Martin Roberts
@martinsroberts.bsky.social
Cockney boy. History teacher. Second World War aficionado. Semi-pro beer taster. Comic book geek. Ska, reggae & punk enthusiast. #COYI ⚒
Pinned
Uncle Jimmy laying down smoke with his 2in mortar at the River Sangro, Italy, 1943. Alongside his cousin who was also in 56 Recce, 78 Div.
Only recently found out I am related to Freddie Bradley. He was shot in a village called Le Paradis on the Dunkirk Perimeter by soldiers of the SS Totenkopf Division along with 96 of his company after they surrendered having ran out of ammunition. He was my great nan’s cousin.
September 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Only recently found out I am related to Freddie Bradley. He was shot in a village called Le Paradis on the Dunkirk Perimeter by soldiers of the SS Totenkopf Division along with 96 of his company after they surrendered having ran out of ammunition. He was my great nan’s cousin.
Run up to RAF Barkston Heath this morning, the site of 1st Parachute Battalion’s take off on their lift into Arnhem, Sunday 17 September 1944. They were flown in on the C-47s of the USAAF 61st Troop Carrier Group. ‘Bring up the PIAT’ t-shirt was a requirement!l naturally!
August 23, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Run up to RAF Barkston Heath this morning, the site of 1st Parachute Battalion’s take off on their lift into Arnhem, Sunday 17 September 1944. They were flown in on the C-47s of the USAAF 61st Troop Carrier Group. ‘Bring up the PIAT’ t-shirt was a requirement!l naturally!
I’ve said said it before and I’ll say it again. This is the absolute daddy @mikehistorian.bsky.social
August 20, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I’ve said said it before and I’ll say it again. This is the absolute daddy @mikehistorian.bsky.social
Whatever your thoughts are on the Das Boot TV series the opening scene when the Short Sunderland attacks is awesome!
August 20, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Whatever your thoughts are on the Das Boot TV series the opening scene when the Short Sunderland attacks is awesome!
Visited former Coastal Command base RAF Oban whilst on holiday in Scotland. Brave lads these. The unglamorous ‘Cinderella Boys’ who played a pivotal role in winning the Battle of the Atlantic.
August 18, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Visited former Coastal Command base RAF Oban whilst on holiday in Scotland. Brave lads these. The unglamorous ‘Cinderella Boys’ who played a pivotal role in winning the Battle of the Atlantic.
Caerlaverock Castle 🏴 13th fortress taken by Edward I and Jacobean palace
August 16, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Caerlaverock Castle 🏴 13th fortress taken by Edward I and Jacobean palace
Short Sunderland! Always good to see some Coastal Command kit. Unsung heroes.
August 4, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Short Sunderland! Always good to see some Coastal Command kit. Unsung heroes.
Lots of cool Bomber Commmand related stuff at the RAF Museum in London, including S for Sugar (formerly Q-Queenie) a Lanc that completed 137 ops, a downed Halifax Mk II rescued from a fjord, tons of tech from the bombers, a Me110 with radar and Schräge Musik, flight suits & a GEE transmitter!
August 4, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Lots of cool Bomber Commmand related stuff at the RAF Museum in London, including S for Sugar (formerly Q-Queenie) a Lanc that completed 137 ops, a downed Halifax Mk II rescued from a fjord, tons of tech from the bombers, a Me110 with radar and Schräge Musik, flight suits & a GEE transmitter!
One of my Bomber Command days out last week: 2 Lancs, 1 Mossie, 9 Red Arrows (unexpected treat), 4 bases (Coningsby, East Kirkby, Woodhall Spa & Metheringham) and 1 happy member of the WW2 afflicted!
August 4, 2025 at 5:44 AM
One of my Bomber Command days out last week: 2 Lancs, 1 Mossie, 9 Red Arrows (unexpected treat), 4 bases (Coningsby, East Kirkby, Woodhall Spa & Metheringham) and 1 happy member of the WW2 afflicted!
Last surviving intact Halifax bomber (to our national shame). Painted up (on one side) as F-Freddy AKA ‘Friday the 13th’ at the Yorkshire Air Museum, former RAF Elvington. The original completed 128 ops over enemy territory!
