Simon Williams
historysimon.bsky.social
Simon Williams
@historysimon.bsky.social
MA in Military History from Wolves Uni. Developing a project on the treatment of the families of the bereaved after the Second World War. Working alongside Stichting Erfgoed 40-45.
https://simonwilliamshistory.substack.com/publish/home?utm_source=menu
Reposted by Simon Williams
Jodie Foster sings "My Name Is Tallulah" in Alan Parker's 1976 gangster musical comedy film "BUGSY MALONE"

🎥 Pinewood Studios
🎬 Paramount Pictures
November 19, 2025 at 1:12 PM
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Alexander The Great! Philip I! Emperor Justinian! Mother Teresa! Can you hear me, Mother Teresa? YOUR BOYS TOOK ONE HELL OF A BEATING! YOUR BOYS TOOK ONE HELL OF A BEATING!
November 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
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Enjoyed appearing with @ww2tv.bsky.social this afternoon to propose a few SWW hot takes www.youtube.com/live/QvOWBrY...
Advance Britannia: The Epic Story of the Second World War, 1942-1945
YouTube video by WW2TV
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:50 PM
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PERSON OF THE DAY. 17 November 1937. Peter Cook was born in Torquay. He was a key figure in anti-establishment satire in the 1960s, starring in Beyond the Fringe, founding The Establishment Club, co-founding Private Eye and was part of comedy duo Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.
November 17, 2025 at 9:37 AM
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PHOTO OF THE DAY. The coffin of the Unknown Warrior lies in Westminster Abbey (1920).
📷 google images
November 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
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PERSON OF THE DAY. 10 November 1925. Welsh actor Richard Burton was born in Pontrhydyfen. He was noted for his mellifluous voice, his heavy drinking and his highly publicised marriages to Elizabeth Taylor, which often overshadowed his undoubted acting ability. #Burton100
November 10, 2025 at 9:36 AM
@bobmort.bsky.social Where, please, was that caravan you just stayed in on BBC2 on the River Tony? Asking for a friend.
November 7, 2025 at 9:09 PM
The story behind this is incredibly moving...as you might imagine.
A view of the coffin of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey, showing the inscription on the beaten iron plate. #WW1 #HISTORY
November 6, 2025 at 8:42 PM
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PERSON OF THE DAY. 4 November 1918. Wilfred Owen (aged 25) was killed in WW1, a week before the conflict ended. He was a leading poet of the “Great War of 1914-18”. His war poetry on the horrors of the trenches included Dulce et Decorum est, Insensibility, Anthem for Doomed Youth and Futility.
November 4, 2025 at 9:16 AM
open.substack.com/pub/simonwil...

Who were the men they encountered on the Railway of Death? How were they both being and not being?
'That is the question'
Who were they? Who are they? War's ending is not the end of the war.
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:07 AM
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PERSON OF THE DAY. 3 November 1954. Adam Ant (Stuart Leslie Goddard) was born in London. He gained huge popularity in the early 1980s as lead singer of Adam and the Ants and later as a solo artist. He had 10 UK Top 10 hits from 1980 to 1983 including 3 UK No 1 singles.
November 3, 2025 at 9:28 AM
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Happy Halloween, folks!

In the first episode of our brand new #YouTube series 'Shakespeare and Friends', Rachel Aanstad and I ponder the question: 'Did Shakespeare's Audiences Believe in Ghosts?'

youtu.be/Br4N4RA0j_s?...
Did Shakespeare's Audiences Believe in Ghosts?
YouTube video by Shakespeare & Friends
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 8:17 AM
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The paperback of SHAKESPEARE'S BORROWED FEATHERS is now on Google Books. I love what Manchester UP have done with the cover!

www.google.co.uk/books/editio...
Shakespeare's Borrowed Feathers
A fascinating exploration of the early modern authors who helped to shape Shakespeare's beloved plays. Shakespeare's plays have influenced generations of writers, but who were the early modern playwr...
www.google.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 1:24 PM
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#80sTop30
#MusicChallenge
Vaguely ranked

Day 25

I Got You
Split Enz (1980)

Just a great pop song

youtu.be/wiqBlKnb91A?...
Split Enz - I Got You (Official Video)
YouTube video by Split Enz
youtu.be
October 25, 2025 at 7:36 AM
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On the centenary of Thatcher's birth, there have been predictable calls for a memorial to her memory. But Britain's 2300 food banks serve that purpose already.
October 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
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Coming soon to a #YouTube channel near you!

The first planned episode will have a seasonal spooky theme... 👻
October 11, 2025 at 8:14 AM
These are a band.
#LivingColour The Best Of 40 Years South American Tour 2026

livingcolour.com/home/blog/76...
October 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
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Cirencester was the Roman Corinium, second only to London in size with 10,000 inhabitants. Its amphitheatre was one of the largest in Britain. It was built in the early 2nd century and it could hold c. 8,000 spectators. It was fortified against Saxon invaders. #RomanSiteSaturday
October 4, 2025 at 3:17 AM
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One of the things that first piqued my interest in the FWW was visiting CWGC cemeteries, and specifically, reading the personal inscriptions on the headstones. I haven’t been out to the WF in well over a year now and as I feel the ache of missing it, I wanted to share some old posts on the topic.
The Power of Words – CWGC epitaphs of the Great War
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has become synonymous with commemoration of war dead. The commission was founded by Sir Fabian Ware whose moral and political leanings helped shape the guidin…
lucybetteridgedyson.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
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Just spotted that the paperback edition of my book SHAKESPEARE'S TUTOR: THE INFLUENCE OF THOMAS KYD is available for a tenner on #Amazon

www.amazon.co.uk/Shakespeares...
September 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
This is how you celebrate liberation! Valkenswaard Blomencorso 2025! Incredible
September 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
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I have done several interviews with That Shakespeare Life and Cassidy is always an incredible host.

My most recent episode with Cassidy, on Shakespeare, collaboration, and my book SHAKESPEARE'S BORROWED FEATHERS was again such stuff as dreams are made on.
www.cassidycash.com/collaboratio...
September 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
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Town map of Arnhem, used during operation Market Garden. #WW2 #HISTORY
September 19, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Terrific footage.
Buildings around the Arnhem Rhine Bridge, to be defended for a long time by men from British 1 Airborne Division, during operation Market Garden. #WW2 #HISTORY
September 16, 2025 at 5:45 AM