Mark Simner
@marksimner.bsky.social
Author and Magazine Feature Writer of British Military History | MHM Book of the Year Nominee | Book Reviewer | Militaria Collector | BA (Hons) MSc
Just arrived for review. That's my weekend reading sorted.
October 4, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Just arrived for review. That's my weekend reading sorted.
One of the more challenging but oddly enjoyable aspect of writing a book. Finding photos and images. Thankfully, I have a large collection of original antique prints and photographs.
September 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM
One of the more challenging but oddly enjoyable aspect of writing a book. Finding photos and images. Thankfully, I have a large collection of original antique prints and photographs.
New additions to the collection incoming. I've no doubt you can guess the medal and topic.
September 16, 2025 at 11:03 PM
New additions to the collection incoming. I've no doubt you can guess the medal and topic.
Probably my favourite painting/picture from the Anglo-Egyptian campaigns. The Storming of Tel-el-Kebir by Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville. A subject I am currently writing about.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
September 14, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Probably my favourite painting/picture from the Anglo-Egyptian campaigns. The Storming of Tel-el-Kebir by Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville. A subject I am currently writing about.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (31 August 1918) The Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin begins on the Western Front in France, during which the Australian Corps crosses the Somme River and breaks the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin and Péronne.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 31, 2025 at 8:54 AM
#OnThisDay (31 August 1918) The Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin begins on the Western Front in France, during which the Australian Corps crosses the Somme River and breaks the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin and Péronne.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (29 Aug 1807) British troops under Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) defeat a Danish militia at the Battle of Køge, southwest of Copenhagen. It is also referred to as 'the Clogs battle' due to the wooden Clogs worn by the Danes.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
#OnThisDay (29 Aug 1807) British troops under Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) defeat a Danish militia at the Battle of Køge, southwest of Copenhagen. It is also referred to as 'the Clogs battle' due to the wooden Clogs worn by the Danes.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (28 August 1914) British and German warships clash at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in the North Sea. It was the first naval battle of the First World War and resulted in the sinking of three German light cruisers and a destroyer.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
#OnThisDay (28 August 1914) British and German warships clash at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in the North Sea. It was the first naval battle of the First World War and resulted in the sinking of three German light cruisers and a destroyer.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (27 Aug 1896) The The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between Great Britain and Sultanate of Zanzibar takes place. It is said the war lasted for approximately 38 to 45 minutes, making it the shortest recorded war in history.
(Images: Wikimedia Commons)
(Images: Wikimedia Commons)
August 27, 2025 at 7:55 AM
#OnThisDay (27 Aug 1896) The The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between Great Britain and Sultanate of Zanzibar takes place. It is said the war lasted for approximately 38 to 45 minutes, making it the shortest recorded war in history.
(Images: Wikimedia Commons)
(Images: Wikimedia Commons)
I have posted these before, and will post them again. Two of my favourite Second World War period cap badges: (left) King's Own Malta Regiment and (right) Royal Malta Artillery. There was also a Malta Fortress Squadron of the Royal Engineers, but they wore the standard RE badge.
August 22, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I have posted these before, and will post them again. Two of my favourite Second World War period cap badges: (left) King's Own Malta Regiment and (right) Royal Malta Artillery. There was also a Malta Fortress Squadron of the Royal Engineers, but they wore the standard RE badge.
#OnThisDay (8 August 1945) The London Charter (also known as the #Nuremberg Charter) is signed by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The charter established the rules and procedures under which the Nuremberg trials were conducted.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 8, 2025 at 11:11 AM
#OnThisDay (8 August 1945) The London Charter (also known as the #Nuremberg Charter) is signed by the USA, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The charter established the rules and procedures under which the Nuremberg trials were conducted.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (3 Aug. 1940) Italian forces invade British Somaliland during the East African Campaign of the Second World War. The invasion would end within two weeks in Italian victory, with Somaliland being annexed to Africa Orientale Italiana.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
August 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
#OnThisDay (3 Aug. 1940) Italian forces invade British Somaliland during the East African Campaign of the Second World War. The invasion would end within two weeks in Italian victory, with Somaliland being annexed to Africa Orientale Italiana.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
A piece of local history to me. c.March 1918: A tank (known as 'Julian') outside #Walsall townhall as part of a fundraising tour for the war effort during "Walsall Tank Week".
(Images: Period Postcards)
(Images: Period Postcards)
August 3, 2025 at 12:08 AM
A piece of local history to me. c.March 1918: A tank (known as 'Julian') outside #Walsall townhall as part of a fundraising tour for the war effort during "Walsall Tank Week".
(Images: Period Postcards)
(Images: Period Postcards)
I've had this medal group for some years. They are named to an Able Seaman of the Hawke Battalion, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, who later served as a Special Constable in WW2. I thinks its time to expand my knowledge of the RND during WW1.
August 2, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I've had this medal group for some years. They are named to an Able Seaman of the Hawke Battalion, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, who later served as a Special Constable in WW2. I thinks its time to expand my knowledge of the RND during WW1.
No Empty Chairs by Ian Mackersey is a recommended read on the air war on the Western Front 1914-18. Its not a full history of the operations of the RFC/RAF of WW1, but offers the reader an interesting insight into the experiences of the aviators who fought it.