August 4, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Last surviving intact Halifax bomber (to our national shame). Painted up (on one side) as F-Freddy AKA ‘Friday the 13th’ at the Yorkshire Air Museum, former RAF Elvington. The original completed 128 ops over enemy territory!
The main runway at RAF Burn. Cyril Barton in his 578 Squadron Halifax took off right here on the night of 30 March 1944 bound for Nuremberg, he wouldn’t return but would win a VC for his immense bravery. I’m certain the poppies I found growing on the perimeter track were for him.
August 4, 2025 at 5:39 AM
The main runway at RAF Burn. Cyril Barton in his 578 Squadron Halifax took off right here on the night of 30 March 1944 bound for Nuremberg, he wouldn’t return but would win a VC for his immense bravery. I’m certain the poppies I found growing on the perimeter track were for him.
Such an honour to represent my family again at Tyne Cot.
My great great granduncle John. A cockney boy just like me. Never got to come home to the East End from Flanders.
We never forgot you John. I know your sister Lily missed you greatly.
Lest we forget
My great great granduncle John. A cockney boy just like me. Never got to come home to the East End from Flanders.
We never forgot you John. I know your sister Lily missed you greatly.
Lest we forget
July 6, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Such an honour to represent my family again at Tyne Cot.
My great great granduncle John. A cockney boy just like me. Never got to come home to the East End from Flanders.
We never forgot you John. I know your sister Lily missed you greatly.
Lest we forget
My great great granduncle John. A cockney boy just like me. Never got to come home to the East End from Flanders.
We never forgot you John. I know your sister Lily missed you greatly.
Lest we forget
VE Day 80!
Thinking of these men today. I’m deeply proud of them all.
Driver Arthur Roberts, Royal Engineers
Gunner Henry Finck, Royal Artillery
Corporal James Thomas, Reconnaissance Corps
From the escape at Dunkirk to Monte Cassino, my family played their part in the the defeat of fascism.
Thinking of these men today. I’m deeply proud of them all.
Driver Arthur Roberts, Royal Engineers
Gunner Henry Finck, Royal Artillery
Corporal James Thomas, Reconnaissance Corps
From the escape at Dunkirk to Monte Cassino, my family played their part in the the defeat of fascism.
May 8, 2025 at 6:33 AM
VE Day 80!
Thinking of these men today. I’m deeply proud of them all.
Driver Arthur Roberts, Royal Engineers
Gunner Henry Finck, Royal Artillery
Corporal James Thomas, Reconnaissance Corps
From the escape at Dunkirk to Monte Cassino, my family played their part in the the defeat of fascism.
Thinking of these men today. I’m deeply proud of them all.
Driver Arthur Roberts, Royal Engineers
Gunner Henry Finck, Royal Artillery
Corporal James Thomas, Reconnaissance Corps
From the escape at Dunkirk to Monte Cassino, my family played their part in the the defeat of fascism.
Ken Hay, 4 Dorsets, 38 Div in VE Day: We Were There on BBC.
No Ken, you don’t need to be sorry. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
#VEday80
No Ken, you don’t need to be sorry. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
#VEday80
May 1, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Ken Hay, 4 Dorsets, 38 Div in VE Day: We Were There on BBC.
No Ken, you don’t need to be sorry. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
#VEday80
No Ken, you don’t need to be sorry. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
#VEday80
Walked to Thiepval Memorial today. It was an honour to find where Samuel Sheldon is remembered. He was a baker from Baslow, born in Sheffield and a former student of Lady Manners School, Bakewell. He died at Serre on 1 July 1916. His body was never recovered.
April 16, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Walked to Thiepval Memorial today. It was an honour to find where Samuel Sheldon is remembered. He was a baker from Baslow, born in Sheffield and a former student of Lady Manners School, Bakewell. He died at Serre on 1 July 1916. His body was never recovered.
Then and now. The Sunken Road in No Man’s Land in 1916 opposite Beaumont-Hamel. This was the jumping off point for these lads of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, 29th Division. Such a humbling place to visit.
