Mark Simner
@marksimner.bsky.social
Author and Magazine Feature Writer of British Military History | MHM Book of the Year Nominee | Book Reviewer | Militaria Collector | BA (Hons) MSc
Two new Lego builds for 2026, complete with light kits and display cases.
January 10, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Two new Lego builds for 2026, complete with light kits and display cases.
December 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Off to Narvik next. Not literally, but for my Christmas/New Year read.
December 25, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Off to Narvik next. Not literally, but for my Christmas/New Year read.
Merry Christmas to all my followers who celebrate it. I hope you all have a wonderful festive period. 🎄
The photograph below is of Christmas dinner in the wardroom of HMS MALAYA at Scapa Flow, 25 December 1942.
Image: IWM A 13568
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
The photograph below is of Christmas dinner in the wardroom of HMS MALAYA at Scapa Flow, 25 December 1942.
Image: IWM A 13568
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
December 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Merry Christmas to all my followers who celebrate it. I hope you all have a wonderful festive period. 🎄
The photograph below is of Christmas dinner in the wardroom of HMS MALAYA at Scapa Flow, 25 December 1942.
Image: IWM A 13568
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
The photograph below is of Christmas dinner in the wardroom of HMS MALAYA at Scapa Flow, 25 December 1942.
Image: IWM A 13568
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
My reading for the next couple of weeks.
November 16, 2025 at 4:57 PM
My reading for the next couple of weeks.
Very sad to hear this. A reminder that working at sea can be very dangerous. Thoughts with their family and fellow crew.
news.sky.com/story/extens...
news.sky.com/story/extens...
Extensive search off Ireland's coast for missing Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailor ends
The Irish Coast Guard said they had received a distress call on Saturday morning from a UK naval support vessel. The Ministry of Defence say they are investigating the incident.
news.sky.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Very sad to hear this. A reminder that working at sea can be very dangerous. Thoughts with their family and fellow crew.
news.sky.com/story/extens...
news.sky.com/story/extens...
I think this has become one of my most favourite TV series of all time!
Mad Men | Netflix share.google/g4QtWfA1Ommt...
Mad Men | Netflix share.google/g4QtWfA1Ommt...
Watch Mad Men | Netflix
Inside a sleek Manhattan ad agency, ambitious executives, creatives and assistants pursue power, love and identity in a world fueled by image and desire.
share.google
October 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I think this has become one of my most favourite TV series of all time!
Mad Men | Netflix share.google/g4QtWfA1Ommt...
Mad Men | Netflix share.google/g4QtWfA1Ommt...
Remembering William Simner of the 1/6th South Staffordshire Regiment, who was killed-in-action on this day in 1915.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org
October 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Remembering William Simner of the 1/6th South Staffordshire Regiment, who was killed-in-action on this day in 1915.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
Just arrived for review. That's my weekend reading sorted.
October 4, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Just arrived for review. That's my weekend reading sorted.
One of the more challenging but oddly enjoyable aspect of writing a book. Finding photos and images. Thankfully, I have a large collection of original antique prints and photographs.
September 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM
One of the more challenging but oddly enjoyable aspect of writing a book. Finding photos and images. Thankfully, I have a large collection of original antique prints and photographs.
If you are an old fart like me, you will absolutely love this!
watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=a...
watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=a...
Watch The Rubber-Keyed Wonder | Prime Video
The Rubber-Keyed Wonder tells the story of legendary British inventor Clive Sinclair and the birth of the ZX Spectrum home computer in 1982, opening the door to a new world of technological possibilit...
watch.amazon.co.uk
September 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
If you are an old fart like me, you will absolutely love this!
watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=a...
watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=a...
New additions to the collection incoming. I've no doubt you can guess the medal and topic.
September 16, 2025 at 11:03 PM
New additions to the collection incoming. I've no doubt you can guess the medal and topic.
