Nigel Marshall
@nigelmarshall.bsky.social
Battlefield Guide, Military Historian, living on the Somme.
www.marshallsbattlefields.com
Blogging stories of the TF West Yorkshire Regiment battalions in the Great War - www.tfwestyorks.blogspot.com
www.marshallsbattlefields.com
Blogging stories of the TF West Yorkshire Regiment battalions in the Great War - www.tfwestyorks.blogspot.com
It was a real pleasure to bump into @milhistdiddy.bsky.social this evening at the Menin Gate.
June 12, 2025 at 7:14 PM
It was a real pleasure to bump into @milhistdiddy.bsky.social this evening at the Menin Gate.
At the grave of one of the earliest casualties from 1st Australian Tunnelling Company during their time on the Western Front, the lady’s grandfather, who is said to have lied about his age to enlist, by knocking ten years off. He was 54 years old.
June 9, 2025 at 4:42 PM
At the grave of one of the earliest casualties from 1st Australian Tunnelling Company during their time on the Western Front, the lady’s grandfather, who is said to have lied about his age to enlist, by knocking ten years off. He was 54 years old.
So… Somme to Paris this afternoon to pick up a tour tomorrow.
Going via Lille… obviously!
Going via Lille… obviously!
April 15, 2025 at 11:43 AM
So… Somme to Paris this afternoon to pick up a tour tomorrow.
Going via Lille… obviously!
Going via Lille… obviously!
My secretary is rubbish.
I’ll do my own bookings.
I’ll do my own bookings.
January 16, 2025 at 7:46 AM
My secretary is rubbish.
I’ll do my own bookings.
I’ll do my own bookings.
A reminder, folks, that Great War battlefields can still be dangerous. Exploding ordnance has injured a construction worker as he dug in a car park at Moreuil, SE of Amiens this morning. #FWW
January 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A reminder, folks, that Great War battlefields can still be dangerous. Exploding ordnance has injured a construction worker as he dug in a car park at Moreuil, SE of Amiens this morning. #FWW
My favourite Christmas photo.
My great granddad (right) choosing his Christmas goose. Leeds Markets c.1949.
He’s a dapper 88 yr old army pensioner, having served 24 yrs from 1878. C/Sgt Andrew Kilkenny, York & Lancaster Regiment.
My great granddad (right) choosing his Christmas goose. Leeds Markets c.1949.
He’s a dapper 88 yr old army pensioner, having served 24 yrs from 1878. C/Sgt Andrew Kilkenny, York & Lancaster Regiment.
December 24, 2024 at 7:56 AM
My favourite Christmas photo.
My great granddad (right) choosing his Christmas goose. Leeds Markets c.1949.
He’s a dapper 88 yr old army pensioner, having served 24 yrs from 1878. C/Sgt Andrew Kilkenny, York & Lancaster Regiment.
My great granddad (right) choosing his Christmas goose. Leeds Markets c.1949.
He’s a dapper 88 yr old army pensioner, having served 24 yrs from 1878. C/Sgt Andrew Kilkenny, York & Lancaster Regiment.
To cap off another year guiding tours of the #WW1 battlefields, a surprise gift arrived, just now, from Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours in Sydney.
This is very much appreciated, and thank you for sending me on some very memorable trips during 2024.
Here’s to 2025!
This is very much appreciated, and thank you for sending me on some very memorable trips during 2024.
Here’s to 2025!
December 23, 2024 at 12:02 PM
To cap off another year guiding tours of the #WW1 battlefields, a surprise gift arrived, just now, from Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours in Sydney.
This is very much appreciated, and thank you for sending me on some very memorable trips during 2024.
Here’s to 2025!
This is very much appreciated, and thank you for sending me on some very memorable trips during 2024.
Here’s to 2025!
Wishing everyone a joyous and peaceful festive season.
December 23, 2024 at 9:27 AM
Wishing everyone a joyous and peaceful festive season.
Recent heavy rains have opened a few sinkholes on the former #FWW battlefields.
This one appears to be an inclined shaft leading down to the remains of a dugout, of which there were several in this substantial trench system.
This one appears to be an inclined shaft leading down to the remains of a dugout, of which there were several in this substantial trench system.
December 12, 2024 at 9:15 AM
Recent heavy rains have opened a few sinkholes on the former #FWW battlefields.
This one appears to be an inclined shaft leading down to the remains of a dugout, of which there were several in this substantial trench system.
This one appears to be an inclined shaft leading down to the remains of a dugout, of which there were several in this substantial trench system.
My touring year is coming to its close when this trip ends on Thursday. It’s been a really busy year, with many memorable moments for guest and me alike.
We’ll bid a fond farewell to Ieper in the morning as we head to Amiens, via Fromelles, Bullecourt, Pozières and Daours.
