's History Awards. Reading, cats & cake. #IAmWriting (at last!)
Pinned
V happy to meet new additions to this wild blue yonder space. Hallo & welcome! I'm into cake, books (read a few, written some) history, Australian aviation (people not machines; I'm interested in what they felt more than what they did), captivity, & cats. More at www.kristenalexander.com.au
11 November 2025: we remember.
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM
11 November 2025: we remember.
New Open Access War & Society article! The British POW experience in Hong Kong & Oeyama, Japan: the memoirs of Frank Evans & Joseph Henry Newman by Mark Newman. Comparison of memoirs highlights that survival also depended on luck & uncontrollable external factors. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The British POW experience in Hong Kong and Oeyama, Japan: the memoirs of Frank Evans (1917–1996) and Joseph Henry Newman (1914–2002)
Exceptionally among British enlisted men held captive in Hong Kong and Japan during the Second World War, Frank Evans and Joseph Henry Newman wrote post-war memoirs about their captivity in both pl...
www.tandfonline.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
New Open Access War & Society article! The British POW experience in Hong Kong & Oeyama, Japan: the memoirs of Frank Evans & Joseph Henry Newman by Mark Newman. Comparison of memoirs highlights that survival also depended on luck & uncontrollable external factors. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
And the shelves are starting to empty! David's been very busy packing, and has already taken a couple of boot loads of fiction to Woden Seniors who hold a HUGE book fair every year. It's one of our favourites.
November 4, 2025 at 7:58 AM
And the shelves are starting to empty! David's been very busy packing, and has already taken a couple of boot loads of fiction to Woden Seniors who hold a HUGE book fair every year. It's one of our favourites.
One of the locals! Just saw him sitting on the side of the road so went and said hello. He’s not very talkative.
November 3, 2025 at 9:44 AM
One of the locals! Just saw him sitting on the side of the road so went and said hello. He’s not very talkative.
Both a bit tired after our big day yesterday. I could barely keep my eyes open!
November 2, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Both a bit tired after our big day yesterday. I could barely keep my eyes open!
Just having a quiet moment to myself. And snuffling a couple of Christmas stars! Things will be very different once David is home permanently. it will take some adjusting to having to about the house all the time!
November 1, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Just having a quiet moment to myself. And snuffling a couple of Christmas stars! Things will be very different once David is home permanently. it will take some adjusting to having to about the house all the time!
Last day trading for Alexander Fax Booksellers at the Mawson, Canberra shop! Bag lots $25 and 50% off loose books. Last change for these bargains: fiction, military, lots of other categories. 10-3. See you soon!
October 31, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Last day trading for Alexander Fax Booksellers at the Mawson, Canberra shop! Bag lots $25 and 50% off loose books. Last change for these bargains: fiction, military, lots of other categories. 10-3. See you soon!
A spider set off our alarm. It was this big! Happy Halloween folks.
October 31, 2025 at 1:43 AM
A spider set off our alarm. It was this big! Happy Halloween folks.
Just a little reminder folks. We cease trading at the Mawson shop 3.00 1 November. There's still plenty of stock available: military, fiction, aboriginal history, fishing etc. So last chance (almost) to visit. BTW: we've put our website inventory on vacation pro tem. We'll reinstate ... SOON!
October 30, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Just a little reminder folks. We cease trading at the Mawson shop 3.00 1 November. There's still plenty of stock available: military, fiction, aboriginal history, fishing etc. So last chance (almost) to visit. BTW: we've put our website inventory on vacation pro tem. We'll reinstate ... SOON!
I walk past our local street library almost every day. While I've been tempted I've always resisted. This time I snaffled one. (And no, I'm not diving into the confessions of a nuclear war planner. Rather, the confessions of one of our acting greats (and from what I've seen a thoroughly nice bloke)!
October 30, 2025 at 6:12 AM
I walk past our local street library almost every day. While I've been tempted I've always resisted. This time I snaffled one. (And no, I'm not diving into the confessions of a nuclear war planner. Rather, the confessions of one of our acting greats (and from what I've seen a thoroughly nice bloke)!
Where's Wally? I mean David. Hiding behind those boxes, putting more books on the shelves ahead of our Closing-the-Mawson-Shop forever on Saturday 1 November. Time's running out for a bargain: it's almost your last chance! Wed (today)-Sat 10.00-3.00. So, if you're in the neighbourhood, pop in soon!
October 28, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Where's Wally? I mean David. Hiding behind those boxes, putting more books on the shelves ahead of our Closing-the-Mawson-Shop forever on Saturday 1 November. Time's running out for a bargain: it's almost your last chance! Wed (today)-Sat 10.00-3.00. So, if you're in the neighbourhood, pop in soon!