Probably my favourite painting/picture from the Anglo-Egyptian campaigns. The Storming of Tel-el-Kebir by Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville. A subject I am currently writing about.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
September 14, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Probably my favourite painting/picture from the Anglo-Egyptian campaigns. The Storming of Tel-el-Kebir by Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville. A subject I am currently writing about.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (31 August 1918) The Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin begins on the Western Front in France, during which the Australian Corps crosses the Somme River and breaks the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin and Péronne.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 31, 2025 at 8:54 AM
#OnThisDay (31 August 1918) The Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin begins on the Western Front in France, during which the Australian Corps crosses the Somme River and breaks the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin and Péronne.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (29 Aug 1807) British troops under Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) defeat a Danish militia at the Battle of Køge, southwest of Copenhagen. It is also referred to as 'the Clogs battle' due to the wooden Clogs worn by the Danes.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
#OnThisDay (29 Aug 1807) British troops under Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) defeat a Danish militia at the Battle of Køge, southwest of Copenhagen. It is also referred to as 'the Clogs battle' due to the wooden Clogs worn by the Danes.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (28 August 1914) British and German warships clash at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in the North Sea. It was the first naval battle of the First World War and resulted in the sinking of three German light cruisers and a destroyer.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
#OnThisDay (28 August 1914) British and German warships clash at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in the North Sea. It was the first naval battle of the First World War and resulted in the sinking of three German light cruisers and a destroyer.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (27 Aug 1896) The The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between Great Britain and Sultanate of Zanzibar takes place. It is said the war lasted for approximately 38 to 45 minutes, making it the shortest recorded war in history.
(Images: Wikimedia Commons)
(Images: Wikimedia Commons)
August 27, 2025 at 7:55 AM
#OnThisDay (27 Aug 1896) The The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between Great Britain and Sultanate of Zanzibar takes place. It is said the war lasted for approximately 38 to 45 minutes, making it the shortest recorded war in history.
(Images: Wikimedia Commons)
(Images: Wikimedia Commons)
Another 8.5km run done this morning and several more hours working on my next book this afternoon. I might just have a relaxing and lazy bank holiday Monday as a treat... 😂
August 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Another 8.5km run done this morning and several more hours working on my next book this afternoon. I might just have a relaxing and lazy bank holiday Monday as a treat... 😂
The first part of my Friday evening sorted...
www.primevideo.com/detail/Vende...
www.primevideo.com/detail/Vende...
Watch Vendetta for The Saint online – Prime Video
Set against an appealingly sunny Sicilian backdrop, this movie finds Simon Templar, an elegant thief and ethical busybody, outraged when a British banker is murdered after he recognizes an old colleag...
www.primevideo.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The first part of my Friday evening sorted...
www.primevideo.com/detail/Vende...
www.primevideo.com/detail/Vende...
Today started with a 10km run, followed by several hours working on my next book. Now I'm about to undo all my good physical and mental work with a burger, rum, and a Netflix binge... 😬
August 22, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Today started with a 10km run, followed by several hours working on my next book. Now I'm about to undo all my good physical and mental work with a burger, rum, and a Netflix binge... 😬
I have posted these before, and will post them again. Two of my favourite Second World War period cap badges: (left) King's Own Malta Regiment and (right) Royal Malta Artillery. There was also a Malta Fortress Squadron of the Royal Engineers, but they wore the standard RE badge.
August 22, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I have posted these before, and will post them again. Two of my favourite Second World War period cap badges: (left) King's Own Malta Regiment and (right) Royal Malta Artillery. There was also a Malta Fortress Squadron of the Royal Engineers, but they wore the standard RE badge.
I've read 23 (soon to be 24) books this year so far. I always feel I need to up my reading game and that I don't read enough. People who have read more books than I, how on earth do you find the time? (And yes, I appreciate lengths of books vary a lot.)
August 8, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I've read 23 (soon to be 24) books this year so far. I always feel I need to up my reading game and that I don't read enough. People who have read more books than I, how on earth do you find the time? (And yes, I appreciate lengths of books vary a lot.)
#OnThisDay (8 August 1945) The London Charter (also known as the #Nuremberg Charter) is signed by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The charter established the rules and procedures under which the Nuremberg trials were conducted.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 8, 2025 at 11:11 AM
#OnThisDay (8 August 1945) The London Charter (also known as the #Nuremberg Charter) is signed by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The charter established the rules and procedures under which the Nuremberg trials were conducted.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)