Roll on 2025!
We’ll bid a fond farewell to Ieper in the morning as we head to Amiens, via Fromelles, Bullecourt, Pozières and Daours.
Roll on 2025!
December 10, 2024 at 8:06 PM
My touring year is coming to its close when this trip ends on Thursday. It’s been a really busy year, with many memorable moments for guest and me alike.
We’ll bid a fond farewell to Ieper in the morning as we head to Amiens, via Fromelles, Bullecourt, Pozières and Daours.
Roll on 2025!
We’ll bid a fond farewell to Ieper in the morning as we head to Amiens, via Fromelles, Bullecourt, Pozières and Daours.
Roll on 2025!
After seeing a couple of bits of my neighbour’s roof in my garden this morning, I thought we’d been hit hard by the weather… then I saw photos from the UK.
That looks rough.
That looks rough.
December 7, 2024 at 1:14 PM
After seeing a couple of bits of my neighbour’s roof in my garden this morning, I thought we’d been hit hard by the weather… then I saw photos from the UK.
That looks rough.
That looks rough.
Well, Amiens is a bit of a mess this morning… there’s a bendy bus stuck across the road because it tried to U turn and wasn’t bendy enough to get round.
And there’s an incident on railway at Glisy too.
My people coming from Lille are currently delayed by 90 minutes.
And there’s an incident on railway at Glisy too.
My people coming from Lille are currently delayed by 90 minutes.
December 6, 2024 at 8:39 AM
Well, Amiens is a bit of a mess this morning… there’s a bendy bus stuck across the road because it tried to U turn and wasn’t bendy enough to get round.
And there’s an incident on railway at Glisy too.
My people coming from Lille are currently delayed by 90 minutes.
And there’s an incident on railway at Glisy too.
My people coming from Lille are currently delayed by 90 minutes.
Beaulencourt, 4km SE of Bapaume. I went to have a look at the hole on the ground yesterday with a mate who’d seen it a few days earlier.
It’s big, and the movement in the ground extends much further than the actual hole. It’s going to take a long time to repair. #WW1
It’s big, and the movement in the ground extends much further than the actual hole. It’s going to take a long time to repair. #WW1
December 4, 2024 at 6:58 AM
Beaulencourt, 4km SE of Bapaume. I went to have a look at the hole on the ground yesterday with a mate who’d seen it a few days earlier.
It’s big, and the movement in the ground extends much further than the actual hole. It’s going to take a long time to repair. #WW1
It’s big, and the movement in the ground extends much further than the actual hole. It’s going to take a long time to repair. #WW1
Today, during #WW1 the battle of Cambrai began. The first major use of tanks, 476 tanks of various varieties were deployed.
When I joined the Army, my training platoon was named Cambrai. My army number ends with 476, and my trade was Gunfitter. Maintenance and repair of main armaments on tanks…
When I joined the Army, my training platoon was named Cambrai. My army number ends with 476, and my trade was Gunfitter. Maintenance and repair of main armaments on tanks…
November 20, 2024 at 10:49 AM
Today, during #WW1 the battle of Cambrai began. The first major use of tanks, 476 tanks of various varieties were deployed.
When I joined the Army, my training platoon was named Cambrai. My army number ends with 476, and my trade was Gunfitter. Maintenance and repair of main armaments on tanks…
When I joined the Army, my training platoon was named Cambrai. My army number ends with 476, and my trade was Gunfitter. Maintenance and repair of main armaments on tanks…
Minor Somme roads are ‘fun’ just now. Potato and beet season means mud is everywhere. It’s been dry ‘til recent days, meaning the mud has compacted. Now it’s rained, the mud’s still there, but it’s now very slippery.
Yesterday’s recce was cut short - there’s only so much road ‘fun’ I can handle.
Yesterday’s recce was cut short - there’s only so much road ‘fun’ I can handle.
November 19, 2024 at 9:18 AM
Minor Somme roads are ‘fun’ just now. Potato and beet season means mud is everywhere. It’s been dry ‘til recent days, meaning the mud has compacted. Now it’s rained, the mud’s still there, but it’s now very slippery.
Yesterday’s recce was cut short - there’s only so much road ‘fun’ I can handle.
Yesterday’s recce was cut short - there’s only so much road ‘fun’ I can handle.
I’ve just shared a link, on a thread about military blood transfusion, to a blog post I wrote.
If you’re interested in WW1 Western Front patrolling, the Territorial Force, gallantry awards, or military medical matters, you might find it interesting.
tfwestyorks.blogspot.com/2022/06/an-e...
If you’re interested in WW1 Western Front patrolling, the Territorial Force, gallantry awards, or military medical matters, you might find it interesting.
tfwestyorks.blogspot.com/2022/06/an-e...
