Huw J. Davies
@huwjdav.bsky.social
Professor of British Military History @kcl.ac.uk | Associate Dean Professional & Online Education SSPP | Award-Winning Book: Wandering Army | Next one: Forging Armageddon @YaleBooks.bsky.social | FRHistS
Happy Christmas from The Terrier (who required quite a few Christmas dog treats for this single shot)!
December 25, 2024 at 8:29 AM
Happy Christmas from The Terrier (who required quite a few Christmas dog treats for this single shot)!
Fascinating lecture last night at Pembroke College, Oxford, by @mpmfinch.bsky.social on his book 'Making Makers: The Past, The Present and the Study of War.' Mike explored the origins, development & impact of the first edition of 'The Makers of Modern Strategy', a seminal text in the history of war.
November 27, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Fascinating lecture last night at Pembroke College, Oxford, by @mpmfinch.bsky.social on his book 'Making Makers: The Past, The Present and the Study of War.' Mike explored the origins, development & impact of the first edition of 'The Makers of Modern Strategy', a seminal text in the history of war.
During this trip I met up with Rowan Light, NZ War curator at the Auckland War Memorial & @aucklanduni.bsky.social We began discussing the material culture of the NZ Wars. We’re now working on developing a project looking at the collections associated with the wars held in British museums. 14/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
During this trip I met up with Rowan Light, NZ War curator at the Auckland War Memorial & @aucklanduni.bsky.social We began discussing the material culture of the NZ Wars. We’re now working on developing a project looking at the collections associated with the wars held in British museums. 14/15 🗃️
Col. Wynyard built a model of Ruapekapeka Pā in an effort to understand how to counter Māori defensive works in preparation for any future conflict. British officers often engaged in informal professional learning and this forms part of the knowledge networks I’m investigating in my book. 13/15🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Col. Wynyard built a model of Ruapekapeka Pā in an effort to understand how to counter Māori defensive works in preparation for any future conflict. British officers often engaged in informal professional learning and this forms part of the knowledge networks I’m investigating in my book. 13/15🗃️
Peace negotiations had already begun, and despite Ruapekapeka being painted a British victory, the Māori emerged with most of their war aims, whilst Heke and Kawiti were both granted full pardons. The site today is wonderfully preserved and memorialised. 12/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Peace negotiations had already begun, and despite Ruapekapeka being painted a British victory, the Māori emerged with most of their war aims, whilst Heke and Kawiti were both granted full pardons. The site today is wonderfully preserved and memorialised. 12/15 🗃️
Despard this time eventually concentrated his firepower at one site and breached the palisade in the north east corner. He ordered an attack but Kawiti had already withdrawn. 11/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Despard this time eventually concentrated his firepower at one site and breached the palisade in the north east corner. He ordered an attack but Kawiti had already withdrawn. 11/15 🗃️
Anti-artillery bunkers protected the defenders and trenches allowed Māori marksmen to fire on the British from positions of safety. 10/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Anti-artillery bunkers protected the defenders and trenches allowed Māori marksmen to fire on the British from positions of safety. 10/15 🗃️
The Pā itself was well constructed. Double palisades afforded protection from artillery. A flax curtain prevented British seeing in to the Pā. Here’s a plan of the Pā, a model built after the war, & the trenches today. I’ve pointed out on the plan where the photos are taken. 9/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
The Pā itself was well constructed. Double palisades afforded protection from artillery. A flax curtain prevented British seeing in to the Pā. Here’s a plan of the Pā, a model built after the war, & the trenches today. I’ve pointed out on the plan where the photos are taken. 9/15 🗃️
Despard had to march 18 miles inland, establishing a road and move his supplies. He set up camp 750m from the Pā and then built batteries 300m from the palisades and commenced a bombardment. This is the site of the British batteries today. 8/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Despard had to march 18 miles inland, establishing a road and move his supplies. He set up camp 750m from the Pā and then built batteries 300m from the palisades and commenced a bombardment. This is the site of the British batteries today. 8/15 🗃️
Having inflicted severe costs, the Māori withdrew. A series of similar contests led to similar results until the British launched an attack on Kawiti’s newly built, Te Ruapekapeka Pā. I visited there & it is one of the best preserved & signposted battlefields I’ve been too. 7/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Having inflicted severe costs, the Māori withdrew. A series of similar contests led to similar results until the British launched an attack on Kawiti’s newly built, Te Ruapekapeka Pā. I visited there & it is one of the best preserved & signposted battlefields I’ve been too. 7/15 🗃️
At Ohaeawai Pā 8 May, after engaging in an ineffectual bombardment, British commander Col Henry Despard launched an assault. A complete failure the assault resulted in 114 casualties. Māori casualties casualties were small, having been protected by palisades and trenches. 6/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
At Ohaeawai Pā 8 May, after engaging in an ineffectual bombardment, British commander Col Henry Despard launched an assault. A complete failure the assault resulted in 114 casualties. Māori casualties casualties were small, having been protected by palisades and trenches. 6/15 🗃️
Heke and Kawiti built a series of Pā - fortifications. Traditional Pā controlled important agricultural sites, but the new Pā were placed strategically to force the British to advance far from their supply lines. The Māori also incorporated trenches into the Pā design. 5/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Heke and Kawiti built a series of Pā - fortifications. Traditional Pā controlled important agricultural sites, but the new Pā were placed strategically to force the British to advance far from their supply lines. The Māori also incorporated trenches into the Pā design. 5/15 🗃️
