Tom McCall
@easternapproaches.bsky.social
Former parliamentary staffer, sometime lawyer. Interested in history, particularly #WW1, #WW2, Central, Eastern Europe and Russia.
Reposted by Tom McCall
12th Feb 1944. The cargo vessel SS Oria, carrying over 4,200 Italian prisoners, was blown onto rocks in the Saronic Gulf, close to Athens. Fewer than 50 Italians, along with 6 German guards and 6 crewmen including the captain, survived. It was one of the worst maritime disasters in history.
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February 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
12th Feb 1944. The cargo vessel SS Oria, carrying over 4,200 Italian prisoners, was blown onto rocks in the Saronic Gulf, close to Athens. Fewer than 50 Italians, along with 6 German guards and 6 crewmen including the captain, survived. It was one of the worst maritime disasters in history.
🧵1/7
🧵1/7
Reposted by Tom McCall
"The chapel still linking Orkney and Italy - 80 years after WW2 ended"
A lovely account about the truly remarkable Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm, one of the Orkney Islands, and Domenico Chiocchetti, the artist responsible for much of its interior 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A lovely account about the truly remarkable Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm, one of the Orkney Islands, and Domenico Chiocchetti, the artist responsible for much of its interior 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The chapel that still links Orkney and Italy - 80 years after WW2
The Italian Chapel was built and decorated by prisoners of war during World War Two.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2025 at 10:33 AM
"The chapel still linking Orkney and Italy - 80 years after WW2 ended"
A lovely account about the truly remarkable Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm, one of the Orkney Islands, and Domenico Chiocchetti, the artist responsible for much of its interior 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A lovely account about the truly remarkable Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm, one of the Orkney Islands, and Domenico Chiocchetti, the artist responsible for much of its interior 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Today's book purchase, looks like an excellent account of the Arctic Convoys written by a survivor of the sinking of HMS Trinidad.
Special as well because one of my relatives served on one of the later incarnations of HMS Edinburgh!
#historybookchat
Special as well because one of my relatives served on one of the later incarnations of HMS Edinburgh!
#historybookchat
February 9, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Today's book purchase, looks like an excellent account of the Arctic Convoys written by a survivor of the sinking of HMS Trinidad.
Special as well because one of my relatives served on one of the later incarnations of HMS Edinburgh!
#historybookchat
Special as well because one of my relatives served on one of the later incarnations of HMS Edinburgh!
#historybookchat
Reposted by Tom McCall
An RN rating carries a young girl along a cluttered dock in Greenock, Scotland, March 1, 1945. This famous image, and the story behind it, epitomise naval purpose: protect the high seas; safeguard civilians.
This is the story of the Sørøya Island rescue.
#maritimehistory #navalhistory #WW2
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This is the story of the Sørøya Island rescue.
#maritimehistory #navalhistory #WW2
🧵1/29
February 9, 2025 at 5:29 AM
An RN rating carries a young girl along a cluttered dock in Greenock, Scotland, March 1, 1945. This famous image, and the story behind it, epitomise naval purpose: protect the high seas; safeguard civilians.
This is the story of the Sørøya Island rescue.
#maritimehistory #navalhistory #WW2
🧵1/29
This is the story of the Sørøya Island rescue.
#maritimehistory #navalhistory #WW2
🧵1/29
The Silk Roads exhibition at the British Museum is well worth catching before it closes in a couple of weeks time.
An expansive definition of the Silk Road from Japan to medieval Mauritania and Jarrow but none the worse for that!
An expansive definition of the Silk Road from Japan to medieval Mauritania and Jarrow but none the worse for that!
February 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
The Silk Roads exhibition at the British Museum is well worth catching before it closes in a couple of weeks time.
An expansive definition of the Silk Road from Japan to medieval Mauritania and Jarrow but none the worse for that!
An expansive definition of the Silk Road from Japan to medieval Mauritania and Jarrow but none the worse for that!
Wandering around Central London and spotted something I'd otherwise missed despite walking up and down the street for years.