April 16, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Then and now. The Sunken Road in No Man’s Land in 1916 opposite Beaumont-Hamel. This was the jumping off point for these lads of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, 29th Division. Such a humbling place to visit.
More images from the front line near the Sheffield Memorial Park. Lads from the industrial North of England lie side by side just as they advanced on 1 July 1916.
April 16, 2025 at 5:34 AM
More images from the front line near the Sheffield Memorial Park. Lads from the industrial North of England lie side by side just as they advanced on 1 July 1916.
Sheffield Memorial Park on the Somme, including the beautiful Railway Hollow Cemetery. From here the northern pals battalions of the 31st Division attacked the German trenches in front of Serre, 1 July 1916. Many didn’t come home. Events on the Somme changed Britain forever.
April 16, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Sheffield Memorial Park on the Somme, including the beautiful Railway Hollow Cemetery. From here the northern pals battalions of the 31st Division attacked the German trenches in front of Serre, 1 July 1916. Many didn’t come home. Events on the Somme changed Britain forever.
Managed to find some 110yr old training trenches dug up on moors over Redmires Reservoir. This is where the volunteer soldiers of the 12th (Service) Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment (Sheffield City Battalion) of ‘Kitchener’s Army’ prepared for war. They would eventually be sent to the Somme.
April 12, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Managed to find some 110yr old training trenches dug up on moors over Redmires Reservoir. This is where the volunteer soldiers of the 12th (Service) Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment (Sheffield City Battalion) of ‘Kitchener’s Army’ prepared for war. They would eventually be sent to the Somme.
And a massive shout out to @sommecourt.bsky.social for the walks I’m planning to do from his magisterial ‘Walking the Somme’
I’m not a First World War buff but it does interest me and it’s significance to WW2 is plain to see. So I’m planning a trip to Picardy over the hols to walk the ground. Made myself an order of battle for the first day of the Battle of the Somme using Martin Middlebrook’s book.
April 3, 2025 at 9:13 PM
And a massive shout out to @sommecourt.bsky.social for the walks I’m planning to do from his magisterial ‘Walking the Somme’
I’m not a First World War buff but it does interest me and it’s significance to WW2 is plain to see. So I’m planning a trip to Picardy over the hols to walk the ground. Made myself an order of battle for the first day of the Battle of the Somme using Martin Middlebrook’s book.
April 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
I’m not a First World War buff but it does interest me and it’s significance to WW2 is plain to see. So I’m planning a trip to Picardy over the hols to walk the ground. Made myself an order of battle for the first day of the Battle of the Somme using Martin Middlebrook’s book.
My great grandfather Driver Arthur Roberts was evacuated of this very beach in May 1940. Words can’t express what an honour it was to finally visit Dunkirk today.
March 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
My great grandfather Driver Arthur Roberts was evacuated of this very beach in May 1940. Words can’t express what an honour it was to finally visit Dunkirk today.
Best beers I’ve drunk for the first time in 2024:
▪️Thornbridge / The Kernel - Burton Ale (on the Union System!)
▪️Northern Monk / Timothy Taylor - Unity Stout
▪️Thornbridge / The Kernel - Burton Ale (on the Union System!)
▪️Northern Monk / Timothy Taylor - Unity Stout
December 31, 2024 at 12:20 PM
Best beers I’ve drunk for the first time in 2024:
▪️Thornbridge / The Kernel - Burton Ale (on the Union System!)
▪️Northern Monk / Timothy Taylor - Unity Stout
▪️Thornbridge / The Kernel - Burton Ale (on the Union System!)
▪️Northern Monk / Timothy Taylor - Unity Stout
Uncle Jimmy laying down smoke with his 2in mortar at the River Sangro, Italy, 1943. Alongside his cousin who was also in 56 Recce, 78 Div.
December 31, 2024 at 12:10 PM
Uncle Jimmy laying down smoke with his 2in mortar at the River Sangro, Italy, 1943. Alongside his cousin who was also in 56 Recce, 78 Div.