The British re-erected the flagstaff but Heke and Kawiti orchestrated an attack on Kororareka which overwhelmed the British defenders. The fall of Kororareka was a humiliation for the British, and a series of operations were undertaken to defeat Heke and Kawiti. 4/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
The British re-erected the flagstaff but Heke and Kawiti orchestrated an attack on Kororareka which overwhelmed the British defenders. The fall of Kororareka was a humiliation for the British, and a series of operations were undertaken to defeat Heke and Kawiti. 4/15 🗃️
In 1845, the British erected a flagstaff at Kororareka, displaying only the Union Flag. Incensed, Hone Heke, nephew of Te Ruki Kawiti, the Ngāti Hine Chief, repeatedly chopped the flagstaff down. Peer closely and you can see the flagstaff above modern-day Russell. 3/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
In 1845, the British erected a flagstaff at Kororareka, displaying only the Union Flag. Incensed, Hone Heke, nephew of Te Ruki Kawiti, the Ngāti Hine Chief, repeatedly chopped the flagstaff down. Peer closely and you can see the flagstaff above modern-day Russell. 3/15 🗃️
I headed to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds first, the sight where the treaty seen as the foundation of the New Zealand nation was signed in 1840. Differences of interpretation of the treaty translation caused tensions. 2/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
I headed to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds first, the sight where the treaty seen as the foundation of the New Zealand nation was signed in 1840. Differences of interpretation of the treaty translation caused tensions. 2/15 🗃️
A year ago I visited New Zealand on a research trip for the new book. On my last day, I hired a car and explored locations linked to the first of the New Zealand Wars, 1845-1846. I posted about it in the Bad Place, but thought I would transfer the thread over and update. 1/15 🗃️
November 16, 2024 at 4:33 PM
A year ago I visited New Zealand on a research trip for the new book. On my last day, I hired a car and explored locations linked to the first of the New Zealand Wars, 1845-1846. I posted about it in the Bad Place, but thought I would transfer the thread over and update. 1/15 🗃️
Wow. I commented at the time how well preserved and memorialised I thought the whole site was. I spent hours wandering around there. Congratulations & thank you for the work. Have you been in touch with Rowan Light at the University of Auckland & War Memorial? He’s also working in this area.
November 16, 2024 at 1:32 AM
Wow. I commented at the time how well preserved and memorialised I thought the whole site was. I spent hours wandering around there. Congratulations & thank you for the work. Have you been in touch with Rowan Light at the University of Auckland & War Memorial? He’s also working in this area.
Would love to read this if you’re happy to share. I visited Ruapekapeka Pā during a research trip last October. Interested in knowledge exchange within & between the NZ wars, & outside of NZ to South Africa in particular. Last thread I did over in the Bad Place was on this visit. Will transfer over.
November 16, 2024 at 12:44 AM
Would love to read this if you’re happy to share. I visited Ruapekapeka Pā during a research trip last October. Interested in knowledge exchange within & between the NZ wars, & outside of NZ to South Africa in particular. Last thread I did over in the Bad Place was on this visit. Will transfer over.
Delighted to share that I have signed with Yale University Press for my fourth book. The working title is 'Forging Armageddon: The British Army and the Global War for Empire, 1835-1914'. I'm investigating the role of knowledge networks in British Army development up to the First World War.
November 13, 2024 at 11:56 AM
Delighted to share that I have signed with Yale University Press for my fourth book. The working title is 'Forging Armageddon: The British Army and the Global War for Empire, 1835-1914'. I'm investigating the role of knowledge networks in British Army development up to the First World War.
Hello & welcome to all my new followers (some 600 of you have accidentally or deliberately joined me since Friday)! I’ll try and post more here, and when I do, it will be about knowledge networks in the British Army, military innovation, & my terrier, who is also happy you’ve started following me!
November 10, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Hello & welcome to all my new followers (some 600 of you have accidentally or deliberately joined me since Friday)! I’ll try and post more here, and when I do, it will be about knowledge networks in the British Army, military innovation, & my terrier, who is also happy you’ve started following me!
It's #HistoryWritersDay24 over in the Bad Place. Some great previews of the latest in historical research. But there's no reason why they should have all the fun... Yale UP have a 30% discount with code HWD24 including on The Wandering Army. Check out yalebooks.co.uk/historywrite... by midnight.
October 5, 2024 at 3:48 PM
It's #HistoryWritersDay24 over in the Bad Place. Some great previews of the latest in historical research. But there's no reason why they should have all the fun... Yale UP have a 30% discount with code HWD24 including on The Wandering Army. Check out yalebooks.co.uk/historywrite... by midnight.
The enthusiasm here is infectious, so I’m rooting for South Africa tonight (fingers crossed for WiFi on the plane). And an omen as we await embarkation. The rainbow apparently means the Springboks will win (though the person who told me that did admit they are clutching at straws.
October 28, 2023 at 4:11 PM
The enthusiasm here is infectious, so I’m rooting for South Africa tonight (fingers crossed for WiFi on the plane). And an omen as we await embarkation. The rainbow apparently means the Springboks will win (though the person who told me that did admit they are clutching at straws.
Nice to be with you all here on the other side. Looking forward to cooling off after escaping the dumpster fire *over there*!
October 28, 2023 at 3:25 PM
Nice to be with you all here on the other side. Looking forward to cooling off after escaping the dumpster fire *over there*!