A plaque commemorating Endell Street Military hospital, a active in the Great War, and apparently the only military hospital entirely staffed by women.
#WW1
A plaque commemorating Endell Street Military hospital, a active in the Great War, and apparently the only military hospital entirely staffed by women.
#WW1
February 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Wandering around Central London and spotted something I'd otherwise missed despite walking up and down the street for years.
A plaque commemorating Endell Street Military hospital, a active in the Great War, and apparently the only military hospital entirely staffed by women.
#WW1
A plaque commemorating Endell Street Military hospital, a active in the Great War, and apparently the only military hospital entirely staffed by women.
#WW1
Privilege to see "In Which We Serve" on the Big Screen at the BFI.
Such an excellent film, wonderfully acted (particularly by Noel Coward, John Mills and Ceila Johnson).
Three cheers for the ship as the crew are in the water and watching her go down gets me every time.
Such an excellent film, wonderfully acted (particularly by Noel Coward, John Mills and Ceila Johnson).
Three cheers for the ship as the crew are in the water and watching her go down gets me every time.
February 8, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Privilege to see "In Which We Serve" on the Big Screen at the BFI.
Such an excellent film, wonderfully acted (particularly by Noel Coward, John Mills and Ceila Johnson).
Three cheers for the ship as the crew are in the water and watching her go down gets me every time.
Such an excellent film, wonderfully acted (particularly by Noel Coward, John Mills and Ceila Johnson).
Three cheers for the ship as the crew are in the water and watching her go down gets me every time.
A friend is currently visiting a former French battery on an island in the approaches to Dakar, Senegal.
Plenty of fighting in #WW2 with the 1940 British expedition.
Does anyone know what this is that has a joint and a hole on its side?
#artillery #gunnery
#WeHaveWaysPod
Plenty of fighting in #WW2 with the 1940 British expedition.
Does anyone know what this is that has a joint and a hole on its side?
#artillery #gunnery
#WeHaveWaysPod
February 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
A friend is currently visiting a former French battery on an island in the approaches to Dakar, Senegal.
Plenty of fighting in #WW2 with the 1940 British expedition.
Does anyone know what this is that has a joint and a hole on its side?
#artillery #gunnery
#WeHaveWaysPod
Plenty of fighting in #WW2 with the 1940 British expedition.
Does anyone know what this is that has a joint and a hole on its side?
#artillery #gunnery
#WeHaveWaysPod
Reposted by Tom McCall
Really excellent evening at the Czech Embassy listening to @jamescrossland.bsky.social speaking on the extraordinary life of Robert Bruce Lockhart "the best friend the Czechs ever had".
An incredible life and very much looking forward to read the book!
An incredible life and very much looking forward to read the book!
January 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Really excellent evening at the Czech Embassy listening to @jamescrossland.bsky.social speaking on the extraordinary life of Robert Bruce Lockhart "the best friend the Czechs ever had".
An incredible life and very much looking forward to read the book!
An incredible life and very much looking forward to read the book!
Up in Shimla, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Given its close association with the British Army, and as summer capital of the Raj, there are plenty of Great War memorials in the beautiful Christ Church.
AIF infantry, 4th Army artillery and military intelligence represented.
AIF infantry, 4th Army artillery and military intelligence represented.
January 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Up in Shimla, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Given its close association with the British Army, and as summer capital of the Raj, there are plenty of Great War memorials in the beautiful Christ Church.
AIF infantry, 4th Army artillery and military intelligence represented.
AIF infantry, 4th Army artillery and military intelligence represented.
Visiting the Indian National War Memorial. Surely not many war memorials have a prominent metal relief of a Hawker Hunter in action @damcasterspod.com
December 28, 2024 at 4:51 PM
Visiting the Indian National War Memorial. Surely not many war memorials have a prominent metal relief of a Hawker Hunter in action @damcasterspod.com
Reposted by Tom McCall
Christmas Truce 1914: Henry Williamson, then in the London Rifle Brigade, remembers the truce at Ploegsteert in December 1914. Williamson became a nature writer after the war, including ‘Tarka The Otter’ and wrote many books based on his experiences in the conflict.