Reading in bed. I am enjoying this classic British crime from the Golden age. Up at the recent lifeline book fair.
October 27, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Reading in bed. I am enjoying this classic British crime from the Golden age. Up at the recent lifeline book fair.
It rained for most of the afternoon and I couldn’t get out until just before dinner. I was very glad to though because the roses although wet are still beautiful and I met this little fella waiting for worms.
October 27, 2025 at 11:12 AM
It rained for most of the afternoon and I couldn’t get out until just before dinner. I was very glad to though because the roses although wet are still beautiful and I met this little fella waiting for worms.
Cheesecake! Very yummy. While the tea was, as ever, refreshing, I did nick some of that milkshake!
October 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Cheesecake! Very yummy. While the tea was, as ever, refreshing, I did nick some of that milkshake!
The jasmine fairy came to visit! The house is smelling divine
October 26, 2025 at 8:11 AM
The jasmine fairy came to visit! The house is smelling divine
Sunday morning catch up but neither of us were chatting as we were too busy reading. I am quite enjoying this second world war diary. It is full of whimsy and because it wasn’t written under the auspices of mass observation it is More personal and less orientated for posterity.
October 26, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Sunday morning catch up but neither of us were chatting as we were too busy reading. I am quite enjoying this second world war diary. It is full of whimsy and because it wasn’t written under the auspices of mass observation it is More personal and less orientated for posterity.
A little surprise in my mess of the garden!
October 23, 2025 at 10:44 AM
A little surprise in my mess of the garden!
Blast from the past! Alexander Fax Booksellers started out as a post office/bookshop in Hughes ACT in 1997. We didn't move to the Mawson shop til 2004. David's a bit grayer round the gills now! Don't forget: Mawson shop closing sale Wed-Sat 10.00-3.00, last two weeks. Ends Saturday 1 November.
October 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Blast from the past! Alexander Fax Booksellers started out as a post office/bookshop in Hughes ACT in 1997. We didn't move to the Mawson shop til 2004. David's a bit grayer round the gills now! Don't forget: Mawson shop closing sale Wed-Sat 10.00-3.00, last two weeks. Ends Saturday 1 November.
Reading in bed. Very much enjoyed this account of an iconic painting, it’s artist, and what it means to Australia.
October 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reading in bed. Very much enjoyed this account of an iconic painting, it’s artist, and what it means to Australia.
The commissioning letter has arrived! Jack Tipton Sandford DSO DFC did some impressive work with 30 Squadron RAAF Beaufighters! This will be my fifth entry for the @ausdictionarybiog.bsky.social and I am delighted to be invited again, and to be invited to write Jack's life!
October 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The commissioning letter has arrived! Jack Tipton Sandford DSO DFC did some impressive work with 30 Squadron RAAF Beaufighters! This will be my fifth entry for the @ausdictionarybiog.bsky.social and I am delighted to be invited again, and to be invited to write Jack's life!
Aren’t they beautiful?
October 20, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Aren’t they beautiful?
Went back to the wishing tree. The green bow next to the pink one is mine. This wish was for both of us.
October 19, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Went back to the wishing tree. The green bow next to the pink one is mine. This wish was for both of us.
Paperwork re Squadron Leader Jack Tipford Sandford DSO DFC hasn't yet come through. In the interim, I've gathered books from my shelves, trawled Trove, & started working on a timeline. I'm missing some key 30 Sqn histories but not to worry it's just a hop, step, & a jump to NLA! #histbookchat
October 17, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Paperwork re Squadron Leader Jack Tipford Sandford DSO DFC hasn't yet come through. In the interim, I've gathered books from my shelves, trawled Trove, & started working on a timeline. I'm missing some key 30 Sqn histories but not to worry it's just a hop, step, & a jump to NLA! #histbookchat
Reading in bed. This is the most powerful book I've read for a long while, on so many levels. Terrible things happened and we need to know this.
October 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Reading in bed. This is the most powerful book I've read for a long while, on so many levels. Terrible things happened and we need to know this.
When the paperwork comes through I'll be making the acquaintance of Squadron Leader Jack Tipford Sandford DSO DFC 30 Squadron RAAF. Not much 'out there' but I'm looking forward to researching him. (Pic clipped from www.awm.gov.au/collection/C... taken c. September 1944, shortly after the DSO award).
October 15, 2025 at 10:08 PM
When the paperwork comes through I'll be making the acquaintance of Squadron Leader Jack Tipford Sandford DSO DFC 30 Squadron RAAF. Not much 'out there' but I'm looking forward to researching him. (Pic clipped from www.awm.gov.au/collection/C... taken c. September 1944, shortly after the DSO award).