An early use of blood transfusion to save life in a Casualty Clearing Station
A blog about the Territorial Force Battalions of the West Yorkshire Regiment in the Great War 1914 - 1918
tfwestyorks.blogspot.com
November 18, 2024 at 8:03 AM
I’ve just shared a link, on a thread about military blood transfusion, to a blog post I wrote.
If you’re interested in WW1 Western Front patrolling, the Territorial Force, gallantry awards, or military medical matters, you might find it interesting.
tfwestyorks.blogspot.com/2022/06/an-e...
If you’re interested in WW1 Western Front patrolling, the Territorial Force, gallantry awards, or military medical matters, you might find it interesting.
tfwestyorks.blogspot.com/2022/06/an-e...
Sou has lived with me since turning up on my patio in July.
We went to the vet today to get some jabs and a microchip to make it official.
I was convinced Sou was male, but the vet said ‘Non’.
We went to the vet today to get some jabs and a microchip to make it official.
I was convinced Sou was male, but the vet said ‘Non’.
November 13, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Sou has lived with me since turning up on my patio in July.
We went to the vet today to get some jabs and a microchip to make it official.
I was convinced Sou was male, but the vet said ‘Non’.
We went to the vet today to get some jabs and a microchip to make it official.
I was convinced Sou was male, but the vet said ‘Non’.
Remembering today my Gt Uncle, Spr Syd Kilkenny, RE, Northern Sig Coy and Base Sig Coy, Egypt.
To Egypt on 18 Apr 1915. Served in Egypt, Gallipoli, and the Holy Land. He died of pneumonia in Alexandria on 22 November 1918 and now buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.
Ubique.
To Egypt on 18 Apr 1915. Served in Egypt, Gallipoli, and the Holy Land. He died of pneumonia in Alexandria on 22 November 1918 and now buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.
Ubique.
November 11, 2024 at 8:35 AM
Remembering today my Gt Uncle, Spr Syd Kilkenny, RE, Northern Sig Coy and Base Sig Coy, Egypt.
To Egypt on 18 Apr 1915. Served in Egypt, Gallipoli, and the Holy Land. He died of pneumonia in Alexandria on 22 November 1918 and now buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.
Ubique.
To Egypt on 18 Apr 1915. Served in Egypt, Gallipoli, and the Holy Land. He died of pneumonia in Alexandria on 22 November 1918 and now buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.
Ubique.
Ieper is waking up on what feels like it’ll be a pleasantly mild Sunday.
November 10, 2024 at 6:40 AM
Ieper is waking up on what feels like it’ll be a pleasantly mild Sunday.
Taking my Aussie guests ‘off piste’ to spare them a whole day out in the rain, and letting them shelter in the Passchendaele Museum 1917 at Zonnebeke.
May 16, 2024 at 10:29 AM
Taking my Aussie guests ‘off piste’ to spare them a whole day out in the rain, and letting them shelter in the Passchendaele Museum 1917 at Zonnebeke.
Waiting at the Ariane in Ieper for my clients.
It’s ideal battlefield weather today.
Glad to be back for my first tour around Ieper this year.
It’s ideal battlefield weather today.
Glad to be back for my first tour around Ieper this year.
February 10, 2024 at 11:18 AM
Waiting at the Ariane in Ieper for my clients.
It’s ideal battlefield weather today.
Glad to be back for my first tour around Ieper this year.
It’s ideal battlefield weather today.
Glad to be back for my first tour around Ieper this year.
Remembering ex-Sjt Frederick Smith, formerly of the Leeds Rifles, who died 104 years ago today. He was accepted by CWGC as a casualty of the Great War at the beginning of December last year.
Serjeant Frederick Smith - A Casualty of War Newly Commemorated
A blog about the Territorial Force Battalions of the West Yorkshire Regiment in the Great War 1914 - 1918
tfwestyorks.blogspot.com
January 15, 2024 at 7:37 AM
Remembering ex-Sjt Frederick Smith, formerly of the Leeds Rifles, who died 104 years ago today. He was accepted by CWGC as a casualty of the Great War at the beginning of December last year.
I had a chat with a podcaster the other day about a man I’d researched to get him war graves status. Fairly informally the meeting was arranged for Thursday.
It was only when we started talking that we realised that Thursday had been the anniversary of the date he deployed to France.
It was only when we started talking that we realised that Thursday had been the anniversary of the date he deployed to France.
January 13, 2024 at 8:31 AM
I had a chat with a podcaster the other day about a man I’d researched to get him war graves status. Fairly informally the meeting was arranged for Thursday.
It was only when we started talking that we realised that Thursday had been the anniversary of the date he deployed to France.
It was only when we started talking that we realised that Thursday had been the anniversary of the date he deployed to France.