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
Christmas Truce 1914: Henry Williamson, then in the London Rifle Brigade, remembers the truce at Ploegsteert in December 1914. Williamson became a nature writer after the war, including ‘Tarka The Otter’ and wrote many books based on his experiences in the conflict.
Highly recommend the Great Mughals exhibition at the V&A a really fascinating series of artefacts and artwork on display. Excellent prep for my upcoming trip to India!
December 15, 2024 at 9:54 PM
Highly recommend the Great Mughals exhibition at the V&A a really fascinating series of artefacts and artwork on display. Excellent prep for my upcoming trip to India!
After a lovely Nine Lessons and Carols at the London Welsh Centre, we had a real treat of listening to a great group of Ukrainian polyphonic singers doing renditions of Ukrainian Carols in aid of good causes to support civilians affected by Russia's invasion
Follow
www.instagram.com/hromada_coll...
Follow
www.instagram.com/hromada_coll...
December 8, 2024 at 9:17 PM
After a lovely Nine Lessons and Carols at the London Welsh Centre, we had a real treat of listening to a great group of Ukrainian polyphonic singers doing renditions of Ukrainian Carols in aid of good causes to support civilians affected by Russia's invasion
Follow
www.instagram.com/hromada_coll...
Follow
www.instagram.com/hromada_coll...
It's a bit too on the nose that while moving all my books into my new home, this is the one I managed to accidentially leave behind.
#histbookchat
#histbookchat
December 8, 2024 at 11:33 AM
It's a bit too on the nose that while moving all my books into my new home, this is the one I managed to accidentially leave behind.
#histbookchat
#histbookchat
Reposted by Tom McCall
Iole Mancini, the last surviving Italian partisan to experience the horrors of the Nazi prison at Via Tasso in Rome, has died aged 104.
Rome bids farewell to last survivor of Nazi prison on Via Tasso
Iole Mancini, the last surviving Italian partisan to experience the horrors of the Nazi prison on Via Tasso, died at her home in Rome on Monday aged 104.
www.wantedinrome.com
December 3, 2024 at 10:49 AM
Iole Mancini, the last surviving Italian partisan to experience the horrors of the Nazi prison at Via Tasso in Rome, has died aged 104.
Reposted by Tom McCall
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დაუმორჩილებლობა daumorčilebloba 'defiance, disobedience', from Old Georgian ႫႭႰႹႨႪႨ morčili obedient, from Georgian-Zan *rčˠ- obey, hear, possibly an ancient metathesis of Akkadian 𒊑𒌋𒊺𒌈 rēštum female slave. Often used to describe civil disobedience.
December 2, 2024 at 6:18 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: დაუმორჩილებლობა daumorčilebloba 'defiance, disobedience', from Old Georgian ႫႭႰႹႨႪႨ morčili obedient, from Georgian-Zan *rčˠ- obey, hear, possibly an ancient metathesis of Akkadian 𒊑𒌋𒊺𒌈 rēštum female slave. Often used to describe civil disobedience.
Reposted by Tom McCall
THREAD/By November 1944, it would be fair to say that Londoners, along with most of the rest of the citizens of British towns and cities were distinctly war-weary having been under fire, on and off since September 1940. Hitler's latest weapon, the V-2 rocket had been dropping on London since...
November 25, 2024 at 4:46 PM
THREAD/By November 1944, it would be fair to say that Londoners, along with most of the rest of the citizens of British towns and cities were distinctly war-weary having been under fire, on and off since September 1940. Hitler's latest weapon, the V-2 rocket had been dropping on London since...
Reposted by Tom McCall
#OTD in 1944, despite heavy rain making much of the country impassable, 53rd (Welsh) Division was pushing to the line of the Maas.
As they had done across North West Europe, the mortars of 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment were in support.