July 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
No Empty Chairs by Ian Mackersey is a recommended read on the air war on the Western Front 1914-18. Its not a full history of the operations of the RFC/RAF of WW1, but offers the reader an interesting insight into the experiences of the aviators who fought it.
#OnThisDay (27 July 1942) The First Battle of El Alamein ends when Allied forces under Claude Auchinleck successfully halt the Axis advance, led by Erwin Rommel and Ettore Bastico, into Egypt.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
July 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
#OnThisDay (27 July 1942) The First Battle of El Alamein ends when Allied forces under Claude Auchinleck successfully halt the Axis advance, led by Erwin Rommel and Ettore Bastico, into Egypt.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
If StudioCanal do make the proposed remake of The Avengers TV series a reality, they're going to have a devil of a time casting the right actors to play John Steed and Emma Peel. It would have to be actors like Henry Cavill and Hayley Atwell to pique my interest, albeit unlikely.
July 26, 2025 at 10:58 PM
If StudioCanal do make the proposed remake of The Avengers TV series a reality, they're going to have a devil of a time casting the right actors to play John Steed and Emma Peel. It would have to be actors like Henry Cavill and Hayley Atwell to pique my interest, albeit unlikely.
It's amazing what small and personal items of wartime kit survive. A #Wardonia safety razor and unused blades of the type that would have commonly been found in British soldiers holdalls (wash rolls) during the Second World War.
July 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
It's amazing what small and personal items of wartime kit survive. A #Wardonia safety razor and unused blades of the type that would have commonly been found in British soldiers holdalls (wash rolls) during the Second World War.
Reading about the German Gotha bombers of the First World War. I cannot imagine what it would have been like risking your life in one of these contraptions. Ive flown in a Stampe, but even then...
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
July 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reading about the German Gotha bombers of the First World War. I cannot imagine what it would have been like risking your life in one of these contraptions. Ive flown in a Stampe, but even then...
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (21 July 1944) U.S. forces land on the Japanese held island of #Guam in the Mariana Islands. The island was a U.S. territory that had been taken by the Japanese in December 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
July 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
#OnThisDay (21 July 1944) U.S. forces land on the Japanese held island of #Guam in the Mariana Islands. The island was a U.S. territory that had been taken by the Japanese in December 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Another item of British leather militaria lightly cleaned and treated to some balsam. This time a binoculars case. Apart from the War Department broad arrow, there is no date or manufacturer's details. However, I suspect these are WW2 rather than WW1. What do you think?
July 19, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Another item of British leather militaria lightly cleaned and treated to some balsam. This time a binoculars case. Apart from the War Department broad arrow, there is no date or manufacturer's details. However, I suspect these are WW2 rather than WW1. What do you think?
A spot of writing completed this morning/early afternoon. I'll leave you guessing about the topic. (Clue in the image below.)
Time to relax. Have a fab Saturday, folks.
Time to relax. Have a fab Saturday, folks.
July 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
A spot of writing completed this morning/early afternoon. I'll leave you guessing about the topic. (Clue in the image below.)
Time to relax. Have a fab Saturday, folks.
Time to relax. Have a fab Saturday, folks.
King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island of #Malta "to bear witness to a heroism and devotion" of the Maltese people during the Siege of Malta.
I have been to Malta 50+ times. Its like my second home. If you have never been, please do visit.
(Image: IWM A 16221)
I have been to Malta 50+ times. Its like my second home. If you have never been, please do visit.
(Image: IWM A 16221)
July 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM
King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island of #Malta "to bear witness to a heroism and devotion" of the Maltese people during the Siege of Malta.
I have been to Malta 50+ times. Its like my second home. If you have never been, please do visit.
(Image: IWM A 16221)
I have been to Malta 50+ times. Its like my second home. If you have never been, please do visit.
(Image: IWM A 16221)
I perhaps should not get that excited over a pair of 1916 dated British military issue wire cutters, but here we are...
July 16, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I perhaps should not get that excited over a pair of 1916 dated British military issue wire cutters, but here we are...
#OnThisDay (6 July 1801) British warships under Sir James Saumarez attack a Franco-Spanish fleet at anchor in the fortified Spanish port of #Algeciras during the French Revolutionary Wars. The British are repulsed by Spanish shore batteries and shoals.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
July 6, 2025 at 10:37 AM
#OnThisDay (6 July 1801) British warships under Sir James Saumarez attack a Franco-Spanish fleet at anchor in the fortified Spanish port of #Algeciras during the French Revolutionary Wars. The British are repulsed by Spanish shore batteries and shoals.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
#OnThisDay (6 July 1779) While attempting to relieve the island, a British fleet under John Byron clash with French warships at the Battle of #Grenada in the West Indies. Grenada had already fallen to the French and Byron's ships were heavily mauled.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
July 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
#OnThisDay (6 July 1779) While attempting to relieve the island, a British fleet under John Byron clash with French warships at the Battle of #Grenada in the West Indies. Grenada had already fallen to the French and Byron's ships were heavily mauled.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)