🧵 1/3 #WW2 #AFPUinNWE
As they had done across North West Europe, the mortars of 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment were in support.
🧵 1/3 #WW2 #AFPUinNWE
November 18, 2024 at 8:03 AM
#OTD in 1944, despite heavy rain making much of the country impassable, 53rd (Welsh) Division was pushing to the line of the Maas.
As they had done across North West Europe, the mortars of 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment were in support.
🧵 1/3 #WW2 #AFPUinNWE
As they had done across North West Europe, the mortars of 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment were in support.
🧵 1/3 #WW2 #AFPUinNWE
Reposted by Tom McCall
Re-post and follow us to enter our draw to win our latest #coldwar #bookgiveaway with @craigunger.bsky.social
US/CA/UK addresses only
Click on the link below for other ways to enter and T&Cs.
⬇️⬇️
coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/
⬆️⬆️
US/CA/UK addresses only
Click on the link below for other ways to enter and T&Cs.
⬇️⬇️
coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/
⬆️⬆️
November 15, 2024 at 5:16 PM
Re-post and follow us to enter our draw to win our latest #coldwar #bookgiveaway with @craigunger.bsky.social
US/CA/UK addresses only
Click on the link below for other ways to enter and T&Cs.
⬇️⬇️
coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/
⬆️⬆️
US/CA/UK addresses only
Click on the link below for other ways to enter and T&Cs.
⬇️⬇️
coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/
⬆️⬆️
Reposted by Tom McCall
Today in 1944, at Delville Wood Cemetery near the village of Longueval on the Somme, Sergeant Carpenter takes this photo of British troops. They're looking at the graves of South African troops killed during the fighting in the wood in 1916.
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
November 13, 2024 at 10:20 AM
Today in 1944, at Delville Wood Cemetery near the village of Longueval on the Somme, Sergeant Carpenter takes this photo of British troops. They're looking at the graves of South African troops killed during the fighting in the wood in 1916.
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Bought my ticket and very much looking forward to it!
Many congratulations again @silenceinpolish.bsky.social!
Many congratulations again @silenceinpolish.bsky.social!
SAVE THE DATE 🗓
11th December, Ognisko
The evening launch of the English-translation of the memoirs of General Maczek: amzn.eu/d/eEZMAYS
@allan_mallinson will chair a panel discussion featuring Justin Maciejewski, Paul Latawski and Jenny Grant.
11th December, Ognisko
The evening launch of the English-translation of the memoirs of General Maczek: amzn.eu/d/eEZMAYS
@allan_mallinson will chair a panel discussion featuring Justin Maciejewski, Paul Latawski and Jenny Grant.
The Price of Victory: Memoir of the Commander of the 1st Polish Armoured Division: Amazon.co.uk: Maczek, General Stanislaw, Grant, Jennifer: 9781036124236: Books
Buy The Price of Victory: Memoir of the Commander of the 1st Polish Armoured Division by Maczek, General Stanislaw, Grant, Jennifer (ISBN: 9781036124236) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
amzn.eu
November 12, 2024 at 2:36 PM
Bought my ticket and very much looking forward to it!
Many congratulations again @silenceinpolish.bsky.social!
Many congratulations again @silenceinpolish.bsky.social!
Reposted by Tom McCall
The Llandovery Castle was built in the vast shipyards of Glasgow, Scotland to transport tourists and mail. Registered in late 1913, it was part of a vast fleet owned by the Union-Castle company of the UK.
This very ordinary ship would forever change war crime prosecutions.
#RemembranceDay
This very ordinary ship would forever change war crime prosecutions.
#RemembranceDay
November 11, 2024 at 3:17 PM
The Llandovery Castle was built in the vast shipyards of Glasgow, Scotland to transport tourists and mail. Registered in late 1913, it was part of a vast fleet owned by the Union-Castle company of the UK.
This very ordinary ship would forever change war crime prosecutions.
#RemembranceDay
This very ordinary ship would forever change war crime prosecutions.
#RemembranceDay